Thomas A "Tom" McQueeney, widely-known in Charlottesville for running a successful business here, and for his long service with leading non-profit organizations, was recently named Chairman of SCORE, Chapter 494.

 

SCORE, a nationwide organization, has 364 offices across the United States.  The Charlottesville SCORE chapter has 23 counselors and serves the business community of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Louisa, Nelson, Culpeper, Greene, Fluvanna, Madison and Orange.

 

McQueeney, a graduate of Northeastern University started his career with the Gillette Corporation in Boston after his service in the United States Army.

 

After several years as a Security Analyst with Chase Manhattan Bank in New York, McQueeney started Money Market Directories Inc in 1970.  McQueeney moved to Charlottesville in 1978.  Under his leadership, the company grew to become a major publisher of financial information and after 18 years of operation, McQueeney sold it to McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

 

McQueeney has been active in many Charlottesville charitable organizations and in such non-profit groups as the Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club, the Virginia Institute for Autism and the Albemarle County Board of Economic Development.

 

The Chairman will introduce two new initiatives to the SCORE Charlottesville chapter during his term, which will better meet the needs of our market. 

 

The first is the Advisory Board Program which provides support for established businesses.  He invites you to read on and learn all about this new way to provide guidance to the challenges a mature business faces. 

 

The second initiative is an email counseling program for the Central Virginia territory including all of our counties.  "This program will close the gap by facilitating and enhancing our reach to the outlying districts" states McQueeney.  Business owners will be able to make first contact with a local SCORE counselor by email to pose questions or discuss problems. The initial counseling will be via email, but the client and his/her SCORE Counselor can determine whether on-going contact might require telephone or personal, one-on-one counseling

 

Look for new and different ideas from Tom McQueeney this year.  His connection to the community brings a rich wealth of knowledge for him to use as a base to strengthen SCORE as it helps grow successful small businesses across America one business at a time.

 

The SCORE Advisory Board (AB) met for the first time with long time SCORE client, Champion Tutoring.  Champion Tutoring has been a fixture of the Charlottesville area providing tutoring services to students since 1994.  Its originator, Audrey Menard realized early on it was hard to go it alone and called on SCORE to help her.  She was a math teacher with a great business idea and little knowledge or experience running a business.  She relied on her SCORE counselor, John MacDonald heavily, stating that she wouldn't have had the success she enjoyed without him.  "He helped with EVERY business aspect..." she said.
 
In 2004 Champion Tutoring's Executive Director, Anna Patchias, bought the business from Audrey and continued the company's deep commitment to its pedagogical mission.  She also continued in the tradition of utilizing SCORE counselors and workshops to guide her, especially in those areas of business she has little or no prior experience with.  Joe Geller served as her counselor for many years until he moved out of the Charlottesville area.  SCORE counselor, Paula Pagonakis has guided Anna and Champion Tutoring since. 
 
As the SCORE Advisory Board concept finalized, Paula knew that Champion Tutoring was an ideal candidate to reap the vast benefits of this new SCORE product.  As a mature business, there are different needs that arise.  The owner is seasoned yet still has areas of weakness and new challenges arise on a regular basis for any organization.  In the short term, growth and expansion of new programs are top on Anna's list along with long term goals and an exit strategy.  "Many times small business owners are so caught up with the day-to-day activities, it is hard to get to thinking too far ahead to long term goals and exit strategies."  The SCORE Advisory Board is exactly what she needs.
 
Champion Tutoring's SCORE Advisory Board consists of Mike Stone, who has a strong background in venture capital and finance, Ian Sole owns a company dealing in educational curriculum and has strong sales and marketing experience, Rich Stock brings financial analytical skills and is a CPA and Mike Ludgate is a long term Charlottesville resident having previously owned broadcasting companies with rich experience in promotion and advertising.  Anna was involved in the selection process of her SCORE Advisory Board.  After an interview and assessment of her needs, a roster of SCORE counselors with backgrounds matched to her needs was presented by the SCORE Advisory Board's coordinator, Ray Friedman, for her to select from.  Anna considered the list and along with her SCORE counselor, Paula, determined that these four individuals best suited her needs.   
 
