How Retired Executives of SCORE Help Next-Gen Entrepreneurs

Episode description:  

When people approach middle age, you might expect them to begin thinking about retirement, but these days, many people are far from winding down. In fact, they’re just getting started—as part of a growing cohort of first-time entrepreneurs.  These 50-plus entrepreneurs are joining younger generations of start-up business owners, often using their decades of experience, sizable professional networks and financial assets to start and sustain their business. But there’s another invaluable resource that may be one of our nation’s best-kept secrets: It’s called SCORE, a nonprofit organization created 60 years ago as a partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, originally an acronym for the Service Corps of Retired Executives. In today’s episode, Ann Middleman, the chair of the Long Island Chapter of SCORE, talks about the wealth of free services, programs, courses, workshops, counseling and tools that SCORE offers through dozens of chapters to thousands of budding entrepreneurs nationwide—no matter what their age.  Like many SCORE volunteers, Ann is a business mentor, using the considerable experiences and skills from her own marketing career to “pay it forward” for the next wave of entrepreneurs. She’ll talk about why volunteers join SCORE; how you can participate in the organization’s programs and services; and offer vivid examples of entrepreneurs who have worked with SCORE, not only leading to individual success stories, but contributing to the vibrancy of our continually renewing economy.

 Guest description: 

Ann Middleman became a Mentor for SCORE in 2016, following a career in marketing and market research which culminated in her establishing a consulting practice in 2002. In her consulting practice, Ann has worked with business-to-business as well as consumer-facing companies in various industries, helping them make decisions based on information, rather than assumptions. This has contributed to Ann’s mentoring career, especially with people starting consulting practices, “solopreneurships,” and service businesses. She has received nearly perfect ratings from her SCORE clients and has also been a frequent workshop presenter. Ann has been Chair of the Long Island Chapter of this national non-profit organization since 2022. On her watch, the chapter has grown by about 20%, offering free, confidential one-on-one mentoring sessions to anyone starting or operating a business in the United States. The chapter also offers free workshops and webinars as well as a very extensive online library with articles and templates to help any businessperson at any stage of business creation and operation. The volunteers in the chapter represent experience and expertise on a vast spectrum of subjects, from corporate structures and tax implications, to marketing, finance, IT, business plans and operations.

Contact: ann.middleman@scorevolunteer.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annmiddleman/

Website: ADM Marketing & Research Consulting

http://www.admmarketing.com/