By BOB SCHULTZ

For the Daily News

The mission of SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Businesses, is to grow small businesses across America, one business at a time. SCORE’s network of volunteers provides free and confidential mentoring and expert resources to small business owners and entrepreneurs as they start and grow their businesses. Since its inception SCORE’s unique service has been based on the idea of giving back to the community — in this case the business community.

In Beaufort, Pitt, Martin, Washington and Tyrell counties, businesses with fewer than 20 employees account for 87 percent of all businesses and well over 50 percent of all employees. East Carolina SCORE, located in Washington, has been in operation for over 10 years and has helped thousands of small business owners and entrepreneurs through direct, face-to-face mentoring and workshops conducted in conjunction with the Small Business Center at Beaufort County Community College. We at East Carolina SCORE have a goal to become a larger participant in the growth of the small business communities in the counties we serve. However, we need businessmen and women with successful careers and entrepreneurial experience to join and volunteer their time and expertise to help our new and existing small businesses prosper.

Based on a survey of the clients we have served, East Carolina SCORE is ranked among the highest in the country in terms of client satisfaction with the services we provide. You, as a volunteer, can help us expand our reach to the many small business owners and entrepreneurs in our community.

SCORE allows you to give back to your community in many different ways, according to your interest and skills. There are opportunities for mentoring, teaching workshops, coordinating events, marketing, administrative work, information systems management and more!

We offer comprehensive training and continuing education opportunities through SCORE’s quarterly webinar series and the SCORE Volunteer Center website with tools, information and research. And, if you are willing to take a leadership role, there is a web-based orientation and an annual National Leadership Conference for which SCORE pays all your expenses to attend.

You will have the support of a national organization combined with close working relationships with those other volunteers in our local chapter. Through national funding, corporate partnerships, and SCORE brand marketing, you, as a volunteer, can directly impact small businesses and entrepreneurs in our community. Contact Bob Shultz at 252 402-5924.

Join SCORE — you can make a difference!

Bob Schultz is chairman of East Carolina SCORE.