Score Middle Georgia provides mentors for small business owners and start-ups

John Collier had owned his business for about 15 years when he decided he wanted advice on how to expand it.

Collier, who has owned Westco Security Systems in Warner Robins since 1999, reached out for help at Score, a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Score provides volunteer mentors who are experienced business people to meet with existing small business owners or start-ups.

“I have a mentor and met with him one on one,” Collier said. “They are able to tell you things about your company you can’t see when you are on the inside. Someone with an outside prospective can make suggestions about things that you’re doing, which I found to be extremely beneficial.”

When Score was first created, it was a service corps of retired executives, said Ulrica Jones, chairwoman of the Score Middle Georgia chapter. She also is owner/CEO of Eventual Success LLC.

“But now, there is really this push to bring in more energetic, a more diverse group and people still in the workforce,” Jones said. “They are wanting to pay it forward, give up their time and energy to help others become successful with their business.

“It’s not just for start-ups. It’s for people trying to grow their businesses, too.”

Score used to operate a branch in Macon from a chapter based in Atlanta. But in October, the Score Middle Georgia chapter was created with branches in Macon and Warner Robins, with more branches expected in other communities. The chapter includes Bibb, Bleckley, Crawford, Dodge, Dooly, Houston, Jones, Laurens, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Twiggs and Wilkinson counties.

The chapter now has 19 volunteers in Macon and Warner Robins. They meet with those seeking help on Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. at the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce in Macon, and 1-3 p.m. at Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce in Warner Robins. For more information or to make an appointment, go to www.middlegeorgia.score.org. The mentor services are free, but Score charges a small fee for its workshops to pay for brochures and other materials.

The chapter has a free event coming up 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on May 5, titled Middle Georgia State of Small Business Summit. It will be held at Middle Georgia State University and will include speakers from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Mercer University, the Macon Economic Development Commission and NewTown Macon. Registration is on the Score Middle Georgia website.

The Score chapter not only partners with the chambers, but also with other groups such as NewTown Macon to help the area grow, Jones said.

“We try to partner with anyone who would like to work toward assisting small businesses with growing and sustaining their business,” she said.

Mentors come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are from Fortune 500 companies or nonprofits, while some have tax backgrounds and others have worked with the military.

Andrew Carlisle has been a Score mentor about a year. He’s not only CEO of Diversified Veterans Engineering & Technical Services in Warner Robins but is also retired from the Air Force after 23 years.

He said he was recruited to join Score because he had been involved with the Georgia Tech Assistance Procurement Center, and he had won the state Veteran Small Business Award last year.

He said he does it because “I want to pay it forward and give back.” He has been able to help people with their business plan and help give them direction.

“I let them know I’m not an accountant, a CPA or an attorney but a mentor to answer their questions,” Carlisle said. “You help give them direction. You never discourage them from their dream.”

Several months ago someone who was already in business came in looking to take his business “to the next level.” The man wanted to go after government contracts at Robins Air Force Base. So Carlisle shared his own experience with getting those contracts.

He enjoys the challenge.

“Paying it forward is the traditional part of any volunteer service,” he said. “I had a pretty good career in the Air Force. ... I like sharing knowledge and sharing business acumen.”

Collier said it’s been hard to work on a strategic plan while working long hours at his business, but he’s found the Score experience to be a positive one.

“I feel like I’m getting closer to making it all happen,” he said. “I appreciate the fact that their organization is out there and assisting entrepreneurs and their business needs.”

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 8:09 PM with the headline "Score Middle Georgia provides mentors for small business owners and start-ups."