| Valley visited SCORE’s location at Newark’s Gateway Center in Newark and immediately immersed herself in the chapter’s resource library.
“I must have spent five or six hours reading and talking to people, all of whom were very helpful and informative,” she says. “When I showed them the business plan Michael and I had prepared, they were very impressed with what we’d done.”
Along with getting information on issues such as incorporating a business and finding a suitable location, SCORE put Valley in contact with Doris Greenberg, who had a background in starting education and daycare centers. After talking with Doris, Michael and Valley decided that the best approach would be to start with a daycare operation and add grades as they went along.
“What I really appreciate is SCORE’s persistence in telling me that everything will turn out OK, as my husband and I were both nervous about giving up job security to do this,” Valley adds.
In March 2002, the couple opened Talib Learning Center with Valley serving as Director and Head Teacher. Valley soon added tutoring, and after-school care services to meet the needs of the neighborhoods busy families. Along the way, she built her business skills by attending SCORE workshops on business financing, and consulting with Doris Greenberg and other SCORE counselors as other questions arose.
Mike and Valley are now preparing to purchase a new building for Talib Learning Center, enabling them to accommodate continued growth and add a kindergarten program this fall.
“As part of our planning, I’ll be going back to SCORE because I can always count on them for help when it comes to making a big decision,” Valley says. “I know that with SCORE’s help, we will be successful.”
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