Why did I join SCORE? I joined SCORE in May of 2003 to give service. A small business begins with a creative idea and passion and requires energy, a good plan, support and hard work to make it successful. The devil is in the details but doing the details without a vision/plan seldom works. Yes - ego, luck and support are necessary. The client has the answers; the counselor’s job is to ask the right questions.

What’s my experience? I worked as an engineer and project manager in energy research most of my career. Along the way I had the pleasure of serving on an International team in Germany and Japan. I retired the summer of 2000 to help form a Silicon Valley startup to develop an all-optical switch for the telecommunications industry. I served as President and led the recovery (human and business) to rebuild 40 town homes lost in the 1991 Oakland Fire. Defining the problem, arraying the necessary tools and resources and solving the problem is the scientific method and works for starting a business and writing a business plan.

What’s my education and training? BS and MS in Electrical Engineering, management courses and various workshops and retreats.

Who am I? I’m an engineer, project manager, father, grandfather, sailor, woodworker, friend, volunteer, teacher, counselor, coach and seeker. The mind, body, heart and spirit collectively define who we are. Giving service is a way to achieve happiness.

When and why did you become a SCORE counselor? As part of my previous experience, I assisted more than 50 people in getting SBA loans and starting small businesses. I have also owned and operated six Sub S Corp businesses in three states. I enjoyed helping others get into business and continue to do so through SCORE. I joined SCORE in 2004 and counsel in Oakland as well as doing online counseling.

Business Background: After working for a Civil Engineer in the Bay Area for two years, I worked in the International Division of two large construction companies for 18 years spending about 10 years in Europe in the management of some very large and well regarded projects. I started a construction company in Louisiana building large homes and small commercial projects. This company was very successful until the Gulf Coast economy collapsed in the mid-eighties and I closed it. I then started and was the franchisor of an auto service franchise business which grew to over $30 million a year. I also had companies that owned and operated individual auto centers. Between 2001 and 2003, I sold all the businesses and retired.

Educational Background: Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Nevada, Reno, NV; Bachelor of Foreign Trade, Thunderbird Graduate School of International Business, Glendale, AZ

Business related extracurricular activities: Licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois and Louisiana, American Society of Civil Engineers, National Association of Home Builders, International Franchise Association

Other interests: Seven grandchildren, golf, travel, skiing, walking and trying to stay in shape at the dreaded gym.

Business Background: Over thirty-eight years in financial management with a private investment management company and a major financial institution in San Francisco. His work experience included three years of foreign services with US Department of State mission in Vietnam and as financial analyst with Asian Development Bank headquarters in the Republic of Philippines. Other responsibilities included managing an overseas office in Asia. He has traveled extensively throughout Asian countries and the sub-continental countries.

When and Why did you become a SCORE Counselor? I joined SCORE in October 1996 because I was desperate to talk to business people about business. We lived in the resort community of Hilton Head Island and most conversations were about golf and tennis. Seeking more substantive discussions, I sought out SCORE counselors to talk about the current business climate and found I had made the best decision of my “retired life.” I love helping our clients.

Business Background: Early in my career I was a member of the Professional Staff of the Hudson Institute working on projects trying to predict the future and a participant in the Institute’s work in Less Developed countries. For the last 15 years of my career, I was an Investment Manager of Time Warner’s Venture Capital Group and Vice President of Development of a Market Research Division.

Educational Background: BA, Political Science, Queens College, Graduate Studies, Eastern European and Russian area studies, Georgetown University, Graduate Studies, MBA Program, New York University.

Self Portrait: I like adventure travel and have been to Africa on Safari, India to view tigers several times and have a trip to Uganda planned to look for mountain gorillas. When at home, other than SCORE, I race walk, cruise in our boat, read non-fiction and spend as much time as possible with my grandchildren.

Hank Weiner

When and Why did you become a Score Counselor?: I started a gradual retirement in the late 1990's and my wife got tired of having me around the house. She spotted an advertisement in a local newspaper for a SCORE workshop on Importing and Exporting, and called it to my attention as something I might contribute to. Since this was my life career, joining SCORE and counseling clients on international trade was a natural thing to do. It also solved my wife's problem getting me out of the house. Through both the counseling and workshops I can continue my interests as well as keep up with developments in this field. As an added bonus, my 10 years of experience in building and managing a number of restaurants was put to good use in counseling restaurant clients and giving workshops on opening and operating restaurants.

Business Background: I was employed by a major American trading company in various management positions throughout Europe and the Far East, becoming Vice-President for Asia. After 20 years, I left that company to form my own trading company with local partners in Taiwan. I returned to the United States after 25 years abroad to open a San Francisco office for this company and also to assist a Taiwan restaurant group to establish themselves here. At the same time I completed my stock broker's qualification exam and was a part time broker primarily engaged in investments for Taiwanese clients.

