SCORE Podcast: Where Small Business Matters

Once upon a time, giving a name to your company starting with the letter “A” was the ticket to the top of the search engine commonly known as the Yellow Pages.  That was so 1990’s! Co-hosts Tom Nixon, Armando Ojeda and Marc Trail are joined by Eric Seropyan, Founder and Owner of “This is My South Bay”, a digital marketing agency specializing in SEO and SEM. Listen to learn how this valuable technology can position your company for maximized exposure and protect your virtual real estate in this competitive online world.

Discussion points:

• From Jewelry to SEO / SEM
• Difference between SEO / SEM
• One, the other, or both?
• Is SEO / SEM a “Go It Alone” proposition?
• First steps
• Cautionary tales and potential pitfalls
• Question of the Day: Best SEO tools and plugins
  

References and Resources:

• Visit This Is My South Bay
• Email Eric
• Connect with Eric on LinkedIn
• Interested in becoming a mentor? Start here!
• Visit our Facebook page, and follow us on LinkedIn
• Connect with Armando,  Tom and Marc on LinkedIn
• Theme music:
  Let Us Run For It by The Denotes | https://thedenotes.bandcamp.com
  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Is it LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram? We could “Ask the Google,” but there is a better option! Tom, Amrando and Marc meet up with Dee Lockett, Founder of The Marketing Department Unlimited and HER Web Design Agency to dig into the digital marketing world and show our SCORE clients and friends how it can be applied toward their business success.

Discussion points:

• Word on the street - the business owners “Marketing Pain Points.”
• Don’t let this digital world confuse you
• It shouldn’t cost a fortune
• Dealing with negative results
• Options, options options
• Question of the day

References and Resources:

• Check out Dee's Bio
• The Marketing Dept. Unlimited Website
• HER Web Design Agency
• Dee on LinkedIn
• Dee on Instagram
• Dee on Facebook
• Interested in becoming a mentor? Start here!
• Visit our Facebook page, and follow us on LinkedIn
• Connect with Armando,  Tom and Marc on LinkedIn
• Theme music:
  Let Us Run For It by The Denotes | https://thedenotes.bandcamp.com
  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Every show needs the anniversary episode right?

Episode 21.18 marks the one-year anniversary of the podcast hosted by volunteers with the Southeast Michigan Chapter of SCORE. To celebrate, the co-hosts, Armando, Marc and Tom, each picked their top-3 favorite a-ha moments, lessons learned, or most inspiring stories and guests from their first year "on the air"...from small business owners, to aspiring start-ups...and from veteran volunteer mentors to those just joining our cause for the first time in 2020.

It's been a rather tumultuous year, but one that has also produced so many positive outcomes for our can-do business community. 

Listen in to hear a round robin discussion of select episodes as chosen by our co-hosts!

References and Resources:

• Interested in becoming a mentor or volunteering to help? Start here!
  
• Visit our Facebook page, and follow us on LinkedIn
  
• Connect with Armando, Tom and Marc on LinkedIn
  
• Theme music: Let Us Run For It by The Denotes | https://thedenotes.bandcamp.com
  
  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
  
  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
  
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
  

Is the juice worth the squeeze? Co-hosts Tom Nixon and Marc Trail are joined by Beatrice Wolnerman of Bea’s Squeeze and Bea’s Detroit to discuss a unique marketing “gimmick” that turned into a growing beverage brand, shared workspace and merchandising company. Listen to learn her lessons, hear about the importance of mentorship, and incorporate some of Bea’s innovative thinking into your strategic planning and vision.

Discussion points:

• Why it took until adulthood to open a lemonade stand
  
• What makes Bea’s lemonade stand so special
  
• Serendipity of one business opportunity leading to another
  
• Implementing new business concepts in a rapidly changing environment
  
• Why entrepreneurs need to make lemonade out of lemons, regardless of industry
  
• Question of the Day: How, why and when to incorporate e-commerce into your business strategy
  

References and Resources:

• Visit Bea's Squeeze Website
  
• Bea's Squeeze on Facebook
  
• Bea's Squeeze on LinkedIn
  
• Bea's Squeeze on Instagram
  
• Visit Bea's Detroit Website
  
• Bea's Detroit on Facebook 
  
• Bea's Detroit on LinkedIn
  
• Bea's Detroit on Instagram 
  
• Take at look at ORRI Corp
  
• Interested in becoming a mentor? Start here!
  
• Visit our Facebook page, and follow us on LinkedIn
  
• Connect with Armando,  Tom and Marc on LinkedIn
  
• Theme music:
  Let Us Run For It by The Denotes | https://thedenotes.bandcamp.com
  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

“All in the Family Business!” Co-hosts Tom Nixon and Marc Trail are joined by Master SCORE Mentor David Broder and Angela Doa - COO of ORRI Corporation to discuss the issues surrounding the generational transition of a thriving family business and how SCORE mentorship can support this process.

