SCORE clients review help received from group
The following people opened businesses with the help of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). Each has offered a few comments about his or her dealings with the group and the help they received.
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– Jim Palo, owner, The Goal Post, a tavern in Fairchance. The Goal Post several years ago had a “Freak” windstorm destroy the place. Fortunately nobody was injured, but the insurance did not cover enough to rebuilt. SCORE helped Palo and his wife prepare a business plan and financial projections, which resulted in an SBA Loan with National City Bank. The Loan has been paid as scheduled and Him Palo is planning on expansion and remodeling to the facility. Jim credits SCORE and particularly his counselor, John Buchanan, with giving us “Knowledge and insight which truly helped us get beck in business.”
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– Joe Carei, owner and chef of Caliegh’s Restaurant in Uniontown. “When John Buchanan was with National City Bank, he helped me get my first loan to open my restaurant in Brownsville. After I sold the Brownsville business and opened the Uniontown restaurant, I found Mr. Buchanan had retired and was doing volunteer work with SCORE. I called him with some business questions and found him extremely helpful. It is comforting to know that I have this resource available and I still call John Buchanan for financial ‘reality checks’ from time-to-time.’
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– Rich and Wendy Travelena, owners, Uniontown Kawasaki. The Travelenas opened the dealership in January on Route 51 about 5 miles North of Uniontown. Rich credits SCORE, and particularly John Buchanan, with guiding him on virtually all facets from buying the location, to drafting a business plan to getting appropriate financing. “We had to submit a business plan to Kawasaki headquarters in order to get approved as a dealer. The regional manager for Kawasaki said our business plan was one of the finest he had seen. I was holding a full time job during the year of planning to open this dealership and I doubt if I could have gotten it done without John Buchanan’s guidance and input,” Rich said.
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– Susan McCarthy, owner, McCarthy Public Relations. “I had been caught in a downsizing movement after six years in public relations with Nemacolin Woodlands. The Uniontown Chamber of Commerce suggested I talk with John Buchanan at SCORE. After reading my resume’, he encouraged me to start my own firm. Mr. Buchanan not only steered me toward some early clients but offered many suggestions, which made my business, plan much easier. His daughter had started her own PR firm in Philadelphia a number of years earlier and between the two of them, I had some wonderful encouragement and guidance in getting my business started.’
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– Linda Maust, owner of God’s Footprints, a Christian Bookstore. “I knew I wanted to open a Christian bookstore but had no idea how to get started. John Buchanan of SCORE guided us every step of the way. He developed a business plan by making us project sales and expenses and then helped with marketing, sales, cost control and financing plans. He still steps in occasionally to see how we’re doing and we still use his projections as benchmarks to measure our progress.’
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– Woody Burd, owner of Burd Sunoco and Gas Station and Convenience Store on Route 40 in Farmington. “I had a great deal of help from the Small Business Development Center at St. Vincent College and from the Sunoco Corp. but I frequently turned to John Buchanan at SCORE to ‘reality check’ my numbers and get advice on financing options. I still use some of the sales and profit projections we worked on to bench mark our progress. Doing well.’
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– Sisters of St. Basil at Mt. St. Macrina, Sister Ruth Plante, on expanding the religious item gift shop there. “Once I signed on with Score, John Buchanan and I had a number of telephone conversations concerning a number of business issues. He was most helpful with suggestions about expanding our store activities and spent several hours visiting Mt. St. Macrina to learn more about our overall operations. It is nice to know we have this resource available when we need it.’
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– Terry White, owner, dance school in Connellsville. “I pretty much knew what I needed to do to get my dance studio off the ground. However, I found it very comforting and helpful to have Mr. Beels and Mr. Buchanan at SCORE available as ‘sounding boards’ as I progressed with my plans.’
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– Bill Ross, owner of a bed and breakfast, The Inne at Watson’s Choice. “I’ve been meeting regularly with John Buchanan at SCORE for the past two years. His vast knowledge of business and finance has proven invaluable to us.’
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– Peggy Rice, owner, Faywest Drug Screening, drug testing service in Connellsville. “I wish we had talked to John Buchanan at SCORE before we opened for business. He made several suggestions, which should help us develop business. Good resource. Good ideas.’
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– John Hice, independent painting contractor “I wanted to start my own business but needed help in getting started. After several meetings with John Buchanan I not only had the confidence to get going but had an idea of how to run the business. I’m grateful to SCORE for all the assistance they gave me in getting started.’
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– Sterling Burnworth, owner, SKB Machine Ship in Republic. “My sons and I wanted to start our own machine shop. Meeting with Mr. Buchanan of SCORE was most helpful since he had loaned money to businesses of this type and was familiar with many of the inherent risks.’
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– Dave McIntyre, owner, JCR Enterprises Inc., now known as Pine Knob Ventures LLC. “I managed an established business that does electrical installations of computer/point-of-sale systems for retail businesses. I had the opportunity to buy the business but needed financial advice because of the complexities of the transaction. I contacted SCORE and got excellent advice on all facets of this business opportunity. John Buchanan even helped us locate financing and a new location. As a result, we moved our headquarters from West Virginia to downtown Uniontown with some 22, (now 25) employees. I really appreciate the time and expert advice we got from SCORE in making this buy-out possible.’
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– Nicole Marie Shearer, owner, The Attic Salon, Hair and Nails, Indian Head. “I needed to expand, so I called SCORE and got advice on how to expand my facilities, how to finance it. I now own a house near my present salon and am getting it ready to move in. Doing well, thanks to SCORE and Mr. Buchanan for good advice.’
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– Bill Knight, owner, Laurel Private Investigation Security Service. “I went to SCORE with a plan to expand my business. After several meetings with John Buchanan, he made me aware of some business risks I hadn’t even considered. I appreciate the time and really sound advice I got from SCORE. It’s wonderful that Fayette County has a resource such as SCORE.’
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– Vickie Sue Yezbak, owner, Vickie Sue’s Crafts. “I developed a business plan to open an arts and crafts, teaching/supply studio. I took the plan to SCORE and got some valuable suggestions. I am now open in Hopwood in an already existing and established location.’