As an active SCORE Mentor with Virginia’s Blue Ridge Chapter, Sam Timothy has directly witnessed the organization's powerful impact in nurturing small businesses and fostering entrepreneurial resilience. With over 14 years of international experience as a systems engineer and entrepreneur, he delivers high-impact technology solutions across the U.S., the Middle East, and India, specializing in AI-powered systems for workflow automation and regulatory compliance. This background, combined with his contributions to national AI governance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), positions him as a formidable advocate for the small business community. This advocacy has become critically important as SCORE faces the potential elimination of its federal funding under the Fiscal Year 2026 Discretionary Budget Request. This move jeopardizes the future of the 300,000 small business owners and entrepreneurs SCORE serves each year. Fiscal Year 2026 Discretionary Budget Request For 61 years, SCORE has been a vital resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA and the nation's largest network of volunteer business experts. These small enterprises are the engine of the American economy, contributing 43.5% of the nation's GDP and employing nearly half of the workforce. The proposed cut threatens to dismantle a support system that has helped over 17 million entrepreneurs start, scale, and systematize their businesses. These small enterprises Timothy is a passionate advocate for a $17 million funding allocation in FY26, highlighting SCORE’s indispensable role in economic growth. As a SCORE Mentor, a participant in the prestigious MIT Venture Advancement Program, and a recognized member of elite professional organizations like IEEE and IISE, he has seen firsthand how expert guidance transforms lives. He argues that eliminating this funding would not only be a fiscal misstep but a profound blow to the nation's economic resilience. $17 million funding allocation Defining mentorship For Timothy, the profound impact of SCORE’s mission is often crystallized in individual success stories. He recalls a particularly defining moment working with a veteran seeking to transition into the burgeoning drone and AI automation industry. The veteran possessed a strong background in security and data management but needed guidance to navigate the technology sector. This experience highlighted mentorship's critical role in bridging the gap between valuable skills and new industry applications, especially for those who have served the country. “I introduced Microsoft Power Automate to demonstrate real-world workflow automation and AirSim, Microsoft’s drone simulation platform, to explore AI training models,” he states. “The veteran’s ability to quickly grasp these tools and envision practical solutions for drone compliance and data analysis was inspiring.” This interaction affirmed SCORE's purpose: showing how targeted mentorship can unlock opportunities and empower individuals to thrive in high-growth fields. “That experience,” he adds, “reinforced my belief in SCORE’s mission to empower veterans and community leaders to thrive in emerging technologies through mentorship, exposure, and strategic support.” Building Resilience The effectiveness of SCORE’s mentorship model lies in its blend of personalized guidance and real-world experience, which builds both competence and confidence in entrepreneurs. Unlike standardized programs, SCORE’s approach is tailored to the specific needs and journey of each individual. This adaptability is crucial for fostering the resilience needed to navigate the uncertainties of starting and growing a business, particularly for first-time founders and those from underserved communities. Timothy emphasizes that this tailored support system is what makes the organization so effective at driving long-term economic development. “SCORE’s mentorship approach is effective because it combines real-world experience with personalized guidance, which builds both confidence and competence in entrepreneurs,” he explains. “Unlike one-size-fits-all programs, SCORE tailors mentorship to each individual's journey, helping them navigate challenges, pivot when needed, and stay committed through uncertainty.” This process does more than just launch businesses; it cultivates a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem. As Timothy puts it, “By empowering entrepreneurs to build viable businesses, SCORE directly contributes to local job creation, innovation, and long-term economic development. It's not just mentoring; it’s ecosystem-building.” The Impact of Funding Cuts The potential elimination of entrepreneurial development programs, including SCORE, poses a significant threat to local communities. The loss of this support would sever access to free, expert mentoring that has a proven track record of creating jobs and fostering small business growth. elimination of entrepreneurial development programs The numbers from FY24 alone illustrate the scale of the impact: SCORE’s mentorship helped launch 59,447 new businesses and create 143,623 jobs. Timothy warns that the consequences would be especially severe for the most vulnerable entrepreneurs. “The elimination of federal funding for SCORE would significantly harm local communities,” he states. “With 99.9% of U.S. businesses being small, and SCORE helping create over 143,000 jobs and nearly 60,000 new businesses in FY24 alone, the loss of this support would be devastating, especially for veterans, rural entrepreneurs, and underserved populations.” The fiscal logic behind the program makes the proposed cut even