As published in the Naples Daily News on January 30, 2005:

SCORE's Success Stories Are Written and Rewritten
By JACK DWIGHT
Naples

Abbie Joan Sladick of Naples worked for years with a computer and accounting background in the interior design industry, but felt she could do more with her skills.

She studied nights and weekends to obtain a contractor's license. Once licensed, her interior designer friends began referring work to her on residential remodeling projects.

She finally found her niche.

Ultimately Sladick became only the second woman in Florida to become a certified graduate remodeler by the National Association of Home Builders. And in 2000 she started Abbie Joan Enterprises Inc., with complete remodeling, design and construction services.

Today this is a strong and growing company with more than 15 dedicated, talented employees. In 2003 it was the first remodeling firm to receive the Collier Building Industry Association's Grand Sand Dollar Award.

Hers is a success story of SCORE, which offers free, expert advice to start-up or established businesses.

One of the challenges Sladick faced when she began her business was overcoming the stereotype that construction is a male-dominated industry. Many unfairly thought that as a woman she could not possibly understand construction or manage construction workers or oversee complex projects.

Another challenge was the negative image of the construction industry itself due to cost overruns, dependability and job quality.

To be successful she had to think "outside the box" with her business plan. She had to be confident that the services provided were the best they could be. She taught English to many of her employees.

Mentors and advisers from SCORE who had done prior work in the construction industry and in business provided just that - and it was all free.

With one phone call, a consultant came to the office and offered a wealth of business advice and resources that would help any starting business. Mort Klein, with more than 30 years of experience in business, and Al Covelli counseled Sladick through the very early and critical stages. This included obtaining advanced certifications such as graduate remodeler.

She surrounded herself with positive, can-do role models - such as SCORE counselors - that encouraged her along the way. She created a corporate culture that included building/rebuilding homes as well as building relationships. Sladick made the building process a pleasure by making the clients her No. 1 concern.

The Naples/Collier County chapter of SCORE is a volunteer association of business men and women, experts in many areas of business management. Its 45 members bring backgrounds in banking, insurance, accounting, business law, sales and marketing, human resources, management, planning and logistics, manufacturing and training of employees.

Wouldn't it be great to have an expert board of advisers like this that you could call on to discuss your business problems? Wouldn't you like to have trustworthy advisers with broad experience and practical business knowledge to make suggestions and help you to evaluate your options and develop solutions, all while maintaining confidentiality?

This is all available at no cost through SCORE.

SCORE offers counseling sessions on a one-on-one basis as well as workshops. E-mail counseling is offered to those who are out of the area. SCORE is a partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration with close to 12,000 members and more than 350 chapters nationwide.

The Naples chapter ran 13 workshops last year with a total of 303 business people in attendance. Additionally, the chapter counseled 480 clients in face-to-face sessions.

We can be reached by e-mail at score@scorenaples.org or by phone at 430-0081. Our Web site is www.scorenaples.org

Jack Dwight, retired from a career in electronics, is Chairman of the Naples SCORE chapter.