The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
SCORE PULLS IN CLIENTS
Group seeks startups, volunteers
A group of coaches wants to channel an undercurrent of entrepreneurialism into a steady stream of startup businesses in Lorain.
In fall 2016, the small business mentoring program SCORE began holding regular office hours at the Lorain Port Authority, 319 Black River Lane.
Five months later, the SCORE volunteer business coaches have met with 25 clients from Lorain County. The SCORE organization takes its name from Service Corps of Retired Executives.
Clients have ideas about forprofit businesses in manufacturing, retail and services, along with nonprofit organizations, said SCORE Small Business Mentor Deb Myers.
For years, Myers in accounting for Energizer battery company’s Westlake research center.
“Everybody seems to want to start their businesses because they do want to help Lorain.” — SCORE Small Business Mentor Deb Myers
Many of them want to start with Lorain in their hearts, she said.
“Everybody seems to want to start their businesses because they do want to help Lorain,” Myers said. “That’s their goal and they see an opportunity here. They see a need for the type of service that they want to provide, that type of thing.
“So, they want to see Lorain be successful. Most of the time it’s because they live in Lorain and they want a successful city.”
The nonprofit group is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration and is known for providing “Counselors to America’s Small Business” around the country.
The Cleveland Chapter 30 is one of more than 320 chapters around the country.
The goal is to help people start and grow small businesses. The number of meetings in Lorain so far has been expected, and the local business coaches noted appointments go on hold during December because of the holidays.
On March 7, Myers held office hours with coaches Gerry Schoenen and Ron Wooledge, a Lorain businessman who retired last year and since has volunteered
with SCORE.
As a trio, they said their job is to encourage everyone.
They also challenge entrepreneurs — not in a negative way — to think about the factors that will affect a small business.
For those who have an idea ready for the marketplace, they need to be aware of numerous factors that affect a company.
Sometimes the mentors help people to understand that not everyone is a good fit to start a business, Myers said.
That can be important to know before people invest time and money — sometimes tens of thousands of dollars — into a startup, she said.
Would-be entrepreneurs should start by writing down their ideas, the coaches said.
“Get it all spelled out, start a business plan,” Myers said. “What we ask them to do is, start writing their business plan and get the parts and pieces down, and we can help them fill in some of the gaps.”
Some clients already have full time jobs or businesses and want help to grow those or to branch out to something new.
“They’re asking really, what’s the next step for them?” Myers said.
Maybe because of Lorain’s economic situation, many of the local clients seem to have a better handle
on making a business work, Schoenen said.
Not many people come in with fragments of ideas or notions such as, “I’d like to have my own business,” or, “I’d like to start a restaurant,” or, “I’d like to sell something on the Internet,” Schoenen and Myers said.
“They know to succeed here in this environment, they’ve got to have a little more meat on the bones,” Schoenen said.
SCORE has 47 volunteers working with the Cleveland office, so they can connect people to volunteers with relevant expertise.
Information remains confidential; volunteers sign agreements not to run away with budding entrepreneurs’ next great ideas.
A good attitude also helps in business in Lorain and everywhere, Myers said.
“It’s contagious,” she said.
SCORE also could use more volunteer mentors from Lorain city and county.
The organization already has gained Wooledge. He formerly owned Willow Hardware, an Oberlin Avenue business he bought in 1975 and sold in 2008, and Willow Rental, which he sold in 2016.
For a consulting appointment or to volunteer as a business coach, call the Cleveland SCORE office at 216-522-4194.