Educational Background: BS in Business Administration from U. C. Berkeley. Completion of the Executive Program, Stanford Business School.

Business related extracurricular activities: President of the American Chamber of Commerce, Taipei; President of the American Club, Taiwan; Board Member, American Chamber of Commerce Philippines. Testified before the U.S. Senate and House Joint Economic Committee on US and international trade matters.

Other interests: Six grandchildren, including one just starting Stanford, are probably my main interest but I continue to spend too much time in the gym trying to ward off old age. Skiing and golf will continue until that doesn't work anymore.

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Frost Prioleau

When and Why did you become a Score Counselor? In 1993, when we sold our business, I was looking for a way to stay involved in the business community and help others if I could on a part-time basis. Score provided a wonderful opportunity to do this under the umbrella of the SBA and meet and help many persons who were starting or improving businesses.

Business Background: For 10 years, I was in Marketing with what is now ExxonMobil in the Philippines and Malaysia. After a year of domestic training, I had interesting assignments working with gasoline retailers in several Philippine cities and ended as Marketing Director of ESSO Malaysia. For the last 35 years, I worked with my brothers-in-law building a steel investment foundry as the Financial and Operating Officer. We sold our two plants in 1988 and stayed on for 5 more years to run the larger operation.

Educational Background: Princeton University (BSE - Engineering), Harvard University (MBA)

Self-Description: I enjoy keeping current in business and world affairs, and helping people achieve business goals. Other activities include keeping up with family, building and maintaining this website, writing family history books, traveling to interesting places, and exercising as much as possible by walking, rowing, golf and skiing.

Karl Haug

When and Why did you become a Score Counselor? I joined SCORE in 1996 after a successful career in the Medical Equipment Industry. I came to this country in 1963 as an immigrant, starting out in New York City with $200 in my pocket. This country offered great opportunities and I feel that the work we do in SCORE is an ideal way to "give back". I have been a counselor for over 10 years, helping clients in face-to-face as well as web-based counseling, and find the experience most rewarding.

Business Background: CFO of a full scope Medical Equipment Business Unit of a large multinational company. Prior work experience included an import operation in the US and an export operation of a large manufacturer in Germany.

Educational Background: Education and Business Schooling/Training in Germany.

Self-description: I have always had an interest in learning more about different cultures in other parts of the world and widening my horizons. Before coming to the US I spent some time in Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, France and Great Britain, practicing my French and English language skills along the way. My wife and I enjoy hiking, cross-country skiing, and listening to classical music.

Larry Tessler

When and why did you become a SCORE Counselor: I became a counselor in 1999 ten years after early retirement from the corporate world of retailing and five years after selling my own small business startup. Reluctantly, I allowed a longtime friend and counselor to gently push me into the role. How fortunate for me - as I quickly discovered just how personally satisfying it was to share my business knowledge with others and to participate in some small manner in their success. Interestingly enough I’ve found myself spending as much time learning and growing in order to remain relevant in today’s ever-evolving business world.

Business Background: Nearly 20 years with a local department store chain serving ultimately as a senior executive in the merchandising, stores, and advertising/sales promotion sections. 8 years with a national chain of promotional department stores with similar responsibilities. 2 years with a local chain of video rental and music sales stores expanding their presence and reorganizing their buying processes. 5 years starting and managing my own small business.

Educational Background: B.S. in Business Administration, University of California, Berkeley. Graduate studies in Marketing, San Francisco State.

Self-Description: My wife and I like to travel the world. I enjoy reading, mostly fiction, taking continuing education classes, serving in my homeowners’ association, plus occasional other volunteer tasks. I’m the cook. I like to walk my dogs. I don’t like working out… but I do it anyway.

Margot Dishner

When and why did you become a Score Counselor?: I’ve been a SCORE counselor since September 2000. I joined SCORE because I really enjoy business and particularly liked bringing junior people along when I was in the corporate world and seeing them succeed in their careers. SCORE seemed like a great way to keep my own skills sharp and also have the pleasure of helping others.

Business Background: I fell in love with advertising when I was in high school and worked in the advertising department of The Progressive Farmer magazine in my home town after school and in the summers. After an education in that field from Northwestern University, I got my dream job at a large advertising agency on Madison Avenue in New York. The firm moved offices and I then had the pleasure of riding the elevators in The Chrysler Building to my office every morning. I worked with General Mills, Procter and Gamble, Hanes Hosiery, Chase Manhattan Bank, Hunt-Wesson. Lots of fun. Great products, great clients. I couldn’t begin to pick my favorite, although I really did enjoy my time on Chase Manhattan, because I just took a cab, instead of an airplane, to see my clients!

Educational Background: Northwestern University, Bachelors and Masters degrees

Self Description: I enjoy dancing, hiking, skiing and I’m a bit of a political junkie

Bob Laiks

When and Why did you become a Score Counselor? In 2004, I referred a client to SCORE when his partners didn't want to pay for a consultant. I was invited and decided to join since it seemed like a good idea, might be interesting and is a learning experience.