Discussion points:

• From reluctance to a passionate career opportunity
• A successful company needs a mentor?
• Advice from a mentor that has been there, done that
• The value of a mentoring relationship thru the eyes of the “mentee”
• Question of the day
  

References and Resources:

• Take at look at ORRI Corp
• Connect with Angela Doa on LinkedIn
• Connect with David Broner on LinkedIn
• Interested in becoming a mentor? Start here!
• Visit our Facebook page, and follow us on LinkedIn
• Connect with Armando,  Tom and Marc on LinkedIn
• Theme music:
  Let Us Run For It by The Denotes | https://thedenotes.bandcamp.com
  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

“All in the Family Business!” Co-hosts Tom Nixon and Marc Trail are joined by Master SCORE Mentor David Broder and Angela Doa - COO of ORRI Corporation to discuss the issues surrounding the generational transition of a thriving family business and how SCORE mentorship can support this process.

Discussion points:

• From reluctance to a passionate career opportunity
• A successful company needs a mentor?
• Advice from a mentor that has been there, done that
• The value of a mentoring relationship thru the eyes of the “mentee”
• Question of the day
  

References and Resources:

• Take at look at ORRI Corp
• Connect with Angela Doa on LinkedIn
• Connect with David Broner on LinkedIn
• Interested in becoming a mentor? Start here!
• Visit our Facebook page, and follow us on LinkedIn
• Connect with Armando,  Tom and Marc on LinkedIn
• Theme music:
  Let Us Run For It by The Denotes | https://thedenotes.bandcamp.com
  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Is the “New Normal” really new? Co-hosts Tom Nixon and Marc Trail are joined by Jeffrey Hollender and Certified Volunteer Mentor Richard Gibbs to discuss business sustainability concepts that are impacting businesses globally—both small and large, private and public.

Discussion points:

• Jeffrey’s career path and areas of focus
• Business realities as to sustainability
• Business sustainability has been around for a while
• Impact on the small business owner
• Benefits of sustainability on the small business owner
• Question of the day: Why do mentors mentor?
  

References and Resources:

• American Sustainable Business Council
• Get In Touch with Jeffrey Hollender
• Connect with Richard Gibbs on LinkedIn
• Interested in becoming a mentor? Start here!
• Visit our Facebook page, and follow us on LinkedIn
• Connect with Armando,  Tom and Marc on LinkedIn
• Theme music:
  Let Us Run For It by The Denotes | https://thedenotes.bandcamp.com
  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

What is the difference between entrepreneurship and “self-sufficiency,” in the world of business ownership? Tom, Armando and Marc are joined by Paco Beltran of The Entrepreneur's Source, to discuss how franchising can bridge the gap between “going it alone” and “being in business for yourself, but not by yourself.”

Discussion points:

• Paco’s personal journey from the corporate world to franchising
• Personal attributes to be successful as a franchisee
• Due Diligence is the secret to successfully navigating the franchise investment
• Making the franchise opportunity fit your lifestyle
• Your family is a part of this decision
• Why franchise when you can go it alone?
• Question of the day
  

References and Resources:

• Email Paco Beltran
• The Entrepreneur's Source
• Connect with Paco Beltran on LinkedIn
• Interested in becoming a mentor? Start here!
• Visit our Facebook page, and follow us on LinkedIn
• Connect with Armando,  Tom and Marc on LinkedIn
• Theme music:
  Let Us Run For It by The Denotes | https://thedenotes.bandcamp.com
  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
  

Tom, Armando and Marc are joined by April Halliburton, SCORE Mentor and Founder of ALL-4-HR & Business Solutions, to discuss issues and opportunities as employees return to the workplace

Discussion points:

• Issues impacting the return to work
• Post pandemic call for new skill sets
• Change the position but retrain the employee
• Attracting and retaining talent
• 5 generations in the workforce
• Optimism rules!
  

References and Resources:

• Connect with April at SCORE
• Contact April at ALL-4-HR
• Interested in becoming a mentor? Start here!
• Visit our Facebook page, and follow us on LinkedIn
• Connect with Armando,  Tom and Marc on LinkedIn
• Theme music:
  Let Us Run For It by The Denotes | https://thedenotes.bandcamp.com
  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

As we proceed through spring, we look forward to re-opening of restaurants at full capacity. Marc and Tom are joined by Nick Ritts, CEO of Ritts Hospitality, to discuss the current state of the food service industry and how to prepare for success through the upcoming months.

Discussion points:

• Introduction of the upcoming Restaurant Revitalization Fund
• What does “full capacity” mean in the post pandemic environment?
• Making sure your menu, pricing and amenities are up-to-date
• Quality and service still matter — no “pandemic excuses”
• Staffing is key and a major issue
• You can be successful in this environment — watch the numbers hourly, not monthly
• Optimism rules!
  

References and Resources:

• Connect with Nick on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Ritts Hospitality
• Interested in becoming a mentor? Start here!
• Visit our Facebook page, and follow us on LinkedIn
• Connect with Armando,  Tom and Marc on LinkedIn
• Theme music:
  Let Us Run For It by The Denotes | https://thedenotes.bandcamp.com
  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com
  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US