Welcoming Asheville SCORE Volunteers – Natalie Blacher & Brent Russell

Every year, SCORE volunteers help thousands of entrepreneurs start small businesses and achieve new levels of success in their existing businesses.

Volunteering at SCORE is a way for you to give back to your community, connect with fellow business owners, and pass on your knowledge and expertise to the next generation of entrepreneurs in your community.

We would like to introduce the newest members to our team of volunteers:


Natalie Blacher 

Natalie Blacher matriculated from Columbia University with an MBA in Marketing and Finance.  She received a B.A. from Lehigh University in Political Science and Economics.

Background

Natalie has worked in senior marketing positions for Burger King Corporation, McAlister’s Deli and Newk’s Eatery.  After working in a corporate environment, she established NFB Consulting, a company that provides consulting services for the food and beverage industry and retail concepts.  Her areas of expertise encompass brand positioning, marketing strategy, menu development, and consumer insights.  Clients have included PepsiCo Foodservice, Sunglass Hut-Watch Station, Del Taco restaurants, Captain D’s Restaurants, Super Target, Zimmerman Advertising, Sara Lee, FB Foods, among others.  Recently, Natalie completed two extensive restaurant industry-related contracts with the Federal Government (Department of Treasury and FDA Nutrition Division).


Brent D. Russell

Senior Living and Hospitality Leader

Background

Extensive experience in senior living operations, creating strong hospitality franchise systems, expanding global brands, strengthening partnerships and motivating management teams to greater success. Demonstrated success in CCRC operations, sales and marketing, strategic planning and team building for a national and a regional, privately owned senior care provider. In addition, experience with both a domestic regional hospitality and real estate development company and international experience in a global hospitality franchise firm. Recognized for the ability to impact an organization by providing enthusiastic leadership and mentoring to create a culture of exceptional service while maintaining a focus on results.

 

 

Meet our SCORE Volunteers – Julie Snyder

julie-snyder

SCORE volunteers are experts, successful professionals, and former business owners that give back to the local business community. Julie Snyder is a SCORE volunteer who shares her knowledge of international business with clients in the Asheville area, donating her time and helping them grow their businesses.

Q. What are your favorite places to visit in and around Asheville?

A. Because I love nature, gardens, and walking with my dog Chester, I often visit the Biltmore Estate and the Arboretum for our hikes.   

Q. What are your areas of business expertise?

A. Counseling all types of businesses on how to enter and expand in international markets and developing strategic plans for exporting.

Q. Over the course of your career path what has been your #1 strength? What personality trait, skill, or ability was integral to your professional success?

A. Strong written and verbal communication skills–for negotiations, speeches, position papers, market reports, project planning, business counseling, and supervising teams.  Integral to success—creating a vision or plan with implementation through collaboration.

Q. Why do you volunteer for Asheville SCORE?

A. Throughout my career, I was a business counselor and “international matchmaker”.  I enjoy helping people grow their businesses.

Q. If you could give a new or existing business owner one piece of advice what would it be?

A. Take time for networking and business workshops/seminars/meetups—all can bring you valuable contacts, insights, and opportunities!

Meet our SCORE Volunteers – Paul Kalicky

PaulKalicky

SCORE volunteers are experts, successful professionals, and former business owners that give back to the local business community. Paul Kalicky is a volunteer who has helped many business owners in the Asheville area, sharing his own knowledge and gift of analytical thinking. SCORE volunteers, like Paul, are an integral part of business development and leadership training in Asheville and WNC.

Q. What are one or two favorite things to do/places to go in Asheville?

A. I enjoy all the beautiful, scenic walking trails in the area including those at the Biltmore Estate and their concerts and other events

Q. What are your areas of business expertise?

A. During my 31 year career at the DuPont Co. I’ve developed expertise in formulating business strategies, business plans to implement those strategies, and in many aspects of business operations, including manufacturing, research & development, sales, marketing, intellectual property, licensing, mergers & acquisitions, and international trade.

Q. Over the course of your career path what has been your #1 strength? What personality trait, skill, or ability was integral to your professional success?

A. I think the analytical abilities I developed  as a research scientist has enabled me to quickly understand the key success factors in any business, and to develop viable programs to profitably grow those businesses.

Q. Why do you volunteer for Asheville SCORE?

A. I enjoy helping small business owners who have not had the benefit of the extensive training one gets in a large company. And as much as I like helping a new business to grow profitably, it’s equally satisfying to help startups avoid costly pitfuls.

Q. If you could give a new or existing business owner one piece of advice what would it be?

A. I encourage every new startup to talk to as many owners of similar business as possible (outside of their competitive market area) in order to learn all about the possible pitfalls to be encountered and how to avoid them.   There is a quote I like:

“A vision without a plan is just a dream, A plan without a vision is just drudgery, But a vision with a plan can change the world”.

Meet Our Volunteers: Gezil Andrews

GezilAndrews

SCORE volunteers are experts, successful professionals, and former business owners that give back to the local business community. Our members come from many different backgrounds, industries, regions, and stories. We are all united by our desire to encourage, educate, and support business owners, entrepreneurs, and startups. Today we’d like you to meet Gezil Andrews, one of our SCORE counselors in Asheville. Here is what Gezil has to share about why she volunteers and what skills she brings to the table for local clients.

[Read more…]

Meet Our Volunteers – Elizabeth Lynne Pou

 

OLLI Photoshoot May 13, 2015

SCORE volunteers are people who give back to the local business community, many of them after they have retired from the workforce. Our members come from all backgrounds, professions, locations, and personal stories. We are all united by our goal to support, encourage, and educate business owners, entrepreneurs, and startups. Today we’d like you to meet Elizabeth Lynne Pou, one of our SCORE counselors in Asheville and our current Chair. Here is what Elizabeth has to share about why she volunteers and what skills she brings to the table for local clients.

[Read more…]

Meet Our Volunteers: Cathy De Troia

SCORE volunteers are people who give back to the local business community, many of them after they have retired from the workforce. Our members come from all backgrounds,  professions, locations, and personal stories. We are all united by our goal to support, encourage, and educate business owners, entrepreneurs, and startups. Today we’d like you to meet Cathy De Troia, one of our SCORE counselors in Asheville. Here is what Cathy has to share about why she volunteers and what skills she brings to the table for local clients.

[Read more…]

Meet Our Volunteers: Robert Bond

RobertBond-Mali

SCORE volunteers are people who give back to the local business community, many of them after they have retired from the workforce. Our members come from all backgrounds,  professions, locations, and personal stories. We are all united by our goal to support, encourage, and educate business owners, entrepreneurs, and startups. Today we’d like you to meet Robert Bond, one of our SCORE counselors in Asheville. Here is what Robert has to share about why he volunteers and what skills he brings to the table for local clients.

[Read more…]