SCORE Success Stories
Special thanks to those who volunteer as mentors and advisors in our local SCORE chapter. They are making a positive difference every day helping local entrepreneurs, business owners and nonprofit leaders to make sound and wise business and operational decisions to ensure their organization's succeed, grow and thrive.
Free. Confidential. Advice that makes a difference
By Todd Shimkus, CCE, President of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
My favorite move is Ghostbusters.
This movie’s theme song says: “When there’s something strange in the neighborhood, who you gonna call?” And the Chorus signs – “Ghostbusters!”
But when you have an idea for a new business, who you gonna call? Or when your existing business faces a difficult challenge, who you gonna call?
For hundreds of local entrepreneurs in Saratoga County since 2006, they called SCORE.
SCORE is a national organization with volunteer run Chapters in more than 300 communities. They connect entrepreneurs with mentors to help them to build their business with free business advice.
Perhaps you know one or more of the volunteers who make up our local SCORE Chapter, including: Bill Edwards, Richard Sellers, Allan Miller, Bill Mather, Bob Schneider, Charlie Newman, Craig Horneck, Dan Marshall, Dennis Crimi, Dick Burk, Jan Wallen, John Beckem, Mark Di Ianni, Peter Kalish, and Steve Hovey.
Last year, these 15 talented volunteers met hundreds of times with entrepreneurs and existing business owners. Their expert advice and confidential counseling helps a growing list of local businesses to succeed, grow and thrive. We’re talking about organizations like; Spoken Boutique, Saratoga Paint and Sip, Common Roots Brewing, iRun Local, Sanders Meat Market, Greenfield Veterinary Hospital, and many more.
How successful is our local SCORE Chapter?
So successful that last year they were honored by their national organization with a Platinum Award, a recognition given to only the top SCORE Chapters in the US. The rating system focuses on the number of new startups and new jobs created with the help of the free business counseling provided by the local SCORE Chapter’s volunteers.
This means our local SCORE volunteers are growing our local economy. They are helping entrepreneurs to transform ideas into businesses. They are helping people to expand local operations creating new jobs in our local communities.
SCORE volunteers meet one-on-one or in pairs on a day and time that is convenient for you. This service is totally free and completely confidential. You don’t need to be a chamber member either.
The process is simple. You call the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce at 584-3255. We connect you with Bill Edwards. He sets up an initial meeting and puts you in contact with the volunteer SCORE counselor with the experience best suited to help you. These meetings are held either in the Chamber’s offices, in Saratoga Springs, or at the Tec-Smart building, in the Luther Forest Tech Park, in Malta.