To celebrate Lancaster and Lebanon counties' innovative small business communities, SCORE Lancaster-Lebanon hosted its 18th annual small business awards luncheon on April 17 at The Ware Center at Millersville University in downtown Lancaster. The event recognized outstanding small businesses, partners and mentors for their accomplishments contributing to Lancaster's and Lebanon's economy.

Winners included the Arthur Reeher Company, Chellas Arepa Kitchen, Perfect Pots, the WEPA Empowerment Center and White Rose Family Dental. The event included a buffet lunch and featured presentations from each of the winners.

When the Arthur Reeher Company, a family-owned independent insurance adjusting firm, asked manager Brian Miller to assume ownership of the 65-year-old business, Miller was excited but also nervous, as he had no prior experience in such a venture. Being a Marine, he knew he didn't want to face the challenge alone, so he reached out to SCORE and was connected to Jerry Glenn as a mentor. With Glenn's mentorship, Miller brought his wife, Stacia, aboard, making the company a profitable family-owned business once again.

Chellas Arepa Kitchen, founded by Luis Quiroz to share his Peruvian heritage, grew from a food truck into a nationally recognized restaurant, ranking No. 5 on Yelp's "Top Places to Eat in the Country" and featured in premier publications like Food & Wine Magazine. Named after Quiroz's grandmother, Chellas became a Lancaster culinary staple. With years of guidance from SCORE mentor Lou Davenport, Quiroz secured financing for his first location and recently expanded to a second spot on North Queen Street, fulfilling his dream of a brick-and-mortar restaurant while honoring his roots.

Perfect Pots, a thriving garden center and seasonal planting service in Strasburg, began in Laura Clegg's garage as a hobby-turned-business. As demand grew, she embraced entrepreneurship, expanding Perfect Pots into a premier gardening destination in southeastern Pennsylvania. During a rapid growth phase, SCORE mentors Eric Parker and Margot Hoerner provided crucial human resources (HR) guidance, allowing Clegg to focus on the big picture. Now with multiple locations, including Kitchen Kettle Village and Central Market Flowers in Lancaster, her journey continues to flourish.

In 2021, Rafael and Maribel Torres founded the WEPA Empowerment Center to address critical needs in Lebanon, focusing on education and workforce development. With guidance from SCORE Lancaster-Lebanon and mentor Kevin St. Cyr, they helped individuals pursue employment opportunities and long-term self-sufficiency. Securing $5 million in funding, they renovated a building at 9 S. Ninth St., now home to classrooms and learning spaces for adult education and workforce initiatives. Their mission continues to empower generations to come.

Kaushal Kapadia's journey to dentistry began in his childhood in India, inspired by an orthodontist who treated his "crooked smile" with kindness. Impressed by the orthodontist, he vowed to become a dentist with that same philosophy of ultimate kind patient care. He immigrated to the USA in 2007 and attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, graduating with top honors and volunteering in underserved communities in and around Philadelphia. In 2022, he opened White Rose Family Dental, crediting SCORE mentor Gary Wojcik for his success.

SCORE is the largest not-for-profit organization in the United States serving small businesses. The SCORE Lancaster-Lebanon chapter was founded in 1965, serving Lancaster County and expanding to Lebanon County in 2015. SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow or successfully exit a business. For more information, visit http://www.score.org/lancaster-lebanon.