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All of our mentors bring valuable abilities and talent to the Chapter that they share with our clients through mentoring sessions. Occasionally we are fortunate to welcome a new mentor with specialized skills that is a particularly beneficial asset to many of the clients that we work with currently. New SCORE mentor Winifred McGee brings considerable expert skills to the Chapter in the fields of agriculture, food production, and food safety.
An Opportunity to Make A Difference
Initially, Winifred joined SCORE to work on an exciting new project, the PA AG Mentorship Program. This assignment took full advantage of her more than thirty years of experience as a Consultant at the Penn State Harrisburg SBDC and then Agent/Educator focusing on small and home-based food production and agricultural business for Penn State Extension.
During her tenure at Penn State Extension, Winifred developed and delivered a class called "Food for Profit" that provided the opportunity to work with several thousand food entrepreneurs in five states and established contacts with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services. In the course of those years, her roles included being State coordinator/author for Penn State's branded Food for ProfitTM program, through which she provided start-up guidance to over 1000 food entrepreneurs in 7 states. Winifred also had the opportunity to work with established and start-up farmers who were putting together business plans or needed help with the analysis of financial records.
"I enjoyed this one-to-one opportunity to make a difference for people with a vision."
- Winifred McGee, SCORE volunteer mentor
Winifred retired from PSU at the end of 2018 and began exploring new chapters of her journey.
A History of Giving Back
Prior to her career at PSU, Winifred served for seven and a half years as an officer in the United States Air Force. As a company grade officer, she took part in a number of community volunteer opportunities. They included providing Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and taking part in Operation Santa for children from resource-stressed families. Winifred continues volunteering in civilian life through her church and with the local Girl Scouts (including Master Trainer with Hemlock Girl Scout Council).
In 2021 SCORE Lancaster-Lebanon Chair Cathy Bonser reached out to Winifred to develop and present a webinar on turning a dream into reality for food businesses. Later a representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Raechel Sattazahn from Ag Choice Farm Credit encouraged Winifred to consider being one of the pilot mentors to farmers. She decided it was time to take the leap and become a SCORE mentor.
"I have always found it rewarding to make a difference in people's lives, whether children (Girl Scouts or Sunday School Classes) or adults who want to start a business or want to become leaders because it helps build the community when we work together."
- Winifred McGee, SCORE volunteer mentor
Winifred is eager to serve with co-mentoring opportunities. She is familiar with the following:
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
- Farm & Food Business Start-Up
- Accommodation & Food Services
- Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting
- Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
INDIVIDUAL EXPERTISE
- Accounting & Cash Flow
- Business Plans/Start-up Assistance
- Government Regulations & Contracting
- Marketing
- Public Relations & Sales
- Product Development & Manufacturing
- Strategy & Planning
