Flagler Commissioners Recognize SCORE

For 60 years mentors and volunteers with SCORE, formerly known as the Service Corps of Retired Executives, have been helping entrepreneurs and budding business moguls get started. Earlier this month, Flagler County commissioners recognized members of the local chapter for the organization’s 60th anniversary.
“We’re doing a little bit of PR,” said SCORE volunteer David Ferguson.
Ferguson said Chapter 87, which serves Flagler and Volusia counties, is one of 300 chapters nationwide.
“Since 1964 more than 17 million entrepreneurs have received support from SCORE,” he said. “The world has changed significantly in the past 60 years and so has SCORE.”
Feguson said the organization has grown from its roots as a group of retired business professionals to include younger volunteers, including women and minorities to represent the kind of clients SCORE serves.
“We’re proud of the way we’ve adapted to technology by doing remote mentoring and providing other services including online learning modules,” he said.
Ferguson said the local SCORE chapter plays a role in fostering economic development in Flagler County.
“We work with the county economic development; we work with the city and municipalities and the chamber of commerce,” he said. “We’ve all successfully navigated through the business world and have been through some of the problems and pitfalls of starting a business and growing a business.”
SCORE volunteer Tony Flores said the organization has also worked to establish a junior chamber of commerce in both Flagler County high schools.
“Now we’re pushing for scholarships for trade schools,” he said. “There’s a lot of opportunities. Thank you for giving us this time and the proclamation. Let’s move on and make beautiful things happen in Flagler County.”
