SCORE Mentors

11/02/2026

📚 Low-cost business learning opportunities await!

Join a SCORE Louisiana webinar or workshop this week and 🚀

10/29/2026

“Success is always under construction.”

Tonyia Smith knows that building a business takes more than a great product. It takes the right numbers, the right strategy, and the willingness to keep growing.

As the founder of Silver Slice Bakery, Tonyia turned experiments in her home kitchen into a growing business specializing in gluten-free baked goods and wood-fired pizza crusts. Today, her products are reaching new customers in the hospitality industry, and opportunities to expand are growing. But turning demand into sustainable growth meant learning to navigate the business side of her passion.

Through SCORE, Tonyia found a partner in mentor Suvendoo Ray. Together, they dug into cash flow, profit margins, and future sales projections, helping Tonyia understand where her business stood today and what it would take to reach her next goals. Suvendoo also helped her evaluate production workflows and identify opportunities to grow existing customer relationships.

That guidance helped Tonyia strengthen her partnership with Hyatt Regency Seattle, where Silver Slice Bakery has grown from a supplier into a gluten-free partner.

For Tonyia, SCORE has been about more than the numbers. It’s helped her move past the fear of success, focus on what matters most, and build the confidence to lead her business into its next chapter.

Because success isn't a finish line. It's the work of building something stronger, one decision at a time.

10/27/2026

“I want to personally thank my mentor, Ralph NeSmith, for his feedback, insights, and the greatest gift of his time to listen, learn, and be on the journey with me.”

Every entrepreneur needs people in their corner who are willing to share what they know, offer a fresh perspective, and help them navigate the challenges of building a business. For Janel Urena, Ralph has been one of those people.

Janel also called SCORE an incredible “cheat code” for entrepreneurs. 😏 Ready to unlock your next level?

10/26/2026

Learning never stops when you’re building your dream! 🌟

Join SCORE mentors and small business experts for low-cost webinars and local events designed to help entrepreneurs like you succeed.

10/22/2026

Flowers are personal. The experience of buying them should be, too. 💐

For Connie Estey and her husband, Paul, a passion for floral design sparked a bigger vision: create a business where customers feel like family, flowers are fresh and affordable, and every interaction feels personal.

Together, they turned that vision into Seawalk Custom Florals, an e-commerce business serving Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, building a reputation for thoughtful service and strong community ties.

But growing a business takes more than a great product. With guidance from SCORE mentor Derrick Smith, Connie and Paul strengthened their business knowledge, navigated the complexities of growth, and made more informed strategic decisions.

Today, Seawalk Custom Florals is blooming beyond a passion project, proving that personalized service and genuine community connection can help a small business stand out.

10/22/2026

🚨 Small business owners, it's time to get holiday-ready!

Small Business Saturday is your chance to get in front of new customers, bring in more sales and set your business up for a strong holiday season. But don't leave your plan to the last minute.

Swipe through for 8 ways to make the most of it, then check out SCORE's Holiday Success Hub [link in comments] for more tips, tools and resources. 🎁

Save this post for your holiday prep checklist! 📌

10/21/2026

When Banks Say NO, Your Business Dreams Don't Have to Stop!

Have you been turned down for a traditional business loan? Don't get discouraged! There are other financing options that could help you start, grow, or expand your small business.

Join SCORE Mentors for a FREE webinar and discover alternative funding opportunities that may be the right fit for your business!

📅 Thur, October 22, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM PDT
💻 Online Webinar

What You'll Learn:
✅ Explore funding options beyond traditional bank loans
✅ Learn about SBA loans, grants, and microlending programs
✅ Compare financing costs, qualifications, and requirements
✅ Understand the advantages and challenges of different funding sources
✅ Discover how to choose financing that supports your business goals

Whether you're launching a new business, looking to expand, or searching for additional capital, this webinar can help you make more informed funding decisions.

Ready to explore your funding options? Visit www.score.org/business-education to find the webinar and register!

Know a small business owner who could benefit from this information? Tag them in the comments or share this post!

10/20/2026

SCORE mentor Nahrin Alkhas knows that behind every thriving small business is a community of people who believe in its potential. 💙

From mentors sharing their expertise to resource partners opening doors, it takes a team to help entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality.

For Nahrin, being part of that community means more than giving back. It means helping build a world where small business owners feel supported, encouraged, and empowered to keep going.

Because no entrepreneur should have to build their dream alone.

