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2011 Client of the Year Awards
Knoxville, Tennessee --- The Greater Knoxville chapter
of SCORE celebrated "May is Small Business Month" by naming two
local businesses as winners of its third annual "Client of the Year"
contest.
First place winner Dynamic
Dragon Boat Racing LLC organizes and manages events using its unique
boats to raise funds for charities. Owner Penny Behling began free counseling
sessions with SCORE in 2009, focusing on how to revive a struggling business
and reach an untapped market. Working with counselor Bill Beres over a two
year period, Behling created a new business plan which allowed the firm
to increase the number of events it manages from three in 2008 to ten in
2011. She also has added new equipment to her fleet. In 2010 these events
raised more than $200,000 for the charities they benefited. Behling added
that "my SCORE counselor encouraged and equipped me with methodology
to reach what I thought originally might be impossible goals. It's been
a long road, but now the ride has been worth it."
Second place winner User Friendly
Maps creates mapping solutions used as interpretive graphics
and greenway signage for clients such as parks and recreation departments.
President John Innes started his firm just before the economic crisis
began in 2008, and soon realized he needed assistance to save and
grow his business. Working with SCORE counselors Dana Peterka and
Jerry Carlson, he learned negotiation, market segmentation, and pricing
skills to grow his business. In 2010 he increased revenue by almost
25 percent. He now has clients in five states and recently was commissioned
to create a mapping product for the Partners of Cherokee National
Forest. The firm's featured product is a patent-pending format which
received two awards from the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping.
Innes credits SCORE "for many of the strides our company has
made. My counselors have become highly valued assets, and maintain
an objective and professional approach dealing with my company."
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PIctured are SCORE
Counselor Dr. Jerry Carlson, Owner Jim Innes of User Friendly Maps,
Score Counselor Dana Peterka, Penny Behling and Chris Behling of Dynamic
Dragon Boat Racing, and SCORE Counselor Bill Beres.
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Knoxville SCORE Chairman Jerry Carlson
stated that the selection of these two businesses "reflects
our goal of mentoring small businesses, not merely counseling them.
Both have utilized the skills and experience of our counselors over
a period of time, not just for a few sessions, and are prime examples
of our motto: "For the life of your business."
Since 1964, SCORE has assisted more than 8 million aspiring small
businesses and their owners through counseling and workshops. The
Greater Knoxville chapter, one of 389 chapters nationwide, covers
18 counties in East Tennessee and has more than 30 volunteer counselors
who are dedicated to the formation, growth and success of small
businesses.. IN Fiscal 2010 the chapter provided more than 3,000
counseling sessions All SCORE services are provided free of charge
to small business owners.
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For more information regarding starting or managing a
current business, call the office at (865) 692-0716
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