(SARASOTA, Fla., February 16, 2017) Manasota SCORE honored Carolyn Primus as its 2016 Client of the Year at the Chapter’s 52nd Annual Awards Luncheon on February 13, 2017, at Michael’s on East. Primus worked with SCORE mentor Bill Coole to improve marketing and distribution for bioactive dental products she developed and sold through Avalon Biomed Inc. Coole brought on mentors Neil Comber and Norm Silverstein to create a team of experts to help Primus with expanding and eventually selling the business. In accepting the award, Primus thanked her mentors and Chapter Chair Dennis Zink. She said that if she had not read Zink’s column in the Herald Tribune’s Business Weekly, she would not have known about SCORE and the organization’s business mentoring services.
Manasota SCORE has grown its in-business client base to over 45% and strengthened its team approach to mentoring clients. Current clients range in age from 15 to 90 years old and represent every stage of a business life cycle.
A new award for Entrepreneur of the Year was presented to Brendan Powers of United Drone Services LLC. Powers, an Army Reserve Black Hawk pilot, was nominated by his SCORE mentors, Richard “King” Barnard and Bob Melberth. Powers was introduced to SCORE when he attended a business planning workshop and worked closely with SCORE mentors as he explored starting a business or buying into a franchise. Powers and his investors opted to start a business, which has already signed one lucrative contract, with others in negotiations.
The Chapter also recognized the outstanding contributions of SCORE volunteers. A new award, the Nick Nicolai Award, was presented to Ron Tucker for being an enthusiastic mentor and team player. Pat Loftus, Marketing Team Lead, was selected for the 2016 VIP Chairman’s Award. An Emeritus Certificate was presented to Charles Sax, who has been active in the chapter since 2006 and served in several chapter leadership roles.
Nine volunteers were rewarded for their outstanding contributions by induction into the Manasota Stars: Bill Coole, Rich DeGennaro, Robert Dworski, Bruce Freeman, Barry Josephson, Phil Lahm, Lloyd Nurick, Cindy Readnower and Bob Wolfe. Eight existing Manasota Stars recognized for continuing to provide outstanding services include: Richard “King” Barnard, Pat Loftus, Jim Repp, Alan Richards, Stefan Sommerfield, Jon Stuart, Ron Tucker and Eric Warneke.
Earning Chapter Certificates of Appreciation were: Robert Melberth, Chapter Vice Chair; Peter Gruits, assimilation of the Business Model Canvas into the Simple Steps workshop series; and Fred Dunayer for outstanding work with the Been There, Done That! podcasts. Dennis Zink also received a Certificate of Appreciation from past chair William Murray.
Keynote speaker Eric Thompson, Vice President of SCORE’s Southeast Region, was introduced by District Director Ralph Warmack. The Southeast District covers eight states and includes 70 chapters with 2,000 volunteers. Thompson said that chapters are “where it all happens,” where mentors provide clients with valuable services. He thanked SCORE clients for helping to grow the organization through their success, and he congratulated Manasota SCORE for the chapter’s team approach to managing and growing the organization. He said that the Chapter had achieved a level of success that is now attracting more volunteers with the right attitude for serving SCORE clients.
For information about volunteering with the organization, attending workshops and events, or engaging SCORE business mentoring services, visit www.manasota.score.org.
About Manasota SCORE
SCORE is a national, nonprofit organization, started in 1964, that has over 11,000 members, retired and active business executives who donate their time providing education and free, confidential mentoring services for people who are starting a new or growing an existing business.
Manasota SCORE has 80 volunteers providing education and mentoring services in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The organization conducts business startup and development workshops and hosts CEO roundtables and Success Strategies for Business Owners MeetUp sessions. They also provide online resources, including business templates, study courses in English and Spanish, and podcasts. For more information or to contact Manasota SCORE, call 941.955.1029 or visit www.manasota.score.org.
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