The AB met for the first time Friday, February 12 to get to know each other and set the guidelines for procedures.  Anna will present the agenda for each quarterly meeting and supply the necessary reports and materials prior to the meeting. Each AB will be unique to the management style and needs of the small business and its owner.  Anna's meetings will focus on financial reports, study the current state of the business and analyze current key issues.
 
The initiative comes from the business owner and the AB adds value.  The AB will aid with the tactical aspects of managing the business.  Anna feels a sense of relief to have this help free of charge.  "I got where I am but am now limited to where I can go from here.  I am confident that I can execute the plan but I need help in constructing a plan that takes me from where I am to where I want to go.  It is time I had a plan that is clearly defined and I need this board to help me form it."  
 

Thinking of starting a business?  Don't know where to begin? SCORE's  "Starting Your Business" Is a great place to start.  This workshop will walk you through evaluating your idea, market analysis, necessary business licensing, entity selection, tax procedures, recordkeeping, insurance and more.  
 
The "Marketing Your Business" Workshop takes you through your market research, helps to establish your business goals and guides you so you can complete your own Strategic Marketing Plan.
 
"Financial Management of Your Business" is especially in demand during these troubling economic times.  Fine tune your skills at making financial projections, positioning yourself to gain advantages in acquiring financing for your business.  Learn how to accurately measure your performance through financial analysis and how to manage your risk.
 
Roll your sleeves up and get a good start on writing your own Business Plan in SCORE's "How to Write An Effective Business Plan" Workshop.  Gain hands on experience in developing the roadmap of your business either as a management tool or to attract financing takes place in this session with the guidance of SCORE Counselors who have been where you are in your planning process and/or have helped countless numbers of others before you.
 
Watch for new Workshops coming soon.
 
You will receive extremely personalized instruction as attendance is limited to give you the individual attention you need.  Sign up for one Workshop or attend all four.  At $25 per Workshop or take all four at $80, it's the best bargain in town.
 
Upcoming Schedule . . . 

Starting Your Business: 3/20/10  from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the Jefferson-Madison Library in Charlottesville. This workshop covers a wide range of topics related to how an aspiring entrepreneur should properly start a small business. At the completion of this workshop, attendees should have learned how to evaluate their business idea and how to properly start a business in Virginia. The primary topics are: * Evaluating Your Idea * Legal Structures * Tax Considerations * Accounting Records * Record Retention Schedule * Financing Your Business. Handout material can be completed by attendees during the workshop under the guidance of an experienced SCORE counselor.
Fee $25. Register at  www.score-494.org  or call 434-295-6712.

 

 Marketing Your Business: 3/27/10- from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the Jefferson-Madison Library in CharlottesvilleThis workshop concentrates on the heart of a business plan. At the completion of this workshop, attendees should have learned how to think analytically about these important issues and to use this knowledge to resolve their individual issues in their business plans. Primary topics are: * Market Research * Potential Customers * Competition * Price Levels * Business Goals * Strategic Marketing Plan * Targeted Customers * Products/Services * Prices * Sales and Distribution * Advertising and Promotion * E-Commerce * Customer Satisfaction.
Fee $25. Register at  www.score-494.org  or call 434-295-6712 .

 
Financial Management of Your Business: 4/10/10- from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM at the Jefferson-Madison Library in Charlottesville.This workshop analyzes the movement of money into and out of a small business and how to effectively manage these funds. At the completion of this workshop, attendees should have learned the basics of financial projections and financial statements and how these are used to manage a small business. The primary topics are: * Financial Projections and Statements * Financing Your Business * Measuring Your Performance * Financial Analysis * Managing Your Risk.
Fee $25. Register at  www.score-494.org  or call 434-295-6712 .

 
How to Write an Effective Business Plan: 4/17/10- This workshop will present a step-by-step analysis of a business plan for a typical small business. At the completion of this workshop, attendees should have learned how to begin constructing their own business plans. The primary topics are: * Market Research * Business Goals * Strategic Marketing Plan * Sales Forecasting * Cash Flow Projections * Profit and Loss Projections * Balance Sheet Projections. This workshop is taught by experienced SCORE counselors and class participation is encouraged.
Fee $25. Register at  www.score-494.org  or call 434-295-6712