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SCORE can connect you with interview sources, data
reports and the latest on issues impacting small businesses.
Email media@score.org or visit our media resources online.
www.score.org
OF SERVING AMERICA’S SMALL BUSINESSES
PRESS KIT
Your Source for Small Business Reporting
Key Facts and Stats
about SCORE
Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow or
successfully exit a business.
SCORE’s diverse nationwide network of 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert small
business mentoring, resources and education in all 50 states and territories.
SCORE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a resource partner of the SBA.
SCORE volunteers provide 4 million hours a year of critical, timely mentoring and
training to help small business owners navigate funding options, find customers, respond to
economic challenges and adapt daily operations.
3 Facts about Small Businesses Nationwide
Small businesses employ
45.9% of American
workers, or about
59 Million people
Source:
U.S. Small Business Administration
70% of small business
owners are aware of AI
tools, but only 40 percent
are actively using them
Source:
webinar hosted by SCORE
Small businesses with
fewer than 50 employees,
provide 42% of all jobs in
rural America
Source:
SCORE
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www.score.org
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SCORE can connect you with interview sources, data reports and the latest on issues impacting small businesses.
Email media@score.org or visit our media resources online.
12 Months of National
Small Business Stories
January For National Mentoring Month, highlight
how SCORE mentors are helping small business owners
set themselves up for success in the new year.
Talk to SCORE business experts helping entrepreneurs
gain funding, grow their business, prepare for disasters
and create efficiencies using AI and tech.
February Spotlight Black-owned business success
stories this Black History Month.
March Celebrate female entrepreneurs breaking
barriers in male-dominated industries for Women’s
History Month.
April Meet the expert mentors unlocking business
growth and helping entrepreneurs overcome challenges
for free during National Volunteer Month.
Share how local business executives and small business
owners can make a difference in your community by
volunteering with SCORE.
May Spotlight small businesses that scaled and
expanded with SCORE’s mentorship for National Small
Business Month.
Get hyperlocal for National Small Business Week
(NSBW) from May 4-10.
June Summer is here! Farmers markets, outdoor
events, kids out of school – feature small businesses
offering unique products or services this season.
July Celebrate Independence Day by discussing
veteran-owned small businesses achieving financial
independence with SCORE’s help.
Share stories from America’s heartland showcasing
rural small business owners, their challenges and their
positive community impacts.
August Ramping up for back to school, shine a light on
small businesses offering daycare, afterschool camps,
tutoring and student-centric products or services.
National Dog Day is August 26 – the perfect time to
feature products and services for our beloved canine
pets from local small businesses, from doggie day care,
grooming, pet supplies, training and more!
September Find out what the small business
trends are – who is starting new businesses and what
are their biggest challenges? What is the #1 reason
entrepreneurs fail and how does SCORE mentoring help
them avoid pitfalls?
Fall is here! How are local small businesses adapting
operations and tapping into marketing trends to engage
new customers?
October As a tie-in to Halloween, delve into how
SCORE helps entrepreneurs avoid business nightmares.
What are the top 10 tips from small business experts
to create efficiencies for YOUR small business using AI
tools?
November Spotlight veterans who became
entrepreneurs in advance of Veterans Day.
Tap small business owners for a story on how they are
preparing for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and
the coming holiday season.
December As the New Year approaches, feature
tips from small business experts on how to adjust your
business plan for the year ahead.
Highlight 12 new businesses that launched this past
year and their best advice for anyone starting a
business.
www.score.org
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SCORE can connect you with interview sources, data reports and the latest on issues impacting small businesses.
Email media@score.org or visit our media resources online.
AMS Galaxy USA is a manufacturer and distributor of precision dairy equipment run by Brad Biehl, a
fourth generation dairy farmer and mechanical engineer. Brad’s experience growing up on the family farm
made him an advocate for American dairy farmers and generational farming. After more than a decade in
an engineering career, he dreamed of coming back to the farm and finding a way to build efficiencies into
dairy operations to allow for more time to enjoy life outside of the barn. Recognizing that he knew a lot
about engineering and dairy farming but not about business ownership, Brad sought help from SCORE
for mentoring and support with marketing, sales, accounting and finance to get his business on track. His
commitment to provide efficient and profitable equipment solutions to family farms, through precision
dairy equipment including robotic milking, automatic calf feeding and more, is driven by his passion for
dairy farming and engineering. These technologies allow for everything on the farm to get done faster and
better, helping dairy farms operate more efficiently and improve flexibility in their daily routines. Working
with SCORE mentor Hugh MacMaster, Brad believes he would not be where he is today with the help and
support of SCORE and Hugh’s experience to guide him on the path to success.
Example of SCORE
Small Business Success Story
Looking for a Good Story?
SCORE has thousands of small business success stories across the country.
Seach our online library here or let us suggest some innovative entrepreneurs
worth talking about. Email media@SCORE.org to get connected.
www.score.org
4
SCORE can connect you with interview sources, data reports and the latest on issues impacting small businesses.
Email media@score.org or visit our media resources online.
Looking for a Good Story?
SCORE has thousands of small business success stories across the country.
Seach our online library here or let us suggest some innovative entrepreneurs
worth talking about. Email media@SCORE.org to get connected.
Casco Bay Cleaning, a top-notch janitorial service for commercial buildings, was founded in 2017
by Manasse Shingiro, a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Manasse humbly acknowledges the
collective effort that has propelled Casco Bay Cleaning’s success. In just five years, the company has
experienced tremendous growth, expanding from a team of two to over a hundred dedicated employees.
