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 pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. 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 pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. 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 pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. 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

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

Join SCORE mentor Dr. Jeffrey Ricken in an inspiring conversation with Sue McCarron, successful owner of McCarron Home Care and Executive Director of Global Pathways Institute for Caregivers, and her SCORE mentor Richard Stanley, a 19-year veteran volunteer advisor.

Discover how Sue transformed from a failed first business attempt in 2013 to building a thriving home healthcare company that broke even in its first year—all with the guidance of SCORE's free mentorship services. Sue shares her journey from having no experience in the home care industry to managing 15 professional caregivers and approaching seven-figure revenues.

Richard Stanley, who has mentored entrepreneurs for nearly two decades, reveals the secrets behind successful business startups, including the importance of business planning, building credit, and leveraging SCORE's extensive network of experts in legal, marketing, SEO, and nonprofit management.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Overcoming the challenges of starting a business in an unfamiliar industry
• The critical role of mentorship in business success
• How to start a business with limited funds and poor credit
• Creating effective business plans and financial projections
• The power of SCORE's free resources, webinars, and expert guidance
• Why 70% of businesses fail in the first two years—and how to avoid becoming a statistic

Whether you're dreaming of starting your own business or looking to grow an existing one, this episode demonstrates how SCORE's free mentorship can help in entrepreneurial success.

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

Join Dr. Jeffrey Ricken in conversation with Art Klebba, a seasoned SCORE mentor with 40+ years of business experience. Art shares invaluable insights on starting and growing successful businesses, including funding strategies, partnership best practices, and exit planning.

Key Topics: ✓ Why you don't need a college degree to start a business ✓ The power of sweat equity and long-term thinking ✓ How to avoid under-capitalization (the #1 cause of business failure) ✓ Partnership agreements: why 50/50 splits don't work ✓ Building lasting customer relationships that span decades ✓ Market research essentials before launching ✓ Exit strategies and business valuation ✓ Free SCORE resources for aspiring entrepreneurs

Art successfully built and sold multiple healthcare companies and now dedicates his retirement to mentoring the next generation of business owners through SCORE—a nonprofit partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Here are three excellent quotes from Art Klebba:

1. On Partnership Structure: > "Probably the most important thing in any partnership is having a written document that really outlines the partnership. A 50-50 partnership is really not always the best way because if there's a final decision that needs to be made, someone has to make that. There has to be a final decision maker."

2. On The Power of Listening: > "One of the most important skills in any business is a listening skill. You have to not be talking. You have to hear what the customer's saying. Listen, listen, listen."

3. On Understanding Your Market: > "Know your market. Know your customer. Who is your customer? And specifically, what value will you bring to that customer with your product or service? You have to give solid reasons, not just because you're a nice person, but because that doesn't sell anything. You have to have value of the product or service that you're offering."

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

Discover actionable strategies from Robert Brown, former global executive and SCORE Houston mentor, as he shares with Dr Jeffrey Ricken how to build customer intimacy, generate aftermarket revenue, and create trust that drives business growth. In this episode, you’ll learn how small businesses can boost customer retention, manage cash flow, and set clear goals for sustainable success. Robert explains why hiring for attitude and cultural fit is essential, and how transparent communication and mentorship can help you lead your team through change. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, small business owner, or aspiring leader, you’ll gain practical tips on service excellence, customer loyalty, and the fundamentals of P&L management. Don’t miss Robert’s expert advice on transforming one-time buyers into loyal advocates and building a business that thrives.

Robert's Core Philosophy:

"Large corporations have a cushion for bad decisions. Small businesses don't. You can't run negative cash flow for months—it will cripple or kill your business."

"Customer intimacy isn't just for big companies. Whether you're multinational or a solo plumber, it's what drives referrals and repeat business."

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