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Justyn Pippins, a SCORE Mentor and Regional Ambassador for Diversity and Inclusion

For National Volunteer Month, we’re highlighting some of the volunteers that are the lifeblood of SCORE. Without every volunteer, we wouldn’t be able to provide you with the help and resources to start, and grow, your business. Justyn works with the SCORE Southwest Missouri Chapter as both a mentor and regional ambassador. He supports the chapter by both recruiting other volunteers and working with other small business owners to help their businesses thrive. If this aligns with your interests learn how you can volunteer or request a mentor to get small business help today! 

What first attracted you to volunteer with SCORE?

I volunteered for the SCORE E3 Women's Conference in 2019 with another organization and I was blown away by the presentations and organization. The diversity in the room made SCORE very attractive.

Now that you’re a part of SCORE, what do you focus on most? 

My role as Regional Ambassador means I am a cheerleader for all chapters. At the same time, I also recruit young, diverse professionals to join SCORE. I wear a lot of different hats for SCORE. In the past, I’ve secured high-level national speakers for our women's conference. This project was important because I wanted to see if the chapter was serious about promoting diversity. They are!

I do this while also assisting our clients in making sound business decisions. I try to be a resource for my clients and try to be abstract; if I can't help with the business, I will direct them to the right mentor. I keep all options on the table for my clients.

What are some of your favorite parts of volunteering with SCORE?

My favorite thing about Score is the camaraderie of the chapter. We enjoy each other's company, and we want the chapter to win, regardless of who gets the credit. We won the Regional Most Improved Chapter in 2020. I can see the hard work paying off.