SCORE Announces Top Executives Tapped for Speed Mentoring Conference on March 8, 2012
(SAVANNAH, GA) SCORE is pleased to announce that 13 top business executives from around the region have been selected to serve as mentors during the Speed Mentoring Conference on Thursday, March 8. Among the mentors available to meet with small business owners are Eli Deutsch, Connie Edwards, Lynn Vos, Ken Zapp, Bob Donlon, Jesse Bushkar, Joe Ippoltio, Ben McMakin, Diane Katz, Stephen George, Debra Simmons, Michael Sullivan, Diana Morrison and Stacy Jennings.
During the event, sponsored by media partners the Savannah Morning News and Comcast, participants will have 25 minutes to meet with their mentors about each subject. Each mentor will address a particular subject based on his or her area of business expertise.
Featured Mentors, Topics and Select Tips
Eli Deutsch, SCORE Mentor, Owner, Value Cruises and More
Topic: Finding Your Niche
Connie Edwards, University of Georgia Small Business Development Center
Topic: Business Plans
Lynn Vos, University of Georgia Small Business Development Center
Topic: Pricing for Profit
– Vos’ Top Business Tip: Make sure you understand all the costs before setting your price.
Ken Zapp, Ph.D., SCORE Mentor, Professor Emeritus, Metropolitan State University
Topic: Cash Flow – Business Lifeblood
Bob Donlon, SCORE MENTOR, Founder of The Bookkeeper
Topic: Benefits of Preparing a Budget
– Donlon’s Top Business Tip: Have a specific, concrete, long-term goal in mind when creating a budget. Creating a budget without a goal will create a piece of paper that sits in the bottom drawer of your desk. A goal will force you to make decisions about how you spend each and every dime.
Jesse Bushkar, CEO, Sysconn New Media
Joe Ippolito, Owner and CEO, River Horse Internet Marketing
Topic: The Power of Social Media
– Bushkar’s Top Business Tip: Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing are two of the best ways for businesses to get in front of potential customers and clients, but doing it incorrectly can mean throwing good money after bad.
-Ippolito’s Top Business Tips: Never let you domain name expire (purchase/renew for 10 years minimum). Always make sure you have analytics installed and running on your website.
Ben McMakin, SCORE Mentor, Former Special Agent, IRS Criminal Investigation Division; Business Consultant
Topic: Understanding Financial Reports
Diane L. Katz, Ph.D., SCORE Mentor, President, The Working Circle
Topic: HR Headaches
Stephen George/Debra Simmons, Small Business Assistance Corporation
Topic: Finding the Money
Michael Sullivan, Business Development Manager, The Sullivan Group
Topic: Why is Outsourcing HR Good for Small Business
Diana Morrison, Founder and President, Advertising Specialty Services
Topic: Customer Service Dos and Don’ts
– Morrison’s Top Business Tip: Service is an overused word…don’t say it, do it!
Stacy Jennings, Marketing Director Savannah Morning News
Topic: Tips for Advertising
In addition to the Speed Mentoring sessions, participants will enjoy lunch and a presentation by Dr. Timothy Mescon, president of Columbus State University, who has written more than 200 articles and cases and has co-authored four books, including Entrepreneurship: Venture Initiation, Management and Development.
Small business owners can still sign up for the Speed Mentoring event. The cost of registration is $19.95 per person and $9.95 for additional parties from the same organization and includes the mentoring sessions and lunch. Participants will also have the opportunity to schedule a follow-up appointment. Registration for the Speed Mentoring Conference begins at 8 a.m. at the Savannah Morning News Auditorium, 1375 Chatham Parkway. Coffee and refreshments will be served during the registration. The program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information or to register, please call SCORE at 912-652-4335, email
info@scoresav.org or visit www.savannah.score.org.