FOR MORE INFORMATION,
CONTACT ANSON
C. SMITH AT 203-332-5229
Free Business Counseling at HCC
Offered by Bridgeport SCORE
HCC Students Impressed by Services
BRIDGEPORT – “The information session
on business counseling was really informative,” said Housatonic
Community College student Samia Khan of Stratford. “I’m
interested in accounting and in starting a business with my father. I will take
advantage of these services.”
“I’m interested in becoming an auditor,” said fellow student
Tamiepko Cuffee of Bridgeport, “and I’ll definitely use these services.
I’m all for anything that will enhance my higher education.”
“I have a lot of ideas about brewing and would like to produce a national,
consistent American pale lager,” said HCC student Steven Ensinger of Trumbull, “These
services certainly will be of help to me.”
Khan, Cuffee and Ensinger were talking about the counseling services now being
offered at HCC by the Greater Bridgeport Chapter of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired
Executives), a unit of the federal Small Business Administration that offers
free counseling to small businesses. The three were among some 150 HCC faculty,
staff and students who turned out for an information/welcoming session held recently
at the college as the new SCORE office was unveiled to the public.
“It’s small businesses that are the driving force of this country,” said
HCC President Anita T. Gliniecki of Monroe at the welcoming ceremony. “SCORE
provides Housatonic and the community at large with expertise that is not only
based on the volunteers’ academic backgrounds, but on experience gained
being on the front lines of business, solving problems, making plans, holding
strategy sessions and getting results.”
“We’re ecstatic that SCORE will have an office here on campus,” she
said.
SCORE’s Bridgeport chapter, said incoming Chairman Greg Bivona of Trumbull,
has more than 50 counselors who last year offered more than 400 counseling sessions,
and 30 workshops to more than 1,000 attendees. The counselors have expertise
in a wide variety of areas, including accounting/ financial management, engineering/design,
import/export, international operations, law, manufacturing, and marketing/sales.
This expertise and experience enables the counselors to offer assistance such
as:
- Helping loan applicants make the best possible case to their
bank.
- Providing advice on what to include in a business plan.
- Reviewing the plan when completed to see if it can be strengthened.
- Offering advice on where to find information needed for a marketing
plan.
- Identifying pitfalls and problems that small businesses can
face.
The SCORE volunteers, said Assistant District Director Bill McLeod
of Monroe, will be at HCC (Room 337, Beacon Hall) Wednesdays from
1:15 p.m. until 3:45 p.m., except for holidays. Appointments can
be scheduled by calling 203-576-4369.
While SCORE will be housed at Housatonic, it is not limiting its
services just to HCC.
This impressed Ensinger.
“It’s remarkable that this is open not only to HCC students but
to anyone else who wants to use it,” he said. “Not only am I going
to use it, I’m going to suggest that one of my friends use it as well.”
Housatonic Community College is located at 900 Lafayette Blvd.
in downtown Bridgeport, less than 150 yards off I-95 (Exit 27)
and Rte. 8 (Exit 1), a block from the Arena at Harbor Yard. Free
parking is available in the Housatonic garage.
For more information on Bridgeport SCORE, go to http://www.scorect.org/about_greater_bridgeport_score.html Additional
information about HCC can be found at http://www.hcc.commnet.edu. |
TO EDITORS: BRIDGEPORT, STRATFORD, TRUMBULL, AND MONROE RESIDENTS
QUOTED. STRATFORD, TRUMBULL RESIDENTS IN PHOTO
Cutline: BUSINESS ADVICE: Trumbull’s
Gregory Bivona (left), incoming Chairman of the Greater Bridgeport
Chapter of SCORE, offers business advice to HCC student and aspiring
accountant Samia Khan of Stratford. Khan was one of some 150 HCC
faculty, staff and students who attended an information/welcome
session at the college. SCORE will offer free business counseling
at the college Wednesday afternoons. Call 203-576-4369 for
appointments.
TO EDITORS: BRIDGEPORT, STRATFORD, TRUMBULL, AND MONROE RESIDENTS
QUOTED. BRIDGEPORT, SHELTON AND MILFORD RESIDENTS IN PHOTO.
Cutline: BUSINESS ADVICE – From left to right, Eugene
Ryan of Shelton, an HCC professor and counselor with the Greater Bridgeport chapter
of SCORE, offers business tips to HCC students, Marcus Berrios of Bridgeport,
Paul Kirmaier of Milford and Corinne Wisniewski, also of Milford. The three students
were among some 150 HCC faculty, staff and students who attended an information/welcome
session for SCORE at the college. SCORE will offer free business counseling at
the college Wednesday afternoons. Call 203-576-4369 for appointments. |
