The SCORE Lancaster Lebanon SBAL (Small Business Awards Luncheon) has become an annual fundraising event the chapter has been hosting since at least 2014. At the event, SCORE Lancaster Lebanon recognizes 5 small business award winners each year for their successes and the story behind how they built their businesses. These businesses are selected by a team of mentors of the previous year's award winners against a set of criteria. The chapter also recognizes a community partner for their support of SCORE Lancaster Lebanon.

The 2022 awards luncheon had an attendance of >250 people including award winners, clients, mentors, community partners, and local government officials. The 2022 event was the first event since 2019 due to the hiatus from the pandemic.  This year 2020 and 2022 award winners were recognized.

2 of the 2022 Small Business Award Winners, clients Taylor Chip and Fontana Candles met at the event.  After becoming acquainted, they decided to swap CEOs and learn about each other's business!  These clients will share the back story behind the swap.  This was such a wonderful outcome of the SBAL awards luncheon that I thought it was laudable of SCORE national recognition. Background information about each company is below.

Fontana Candle Company

The Fontana Candle Company was founded by Eric and Katie Roering as an alternative to toxins in a product many consumers use in their homes. They established their business in 2018 and now set the standard for clean candles on the market today.

We are disrupting the toxic candle industry with the first and only independently certified non-toxic candle on the market. We have over 25k enthusiastic fans on social media and generate more buzz than any other natural candle and home scenting brand. Our customers are health and wellness enthusiasts, and our company offers non toxic ingredient and product education through videos and our blog. We set the standard for clean candles, and our product offerings have extended to selling essential oils, bath salts, and soon to launch room sprays.

Eric & Katie Roering info@fontanacandlecompany.com

Fontana Candle Co. with Mentor Jeff Eberts

Taylor Chip Cookie Company 

Taylor Chip Cookie Company was founded by Doug and Sara Taylor, born from a love of baking cookies together.

“When my wife and I were dating, we started trying to perfect the cookie as something fun to do on date nights. We worked over a year on the recipe together with no intentions of starting a business – Just a love for cookies. Plus, it was a great way to spend more time together. About a year after we got married, someone approached us about becoming a stand holder at a market that was opening outside of Lancaster. It was a great opportunity with very low startup costs. We felt peace about the choice and took out a $15,000 dollar interest free credit card to officially launch Taylor Chip.”

Fast forward to today, the Taylor Chip Cookie Company has two locations in Lancaster County and one in Hershey, PA. They are shipping nationwide through their 24/7 eCommerce store.

 Doug & Sara Taylor doug@taylorchip.com
Marketing Manager Cameron Broadhurst cameron@taylorchip.com

Taylor Chip Cookie Co. with Mentor Lou Davenport