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My successes.

Today, Citizens Park Office Center is successfully entering its third year of operation. The company has expanded local networking and referral efforts and has built alliances with other national providers offering similar services. The referral business is now paying dividends. The company has expanded into the special event/s market by constructing a permanent tent behind their office building that is large enough to accommodate 200 people; allowing the company to offer services that other competitor venues are unable to provide.

How SCORE helped.

Almost immediately after launch, CPOCC experienced significant growth. Faced with this challenge, the founders reached out to experienced business people for assistance on how they could successfully manage a new business with a demand that far exceeded what they had expected in their business plan.

After Richard and Mary Allen contacted Greater Aiken SCORE, an Advisory Board was formed. This Board is ongoing and provides planning, marketing, business expansion, and budgeting expertise. Since starting the business, Richard and Mary have learned: “In business, you need to make a plan to get started, but ultimately you need to let your customers drive your direction. Knowing that we are delivering what our customers want has been a confidence builder and made our business life fun and rewarding!”

How Did Your Business Get Started?

Founded in October 2013 by Richard and Mary Allen, Citizens Park Office & Conference Center (CPOCC) is located in Aiken South Carolina, and serves the entire Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). The company offers a full range of business services, temporary office space, conference/training rooms, and banquet halls. CPOCC provides ‘best in class’ services including security, wireless internet, soundproofing, and a dedicated receptionist. Their clients choose from a number of service packages designed to meet their specific needs.

The company was formed out of a need for in-home businesses to have a comfortable, private executive setting without the cost of maintaining a permanent office. Citizens Park founders saw that small businesses were holding meetings at local restaurants and recognized a need for affordable, on-demand professional office and meeting facilities. The founders also discovered rental facilities to host mid-size social events were an underserved market in the CSRA and opened after business hours to meet this need. CPOCC is a “small, service-disabled veteran-owned business focused on delivering service to our clients with integrity, dignity, and respect”. (Richard and Mary Allen)