SHARON Retirees SCORE in aid to business

The local office is a satellite of the Youngstown SCORE program.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Tom Kachulis and Bob Edeburn, both of Hermitage, have spent their working life in the business world, and they're ready to pass along what they've learned to those just starting out.
Kachulis, retired president of Gilbert's Insurance Agency Inc., and Edeburn, a certified public accountant and retired partner of McGill Power Bell & amp; Co., head the local office of SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives.
They, along with retired banker Ralph Peters of New Wilmington, are SCORE volunteers, offering expertise to those starting their own small businesses or those already in business who are looking for some guidance.
Their headquarters are in the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce, at Chestnut St., although their operation is a satellite office of the SCORE program in Youngstown.
Youngstown also has an active satellite operation in Warren. Satellites in Salem and East Liverpool are inactive right now, said Flora Pamer, chairman of the Youngstown office.
Details: SCORE is a 37-year-old, 13,000-member volunteer organization sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and gives free advice in business management. No one gets paid nor does any client get charged for services.
Most of the counselors are retired business owners or managers. Kachulis and Edeburn completed their SCORE training earlier this year and opened the Sharon office in September.
"I read an article on it [SCORE] several years ago. It just sounded like something I wanted to do when I retired," Edeburn said, explaining why he decided to get involved.
Kachulis said he got interested after hearing comments around town that a local SCORE office was needed.
"What we're trying to do is just get the word out," he said.
By appointment: They don't keep regular office hours yet but meet with clients by appointment.
There have been eight or nine inquiries since September from people planning to start new businesses, Edeburn said.
"We're available for a lot more," Kachulis added.
"We have a pretty good spread of talent," he said, referring to his, Edeburn's and Peters' backgrounds.
There also are about three dozen SCORE volunteers working out of the Youngstown office who will come here to meet with clients if needed, Edeburn said. There are others in the Shenango Valley who can be recruited to become SCORE volunteers as well, Kachulis said.
Types of help offered: The primary focus is to help determine a new business's requirements in terms of financing, operations and ownership, Kachulis aid.
Clients are urged to contact others in the same type of business outside the area to learn of problems they encountered and whether the venture has been successful.
Inadequate financing and lack of experience are the big problems with start-up businesses, Edeburn said.
SCORE doesn't provide any financing, but its counselors can tell people how to go about securing money for their project.
Those who have come in for counseling so far seemed to appreciate the advice they've been given, Kachulis said. Everything discussed in the SCORE office is confidential so prospective clients needn't fear their business plans will be discussed with others, Edeburn said.
gwin@vindy.com