SCORE Bucks County Begins Women's Business Mastermind Group

SCORE Bucks County has announced the formation of the SCORE Women’s Business Mastermind Group, a new business roundtable geared towards issues that concern women-focused small businesses in Bucks County.

“The goal of this group is to help small businesses that are owned and operated by women to discuss common problems faced by local businesses,” says SCORE Bucks Chapter Chair Gene Murtha. “The idea is to hold monthly roundtable discussions with the agenda set by the business owners, facilitated by SCORE, aiming to provide support through open discussion and individual SCORE counseling services as needed.”

Led by Georganne Ford, a certified SCORE mentor and a Business/Personal Development Coach, the Women’s Business Mastermind Group will being meeting in Newtown in November.

The group of 10 to 12 women business owners will support and inspire members to learn, grow and achieve specific goals aimed at moving their businesses forward. The group will also help fellow masterminds stay on track and be accountable.

For Ford, of By George Coaching, accountability is huge.

“It’s not just talking about it,” she said, adding that group members will be tasked with solving challenges as they arise. “That’s pressure. That’s what keeps it moving.”

Murtha asked Ford to lead the women-focused mastermind group.

“Georganne’s business coaching expertise is a natural fit with the mentoring that our SCORE Bucks County volunteers provide,” Murtha said. “With 60 percent of our clients being women in small business, we hope to encourage more women owners, like Georganne, to get involved with SCORE.”

Ford sees the mastermind group as a way to empower members and help them realize that they can give as much as they receive. Being open to receiving wisdom from others will help everyone to succeed.

“We have to show up every month together because you’re counting on me,” she said. “You trust us that if you put an idea out there you’re going to be able to say ‘I hate that idea. That’s so not me.’”

The group will be comprised of local business owners who want to get more focused and prioritize business development strategies with the help, support, and trusted advice of not only Ford, but other likeminded women.

“We all have something to offer,” said Ford, of Northampton Township. “Each person in the room brings their strength.”

The mastermind group is envisioned as a six-month endeavor, but Ford said she could see how members would like to stay involved for a year.

“I’m hoping that people truly get the results, love the success of the mastermind group and just want more,” she said.

Typically a six-month-long mastermind group would cost $500 to $1,000. As a SCORE volunteer service, the program is free of charge to participants.

If you go

The SCORE Bucks County Women’s Business Synergy Mastermind Group will meet once a month for six months beginning in November. For more information, to get involved, or to add your name to the waiting list, contact group facilitator and business coach Georganne Ford at www.scorebuckscounty.org.

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.