SCORE Chapter #81

Since that time more than 16,000 clients have benefited from SCORE business counseling. Sponsored by the U. S. Small Business Administration, SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) volunteers offer their expertise free of charge. The relationship can last for as short a time as one session or to numbers of years, if both the counselor(s) feel it is productive and worthwhile.

Much of the counseling in the early days was directed to managing an existing business more effectively. Today, the majority of counseling covers the basics of how to start a new small business, with a significant number of existing businesses becoming clients to help meet various challenges or expand marketing and sales horizons.

For the first eight years of its existence, Akron SCORE operated as satellite of the Cleveland SCORE Chapter. Robert Taylor became its first chairman in 1973 with a total of two counselors! Carl Vobbe succeeded Taylor in 1975 and spearheaded a strong growth period. The number of counselors jumped to an all-time high of 70. Demand for counseling was great as this was the traumatic era when the major rubber companies began shutting down operations and opening new plants in other parts of the country to remain competitive. It gave impetus to the entrepreneurial spirit in many displaced workers to try going into business for themselves.

The demand for SCORE services necessitated a five-day-a-week schedule to handle the demand. Today, for a variety of reasons --- including the Akron area reinventing itself as a polymer-based, diversified business center --- the SCORE office operates on a Monday-through-Thursday schedule. Counselors are, for the most part, are flexible when it comes to helping a client outside of regular hours, if they determine the individual(s) are dedicated and have the "right stuff" to succeed. In 1989, counseling requests reached an all-time high of 1,788. Since that period, they have fluctuated and reached an estimated 749 cases last year (2004).

Paul Stouthamer became the chapter's third chairman in 1989 when Carl Vobbe elected to retire. The former Firestone Tire & Rubber Company International executive brought a new interest in helping entrepreneurs navigate in the world of global trade, either as importers or exporters. During Stouthamer's tenure, satellite offices were opened in Canton, Wooster and Medina to make SCORE services readily available and convenient in those areas.

After six years at the helm, Stouthamer retired in 1994 and moved to the West Coast. He was succeeded in 1995 by Charles Ashcroft ,who joined the chapter in 1988 following a career in carbon black sales with the Cabot Company. Two years later, in 1997, he was appointed SCORE District Director for northeast Ohio.

Arthur Charlton, a veteran counselor with 16 years experience with the chapter, succeeded Ashcroft as chairman. He drew from his experience as an engineer and manager at the Norton Company. Under his direction, the chapter began a more intensive training of new counselors. and staged a very successful "Workshop In A Box," an innovative all-day Saturday business education program for entrepreneurs.

In 2000, Frank Swain assumed the chairmanship. With an extensive background in Human Resources gained from his long career with Ohio Bell and ATT&T, he made that all-important facet of business a priority with the chapter. Clients and counselors were the beneficiaries. Office procedures became better organized for increased efficiency and more emphasis placed on more and improved business workshops.

Stepping down in 2003, Swain was succeeded by Joseph (Joe) Freedman, former executive vice president with Sterling, Inc. Once again the chapter benefited from a new perspective. He aggressively and successfully pursued grants to make the chapter more financially self-reliant. It has enabled mounting a more aggressive and creative advertising, marketing and public relations program to promoted the chapter's excellent, no-charge business counseling services. At the same time, new computers, hardware and software have been purchased to modernize client data, instant retrieval and print-out of vital information. Grants have also enabled the hiring of a part-time office administrator to improve efficiency and services.

Chapter Chairmen
1965-72 ........................... Part of Cleveland Chapter 1973-74 ........................... Robert L. Taylor 1975-88 ........................... Carl Vobbe 1989-94 ........................... Paul Stouthamer 1995-96 ........................... Charles F. Ashcroft 1997-02 ........................... Arthur L. Charton 2001-02 ........................... C. Frank Swain 2003-05 ........................... Joseph J. Freedman 2006-07 ........................... Ron Stallings 2008-09 ........................... Gary Sutherland

The Akron Chapter began giving the area of export/import increased emphasis under the guidance of the late Albert Francesconi, who retired from Parker-Hannifin as sales manager for Latin America. He was a founding member of the Greater Akron Export Council of the Greater Akron Chamber. Francesconi and Howard A. Tolley, chapter Public Relations Chair, co-chaired the first eight International Trade Conferences sponsored by GAEC and ITAC (International Trade Assistance Center), beginning in 1990.

Another interesting historical highlight occurred in 1998 when SCORE Counselor Frank Craig arranged and hosted a visit to Akron by a group of Russian doctors and hospital administrators. This came about because of the positive impression made by Craig when, as a volunteer with the Citizens Democracy Corps, he made several trips to Russia to counsel businessmen in the City of Novograd on how to function in a free enterprise system brought about by the fall of communism. Craig orchestrated an extensive itinerary that included meetings with area physicians and hospital administrators and public officials. The visit received extensive publicity, including a major editorial in the Akron Beacon Journal.

Requests for SCORE counseling have remained relatively constant over the past years, spiking during downturns in the economy when people give more thought to going into business for themselves as layoffs rise and jobs opportunities decline. Akron SCORE's cadre of experience- proven counselors cover virtually every key business discipline, such as production, sales, marketing, advertising, human resources, public relations, management, finance, engineering and inventory control.

Analysis of Counseling Requests 2000-2001
# of Requests	Concern
611	Start-Up
415	Marketing/Sales
390	Financial
350	Business Plan
262	Capital Sources
89	Buy-Sell Company
51	Human Resources
44	Technology
28	Export/Import

Through the years, one of the plus benefits of Akron SCORE membership has been the camaraderie and the enjoyment of stimulating discourse at the office and socially. There are also welcome events during the year, including a May luncheon, golf outings, fall and holiday socials. A Caring Committee sees that members are remembered on birthdays, during illnesses or at other special times. But the ultimate good feeling comes from helping a client succeed in his or her endeavor!