SCORE Houston's Podcast

Should you start a business from scratch, buy an existing one, or invest in a franchise? In this episode of the Score Houston Podcast, host and SCORE mentor PV Bala talks to Jeffrey Jones — President of Advanced Business Brokers , certified business appraiser, and a SCORE mentor with over 35 years of experience helping entrepreneurs buy and sell businesses in the Houston metro area. Jeff shares in...

Join SCORE Houston host and mentor PV Bala in an inspiring conversation with Marcia Faschingbauer , CEO of Excargo Services, as she shares her remarkable 45-year journey building a logistics powerhouse in Houston's male-dominated trucking industry. From starting as a transportation manager in her family's food business to becoming a trailblazer at the Port of Houston, Marcia reveals the...

What does it take to walk away from a stable career, open a one-room office with borrowed rent money, and build a thriving multi-location business? Dr. Dedra Frazier did exactly that — and the results speak for themselves. In this episode of Small Business Success Stories at SCORE Houston, host and SCORE Mentor Dr. Jeffrey Ricken sits down with Dr. Dedra Frazier, licensed psychologist and founder...

Join SCORE mentor Dr. Jeffrey Ricken in an inspiring conversation with Sue McCarron, successful owner of McCarron Home Care and Executive Director of Global Pathways Institute for Caregivers, and her SCORE mentor Richard Stanley, a 19-year veteran volunteer advisor. Discover how Sue transformed from a failed first business attempt in 2013 to building a thriving home healthcare company that broke e...

Join Dr. Jeffrey Ricken in conversation with Art Klebba, a seasoned SCORE mento r with 40+ years of business experience. Art shares invaluable insights on starting and growing successful businesses, including funding strategies, partnership best practices, and exit planning. Key Topics: ✓ Why you don't need a college degree to start a business ✓ The power of sweat equity and long-term thinkin...

Discover actionable strategies from Robert Brown, former global executive and SCORE Houston mentor , as he shares with Dr Jeffrey Ricken how to build customer intimacy, generate aftermarket revenue, and create trust that drives business growth. In this episode, you’ll learn how small businesses can boost customer retention, manage cash flow, and set clear goals for sustainable success. Robert expl...

Corine Short is the founder and CEO of That Stuff Nutrition and the 2025 Houston District Veteran Business Owner of the Year . A former US Air Force Captain and fitness nutrition officer, Corine has built a thriving health and wellness brand in Houston with 2 locations, a food truck, a TSU campus partnership, and 13 employees. Her journey? Corporate layoff in 2018 → Used severance to start busines...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Kevin Rosenberg, a seasoned CPA and SCORE Houston mentor , as he shares his expertise on the critical role of financial literacy and exceptional service in driving small business success. In this episode, Kevin draws from over 40 years of experience in accounting and finance, offering practical advice for entrepreneurs, startups, and small business owner...

Jerry Hoffman is one of our most experienced mentors at SCORE Houston with a distinguished career in sales, marketing, and the fashion industry—designing and manufacturing clothing from women's leather jackets to men's sweaters, managing nationwide sales teams, and developing marketing campaigns. But here's what makes Jerry exceptional: he and Raj Mashruwala have mentored over 65 en...

Join Jeff Ricken and Richard Webb for an insightful conversation about SCORE Houston, America's largest network of volunteer business mentors. Richard, a former Ernst & Young HR executive with over 20 years of experience, shares his journey from corporate leadership to mentoring small businesses. Learn about SCORE's free mentoring services, success stories from Houston entrepreneurs,...

Join us for an inspiring episode of Mentor Conversations at Score Houston as we sit down with Ken Roseboom, owner of Thinking Partners and an executive leadership coach with decades of experience. Ken shares his journey from a 37-year career at Chevron to coaching business owners and leaders, offering practical wisdom on the emotional side of leadership. In this episode, Ken shares practical wisdo...

In this episode of Mentor Conversations at SCORE Houston, host Doug Sewell sits down with Jim Nordhaus, a seasoned entrepreneur and mentor with decades of experience in the food industry . Jim shares his journey from running a family frozen food business to holding executive roles at major companies like Cisco and PFG. He discusses the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of understandin...

Join us for Mentor Conversations from SCORE Houston as we talk with Bill Horwitz, a mentor with over 40 years of experience . Bill shares his journey from family business to mentoring entrepreneurs, offering practical advice and insights for small business owners. Discover how SCORE Houston supports local entrepreneurs and why mentorship is key to business success. Tune in for real-world wisdom an...

Discover the inspiring journey of Dr. Tarina Desai , a board-certified physician who traded her hospital scrubs for the entrepreneurial world to build a thriving med spa from the ground up. In this episode, Dr. Desai shares how the power of mentorship, determination, and community support transformed her vision into a million-dollar business (Artavi Med Spa ) while balancing motherhood, overcoming...

In this episode of Mentor Conversations at Score Houston, Mentor host PV Bala interviews Dr. Jeffrey Ricken —a distinguished mentor, retired physician, educator, and business leader. Dr. Ricken shares insights from his diverse career, discusses the importance of mentorship, and offers practical advice for entrepreneurs, especially in healthcare . The conversation covers business strategy, success...

In this episode, Dr. Lalitha Raman shares her journey from science to business mentorship and offers essential advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Learn her tips on starting and sustaining a business, the importance of financial planning, and why mentorship matters. If you’re looking for real-world guidance and inspiration to launch or grow your business, don’t miss Dr. Raman’s insights and encoura...

Host Murali Balasubramanian interviews Matt Heath, a veteran executive and SCORE mentor, about his journey from corporate America to mentoring Houston’s entrepreneurs. Matt shares practical advice on building a broad skill set, finding your business niche, and the importance of sales and mentorship. Discover how to build your skills, find your niche, and succeed with support from SCORE Houston. He...

In this episode of Mentor Conversations at SCORE Houston, host PV Bala talks to senior mentor and retired attorney, Rita Leader . With over 40 years of experience in corporate law, Rita shares her journey, challenges faced as a female law graduate, and transition to mentoring at SCORE. She offers detailed guidance on setting up LLCs, corporate taxation, risk analysis, and maintaining work-life bal...

In this episode of Mentor Conversations at Score Houston, host PV Bala interviews seasoned mentor Raj Mashruwala. Raj shares his extensive experience in strategic planning, marketing, and financial management, built over three decades in the chemical and refining industries. He discusses his journey into mentoring since joining SCORE in 2003 and highlights his unique approach to helping entreprene...

Welcome to our introductory episode on SCORE Houston —the nation’s largest network of volunteer business mentors, backed by the US Small Business Administration . Whether you’re launching a startup, growing your business, or seeking expert guidance, this episode unpacks how SCORE Houston’s seasoned mentors —former CEOs, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs—offer free, confidential support to help y...

Welcome to our introductory episode on SCORE Houston —the nation’s largest network of volunteer business mentors, backed by the US Small Business Administration. Whether you’re launching a startup, growing your business, or seeking expert guidance, this episode unpacks how SCORE Houston’s seasoned mentors—former CEOs, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs—offer free, confidential support to help you...