'Volunteer Junkie' Honored for 20 Years with SCORE Bucks County

With a business card in his hand, an easy smile on his face and a charm like no other, Frank Keating can spot – and offer counsel to - new business owners almost anywhere.

During lunch, Keating, 75, of Buckingham, shared an overview of how he, through his mentoring role with nonprofit SCORE Bucks County, could help a mom with her new business. Moments before, the two were strangers. Within minutes, the woman shared her small business goals and outlined the areas where she could benefit from Keating’s know-how.

After providing guidance to upwards of 2,000 entrepreneurs and small business owners, breaking the ice with a would-be SCORE client comes easily. Keating joined SCORE Bucks County in 1996. He recently received an Extraordinary Service award for 20 years of service.

“It’s one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done,” Keating said. “We do good things. There’s no downside.”

As he presented the award, SCORE Bucks County Chairman Gene Murtha noted that Keating’s contributions extended well beyond his counseling work.

“Frank is so much more than a business mentor,” Murtha said. “He leads by example, always ready to listen to others, always open to learning new things, always willing to help. He embodies the values that SCORE represents, to be trusted as honest counselors through every step of the business process.”

Regardless of the business stage, Keating points out that SCORE clients can oftentimes come away with two points of view.

“We counsel in pairs,” he said. “The two of us, we might have a difference of opinion. And that’s OK.”

SCORE Bucks County is comprised of approximately 50 certified mentors who volunteer their time providing in-person, telephone, or email counseling to small business owners, startups and entrepreneurs.

“This is not a one and done situation,” Keating said. “We’ll help them with everything.”

Help is something Keating gives freely. A self-proclaimed “volunteer junkie,” he served as a volunteer board member for the United Way of Bucks County for 18 years; as a board member and president of the Aldie Counseling Center board for 15 years; and served on the board of The Center for Independent Living of Bucks County.

Keating had previously served as chair and vice chair of SCORE Bucks County.

Prior to SCORE, he had worked for more than 25 years as the sales director for a large company. He coached a 30-member sales team, oversaw product management, and hiring/ firing. At age 55, the job that Keating “absolutely loved” was no more.

“They said ‘thank you very much’ and they put me on the street,” he said.

About that same time, Keating became a certified mentor with SCORE Bucks County - and an entrepreneur. He purchased a funnel cake business and, for the next 15 years, served as its owner and operator.

Keating offers dual mentoring perspectives – as a long-time executive and as a recently retired small business owner.

“The most significant in terms of numbers and in terms of impact is that we prevent financial suicides,” he said, adding that SCORE mentors offer insight to lessen the financial risk of entrepreneurship. “People are great. Most of us need a little help.”

About SCORE

Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 8.5 million aspiring entrepreneurs. Each year, SCORE provides small business mentoring and workshops to more than 375,000 new and growing small businesses. With 50 members across the county, SCORE Bucks County provides over 1,500 services annually to local small business owners through one-on-one counseling and small business seminars. For more information, visit https://buckscounty.score.org/.