more confounding, as the federal government receives an extraordinary return on its investment. “SCORE’s $17 million federal allocation returns over $45 for every $1 invested,” Timothy adds. “Pulling this funding would not only weaken local economies but silence a nationwide volunteer network that is driving real change.” The Value of Deep Mentorship According to Timothy, one of the most misunderstood aspects of SCORE is the depth of its mentorship model, which is often mistaken for casual advice rather than the structured, comprehensive support it truly is. This systemic approach is what sets SCORE apart. Mentors do more than just help entrepreneurs get started; they equip them with the tools and mindset needed for long-term sustainability and growth by helping them adopt modern tools, optimize workflows, and apply systems thinking. “It’s not just casual advice; it’s structured, strategic support that addresses every layer of a business, from vision to execution,” Timothy explains. “The true value lies not only in helping entrepreneurs launch but in equipping them with the mindset and capabilities to sustain and grow. This long-term, systems-driven approach is what makes SCORE mentorship so impactful, yet it’s often overlooked.” Systems Engineering and AI Timothy’s expertise in systems engineering and AI-driven solutions directly shapes his mentorship style, as he guides entrepreneurs to build businesses that are both scalable and efficient. A particularly impactful example of this approach involved a local farmer with a mobile app to connect small farms directly with consumers. While the concept was strong, the business was hampered by logistical inefficiencies. “My expertise allows me to help entrepreneurs build scalable, efficient businesses by viewing operations through a systems lens,” he says. He helped the farmer streamline workflow and logistics using automation tools, which improved order fulfillment and delivery coordination. “Watching this idea transform into a more efficient, community-serving platform underscored the real-world impact SCORE mentors bring to rural innovation.” Beyond individual mentoring, Timothy also serves as a vital connector within the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. “I serve as a connection point between SCORE Lynchburg and other nonprofit organizations that support entrepreneurs,” he adds. “I often receive referrals and help guide those clients to the most suitable SCORE mentors based on their industry and goals, ensuring they receive the targeted support they need to succeed.” A Strategic Investment Timothy has taken his advocacy for SCORE directly to his congressman, driven by a firm belief that its federal funding is a strategic investment in the nation's economic resilience. He argues that the free, expert guidance offered by mentors helps entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of launching and growing their businesses, which in turn leads to job creation and community stability, especially in underserved and rural areas. “I’ve personally written to my congressman to advocate for continued federal funding for SCORE because I’ve seen the measurable impact it has on small businesses and local economies,” he states. “ From my perspective, this funding is not just support for a mentoring program; it’s a strategic investment in national economic resilience.” As Timothy puts it, “When we invest in small businesses through SCORE, we strengthen job creation, community stability, and long-term economic health across the country.” The Next Generation of Business Looking to the future, Timothy envisions SCORE playing a central role in cultivating a new generation of small businesses that are technologically advanced, operationally efficient, and socially conscious. He argues that increased federal support would amplify this role by expanding SCORE’s reach into underserved communities and enabling greater investment in specialized mentoring and digital training programs. “As industries evolve, SCORE’s mentorship will be key in helping entrepreneurs adopt emerging technologies, streamline operations, and build resilient, scalable models,” he says. “With stronger backing, SCORE can lead the way in preparing small business owners not just to survive, but to thrive in an increasingly complex and competitive economy.” The fight to preserve SCORE's federal funding is more than a budgetary dispute; it is a battle for the future of American entrepreneurship. Through the lens of Timothy's work, the immense value of this 61-year-old institution becomes clear. His application of systems thinking and AI expertise to help veterans, farmers, and local entrepreneurs build resilient businesses exemplifies the deep, strategic impact of SCORE's 10,000-strong volunteer network. The data confirms this value, showing a remarkable return of over $45 in tax revenue for every federal dollar invested. The proposal to eliminate this funding ignores this fiscal reality and threatens to cut off a vital lifeline for the 300,000 entrepreneurs who rely on SCORE's free, expert guidance each year. Ultimately, the decision before Congress is whether to dismantle a proven engine of economic growth or to continue investing in the mentorship that empowers the nation's small businesses to create jobs, strengthen communities, and drive the American economy forward.

This story contains new, firsthand information uncovered by the writer.

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The Mentor's Mission: How Sam Timothy Is Fighting for the Future of America's Small Businesses

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