SCORE Mentors

09/07/2026

Pin it to the SCOREboard 📌

What's one resource, podcast, app, or book you'd recommend to every entrepreneur?

We'll use the comment section as a sounding board to offer resources and support.

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Have something YOU want to ask other entrepreneurs? DM us to submit your prompts. 📩

09/04/2026

“​​With SCORE you have someone in your corner who can ask you the right questions, connect you with experts, and help you access a world of opportunity.”

For Amanda Chavero, founder of Dear Donor, building a business meant turning a decade of nonprofit experience into a new kind of opportunity: helping small organizations do more without significantly increasing their overhead.

But expertise in her field didn't automatically mean knowing how to build a business.

So Amanda turned to SCORE.

Her mentor, Mark Lancaster, helped her develop a long-term vision, navigate HR questions, distinguish growth from scale, and even plan for maternity leave as her business expanded.

The results came quickly. In Dear Donor's first full year, Amanda raised more than $700,000. The following year, with two employees on her team, she raised $3.2 million with a 40% success rate.

Today, Dear Donor is helping nonprofits build capacity and secure the resources they need to make their missions possible. And Amanda is doing it with the confidence and perspective she gained along the way.

“I love helping my clients capture their dreams,” she says, “and I appreciate SCORE’s help in realizing mine.”

09/04/2026

Are you a small business looking for business funding but feeling unsure of your next step? Don't miss this FREE webinar on 9/17 at 6:00 pm on Access to Capital. Sponsored and presented by TD Bank. Register here: https://bit.ly/3SlCyle

09/03/2026

Quote of the day.

09/03/2026

"You can run a business really well and still be unhappy if the business model doesn’t match your own rhythm and flow."

Excellent read!!

09/03/2026

“With SCORE you have someone in your corner who can ask you the right questions, connect you with experts, and help you access a world of opportunity.”

For Amanda Chavero, founder of Dear Donor, building a business meant turning a decade of nonprofit experience into a new kind of opportunity: helping small organizations do more without significantly increasing their overhead.

But expertise in her field didn't automatically mean knowing how to build a business.

So Amanda turned to SCORE.

Her mentor, Mark Lancaster, helped her develop a long-term vision, navigate HR questions, distinguish growth from scale, and even plan for maternity leave as her business expanded.

The results came quickly. In Dear Donor's first full year, Amanda raised more than $700,000. The following year, with two employees on her team, she raised $3.2 million with a 40% success rate.

Today, Dear Donor is helping nonprofits build capacity and secure the resources they need to make their missions possible. And Amanda is doing it with the confidence and perspective she gained along the way.

“I love helping my clients capture their dreams,” she says, “and I appreciate SCORE’s help in realizing mine.”

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

Kenneth McLaurin, Founder of Evolution Skincare & SHIS and SCORE client, was recently invited to share his work at Atlanta Tech Week.

Reflecting on the opportunity and the people and communities that have helped shape his journey, he said:

“No one builds something meaningful alone.”

From challenging him to think differently to providing mentorship, resources, and connections, SCORE has been part of Kenneth’s journey as he continues to grow his business and expand his vision for its impact.

His story is a reminder that sometimes the right conversation, connection, or piece of advice can change the trajectory of what you're building.

Way to go, Kenneth! We can't wait to see where you GROW next.

09/02/2026

Attention: Small Business Owners. Do you know why and when you need a business valuation? Attend this FREE SCORE webinar on 9/30, at 12:00 pm to find out! Sponsored by Sun Business Valuations. Register here: https://bit.ly/4h4BMSU

08/31/2026

Tax season doesn't only come once a year for many small business owners.

If you're self-employed, run a partnership or own a corporation, the IRS may expect you to pay taxes four times a year rather than in one lump sum each spring.

Learn more in our latest article, brought to you by Block Advisors by H&R Block.

Find out why quarterly taxes matter to your business and how you can take care of them.

08/31/2026

Sometimes tax season arrives before your records are ready. The good news is that the IRS offers a simple tool built for exactly this moment: the tax extension.

The key is understanding what an extension actually does and what it doesn't do.

Learn more in our latest article, brought to you by Block Advisors by H&R Block.

Lear what tax extensions are, what they aren't and how to use them effectively for your business.

08/31/2026

Join SCORE Mentors this TUESDAY at 1 PM for their 'Hiring Employees, Contractors or Family – Avoid Costly Tax and Payroll Mistakes' webinar! 💼

Learn the key differences between employees and independent contractors, understand worker classification requirements, and MORE!

Join here ➡️: https://f.mtr.cool/i7rwhzrlw9

08/31/2026

📚 Low-cost business learning opportunities await!

Join a SCORE Northeast New Jersey webinar or workshop this week and 🚀

08/28/2026

Are you looking to start your own business? Join us for this FREE SCORE webinar to learn about Franchising and how to evaluate whether it's the best start up option for you! Sponsored by FRANNet. Register here: https://bit.ly/46oj2HO

08/27/2026

“Knowing that there are successful entrepreneurs willing to help out new entrepreneurs influenced me to request a mentor.”

When Gavin Escolar discovered Chaga in Alaska, he saw an opportunity to bring the superfood home to and introduce it in new ways through The Chaga Company.

But turning an idea into a growing business meant navigating challenges around funding, scaling, distribution, and finding the right place in the market.

That's where SCORE mentor Pete Slosberg came in.

Pete helped Gavin refine his sales strategy, elevator pitch, marketing, customer acquisition, and plans for growth, giving him a trusted sounding board as he built the business.

Gavin's advice to fellow entrepreneurs? “Find a mentor, listen to your mentor, and keep pushing.”

Because building a business is daunting. You don't have to do it alone.

08/25/2026

SCORE mentor Pablo Conrad knows that mentorship is a two-way exchange.

By sharing his experience with entrepreneurs, he’s also gained new perspectives from the business owners and fellow mentors he’s met along the way. It’s a community where giving back and learning go hand in hand.

That’s what makes the SCORE community so special.

Ready to share what you know and discover what you’ll learn along the way? Become a SCORE mentor. 💙

08/24/2026

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.

08/20/2026

Sometimes the business you start isn't the business you end up building.

When Manasse Shingiro first turned to SCORE in 2016, he was developing a Rwandan Arabica Coffee business. But when circumstances changed, he adapted and founded Casco Bay Cleaning Services instead.

The pivot wasn't the end of the dream. It was the beginning of something bigger.

With guidance from SCORE mentor Donna LeBreux, Manasse developed business plans, identified opportunities for growth, and made informed decisions that helped move Casco Bay Cleaning forward.

In just five years, the company grew from a team of two to more than 100 employees. But for Manasse, success isn't measured only in numbers. He is committed to helping his employees grow, supporting them as they build careers, buy homes, and create better futures for themselves and their families.

Manasse's story is a reminder that sometimes, the path to your dream looks nothing like the path you imagined.