Support Small Business Growth in Your Area: Volunteer With SCORE!

By Jim Poppe

SCORE District Director NC

SCORE is a resource partner of the US Small Business Administration.  Our mission is to help people fulfill a dream to create a new business or grow an existing business.  We are looking for people with diverse backgrounds and experiences to volunteer to be small business mentors and local community advocates. 

Small businesses drive the nation’s economy. And, they have been hit hard the past few years.  The 9 SCORE chapters in North Carolina are receiving many requests from folks wanting to start or grow businesses!  These business owners need help. Would you be interested in joining SCORE?

Mentors provide valuable insight on many topics and give you an opportunity to share what you learned during your career.  SCORE chapters members have men and women from every type of industry and position –  bankers, accountants, marketing/sales, franchisees, Fortune 500 execs, and small business owners too.  

SCORE volunteers do many things to help entrepreneurs. Here are some examples: 

·         Business Mentor – Directly advising and supporting small business owners and would-be entrepreneurs

·         Subject Matter Expert – Supporting both mentors and business owners by providing information in your area(s) of experience and expertise

• Workshop Presenter – Delivering presentations to either in-person or online audiences on topics that will help them grow their businesses

All our volunteers help support and grow America’s Small Business community – the greatest generator of employment in the country!

If you would like to know more about volunteer opportunities with SCORE, please visit the www.score.org.  Click on ‘Get Involved’, then the Volunteer button. Our more than 300 SCORE volunteers across North Carolina look forward to hearing from you!

Hear from some of our local SCORE Clients:

Natacha Andrews, owner of Evergreen Solutions Group, has this to say -

My SCORE mentors have given me the encouragement and guidance that have helped me truly embrace the tremendous scope of my company’s potential. Having my loved ones and colleagues support my business aspirations is one thing, but to have complete strangers, who may not share my ideals or fully understand my industry believe in me enough to take the time to listen and help me devise a well-structured strategy to achieve my goals has been a humbling blessing. 

Robyn Stoney is a Digital Marketing Consultant. She shares, “My SCORE mentor offered me insight into what I needed to become a fundable business and also what I needed in order to protect my business for the long term.”

Jay Bastian is a Charlotte SCORE mentor.  "I love meeting and helping folks with a vision and a passion for something, whether it be a new take on an established business model, to exploit an opportunity where no one's looking, or to just be an independent business owner."