My Cincy Small Business Story

Hosted by Michael Dawson

Business Entrepreneurship

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Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Did you know twice as many small businesses survive past five years when they have support from a mentor? My Cincy Small Business Story is brought to you by the volunteer mentors of SCORE Greater Cincinnati, a non-profit organization that helps launch hundreds of new, small businesses--and even more jobs--in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Indiana every year. Our vision is to give every person the support they need to thrive as a small business owner. Visit https://www.score.org/greatercincinnati to request a free business mentor or share your own expertise. You can also listen and subscribe for more stories about overcoming challenges, clearing obstacles and owning a successful small business.

Listen to episodes

49 recent

October 1, 202620 min

Episode 49: Ellen Craven

August 18, 202614 min

Episode 48: Lee Cummings

Fueling high performers and earning accolades as a private chef

August 18, 20269 min

Episode 47: Jessica Brewer

Mentorship adds up to success for Breckenridge Financial Supplies

August 18, 202614 min

Episode 46: Cortney Ley

How SCORE went to bat for her business. Legacy Batting Cages

October 28, 202522 min

Episode 45: Greg and Jamie Pipkins from Kept House

Meet the husband-and-wife team behind Kept House, an estate sales company formed in 2021. Greg and Jamie Pipkins are joined by their SCORE Mentor Jerry Blais to share how they have overcome challenges and seized opportunities in their first five years in business. Kept House was a finalist for the 2025 SCORE Greater Cincinnati Client of the Year Award!

September 9, 202513 min

Episode 44: - Dora Cheng from Yee Mama

She loves creating things from scratch! Dora Cheng had a family recipe and passion for high-quality wontons. With hard work and support from SCORE Mentors, she has launched Yee Mama into wholesale and more recently, opened a storefront at Cincinnati's Findlay Market!

August 27, 202512 min

Episode 43: Megan Hils started Raise and Shine Parent Coaching and Consulting

Megan Hils started Raise and Shine Parent Coaching and Consulting because she wanted to get ahead of issues she encountered working as a school psychologist. Her SCORE Mentor Diane Powers joins her on this episode of My Cincy Small Business Story to talk about applying her expertise to community need to develop a successful small business. In fact, Raise and Shine was a finalist for the SCORE Client of the Year award!

August 20, 202517 min

Episode 42: Jackie Reau - Game Day Communications - Confluence 2025 - SMART STRATEGIES for changing times

PLEASE JOIN US Wednesday, September 17, 2025 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM (Registration begins 8:30 AM) Matthew 25: Ministries 11060 Kenwood Rd, Blue Ash, OH 45242 SMART STRATEGIES for changing times CONFLUENCE™ 2025 is a day filled with expert-led sessions, practical takeaways, speed business mentoring, and valuable networking opportunities designed to help you propel your business forward. finance • marketing • AI • hiring • resilience Gain strategies and insights needed to navigate uncertainty and future-proof your business! grow • adapt • thrive Kickstart the day with Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval to learn how local leadership and resources can help your business. Register below https://www.score.org/sites/default/files/2025-07/CONFLUENCE%202025%20Flyer%20-%2028Jul25.pdf

July 31, 20258 min

Episode 41: Confluence 2025 - SMART STRATEGIES for changing times

Wed, September 17 | 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM | 11060 Kenwood Rd, Blue Ash, OH Confluenc 2025 SMART STRATEGIES for changing times Confluence™ 2025 is a day filled with expert-led sessions, practical takeaways, speed business mentoring, and valuable networking opportunities designed to help you propel your business forward.Gain strategies and insights needed to navigate uncertainty and future-proof your business! https://www.score.org/greatercincinnati

July 30, 202516 min

Episode 40: Tina Neely

Tina Neely wrote a children's book about her faith and her pet pig Bacon, which developed into an entire brand with guidance from her SCORE mentors! They join her on this episode of My Cincy Small Business Story to talk about how Tina's vision has evolved into a finalist for SCORE Client of the Year finalist in the established business category.