Business owners in the Pine Hills and surrounding communities heard first-hand on Tuesday, how SCORE Orlando, a volunteer organization of experienced counselors, can help grow their businesses and assist them in becoming more successful entrepreneurs.
Last night’s event was part of an effort which brought business leaders together to discuss how to revitalize the local economy through strengthening area businesses. It also builds on ongoing activities taking place under the aegis of the Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District, which seeks to transform the public image of Pine Hills.
Jerry Presley, Executive Director, Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District, said he would like businesses owners to understand there is great value in attending these events. About 30 business owners were present at the Pine Hills Business Association networking event.
“My hope is to be able to get to 200 attendees,” he said. “For too long, small business owners in Pine Hills have been left on their own and I am depending on peer pressure from those who attend to boost participation.”
Presley added that, far too many dollars leave the Pine Hills community and lots more can be done locally, through business to business transactions. “It’s also a great opportunity for business owners when they come together to share their concerns and for us to determine how we can best address them,” he added.
Rich Jaeckle of SCORE Orlando, shared with attendees information about accessing the non-profit’s resources. These include free mentoring, seminars and workshops, networking and online business resources.
“We are partners to your small business and here in Orlando, we have one of the most innovative centers,” he said. “We try to match up counselors to your needs.”
SCORE’s counselors have a wide range of skills, such as manufacturing, retail, financial services and technology and could provide small business owners ready help with business needs, including sales, marketing, customer service, accounting and human resources, he said.
Jaeckel made clear that SCORE Orlando is not a ‘financing organization’, but said the non-profit does have affiliations with banks and financial institutions.
Three candidates in upcoming election races were present at the Pine Hills Business Association event. Namely, Derrick Wallace and Roberta Walton, both of whom are running for Orange County Commission, District 6, as well as Patricia Rumph who is contesting the District 2 seat.
Wallace, a businessman and CEO of the largest African-American construction in Florida, said he welcomes the many resources offered by SCORE Orlando and other business organizations, but contends that one of the major challenges is, lack of access to financial capital to start, grow and maintain a small business.
“I started my business with $500 – that’s all I had and it took me six months to get the first job and six months to get a check,” said Wallace, who has some 30 years’ experience as head of Construct Two Group. “This meant that I had to take jobs doing substitute teaching to pick up extra income to shore up cash reserves when needed.”
Notwithstanding the split focus, Wallace was able to build his Orlando-based company which has done over $750 million worth of construction project across Central Florida.
He says small business owners need more help to grow and prosper and sees a larger role for credit unions, community banks, Small Business Association loans, crowd funding, advance orders and other creative ways to finance their businesses.
Wallace said, if elected, he would like to develop a plan for District 6 which would entail bringing all stakeholders to the table to help craft it.
“There’s need for a plan which will focus on re-development and revitalization of the District,” he said. “Not only is there need to foster communication and cooperation among businesses and property owners, but we must devise solutions to reduce impediments, such as crime, that negatively impact our businesses and the community more generally.”
“Then, there is the no small matter of funding the re-development plan,” Wallace quickly added.
Last night’s Pine Hills Business Association event was sponsored by the Orlando Utilities Commission.
