SCORE Houston's Podcast

In this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast, host PV Bala sits down with Phylicia Hill, Co-Founder and CEO/Managing Director of H5 Strategic Alliance — a Houston-based cybersecurity and IT professional services firm she co-founded with her husband James Hill in 2013.

Phylicia shares her remarkable journey from a career in education and school administration to building a thriving cybersecurity company that serves enterprise clients across healthcare, financial services, and beyond. She opens up about the patience it took to grow the business over five years while working full-time, navigating Hurricane Harvey, and putting family first — all before going full-time in 2018.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Phylicia merged her business acumen with her husband's deep technical expertise
• Why patience and preparation are the foundation of sustainable business growth
• How the COVID-19 pandemic became a turning point that accelerated their growth
• The unique talent model that powers H5's delivery across multiple states
• How small businesses can protect themselves from today's AI-driven cyber threats
• Why mentorship is non-negotiable for minority and women entrepreneurs
• What's next for H5, including their new Ignite managed services platform

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a small business owner, or simply curious about the cybersecurity landscape, this conversation is packed with real-world wisdom and practical advice.

Phylicia Hill was recognized as the SBA Houston District Minority Business Owner of the Year.

About SCORE Houston Podcast: SCORE Houston brings you inspiring stories and actionable insights from successful entrepreneurs and business leaders in the Houston area. Subscribe for new episodes every week!

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

She started with a piece of paper, a vision, and a rented church kitchen. Today, Britany Vinson runs three restaurant locations, 27 refrigerated vending machines, 33 employees, and a soon-to-be national franchise — all from East Texas.

In this episode of Small Business Success Stories presented by SCORE Houston, host Dr. Jeffrey Ricken sits down with Britany Vinson, founder, owner, and head chef of Tome Catering — where TOME stands for The Ordinary Made Extraordinary.

Brittany shares her raw, inspiring journey: from cooking at age 4 with her 98-year-old grandmother, to bootstrapping her business while working full-time to pivoting during COVID by turning 20 cars a day into 100+ through a drive-through she almost didn't build.

What Brittany Said About the Power of Mentoring with SCORE:

"I had a SCORE mentor— he had a restaurant, and he walked me through some things, helped mold me and shape me, gave me ideas through his story and things he'd done to build his business. That was instrumental."

Britany credits free mentoring through SCORE and the SBA at Angelina College as a key turning point in building Tome into what it is today — proving that the right guidance at the right time can change everything.

In this episode you'll learn:

• How Britany launched her catering business in 2008 with no outside funding
• Why she kept her day job for 3 years while building Tome from scratch
• How a drive-through window she almost didn't install became her lifeline during COVID
• The story behind 27 refrigerated vending machines bringing fresh, home-cooked meals to hospitals, schools, and manufacturers across East Texas
• How she earned 3 degrees — including culinary certification — with no days off for 2 years
• The steps she took to legally franchise Tome for national expansion
• Her mindset on failure, faith, and feeding communities

Connect with SCORE Houston: 📞 713-487-6565 📍 8701 South Gesner, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77074 🕐 Mon–Fri, 10AM–2PM | Walk-ins welcome 🌐 www.score.org/houston

Free mentoring. Real results. SCORE Houston is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

What does it take to build eight companies before the age of 30? In this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast, host PV Bala sits down with Bahaa Elabbasi, SCORE Houston subject matter expert, who moved to the US from Lebanon at age 10, started washing cars at 13, and never stopped building.

Bahaa shares the story behind his automotive empire — from a single tow truck to four car dealerships, mechanic shops, an in-house insurance agency, and a marketing firm — all built on one guiding principle his father taught him early: write your own check.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

• How Bahaa scaled Texas Crown Towing to attract private equity investment
• Why owning every layer of your business (insurance, marketing, repairs) is a game changer
• How he manages eight companies without being the bottleneck
• The mindset shift from earning a paycheck to building ownership
• His next move: banking, investment, and a master's in finance

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, an immigrant building your American dream, or a business owner looking to scale — this episode is for you.

🔔 Subscribe for more entrepreneur stories from SCORE Houston.

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

Why do most new businesses fail — and how does a business plan fix that?

In this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast, our mentors walk first-time entrepreneurs through everything they need to know about building a solid business plan — from market research and competitive analysis to pricing, cash flow projections, and financing options.

Whether you're just starting to think about launching a business or you're ready to walk into a bank, this episode gives you the practical, no-nonsense foundation you need.

What you'll learn:

• What a business plan actually is (and why it's not just for the bank)
• How to define your target customer and research your market
• How to analyze your competition
• How to price your product or service to actually make money
• The truth about working capital and undercapitalization
• How SBA loans, equity, and debt financing work
• What banks really look at: cash flow, repayment, collateral, and credit
• Why clean financial records and tax reporting matter from Day 1
• How SCORE Houston can help you — for free

🔗 Get free mentoring from SCORE Houston: https://www.score.org 

SCORE is a nonprofit resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration offering free, confidential business mentoring.

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

From One Room to Rural Business Owner of the Year | Nicole York | Small Business Success Stories. 

What does it take to turn a personal struggle into a thriving business? Nicole York did exactly that — and her story will inspire you to bet on yourself. In this episode of Small Business Success Stories, hosted by Dr. Jeffrey Ricken — Certified SCORE Mentor and advocate for entrepreneurs across Houston and beyond — we sit down with Nicole York, founder of Desert Rose Beauty & Wellness in Lake Jackson, Texas.

Nicole's journey began at age 12, battling cystic acne that no makeup could hide. By 16 she was working as a receptionist at a local salon, learning the industry from the ground up. Years later, she launched her own esthetics studio in a single room in 2019 — with no sign, no ad budget, and no outside funding. Then COVID hit.