Through their dedication and hard work, Casco Bay Cleaning has contributed to the dreams of their
employees, assisting them in buying houses and fostering a sense of pride in their achievements. The
instrumental role played by SCORE and Manasse’s dedicated mentor, Donna LeBreux, cannot be
overstated. Leveraging her extensive knowledge and experience, she has helped Casco Bay Cleaning
identify new opportunities for growth and development, enabling informed decisions that have positively
impacted the business.
Example of SCORE
Small Business Success Story
www.score.org
5
SCORE can connect you with interview sources, data reports and the latest on issues impacting small businesses.
Email media@score.org or visit our media resources online.
Looking for a Good Story?
SCORE has thousands of small business success stories across the country.
Seach our online library here or let us suggest some innovative entrepreneurs
worth talking about. Email media@SCORE.org to get connected.
Kat the Farmer is a salad-centric farm and food company specializing in salad crops grown under Certified
Naturally Grown. A one-woman operation, Kat makes prepared salads for salad subscriptions along with
a line of wholesome salad dressings to showcase local foods and show all Virginians why the world’s best
salads are always locally grown. Kat worked with her SCORE Mentor to fill out the cash flow templates
and figure out if a small farm income could support a loan, and if so, for how much. After launching her
business, Kat saw 50% growth into her second season.
Example of SCORE
Small Business Success Story
www.score.org
6
SCORE can connect you with interview sources, data reports and the latest on issues impacting small businesses.
Email media@score.org or visit our media resources online.
Looking for an Expert Source?
SCORE has thousands of small business experts across the country from diverse
backgrounds and industries, bringing extensive business experience and depth of knowledge
on a wide array of business topics. Email media@SCORE.org to get connected.
Meet Some of Our Expert
Small Business Mentors
Al Everett
Traverse City, MI
See Profile
Areas of Expertise
• Management & Operations
• Marketing
• Product Development
Industry Experience
• Manufacturing
• Professional Services
• Real Estate
• Retail
Suvendoo Ray
Seattle, WA
See Profile
Areas of Expertise
• Sales
• Marketing
• Aviation
• Financing
• Technology
• Engineering
• Product Design
Industry Experience
• Manufacturing
SCORE mentors help entrepreneurs by sharing their knowledge and real-world business experience
and expertise. Last year alone, SCORE volunteers provided 4 million hours of critical, timely mentoring
and education, supporting clients in navigating funding options, finding customers, responding to
economic challenges, and adapting daily operations. If you are working on a small business story, we have
experienced mentors who can weigh in with timely, expert insights. Meet some of our volunteers:
Coco Zhong
Silicon Valley, CA
See Profile
Areas of Expertise
• Import & Export
• Management & Operations
• Marketing
• Strategy Development
Industry Experience
• Retail
www.score.org
7
SCORE can connect you with interview sources, data reports and the latest on issues impacting small businesses.
Email media@score.org or visit our media resources online.
Looking for an Expert Source?
SCORE has thousands of small business experts across the country from diverse
backgrounds and industries, bringing extensive business experience and depth of knowledge
on a wide array of business topics. Email media@SCORE.org to get connected.
Meet Some of Our Expert
Small Business Mentors
Patti Williams
Raleigh, NC
See Profile
Areas of Expertise
• Government Regulations
• Human Resources
• Management & Operations
Industry Experience
• Professional Services
• Wellness, Healthcare &
Home Health
• Retail
Tom Soldini
Cape Cod, MA
See Profile
Areas of Expertise
• Business Plan
• Cash Flow
• Customer Service
• Management & Operations
• Marketing Strategy
• Sales
• Technology
Industry Experience
• Business Coaching &
Consulting
• Information Technology
• Professional Services
• Real Estate
Ricardo Casas
Miami, FL
See Profile
Areas of Expertise
• Business Plan
• Management & Operations
• Marketing
Industry Experience
• Real Estate
• Retail
• Wholesale
www.score.org
8
SCORE can connect you with interview sources, data reports and the latest on issues impacting small businesses.
Email media@score.org or visit our media resources online.
To mark our 60th anniversary, SCORE hosted a series of pitch competitions nationwide. More than 2,200
small business owners across America applied to compete for $175,000 in prize money while gaining
national exposure and mentorship. The events were designed to showcase innovative entrepreneurs
and provide them with the resources and mentorship to grow their businesses. Sixty finalists presented
their pitch before live panels of judges, and 15 small business owners were selected as winners to receive
funding to advance their business goals. Learn more in our press release.
About SCORE’s 60th
Anniversary Pitch Competition
www.score.org
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SCORE can connect you with interview sources, data reports and the latest on issues impacting small businesses.
Email media@score.org or visit our media resources online.
Mission
SCORE’s mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through free and accessible
mentoring and education.
Services
Mentorship: One-on-one mentoring from experienced business professionals
Workshops and Seminars: Educational events covering a wide range of business topics
Online Resources: Access to webinars, articles, templates and tools on SCORE.org
Local Chapters: More than 200 chapters providing localized support and networking opportunities
Impact
Years of Service: 60 years (since 1964)
Businesses Assisted: More than 17 million
Volunteer Mentors: More than 10,000
Follow Us
www.score.org
@SCOREMentors
@SCOREMentors
SCORE’s 60 Years of Serving
Small Businesses
linkedin.com/company/score-mentors
@score_mentors
@SCORESmallBusiness
Twenty percent of new businesses fail in their first year and half fail in their first five years, according
to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SCORE addresses this challenge by providing small
business owners and entrepreneurs with free mentoring and resources to successfully start, grow and
thrive for the life of their business.
www.score.org
10
SCORE can connect you with interview sources, data reports and the latest on issues impacting small businesses.
Email media@score.org or visit our media resources online.