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WHAT's 
at SCORE and
Naples/Collier
SCORE's Success Stories
(click on the underlined titles to view the article)
Mr. Brandt has over 20 years of experience driving technical projects from concept through on-time delivery. Entrepreneurial by nature, Andreas has founded and directed technology consultancies in Germany and the UK that specialized in financial trading systems, testing environments, project management, and IT governance. Andreas holds a Bachelor of Science (US Equivalency) in Mathematics
from Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München in Munich,
Germany, with post-graduate work in Computer Science and Economics.
His technical expertise includes Service Oriented Architecture
(SOA), SDLC and PLC best practices, RUP and ITIL methodologies,
ERP and EPM systems, enterprise IT management, His solid IT governance
experience spans the financial and technology sectors.
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Naples, FL—SCORE Naples has been selected as the 2nd Runner Up in the National SCORE Chapter of the Year competition for fiscal year 2007! This award places SCORE Naples in the top one-percent of all SCORE Chapters (386 nationwide). "I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of our chapter over the past year." says SCORE Naples Chairman Gregory Nelson. "We have shown remarkable vision, teamwork and community spirit. We have pooled our talents to really make a difference in the community and have set a new standard for SCORE Chapters everywhere." adds Nelson. The top three chapters were very close contenders, each within one point of the other. Winning the National award was Atlanta SCORE and first runner up went to San Diego SCORE. Congratulations to all three chapters! SCORE Naples is celebrating its 20th year as consultants to the local small business community with 57 volunteers. Since 1964, SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” has assisted more than 7.9 million aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners through counseling and business workshops. More than 10,500 volunteer business counselors in 386 chapters serve their communities through entrepreneurial education dedicated to the formation, growth and success of small businesses. For more information about starting or operating a small business, call 1-800/634-0245 for the SCORE chapter nearest you. Or, visit SCORE on the Web at www.score.org. In FY2007, SCORE Naples conducted 2321 client counseling sessions,
directly assisting entrepreneurs in starting a business or handling
various business challenges. This involved a total of 5,856 volunteer
consulting hours. In addition, the SCORE Naples website received
over 4000 visitors each month, many utilizing our extensive business
resource library. SCORE Naples conducted twenty business workshops
last year, serving 498 attendees. |
Mr. Kaplan has over thirty years of accomplishment in corporate financial and operations management. Included in his background are CFO positions with four publicly traded companies and six start-up / emerging companies. He also held COO positions at privately held companies. After graduating from Boston University (BS degree) and Babson College (MBA), he began his career in public accounting and transitioned to industry in Controller positions with publicly traded manufacturers such as W.R. Grace, Polaroid Corporation and Wang Laboratories. Thereafter, he was appointed CFO at Acton Corporation, a national CATV operator, where he was instrumental in growing the company’s net revenues to $100 million from $7 million in two years and a successful IPO. Mr. Kaplan later moved on to become COO of Solar-X Corporation, a manufacturer of solar control films, where he generated a record profit from a record loss in back-to-back years. He negotiated the sale of the company to Van Leer, a major international conglomerate, resulting in a 500% return to its shareholders. As founder of Oak Financial Corp., he conducted acquisition searches and debt/equity placements for small to mid cap companies. After several years, he sold Oak to join Data Architects, Inc., a multinational publicly traded, software development company, as Senior Vice President and CFO where he helped improve the market price of the company’s shares by 40% in two years. After the sale of the company, he was recruited by Fischer International Systems, Inc, a global software development company as Executive Vice President and CFO, where he was credited with a number of operational and financial accomplishments, including the restructuring of the company, an increase of $7.5 million to the bottom line and the acquisition of SmartDisk Corporation. As Executive Vice President and CFO at Metasys Inc., a leading international software development company, Mr. Kaplan negotiated two venture capital financings, increasing the company’s market value by 500% and then managed its merger with Optum Software. Mr. Kaplan retired from Brookwood Companies, Incorporated in
mid 2007, where he was Executive Vice President and CFO since
2002. He was instrumental in growing the company’s revenues
to $140 million from $69 million while generating record profits
for this manufacturer of synthetic textile products.
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Andre Lehmann has been involved in creating and expanding
companies relating to international commodities trading. He
has Import and Export experience in the selling of products overseas.
He set up
an agency network to sell product in South and Central America,
Europe and Asia. He is experienced in dealing with intercultural
communications and hands-on management of agents and the international
customer
base. Andre is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish which has helped
him achieve business growth in these pertinent language countries.
He also has knowledge
of trade contract negotiations and financial management.
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SCORE Naples is the proud recipient of the 2007 District Chapter of the Year Award. SCORE's SWFL District Director Bill Murrary along with Mark Dobosz (SCORE's Vice President of Development) and Devin Jopp (SCORE's COO) presented the award to Chairman Gregory Nelson and Vice Chairman Bill Maltarich at the District meeting in Sarasota on January 24th. We are very pleased and proud of our achievements over the past year! Congratulations to all of the SCORE Naples volunteers!
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Bill Adams passed away on December
28th, 2007. Bill was Chapter Chair in 2000 when he asked
me to join SCORE Naples.
He
was my
mentor
and
friend.
