TranslatePublished September 07, 2021
Washington DC - At its Annual Leadership Conference last month, SCORE, a nonprofit organization providing free volunteer mentors to small businesses, recognized two local volunteer leaders for their outstanding contribution to SCORE’s mission.
Mariann Zylstra, Chair of the SCORE Washington DC Chapter and a SCORE Mentor, was the recipient of the Outstanding Chapter Leadership Award for the Mid-Atlantic region. The award recognizes her dedication of substantial time and energy to the chapter’s volunteers and clients. Her strong leadership during this particularly challenging time for small businesses resulted in an increase in client mentoring sessions and local educational webinar programming, all while enhancing the volunteer experience. Joe Brisby, Regional Vice President of SCORE Mid-Atlantic, said Zylstra was selected because “her leadership has contributed so much to the success of the Washington, DC Chapter, its volunteers, and clients.”
Earlier this year, the DC Chapter was awarded SCORE National Chapter of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. It was selected out of among 241 chapters nationwide based on its quick and effective response in supporting small business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic and the consistent high level of quality services provided to SCORE clients.
Edward Coleman, past chair of SCORE Washington DC, present SCORE Maryland District Director and active SCORE mentor, received the prestigious Conductor Field Leadership Award for 2021. The Conductor Award was created in 2016 to specifically recognize outstanding volunteer leadership and impact in the field. “Great field leaders operate very much like the conductor of an orchestra,” Doug Nohe, VP of Field Operations said in explaining the origin of the award’s name. “They have to know the parts, responsibility of many and they have to get all of these sections to play together AS ONE! A great field leader must do the same with SCORE volunteers, chapters, districts, committees, and staff.”
In presenting the award, Nohe cited Coleman’s tireless work on the local, district, regional and national levels for his selection by Nohe and CEO Bridget Weston. “[Ed] has found ways to influence SCORE with his energy, enthusiasm, creativity and willingness to help others anywhere in the nation. This person embodies what ONE SCORE is all about.” Weston added that Coleman’s ability to build relations at every level is “a gift.” Coleman joins a short list of Conductor Award recipients, including SCORE DC’s Karen Williamson, who received the honorific in 2020.
