Thursday, August 02, 2007
Gellman Credits SCORE Chapter 36 for Giving Him a Good Start in Business
Receives Award from Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce
Most people who plan to start a business usually don’t have the money it takes to get the good advice they so desperately need. SCORE Chapter 36 of Monmouth County, a nonprofit organization made up of business executives and experts in their fields, will help any aspiring entrepreneur FREE of any charge.
When Gary Gellman, Plumsted, N.J., president of Gellman Images, was recently honored with The Small Business Award from the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce at the annual Circle of Excellence awards dinner, he gave tribute to Al Peskoe and SCORE Chapter 36 for helping him get a good start in the business he has today.
Gellman had no business experience or business training at the time he was planning to start Gellman Images, a photography and media production company, Adelphia, N.J. He found out about SCORE in the newspaper. “Before I even started in business, I signed up to meet with Al Peskoe, a SCORE counselor, at the Manalapan Branch of the Monmouth County Library, for advice. We met regularly over the next two months. He gave me advice on the things I needed to do and connected me with people who would assist me.”
Gellman found the business counseling and advice he received from Peskoe and SCORE invaluable. “SCORE gives young businesses and entrepreneurs an opportunity to grow and learn from true leaders in business. They take the new entrepreneur and mold him or her into a serious business owner. They answer all the questions in a very professional manner and understand the needs of a young, small business owner.”
Gellman grew up in Howell, N.J., and was graduated from Freehold Township High School in 1985. He began his video production career at the age of 16, working at a public access television cable station in Monmouth County. From 1985 to 1989, Gellman produced programming for Cable Television of New Jersey, worked in the programming department of New Jersey Network, and the newsroom at WWOR-TV. Six months after receiving a B.A. in communications and journalism from The College of New Jersey in 1989, Gellman opened his studio but not before meeting with Al Peskoe and SCORE.
Now, 18 years later, Gellman, age 39, has received awards for his business acumen, commitment to professional excellence, and his dedication to his community. In 2005, he received the NJBIZ “Forty Under Forty” Award, given to 40 men and women who have demonstrated leadership and have taken leading decision-making roles at an earlier than usual stage in their lives. In 2007, he received The Small Business Award and joined the Circle of Excellence of the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce for making positive impact on the community.
This month Gellman received a national award from Brides.com who announced that “Engagement on Ice,” a Gellman Images’ production, has won the annual national video competition. The wedding engagement video, written and produced by Gary Gellman and edited by Michael Schiumo, features Nick Frayler, who had asked his girlfriend Sandy Ramos to marry him in front of thousands of people on the ice rink at Rockefeller Plaza, New York City, during the Christmas season. The competition was highlighted on CBS’s Entertainment Tonight.
Gellman says, “I will always be appreciative of the help that I received from SCORE. I urge entrepreneurs and business owners who want to grow to take advantage of SCORE’s counseling and their workshops. Everything is free and draws on the experience of professionals who have expertise in many fields.”
Gellman Images has covered events for Fortune 500 companies, professional sports figures, former governors and presidents. His production "A Presidential Visit to Our Hometown" was included in the United States Senate Gallery in Washington, DC. “Let’s Talk with Gary Gellman,” a public information television program, created by Gellman in 2004 is now shown in 150 towns and can be heard on seven radio stations in the tristate area. His most recent “Let’s Talk” guests include Thomas Kinkade, portrait artist; Gerry Cooney, professional boxer; former N.J. First Lady Mary Jo Cody, and Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants quarterback.
Gellman is a member of the Professional Photographers Association of New Jersey; the Western Monmouth, Lakewood and Howell chambers of commerce; CRA (Corporate Resource Alliance); and JSPRAA (Jersey Shore Public Relations and Advertising Association). He won the Business Achievement Award from JSPRAA and first place in a competition sponsored by Central Jersey Videographers Association. ###
About SCORE Chapter 36
SCORE Chapter 36 of Monmouth County, a national nonprofit organization and a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is located on the campus of Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, New Jersey. To help entrepreneurs and small business owners, more than 40 chapter members provide such services as confidential, one-to-one guidance and information free of charge on a full range of business topics. Business people, who would like to volunteer their time and expertise to help start new businesses or help existing businesses grow, are always welcome. Visit www.score36.org for more information.
Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises
Most people who plan to start a business usually don’t have the money it takes to get the good advice they so desperately need. SCORE Chapter 36 of Monmouth County, a nonprofit organization made up of business executives and experts in their fields, will help any aspiring entrepreneur FREE of any charge.
When Gary Gellman, Plumsted, N.J., president of Gellman Images, was recently honored with The Small Business Award from the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce at the annual Circle of Excellence awards dinner, he gave tribute to Al Peskoe and SCORE Chapter 36 for helping him get a good start in the business he has today.
Gellman had no business experience or business training at the time he was planning to start Gellman Images, a photography and media production company, Adelphia, N.J. He found out about SCORE in the newspaper. “Before I even started in business, I signed up to meet with Al Peskoe, a SCORE counselor, at the Manalapan Branch of the Monmouth County Library, for advice. We met regularly over the next two months. He gave me advice on the things I needed to do and connected me with people who would assist me.”
Gellman found the business counseling and advice he received from Peskoe and SCORE invaluable. “SCORE gives young businesses and entrepreneurs an opportunity to grow and learn from true leaders in business. They take the new entrepreneur and mold him or her into a serious business owner. They answer all the questions in a very professional manner and understand the needs of a young, small business owner.”
Gellman grew up in Howell, N.J., and was graduated from Freehold Township High School in 1985. He began his video production career at the age of 16, working at a public access television cable station in Monmouth County. From 1985 to 1989, Gellman produced programming for Cable Television of New Jersey, worked in the programming department of New Jersey Network, and the newsroom at WWOR-TV. Six months after receiving a B.A. in communications and journalism from The College of New Jersey in 1989, Gellman opened his studio but not before meeting with Al Peskoe and SCORE.
Now, 18 years later, Gellman, age 39, has received awards for his business acumen, commitment to professional excellence, and his dedication to his community. In 2005, he received the NJBIZ “Forty Under Forty” Award, given to 40 men and women who have demonstrated leadership and have taken leading decision-making roles at an earlier than usual stage in their lives. In 2007, he received The Small Business Award and joined the Circle of Excellence of the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce for making positive impact on the community.
This month Gellman received a national award from Brides.com who announced that “Engagement on Ice,” a Gellman Images’ production, has won the annual national video competition. The wedding engagement video, written and produced by Gary Gellman and edited by Michael Schiumo, features Nick Frayler, who had asked his girlfriend Sandy Ramos to marry him in front of thousands of people on the ice rink at Rockefeller Plaza, New York City, during the Christmas season. The competition was highlighted on CBS’s Entertainment Tonight.
Gellman says, “I will always be appreciative of the help that I received from SCORE. I urge entrepreneurs and business owners who want to grow to take advantage of SCORE’s counseling and their workshops. Everything is free and draws on the experience of professionals who have expertise in many fields.”
Gellman Images has covered events for Fortune 500 companies, professional sports figures, former governors and presidents. His production "A Presidential Visit to Our Hometown" was included in the United States Senate Gallery in Washington, DC. “Let’s Talk with Gary Gellman,” a public information television program, created by Gellman in 2004 is now shown in 150 towns and can be heard on seven radio stations in the tristate area. His most recent “Let’s Talk” guests include Thomas Kinkade, portrait artist; Gerry Cooney, professional boxer; former N.J. First Lady Mary Jo Cody, and Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants quarterback.
Gellman is a member of the Professional Photographers Association of New Jersey; the Western Monmouth, Lakewood and Howell chambers of commerce; CRA (Corporate Resource Alliance); and JSPRAA (Jersey Shore Public Relations and Advertising Association). He won the Business Achievement Award from JSPRAA and first place in a competition sponsored by Central Jersey Videographers Association. ###
About SCORE Chapter 36
SCORE Chapter 36 of Monmouth County, a national nonprofit organization and a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is located on the campus of Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, New Jersey. To help entrepreneurs and small business owners, more than 40 chapter members provide such services as confidential, one-to-one guidance and information free of charge on a full range of business topics. Business people, who would like to volunteer their time and expertise to help start new businesses or help existing businesses grow, are always welcome. Visit www.score36.org for more information.
Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises
