The COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting shutdowns in 2020 negatively impacted countless organizations.
But for the volunteers of SCORE Bucks County, they were busier than ever.
SCORE Bucks County, part of the national SCORE, provided 1,767 mentoring sessions to aspiring small business owners and entrepreneurs, compared to 1,200 the previous year. For the 2021 fiscal year, which concluded Sept. 30, the Bucks chapter handled an unprecedented 3,055 mentoring requests.
According to the chapter’s chairwoman Linda Zangrilli, this influx of client requests is due to several factors.
One is that the pandemic left many jobless and with extra time on their hands to finally make their dream of launching a business a reality. Another is because SCORE Bucks County acquired half of the now-extinct Montgomery County chapter. Additionally, many business owners were granted PPP and other loans from the Small Business Administration and needed help understanding what the funds could be used for.
Regardless of why a client reaches out to SCORE, the organization’s mission remains the same – to help small businesses start, grow and thrive. Mentors provide this service on a volunteer basis. In Bucks, the county’s 50 active mentors have dwindled to about 40, and more are needed to help meet the ever-increasing demand.
“The mentoring is very rewarding because you’re helping people,” said Zangrilli. “Clients come to us to learn, but we learn so much from them. As you build a relationship with them, you’re learning about their area of expertise.”
Currently, SCORE Bucks County is seeking mentors of varying backgrounds, from accountants and lawyers, to those who understand social media and today’s digital landscape.
Zangrilli stressed that previously starting a business isn’t a prerequisite for becoming a mentor. In fact, she is a prime example of this. Though Zangrilli came from corporate America, her vast experience in management and communication has benefited countless clients over her five years of involvement with the chapter.
Mentors can either be working or retired, as long as they’re passionate about helping others. They have the flexibility to set their own schedules and can take on as many clients as they’re able. When a prospective client submits a request for assistance, they’re assigned to the mentor whose background best matches what they’re looking for. Zangrilli explained that mentors should maintain ongoing contact with mentees as their journey to launching a business unfolds.
“The goal is to not just have one mentoring session and be done with it,” she said. “We like to establish relationships with our clients.”
Some of Zangrilli’s clients have been with her for several years. Though their businesses are now established, she serves as a “sounding board” for any ideas they may have to make their business better.
Clients include those seeking to start a new business, as well as those who have an up-and-running business but want to revamp it. They and their mentor have the option of meeting in-person at one of SCORE Bucks County’s offices in Lower Bucks, Doylestown or Quakertown, or via Zoom, which has become a driving force in the chapter’s operations since the start of the pandemic. Thanks to this technology, mentors have the opportunity to lend their expertise to aspiring entrepreneurs located anywhere in the country.
“If they want what you have to offer in terms of your experience, they can contact you directly, and so you can have clients in California,” said Zangrilli, who mentors one woman who recently moved to Portugal.
When an individual is approved to become a mentor, they undergo training so that they’re fully prepared to serve clients in need. In addition to online training by the national SCORE organization, new mentors shadow an experienced one to see how the role works in real time. They’re trained on how to respectfully listen and analyze a client’s vision, even when it’s something they believe won’t work.
If somebody wants to get involved with SCORE Bucks County but doesn’t have enough time to commit to being a mentor, there are other options, including leading virtual workshops on various topics or serving as a subject matter expert.
“If our mentors run into a situation where they need to call somebody in because it’s out of their area of expertise, they can call upon these people to help them,” said Zangrilli.
To apply to become a volunteer, or for more information on SCORE Bucks County, visit buckscounty.score.org, email buckscounty@scorevolunteer.org or call 215-943-8850.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
