Originally published in Delaware County Times
Written by Donna Rovins
CONCORD — SCORE of Chester and Delaware County recently presented its annual Small Business Award to six successful area entrepreneurs.
This was the ninth year the organization has recognized small business owners who reached out to SCORE for mentoring and assistance in starting or growing their businesses.
Recognized Thursday for excellence in small business this year were three Chester County and three Delaware County businesses. They are:
• Rooted in New London;
• River Avenue Digital in Media;
• Thom’s Jerky in Exton;
• Karité Naturals in Springfield;
• Big Boize BBQ Sauce in Thorndale;
• Julie Sebastian's Softball & Fitness in Newtown Square.
SCORE is a non-profit national organization of business volunteers dedicated to providing free counseling and educational service to small businesses. SCORE volunteers mentor entrepreneurs planning to start a small business, or small business owners who need assistance in solving business issues.
The agency has nearly 11,000 volunteers nationwide, and has served 4.8 million clients, according to Joe Brisby, SCORE Mid-Atlantic Region vice president.
Nationally, SCORE has been helping small business owners for 55 years, while the SCORE of Chester and Delaware counties branch has been active since the mid-1980s.
“I am always impressed by this chapter, what they’re doing and the crowd they attract and the unique event,” Brisby said at the luncheon. “There are not that many chapters in the country that honor their clients, and it is a pleasure.”
New at the luncheon this year was a brief video about each honoree that was shown before the awards presentation.
ROOTED
Founded in 2014, Rooted is a retail gift shop located at the corner of State Road and Route 896 in New London, and owned by Betsy Beehler and Ashley Rector. Rooted primarily sources goods from local suppliers and artisans and caters to local clientele.
Rooted opened without having a formal business plans, and within one year, was successful, according to SCORE.
Beehler and Rector reached out to SCORE to formalize their business approach and to establish a plan for the future of the business. They worked with SCORE mentor Steve Crumrine.
RIVER AVENUE DIGITAL
River Avenue Digital is a full service marketing agency founded by Josh Irons in December 2017. River Avenue Digital offers content marketing solutions, digital and social media advertising, email marketing, graphic design, web design, SEO and brand management for small to medium-sized companies.
While Irons, a former CEO of a digital marketing agency had experience in digital marketing and business operations, he lacked the experience of starting a business.
He contacted SCORE and began working with Frank Milheim as a mentor, who suggested that Irons would be best served by an advisory board, which included mentors John Leggette, Ted Nichols and Gene Lasko in addition to Milheim. The advisory board meets quarterly with Irons.
THOM’S JERKY
Thomas D’Antonio, founder of Thom’s Jerky, always had a personal passion for making jerky, often selling his homemade beef jerky on the side, while maintaining a full-time job. After more than 20 years as an IT professional, D’Antonio decided to start a full-time jerky business. In 2016, he set up shop in the Marchwood Shopping Center in Exton.
In 2018, when the business still was not showing profitability, D’Antonio re-established contact with his SCORE mentors Dave Houseman and John Nelson. They worked with him to improve the business operation, accounting and profitability. Thom’s Jerky became profitable for the first time in the 3rd quarter of 2018, according to SCORE.
KARITE NATURALS LLC
Karite Naturals, LLC was originally created by Tamora Williams for her family. Williams chose Shea butter as the basis for her products.
Her business started as a hobby in 2013 but became an established business 2016 and she began selling her products at a kiosk in the Springfield Mall In 2017.
In 2018, Williams met her SCORE mentor Bill Pearce, who offered guidance in marketing and operations. She has signed an agreement for a 2,200-square-foot leased space in the Springfield Mall.
Karite Naturals is a holistic, plant base skincare, hair care and wellness company.
BIG BOIZE BBQ SAUCE
Cass Rowland founded Big Boize BBQ Sauce in 2016, combining the taste of the South with the taste of the North to create an award winning BBQ sauce. Currently selling in four area Walmart stores, Rowland recently signed an agreement with Giant Foods to offer the sauce in 62 Giant stores.
The company’s rapid growth led Rowland to seek help from SCORE mentors Rich Gauger and John Ponticello, who have advised him on operations, retail sales and financing.
JULIE SEBASTIAN'S SOFTBALL & FITNESS INSTRUCTION
Julie Sebastian’s Softball & Fitness Instruction opened in the Newtown Square Shopping Center in February 2018. Sebastian, who played softball for Elizabethtown College, started the business with the goal of teaching softball to young girls.
After college graduation she worked with various tournament, travel and high school softball programs throughout the region and offered private and group softball training. When it was time to start her own business, Sebastian contacted SCORE, working with SCORE counselors, Frank Milheim and John Leggette.
In business for less than six-months Sebastian has more than forty clients and is operating in the black, according to SCORE.
An estimated 150 turned out for the May 30 event, held at Concord County Club — including federal, state and local elected officials as well as business and community leaders from the two counties.
State Sen. Katie Muth, D-44th Dist., praised the winners on their achievement.
“I just want to commend you on your courage for believing in yourself, stimulating the local economy and showing that small business can be successful and is imperative to the success of our entire society,” she said.
In her congratulations, U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th Dist., said small and mid-sized companies drive the nation’s economy.
“Something like 80% of the national economy is driven by business, and the vast majority of that is by small business,” she said “As a former entrepreneur and a former veteran, I know the challenges that exist in trying to build a very small idea into a very large enterprise.”
“We have 13,000 businesses in Chester County and the aggregate total of the value of the products of the businesses is $40 billion, which makes our economy one of the strongest in the county and larger than many small countries in the world,” Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline told the crowd.
John McBlane, chairman, Delaware County Council, wanted to thank SCORE for the work that it does.
“Thank you to the volunteers and mentors and everyone that contributed to what SCORE’s mission is,” he said. “We want to thank you for everything you’re doing to help young businesses in Delaware County.”