Business Background: I spent many years selling large systems to run major phone networks, hardware/software/services/etc, for ATT Network Systems/Lucent. These were big ticket items with some very long sales cycles. I trail blazed some unique approaches, including virtual teams, and moved some Bell Labs R&D into the customer's operations. I took a management package shortly after the Lucent spin off. After that I was a founding team member for two high tech start ups (Ellipsys Technologies and Reversi Networks). There I had sales and business development responsibilities. I was involved in pitching venture capital firms and advising the board. Before and after the start ups, I did some private consulting.

Educational Background: BBA, Marketing, from Pace University (NY;NY); MBA, Marketing, from San Francisco State University

Self-description: I usually am optimistic and enjoy a creative environment at work. A sense of humor is important and valuing people is a requirement in business as well as personal life. These come in handy as a SCORE counselor. From a Myers-Briggs standpoint I'm an ENFP. I've practiced Aikido, a Japanese art, since 1974, and I've taught a class in Japantown (SF) for over 20 years. I also enjoy Yoga as a way to maintain enough flexibility to stay active.

Brad Rozner

When and Why did you become a Score Counselor?: I was originally scheduled to begin participating in SCORE on September 11, 2001. The events of that day delayed my joining. I finished the screening and training process in 2002 and started at the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce. In 2006 I moved to the Concord Chamber of Commerce. I wanted to be a SCORE Counselor starting in the 80’s. My business partners and I were starting a business and needed a loan. We contacted SCORE in Kansas City and a Counselor taught us how to write a business plan. We got the loan and started the business. I decided back then that after I knew "business" thoroughly, I would help others the same way I was helped.

Business Background: I have a very diverse business background that began with manufacturing satellite dishes. I have been involved in business telecom, concert promotion, employment agency, computer test equipment manufacturing, recreational vehicle, automotive and currently real estate.

Educational Background: B.A. in Management/Human Relations from MidAmerica Nazarene University in Kansas.

Self-description: I am a serial entrepreneur. My greatest joy in business comes from putting the pieces of an idea together to produce a profitable business quickly.

Laszlo Bonnyay

-Why I became a SCORE counselor in 1996: I took early retirement to pass on my business experiences to people who would like to start a small business or need counseling and advice to run their existing one.

-Business Background: I started as a product engineer at Dorr-Oliver Inc in Stamford, Connecticut in 1967 and stayed with the same company for thirty years. I moved into sales in the Chicago office in 1972, was promoted to sales manager in 1978 of the Emeryville, California office covering the eleven western states. In 1982, I was promoted to Managing Director of our seven European companies and grew them from 35 to 120 million dollars in 10 years without increasing staff. In 1987, the six senior managers, including myself, did a leveraged buy-out from our parent – British Petroleum. After operating it for nine years, we sold the company in 1996 to a subsidiary of the Mannesmann Company in Germany. In 1996 I started a publishing company to publish photography books

-Education: BSME and MBA – Studied in Hungary, Germany and USA

-Self Portrait: I consider myself extremely lucky. I escaped from the communist dictatorship in Hungary in 1956 at the age of seventeen by myself without a penny. Lived and studied at first in Germany and later in the USA. Thanks to the help and support of countless people in Germany and particularly in the United States I have been given many opportunities, most of which I have taken advantage of and had the privilege of leading a very interesting and most exciting life.

Sylvia Cunningham

-Why I became a SCORE counselor in 2004: After 30 years in management, I wanted to share what I’d learned with others. I also wanted some impetus to keep up with and stay interested in business trends and ideas. Once in SCORE, the clients I meet, their stories, and the camaraderie of the other counselors make SCORE a very fulfilling part of your life.

-Business Background: Responsibilities included regional oversight for procurement, facilities management, budget and financial reporting, and human resources.

-Education: BA in Psychology from San Francisco State University. I’m a product of the public school system.

-Self Portrait: The girl next door.

Fred Badal

-Why I became a SCORE counselor in 2001: – To use my background and experience to help others.

-Business Background: – Engineering & Project Management, College Teaching, Business Broker, Real Estate Investor
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-Education. – BS, MS - San Jose State, Engineer – Stanford, MBA – Santa Clara

-Self Portrait: I have great satisfaction in reading, listening to classical music, and helping others through ROTARY (Theme: Service above Self), SCORE, teaching, and various support groups.

Dick Arney

Why I became a Score Counselor in 1997: To give back to the community and keep my mind active in the business field.

Business background: Retired as President of Consolidated Pacific Brands ( A company in the import food business that did food marketing projects for other companies).

Educational background: Graduated from Michigan State University and the Stanford University Executive Management Course.

Can you describe yourself?: ( you should probably ask my wife) Very driven to succeed, curious, motivated to learn new things. Enjoy helping others succeed in their endeavors.