National Encore Entrepreneur Mentor Day to promote entrepreneurship among individuals ages 50 and older will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 2 at the Charleston Area Alliance located at 1116 Smith Street, Charleston. The local event, as part of a larger effort by the U.S. Small Business Administration and AARP, is designed to match encore entrepreneurs (over age 50) with successful small business owners and resources for advice and assistance. To register, go to: http://wvencoreentrepreneurs.eventbrite.com or call 304-347-5220.
Encore Entrepreneurs such as Maureen O’Toole of ImageServ LLC will be featured on Oct. 2. O’Toole left her official career behind to start her own business at the age of 49. “I had nothing but my belief that I could do this. My family thought I was crazy, but you just have to stick with it, no matter what the obstacles.” She adds “I love a start up.”
Another Encore Entrepreneur who started a business at an older age is Harry B. Mills. Mills currently serves as a fundraising consultant to nonprofits and has worked in both the private and public sectors for a number of years. “Even with my experience, there were still things I didn’t know. My best advice to entrepreneurs of all ages is not to be shy about asking questions and seeking advice.”
Both will be sharing their entrepreneurial knowledge on Oct. 2, along with small business experts from the Charleston SCORE Chapter, West Virginia Women’s Business Center, the West Virginia Small Business Development Center and the SBA. They will be available to meet individually with and provide professional business advice to encore entrepreneurs.
With one in four individuals ages 44 to 70 interested in becoming entrepreneurs and 63 percent of Americans planning to work during retirement, small business ownership is a good option. Small business owners with long-term counselors see bigger sales, hire more workers and last longer. Call 304-347-5220 or visit www.sba.gov/wv to register now.
