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Overview
Our nation's economy is comprised 97% of small business, and 50% of the national workforce are employed by small business. That is why establishing and growing small businesses is vital to individual entrepreneurs, full employment, and our economy. However, creating and managing a successful business is not easy, and that is where SCORE Counselors come in.
Volunteering as a SCORE counselor allows you to help entrepreneurs accomplish their business goals. As a counselor, you will meet with a broad diversity of people who are either already in business and seek advice on ways to "grow to that next level", or who want to start a small business. You can help them achieve lifetime dreams and become independent business people. Your background and experience can complement that of our other counselors to provide a comprehensive mentoring experience for our clients. Counselors find the work extremely rewarding.
At SCORE Memphis, volunteers provide confidential one-to-one business counseling and low-cost entrepreneurial training workshops and seminars. In addition, many counselors are virtual volunteers, providing online counseling directly from their homes or offices.
Counselors come from a variety of occupations and backgrounds. Many volunteer counselors owned small businesses for years while others have worked for Fortune 500 firms. Counselors share a belief that small business owners are more likely to succeed if they have a business mentor to guide them.
Make SCORE Your First Choice in Volunteerism.
Meet Our Volunteers
 William Morris is a successful international businessman and former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. For the first 28 years of his business career, he served as the CEO of his family’s wholesale hardware company. Thereafter, he served in various commerce-related positions in both the Tennessee State and Federal governments, culminating in his appointment as Assistant Secretary of Commerce under President Reagan. After leaving this position in 1984, Mr. Morris founded several consulting businesses and a restaurant chain, served as President of a D.C.-based lobbying firm, and served in various advisory roles for the Tennessee and Federal governments.
Currently he donates his time as the executive-in-residence of Christian Brothers University’s School of Business, where his focus is helping the faculty internationalize their teaching. He also began volunteering with SCORE in 2002 and currently serves as Chairman of its Congressional Contacts Committee. Mr. Morris holds a B.S. degree from the University of Tennessee and two honorary doctorate degrees.
 Susan Bowen Lane, a current Memphis Chapter Co-Chairman, is a very successful business woman and Memphis community leader. She founded Memphis-based Champion Awards, Inc. and served 31 years until 2001 as its Chairman of the Board. Champion Awards is a leader in the corporate apparel, awards, promotional products and custom screenprinting businesses. It was included in Inc. Magazine’s 500 Fastest Growing Companies in the U.S. from 1984 to 1988. During that same 31 years, she served on the Boards of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce, Memphis Partners, the Mid-South Minority Purchasing Council, Leadership Memphis, Christian Brothers University, the Memphis Symphony and others. Ms. Lane studied at both the University of Memphis and Rhodes College (Memphis).
Ms. Lane has been a SCORE volunteer for three years. In addition to her role as Chapter Co-Chairman, she regularly conducts a Pre-Business Planning Workshop she authored in Memphis and surrounding communities.
 Catherine Walton has over 30 years as a senior executive leading and managing corporate and governmental organizations. She began her professional career in government, first serving as Director of Probation for the Memphis City court system and then Assistant Commissioner of Corrections for the State of Tennessee. Thereafter from 1984 to 2005, Ms. Walton served in progressively more senior management positions with FedEx Express. Beginning as the Manager of Hub Operations in Memphis, she ultimately spent the last 10 years of her career with them as Managing Director of Operations for 2 of FedEx Express’ regional territories. She was honored several times for her contributions by FedEx top management, earning their highest company awards.
Ms. Walton joined SCORE as a volunteer last year and currently serves as Chairman of our Meeting Programs committee. She holds an MBA degree from the University of Tennessee- Knoxville, a Masters of Education from the University of Memphis, and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Tennessee- Chattanooga.
Benefits of Volunteering with SCORE
SCORE volunteers enjoy a variety of rewards, including:
- Leadership in the business community
- Recognition and respect as a business mentor
- Contributing to the success of others
- Professional and personal growth
- Networking with other successful business leaders
What Types of Volunteers are we Seeking at SCORE Memphis?
We are currently seeking new members to complement our current team of over 30 volunteers. Today, we have a wide diversity in the background of our membership and how they choose to contribute to our mission. A significant percentage of our counselors are focused primarily on helping aspiring entrepreneurs develop their business plans and launch their first business. Therefore, we are especially interested in complementing these skills with volunteers who have the following profiles.
Women Counselors
We need more women in a number of areas who have owned their own business or who have been senior managers in order for our membership to be more representative of the current business environment.
Industry Experts – Building Trades, Health Care, Computer Software, Real Estate, Fitness, Import/Export
We need more counselors with deep expertise in the above industries.
Spanish and Asian Speaking Counselors
We continue to need second language counselors to service clients who are not proficient in English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Have To Be Retired To Join SCORE?
No. Both retired and working professionals are welcome in SCORE. However, no SCORE member may provide services to our small business clients for monetary consideration.
Why Does SCORE Interview Candidates Before Accepting Members?
Transferring business skills into a counseling and mentoring situation requires different and additional skills than a business owner or manager may have used. The interviewing process permits both SCORE and the applicant to see if there is a good fit.
Why Do New SCORE Members Participate In A Training Program?
The orientation and training program permits the new member to understand SCORE's mission, services, and opportunities with the organization. The program provides guidance on how to be a good business counselor and how to develop good listening, interviewing and problem-solving habits. Also, the training process is an excellent opportunity to become familiar with your fellow volunteers as we often refer clients to each other for specific skills, contacts or backgrounds.
Why not get the facts, and then decide whether or not SCORE® is for you? Email us at scorememphis@comcast.net or give us a call 901-544-3588.
For questions about SCORE®, information on workshops, or to make an appointment for a free counseling session, call 901-544-3588
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