Tara Rawlins proves one doesn’t necessarily have to be advanced in years to mentor others. The 29-year-old marketing maven became involved in the Springfield chapter of the Score small-business mentoring program in 2012.
“To be accepted as a Score mentor at the age of 28 was an incredible honor and an accomplishment I am incredibly proud of,” Rawlins says of the program which pairs experienced business owners and managers with local small-business owners.
Considering most of Score’s mentors are retired, seasoned professionals – with an average age of 55 – Rawlins brings something different to the table, focusing on marketing, with an empahsis in online and social media.
Rawlins established herself in early 2011 as a marketing director with Murphy Business & Financial Corp.’s Central Region, and started her own small business – RAW Marketing LLC – later that same year, with a focus on social media marketing, business website design or redesign, search engine optimization and traditional marketing practices.
In addition to her involvement with Score, Rawlins is the local expert for online-marketing company, Constant Contact, offering marketing seminars and webinars to Springfield businesses and nonprofit organizations.
Rawlins’ work ethic shines through in her community endeavors.
“In a challenging economy, Rawlins never gave up on her dream of being a successful business owner and understood the importance pushing forward and making that extra effort to be the best and offer the best service,” says Missy Heinle president of the Rotary Club of Springfield Metro, of which Rawlins is a member.
And all of Rawlins’ efforts so far will pay off March 15 when her company moves into a new office at the Missouri State Univerity E-Factory in the Plaster Center for Free Enterprise.
“The E-Factory is a small business incubator providing resources, guidance and assistance to entrepreneurs such as myself,” Rawlins says. “I am thoroughly honored and ecstatic to have been accepted as as one of the E-Factory’s tenants.”
Through her work with the Rotary Club of Springfield Metro, Rawlins feels she has been able to make a positive impact on the community. As chair of the McGregor Elementary Committee for the fraternal organization, Rawlins has partnered with Rotary’s Cents of Pride to benefit the west-central neighborhood school, which fulfills student needs “through a reward system that reinforces positive choices and empowers students.”
This partnership manifests itself through a monthly HABIT store shopping experience. Students showing they have good habits in homework, attendance, behavior, initiative and traveling are awarded money which can be used in the HABIT store to purchase basic school or home supplies.
Rawlins also volunteers with Bridges for Youth, Carol Jones Recovery Center, The Pregnancy Care Center, Hickory Gardens, Southwest Center for Independent Living and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks.
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