SCORE Mentors

10/22/2026

Flowers are personal. The experience of buying them should be, too. 💐

For Connie Estey and her husband, Paul, a passion for floral design sparked a bigger vision: create a business where customers feel like family, flowers are fresh and affordable, and every interaction feels personal.

Together, they turned that vision into Seawalk Custom Florals, an e-commerce business serving Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, building a reputation for thoughtful service and strong community ties.

But growing a business takes more than a great product. With guidance from SCORE mentor Derrick Smith, Connie and Paul strengthened their business knowledge, navigated the complexities of growth, and made more informed strategic decisions.

Today, Seawalk Custom Florals is blooming beyond a passion project, proving that personalized service and genuine community connection can help a small business stand out.

10/20/2026

SCORE mentor Nahrin Alkhas knows that behind every thriving small business is a community of people who believe in its potential. 💙

From mentors sharing their expertise to resource partners opening doors, it takes a team to help entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality.

For Nahrin, being part of that community means more than giving back. It means helping build a world where small business owners feel supported, encouraged, and empowered to keep going.

Because no entrepreneur should have to build their dream alone.

Ready to be part of a community that makes a difference? Become a SCORE mentor. 💙

10/19/2026

💡 Ready to take your business to the next level? SCORE offers live webinars and local workshops to help you start, grow, and thrive.

10/15/2026

“Working with OD Greens makes me feel like me again.”

For some veterans, the transition to civilian life brings challenges that are difficult to put into words. For Don Tobul, creating a space where veterans could find purpose, connection, and peace became a mission close to his heart.

An Army veteran himself, Don combined his experiences in the military with his backgrounds in agriculture and mental health counseling to create OD Greens. Through hydroponic farming, the organization provides veterans with workplace training and a supportive environment that promotes mental well-being.

But turning that vision into a sustainable business was a challenge of its own. Don had no business background and felt overwhelmed by everything involved in getting started.

SCORE mentors helped him identify priorities, navigate obstacles, and break his vision into manageable phases. Their guidance gave him the structure and confidence to turn his idea into reality.

Today, OD Greens offers more than an opportunity to grow food. It creates space for veterans to develop skills, connect with others who understand their experiences, and rediscover a sense of purpose.

For Don, building this business was about bringing together everything he had learned throughout his life to serve a community that had given so much.

Sometimes, the most meaningful businesses grow from a desire to help others find their way forward.

10/15/2026

LAST CHANCE! 🚨 One week until From Visibility to Growth!

If you’ve been meaning to register, now’s the time.

Spend the day connecting with other women in business, learning practical strategies, and building relationships that can help you move your business forward.

💜 From Visibility to Growth: A Women in Business Development Program

📅 Friday, October 23
⏰ 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
📍 National Bank of Arizona Conference Center
💰 Only $39 — breakfast & lunch included!

Don’t miss this opportunity to step away from the day-to-day and invest in your business, your network, and your growth.

👉 Register now: https://bit.ly/WIBOCT2026

10/13/2026

Sometimes, the biggest business win is realizing how far you've come.

When SCORE client Dave started his business 16 years ago, he was working out of his backyard garage with no college degree and no business experience. Today, he's built a profitable automotive business, paid off $167,000 in debt, and secured the financing he needs to grow his three companies.

But the biggest change isn't just in the numbers. It's in how Dave sees himself and what he's accomplished.

After a decade of working with SCORE mentors and learning to understand the financial side of business, Dave presented his growth strategy to four banks. All four made offers.

Reflecting on the milestone, he shared:

“I'm finally making that transition from the ‘I should be here, I should be doing this’ syndrome to the ‘look what I've done, look what I've got, and look where I'm going’ syndrome.”

Mentorship can help entrepreneurs build stronger businesses, make more informed decisions, and recognize the progress they've made along the way.

Sometimes, it's time to stop focusing on how far you have to go and celebrate how far you've already come.

Way to GROW, Dave!

10/12/2026

📚 Low-cost business learning opportunities await!

Join a SCORE Greater Phoenix webinar or workshop this week and 🚀

10/08/2026

Motherhood changed Madhu’s life. It also sparked the idea that would change her career.

After earning her master’s degree in electrical engineering and working in the semiconductor industry, Madhu found herself searching for a diaper bag that balanced two things: the practicality she needed as a mom and the style she wanted. When she couldn’t find it, she decided to create it herself.

That idea became Pretty Pokets, a line of stylish, practical bags designed to make life easier for women on the go.