Rather than giving up, Nicole pivoted — becoming a brows and lashes specialist and building a 2-month waitlist through Instagram, word-of-mouth, and one simple philosophy: make every client feel truly seen. By 2022 she had expanded to a full-service studio with a team of estheticians and was named the Houston District Rural Business Owner of the Year by SBA.

In this episode you'll learn: ✅ How to start a business with no outside funding ✅ How to grow organically through social media & word-of-mouth ✅ How to pivot your business during a crisis ✅ Why authenticity is your biggest competitive advantage ✅ How free SCORE mentorship helped shape Nicole's path

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

Samantha Snabes is the co-founder and CEO of re:3D, a bootstrapped Austin and Houston-based company that makes industrial-scale 3D printers — manufactured entirely in America. She's also an Air National Guard officer, a former NASA strategist, and the only woman CEO leading a US-based 3D printing hardware company.

In this episode, Samantha shares with PV Bala, SCORE Mentor, how a group of friends turned a side project into a globally recognized manufacturing company — from forming an LLC on New Year's Eve to meet a Startup Chile deadline, to getting funded on Kickstarter in 27 hours, to earning multiple SBIR awards from the National Science Foundation.

What you'll learn:

• How re:3D went from a living room to customers in 55+ countries without taking outside investment
• Why field research in Rwanda and Nicaragua shaped a product built for real-world impact, not hype
• How to navigate the SBIR grant process as a first-time applicant, including what to do when you miss the deadline
• The real trade-offs of bootstrapping a hardware company in America — from reinvesting every dollar of profit to maintaining a vertically integrated supply chain
• How military service provides unexpected advantages in entrepreneurship, compliance, and leadership.
• Why printing from recycled plastic waste became both a social mission and a competitive differentiator
• Samantha's advice for retired engineers and late-career entrepreneurs entering 3D printing and deep tech. 

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

What if you could skip the costliest mistakes in business — before you ever sign a lease or drain your savings? In this special compilation episode, we break down the best insights from 20 SCORE Houston mentorship sessions into one high-impact guide. 

You'll learn the "Five Numbers Test" for validating any business idea, why most businesses die from working capital — not bad products, when to form an LLC (and why doing it too early wastes your money), how to build a bulletproof business plan — even if you're self-funded, creative funding strategies including SBA loans and retirement fund rollovers, low-risk sales tactics like the consignment hack and niche marketing, the surprising math behind buying an existing business versus starting from scratch, and the leadership shift every founder must make to scale beyond themselves. 

Featuring wisdom from over 135 volunteer business mentors — retired executives, successful entrepreneurs, and industry veterans — this episode is your free masterclass in building, buying, and leading a business that lasts 

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

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 insider knowledge on:

·       Why buying a business is statistically safer than starting one (90% of startups fail vs. 70% success rate for acquisitions)

·       How business valuation works — from tangible assets to discretionary earnings and EBITDA multiples 

·       SBA loan requirements, seller financing structures, and how deals actually get funded

·       The role of confidentiality in business transactions and why brokers are essential 

·       What corporate professionals transitioning to entrepreneurship should consider 

·       The Houston business landscape — from restaurants to B2B service companies 

·       Red flags to watch for in financial statements during due diligence

 Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a corporate executive exploring business ownership, or a SCORE client looking for guidance on your next move, this conversation delivers decades of real-world brokerage experience in one episode.

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

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 strategic decisions, leadership principles, and innovative technology adoption that transformed a struggling startup into one of Houston's premier container carriers.

In this episode, discover:

✓ How to transition from a small family business to a 100-employee logistics company ✓ The secret to achieving exceptional driver retention in a high-turnover industry ✓ Why early technology adoption became Marcia's competitive advantage ✓ Essential funding strategies for small business owners—from navigating multiple banks to building creditworthiness ✓ Leadership lessons learned from 45 years in supply chain management ✓ How to survive freight recessions and industry disruption ✓ The importance of focusing on information and people over equipment ✓ Practical advice for entrepreneurs considering the logistics industry

Key Highlights:

• Winner of SBA District Small Business of the Year Award (2025)
• Texas Trucking Association Leadership Award recipient (2024)
• Building an inclusive workplace culture in a traditionally male industry
• Navigating the complexities of Port of Houston operations

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, small business owner, or logistics professional, Marcia's story offers invaluable insights on perseverance, strategic growth, and building a legacy business in Houston's dynamic industrial landscape.

About SCORE Houston: SCORE is America's largest network of volunteer business mentors, supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration. We provide free, confidential mentoring and education to help entrepreneurs start, grow, and succeed.

📍 Visit us: 8701 South Gessner, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77074 📞 Call: 713-487-6565 🌐 Learn more: www.score.org/houston

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more. 

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 of Psychology Works, a multi-location mental health practice serving the Pearland and Lake Jackson communities with over 15 providers.

Dr. Frazier shares her journey from small-town Sweeney, Texas, to earning her PhD at Texas A&M, working in public school systems, and launching Psychology Works in 2012 during maternity leave. She opens up about the hard lessons of hiring with her heart instead of her bottom line, how free mentoring from SCORE and the Small Business Development Center accelerated her growth, and how faith carried her through fear at every stage.

Entrepreneurs and small business owners will gain practical insights on scaling a service business, building a specialized team, and navigating the emotional weight of leadership.

SCORE provides free, confidential mentoring to entrepreneurs across the U.S. Visit score.org/houston to connect with a mentor today.

Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes.

Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com or write to [email protected]. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.