- November 22, 2024
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Frank Bruno, former county councilman and chair, spoke about starting his printing business. Photo by Wayne Grant
Tom Hellman, SCORE district president, said services to help small business increased last year. Courtesy photo
Chuck Medlin loves his hobby. It’s helpful that his hobby is also his business, Not Just Another Pool Service, headquartered in Flagler Beach.
“If you enjoy what you do, you’ll succeed,” he said at the annual SCORE awards luncheon Oct. 18 at Daytona Beach International Airport.
Medlin expressed thanks to SCORE for helping with a business plan that would allow him to bring his children into the business. His sons are now part-owners.
“Thank you for showing us the way to go,” he said to the SCORE members in the audience.
Not Just Another Pool Service was named the “Lewis H. Goodman For-Profit Entrepreneur of the Year.”
The Volusia/Flagler Chapter of SCORE is a nonprofit organization that counsels small businesses to help them get started or grow. Known originally as Service Corps of Retired Executives, the group now has many members who are still working so it is known as Counselors to America’s Small Business. The Volusia County Economic Development sponsored the awards event to show support for the organization.
SAVING LILLIAN PLACE
The Lillian Place Historic Foundation was named “Lewis H. Goodman Non-Profit Entrepreneur of the Year.”
Lillian Place is a historic house in Daytona Beach. Nancy Long, director, said the nonprofit requested advice on getting grants.
“As an English major, I needed Score’s help with marketing and a business plan,” she said. She said the building was in danger of being torn down for condos at one time but it has now been saved for posterity.
Frank Bruno, former Volusia County councilman and chairman, was keynote speaker at the luncheon and spoke about the tough days of getting his printing business started, which he ran for 25 years.
“I knew I had to follow my own dream,” he said about starting his own business.
He said he was sitting on the beach one day and told his wife, “I quit my job.” She was surprised, but he said she always supported his decisions and they worked together getting their business going.
He described long hours of seeking clients, printing the material and making deliveries.
He said the most important thing for a small business is to get a good relationship with a bank. There were times when he had to get another loan to pay the bills, but the bank knew he was good for the debt.
FREE SERVICE
When Bruno decided to run for office in 1982, his printing business was an advantage when it came to having mailers.
“Nobody can out-print a printer,” he said, bringing laughs around the room.
He said it’s not easy for new businesses to succeed, but he sees a much higher success rate, thanks to help from SCORE.
In the past year, the local SCORE had 900 mentoring sessions, 500 unique clients and workshops increased 57 percent.
“Our services are all no-charge,” said Tom Hellman, president of the North Florida district. “Our payback is the success of our clients.”
Visit VolusiaFlagler.Score.org.
“I knew I had to follow my dream.”
FRANK BRUNO, on starting his own business
“Our payback is the success of our clients.”
TOM HELLMAN, SCORE district president