Bill gave everything of himself
as a SCORE volunteer, including his financial support. On a daily
basis, he counseled, worked the desk, built community partner relationships,
raised funds, participated in committees, attended every workshop,
ran the chapter, and more. He was a leader, a doer, and a strong
believer in co-counseling and long-term client mentoring. As his
health deteriorated, Bill moved to Emeritus status, but his pride
in SCORE continued strong until the very end. We’ll miss
you Bill. You are truly a SCORE Service Legend. We salute you! |
SCORE Naples in Orlando at Amex/OPEN Event Three members of SCORE Naples partipated in a large event in Orlando on 11/7 and 11/8 sponsored by American Express OPEN whereby about 400 small business owners were counseled by SCORE volunteers. SCORE Naples client Dan Didrick of Didrick Medical (www.didrickmedical.com) was honored as a SCORE success story (Congratulations Dan!). Thanks Al, Tom and Chick for helping make this event a success! |
Kristine Gabel is a corporate attorney licensed in the State of Minnesota and has been practicing corporate law for over 15 years at both an outside law firm and in an in-house capacity. Kris Gabel is currently Associate General Counsel at Merrill Corporation, a leading global provider of technology-based solutions that optimize information management and complex communications activities. Ms. Gabel’s expertise is providing legal advice in the areas of technology licensing and development, complex contract review and negotiations, mergers and acquisitions and securities law. Prior to working with Merrill, Ms. Gabel was a senior associate with Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ms. Gabel graduated summa cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law in 1992, and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota in 1986, where she received a Bachelors of Science degree with a major in accounting. Ms. Gabel is also a certified public accountant.
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Bob was president of IMS HEALTH, North America, responsible
for all operations in the United States and Canada. He developed
a clearly articulated strategic focus, streamlined the organizational
structure, and enhanced the roles of business development, quality
assurance, communications and client relations. In addition,
he implemented the Balanced Scorecard Performance Measurement
System used by several of the most respected multi-national corporations
and the Six Sigma Quality program.
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For over 30 years Dave specialized in Coated Printing Paper sales and marketing and National Account Sales for Scott Paper in Boston and Antwerp, Belgium and for Tembec in Montreal, Canada. He has a Psychology degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Dave is a full time Florida resident with interests in builiding spec houses, gardening, and piano. He also volunteers as a boat captain for the Conservancy of S.W. Florida.
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Naples/Collier
SCORE Adopted-A-Precinct to help in the November
7th Election! Naples, FL— The Naples/Collier chapter of SCORE participated in the Supervisor of Elections program called Adopt-a-Precint by supplying all poll workers for an entire precinct during the election. We sponsored precinct 340 at the Knights of Columbus at Golden Gate Parkway and 62nd St SW. The turnout for this election was much more brisk than during the primary and while it was a long day, everyone kept their spirits up and worked together as a great team! Many Thanks to all that participated!!! |
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Naples/Collier SCORE Participates
in Chamber's Unveiling of the Vistor Information Center Naples, FL— The Naples/Collier chapter of SCORE participated in the unveiling of a new entryway to the Naples Chamber Visitor Information Center (VIC). About 150 companies, including SCORE, sponsored engraved bricks which paved the way to the VIC, thereby making SCORE a permanent part of the Naples Chamber!. A wine and cheese reception was provided to allow attendees to mingle and peruse the VIC. Naples SCORE is proud to a partner with the Chamber with the common goal of helping area businesses become successful!
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Naples/Collier SCORE Participates
in Chamber's Annual Trade Show Naples, FL— The Naples/Collier chapter of SCORE participated in the annual Trade Show hosted by the Naples Chamber of Commerce. The Trade show was held at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club and the 150 participating vendors cater to as many as 1000 attendees. SCORE participates each year to spread the word about SCORE's free, confidential business counseling and business workshops. |
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Recent SCORE press in the Naples News Aug 15, 2006 - Seminar teaches Hispanics how to start business Aug 13, 2006 - Business success isn't due to fate or fortune |
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SCORE participated in the 3rd Annual Immokalee Employment and Education Fair on May 16th in Immokalee. The fair was hosted by The Career and Service Centers of Southwest Florida. Over 100 individuals attended the event. SCORE was there to show support for anyone considering starting their own business. |
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The"Rusty Brothers" club of retired Freemasons at Bentley Village meets for lunch once per month. Program Chairman Stan Breen invited Denny Holland of SCORE to their luncheon on May 15th to tell them about the current activities at the Naples SCORE chapter. The group of 20-40 Rusty Brothers members are all retired from business, corporate, military, professional, and educational careers.
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ICAN! Weightloss, a Naples SCORE client, is the recipient of the Southwest Florida Star Choice Award for the Spring of 2006. Congratulations Mauriann! |
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In a surprise presentation, the Naples Chapter of SCORE was awarded the SCORE District Chapter of the Year. District Director Bill Murray was on hand to present the award to Chairman Ekkehard Grampp at the March monthly meeting. This makes the Naples Chapter of SCORE the Best in Southwest Florida! |
SCORE Clients receive the "2005 Excellence in Industry" Awards from the Economic Development Council Congratulations to SCORE clients Great
Grabz and High Velocity Hurricane Protection Systems on
the recent receipt of these EDC awards! High Velocity Hurricane Protection Systems, which manufactures and sells precision-engineered hurricane shutters and now has nearly 40 employees, received the Innovation Award for medium sized companies. CONGRATULATIONS! |
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SCORE
is a Resource Partner with the
U.S. Small Business Administration