SCORE, the nonprofit business counseling organization, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The Cincinnati chapter of the national organization was initiated in 1964, originally offering free business counseling through retired executive members, primarily focusing on businesses with 25 employees or less.
SCORE’s purpose today is still to provide free business counseling through its members, who include working and retired executives, with the Cincinnati chapter counting 100 volunteer executives and specialists who donate their time. Most chapters also offer business seminars at a nominal cost.
In Cincinnati, SCORE helped more than 1,500 clients in 2013, leading to more thab 350 new jobs in the area. The local chapter was also picked as the runner-up for Chapter of the Year out of 360 chapters nationally. SCORE held 47 free or low-cost workshops for 938 attendees locally, covering topics such as business plan development, startup basics, marketing and sales strategies, and more.
“Even though we are considered a small market city, we as a chapter consistently out-perform the major cities, such as LA, New York City, Chicago, etc.,” says Dennis Murphy, SCORE counselor for the last six years and chair of the SCORE fundraising committee. We have been a Top 5 Performing Chapter ever year that I’ve been with SCORE Cincinnati.”
One of Murphy’s clients, Mary Helen Boedekker, owner of
Mary Helen Clothing, began working with SCORE a year ago.
“After my first meeting with my mentor, I knew this organization was special,” Boedekker says. “SCORE gives small business owners the opportunity to move beyond being a small business and get to the next level. Their ability to guide me in the right direction has helped more than I could have imagined. Any time I have a question or need help, I call Dennis and he helps me find a solution.”
“The time is right for the Greater Cincinnati area,” Murphy says. “Cincinnati is well-positioned to lead the Midwest as a
hub for entrepreneurs and startups. The investors are here, the support is here; I don’t see any deterrents to huge area business growth on the horizon in 2014 and beyond.”
To learn more about SCORE Cincinnati, visit
www.greatercincinnati.score.org.
By Mike Sarason
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