But turning a great product idea into a growing business takes more than creativity. Madhu needed guidance on everything from e-commerce and supply chains to protecting her ideas.

She found that support through SCORE. Since her first counseling session in 2016, Madhu has met with mentors more than 50 times, tapping into their expertise as she grows her business. SCORE mentors have helped her navigate challenges, explore new opportunities, and keep moving forward.

Today, Pretty Pokets has built a loyal customer base, expanded into boutique retail, and successfully repaid its first Kiva crowdfunding loan. Now, Madhu is raising funds again to grow her product line.

She didn't just create the bag she couldn't find. She built a business around making everyday life a little easier for women like her.

10/06/2026

SCORE mentor Jyoti Jaiswal knows there’s something powerful about watching an entrepreneur go from “I have an idea” to “I think I can really do this.” 💙

Behind every business is someone taking a risk, figuring things out as they go, and trying to turn a vision into something real. They shouldn’t have to do it alone.

Sometimes, the right guidance, resource, or conversation can be the thing that turns uncertainty into momentum.

That’s why mentors show up. To listen. To share what they know. To remind entrepreneurs that they have someone in their corner.

Ready to be that person for an entrepreneur? Become a SCORE mentor.

10/05/2026

Ready to take your business From Visibility to Growth?

Join SCORE Greater Phoenix for a full day designed to help women in business build connections, gain practical insights, and discover new opportunities for growth.

✨ Connect with other women in business
✨ Learn practical strategies you can put to work
✨ Expand your professional network
✨ Invest in your business and yourself

📅 Friday, October 23, 2026
⏰ 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
📍 National Bank of Arizona Conference Center
💰 $39 — includes breakfast & lunch!

Space is limited, so make plans to join us!

👉 Register: https://bit.ly/WIBOCT2026

10/02/2026

Manufacturing takes more than engineering. It takes vision, problem-solving, and the business know-how to turn an idea into a thriving company. 🏭

For National Manufacturing Day, meet Brad, founder of AMS Galaxy USA, a manufacturer of precision dairy equipment helping farmers reclaim something invaluable: time with their families.

Growing up on a dairy farm, Brad saw firsthand how demanding the work could be. He wanted to help other farmers change that story through robotic milking technology. But when it came to running a business, he quickly realized that engineering expertise was only part of the equation.

That’s where SCORE came in. Through mentorship, Brad gained guidance in sales, marketing, accounting, finance, and strategy, the essential business skills that help manufacturers grow beyond the production floor.

“We wouldn't be where we are without SCORE,” Brad shared.

This National Manufacturing Day, we're celebrating the manufacturers who turn innovation into impact, and the mentors who help them build stronger businesses.

10/01/2026

New month, new opportunities to grow your business! 💡

Our October webinar lineup covers practical topics to help you work smarter, make informed financial decisions, and plan for what’s next.

👉 Swipe through to see what’s coming up, choose the sessions that interest you, and register for free!

We look forward to learning with you this month. 💙

10/01/2026

09/30/2026

09/29/2026

Real end-of-year SMB planning = no fluff.

What’s one unwritten rule you have for holiday prep? Drop it below 👇

09/28/2026

Pin it to the SCOREboard 📌

What's one skill Future You will thank you for learning?

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. 📩

09/24/2026

“Starting Mothership Coffee Roasters was personal for me.”

For Juanny Romero, coffee became a vehicle for creating the kind of connection and community she wished she had growing up. A child of immigrants from the rough side of Queens, she built Mothership Coffee Roasters around a simple mission: create meaningful connections through great coffee.

Fifteen years later, that mission has grown into six cafes, regional retail partnerships, and coffee sourced from women-owned farming cooperatives.

Along the way, SCORE has been part of Juanny’s journey, providing mentorship, encouragement, and the perspective she needed to grow from a passionate entrepreneur into the CEO of a multi-chain, multi-vertical business.

But for Juanny, success isn't just about how much the business has grown. It's about what that growth makes possible: supporting women coffee producers, investing in her community, and creating spaces where people can connect.

Her advice to other entrepreneurs? Embrace mentorship. The right guidance can help you break through limiting beliefs and see what's possible.

09/24/2026

Join SCORE Mentors on September 29 at 1 PM for their 'Beyond the Barcode: Manage Inventory, Navigate Retail Channels and Prepare to Scale' webinar! 🛍️

Discover how barcodes can support inventory management, prepare your business for wholesale distribution, and MORE!

Register here ➡️: https://f.mtr.cool/hpli68wfej