<em>Photo above: Laurie Brown of Aunt Laurie’s of Bluffton; Louise Hodges of Greenbug, Inc. of Beaufort; and Larry Holman of the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce. </em>

The Lowcountry Chapter of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) hosted their annual Awards Ceremony at the Country Club of Hilton Head celebrating the achievements of several companies they have mentored. The 2015 Client of the Year honorees included Louise Hodges, President of Greenbug, Inc. of Beaufort and Laurie Brown, Owner of Aunt Laurie’s of Bluffton. The Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce was selected as the SCORE Most Valuable Business Partner of the Year.

SCORE is a national organization sponsored by the Small Business Administration (SBA) charged with helping small businesses. Members of SCORE are retired executives who volunteer to mentor local companies. In 2015, the Lowcountry Chapter of SCORE provided 1505 client services through mentoring sessions and workshop attendance in Beaufort County.

“Greenbug and Aunt Laurie’s were chosen based on successfully meeting or exceeding their business and financial objectives utilizing SCORE resources” stated Gene Sherman, Chairman of the Lowcountry SCORE Chapter.

Greenbug manufactures and sells natural pest control solutions using cedar as the active ingredient. In addition to pest control products, the Greenbug System is a novel pest control delivery system that integrates with irrigation systems. With a Greenbug System, an irrigation system becomes a hybrid system of automatic pest control as well as regular watering.

“The Greenbug System works exceptionally well to control pests and allow people to enjoy the outdoors” shared Louise Hodges of Greenbug. “SCORE has been instrumental in bringing the Greenbug System to market.”

Aunt Laurie’s offers unique gifts and gift baskets that are handmade and often assembled by disabled clients going through job skills training. Each gift and basket by Aunt Laurie’s helps some very special people. SCORE sessions helped create Aunt Laurie’s business plan and refine business goals and ideas.

The Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce was named SCORE 2015 Most Valuable Business Partner of the Year because of the funding resources they have provided for SCORE clients, including Greenbug, this year’s SCORE 2015 Client of the Year. “We offer resources for small businesses that are not available elsewhere” stated Larry Holman, President and CEO of the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce.