SCORE Mentors

10/14/2026

“When I started, I didn’t know much about business. I felt like it was really good to have somebody who’s been through the ropes and could help me.”

Alisa Primavera knew how to help people live healthier lives. Building a business? That was a different challenge.

Driven by a passion for holistic health, Alisa founded InShape Incentive in 2018 with a mission to help people achieve wellness through nutrition, physical fitness, and a strong mind-body connection. But turning that vision into a sustainable business required a new set of skills.

That's when she found SCORE.

Working with mentor Prabhat Kumar (PK), Alisa gained more than business advice. She gained a trusted partner who understood her goals and helped her navigate everything from taxes to identifying her ideal clients.

“PK knows me, he knows my business and he knows a lot of the challenges I’m going to face,” she shared.

Today, InShape Incentive empowers others to live their best lives, and Alisa credits SCORE with helping her turn passion into a thriving business.

“I think they’re genuinely invested in your success and the success of your business,” she said. “Honestly, I couldn’t have done it without SCORE.”

Learn how SCORE helped Alisa build a business rooted in wellness and fueled by mentorship.

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!

10/13/2026

Growth often requires capital, but choosing the right financing solution can make all the difference. In this webinar, we'll discuss: ✔ Financing options available to small businesses. Determining how much capital you need. Repayment planning and lender expectations. Using funding for inventory, equipment, staffing, or expansion. Gain the knowledge you need to make smart funding decisions and support your business growth.

Date: October 21, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM

Follow the link to register:

Access to Capital

10/13/2026

Happy Birthday to SCORE Manasota Mentor Kim Pavkovich!

Today we celebrate Kim Pavkovich, a valued SCORE Manasota mentor, chapter treasurer, and accomplished entrepreneur. As co-founder of Kimal Lumber, Kim helped build a local business that grew to employ more than 250 people before its successful sale in 2018. Today, he generously shares decades of real-world experience with aspiring and established business owners throughout our community.

Please join us in wishing Kim a very happy birthday and a year filled with good health, happiness, and continued success!

https://www.score.org/how-mentoring-works/

10/12/2026

Ready to save time and grow your business? Join SCORE Manasota on November 11, 2026, at 1:00 PM for an engaging webinar on marketing automation.

Learn how to attract more email subscribers, welcome new contacts with automated email sequences, and deliver personalized messages that engage customers and drive results. We'll also cover best practices, common mistakes to avoid, and provide a sample autoresponder calendar you can put to work immediately.

If keeping up with marketing feels overwhelming, this session will show you how automation can help you generate more sales or donations while freeing up valuable time to focus on running your business.

November 11, 2026 | 1:00 PM
Register today:

Automate your Marketing! – How to Market Your Business while You Work (or Sleep)

10/12/2026

Connecting Community Voices for Greater Impact

Last Friday, October 9, 2026, SCORE Manasota Mentor Jose Martinez attended the Community Needs Assessment Roundtable hosted by Jamie Kahns, Local Market Executive at Bank of America in Sarasota. The gathering brought together nonprofit leaders from across the region for meaningful discussions on some of our community's most pressing challenges and opportunities.

Topics included economic mobility and pathways to prosperity, affordable housing and homeownership, and the evolving needs of local businesses. The collaborative conversation highlighted the importance of partnerships between nonprofits, businesses, financial institutions, and community organizations to create lasting, positive change.

SCORE Manasota is proud to participate in conversations that help strengthen our community and support entrepreneurs, small businesses, and residents throughout the region.

10/12/2026

📚 Low-cost business learning opportunities await!

Join a SCORE Manasota webinar or workshop this week and 🚀

10/10/2026

Happy Birthday to SCORE Manasota Mentor John Bonar!

Today we celebrate John and his many years of dedication to helping entrepreneurs and small business owners succeed. His wealth of experience, generous spirit, and commitment to mentoring have made a lasting impact on countless clients and fellow mentors alike. Please join us in wishing John (who is camera shy) a wonderful birthday filled with happiness, good health, and all the things he enjoys most. Thank you, John, for all you do for SCORE Manasota and our small business community!

https://www.score.org/how-mentoring-works/

10/09/2026

Turn your smartphone into a powerful marketing tool! Discover simple video ideas, easy production tips, and strategies to use one video across multiple marketing channels. No expensive equipment or editing skills required. Join us on October 28, 2026 at 1:00 PM.

Follow the link to register:

Stop Overthinking Video: A Simple Plan to Get Started

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.

10/02/2026

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