Ready to be part of a community that makes a difference? Become a SCORE mentor. 💙

10/20/2026

The bank just said NO. What do you do? 👀

Plot twist: THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO GET FUNDED! 💰

…and Boyd Karren of Otro Financial is breaking down your options on Thursday!

Comment “FUNDING” and we’ll send you the link to register.

10/19/2026

💡 Ready to take your business to the next level? SCORE offers live webinars and local workshops to help you start, grow, and thrive.

10/19/2026

Sometimes, the biggest business win is realizing how far you've come.

When SCORE client Dave started his business 16 years ago, he was working out of his backyard garage with no college degree and no business experience. Today, he's built a profitable automotive business, paid off $167,000 in debt, and secured the financing he needs to grow his three companies.

But the biggest change isn't just in the numbers. It's in how Dave sees himself and what he's accomplished.

After a decade of working with SCORE mentors and learning to understand the financial side of business, Dave presented his growth strategy to four banks. All four made offers.

Reflecting on the milestone, he shared:

“I'm finally making that transition from the ‘I should be here, I should be doing this’ syndrome to the ‘look what I've done, look what I've got, and look where I'm going’ syndrome.”

Mentorship can help entrepreneurs build stronger businesses, make more informed decisions, and recognize the progress they've made along the way.

Sometimes, it's time to stop focusing on how far you have to go and celebrate how far you've already come.

Way to GROW, Dave!

10/16/2026

Sometimes the best financial decision you can make is getting another perspective. 💙

Meet Zoila Sanguinetti, a SCORE mentor with financial planning experience who helps entrepreneurs work through the numbers, think through their options and make informed decisions for their businesses.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before you meet with a mentor. That’s what mentoring is for.

This National Financial Planning Month, connect with a SCORE mentor and get guidance for the financial questions behind your business.

📈 Your business. Your goals. Your plan.

10/15/2026

🚨 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: A SCORE CLIENT JUST HIT HSN!

Two years after winning the grand prize in one of SCORE's 60th Anniversary Pitch Competitions, Lisa Basini of Baking Coach, Inc. has taken another exciting step forward: featuring her cookie dough kits on a live HSN broadcast! 🍪📺

Watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JdMD8Fxoc/
Lisa's segment begins at the 4-minute mark!

Baking Coach is on a mission to create meaningful employment opportunities for the differently-abled, and we're thrilled to celebrate Lisa and her team's growing success.

From the pitch competition stage to the national stage, we're cheering you on, Lisa! 🎉

10/15/2026

“Working with OD Greens makes me feel like me again.”

For some veterans, the transition to civilian life brings challenges that are difficult to put into words. For Don Tobul, creating a space where veterans could find purpose, connection, and peace became a mission close to his heart.

An Army veteran himself, Don combined his experiences in the military with his backgrounds in agriculture and mental health counseling to create OD Greens. Through hydroponic farming, the organization provides veterans with workplace training and a supportive environment that promotes mental well-being.

But turning that vision into a sustainable business was a challenge of its own. Don had no business background and felt overwhelmed by everything involved in getting started.

SCORE mentors helped him identify priorities, navigate obstacles, and break his vision into manageable phases. Their guidance gave him the structure and confidence to turn his idea into reality.

Today, OD Greens offers more than an opportunity to grow food. It creates space for veterans to develop skills, connect with others who understand their experiences, and rediscover a sense of purpose.

For Don, building this business was about bringing together everything he had learned throughout his life to serve a community that had given so much.

Sometimes, the most meaningful businesses grow from a desire to help others find their way forward.

10/15/2026

Join us for community lunch from 12:00-1:00 this Friday, 10/16 for a special conversation with our dear friend David Broner.

David—a longtime small business owner and current volunteer mentor with SCORE Mentors—recently wrote and published his ethical will. That's a document in the Jewish tradition that gives the writer the opportunity to tell their story and pass on life lessons to future generations.

Many of us in the Green Garage have been impressed and inspired by David's work on his ethical will. Join us on Friday to hear more about the tradition, the process, and David's life story.

12:00-1:00 at the Green Garage, 4444 2nd Ave. Fee and open to all, lunch courtesy of Seasons Market & Cafe.

📸 Photo of David courtesy of GG alum Brendan Ross, Photographer.

10/14/2026

Getting ready to launch a product?

Your barcode does more than speed up checkout. It helps retailers and online marketplaces identify your products, manage inventory and connect your brand to the products you sell.

Learn how to choose the right product identifiers and set your business up for a successful launch in our latest article, brought to you by GS1 US.

Learn why barcodes matter and how you can set them up to ensure launch success.