Art Roberts is a former Kodak executive who now shares what he knows with small business owners around Rochester.

"We are trying to keep people in small business, in business and to grow small business," said Roberts.

Roberts is chapter president of SCORE, a non-profit that's mission is to help entrepreneurs start and grow their business. More than 100 people attended SCORE's free networking event and workshop Wednesday.

"People have a lot of good ideas, they just need some encouragement and directions and a lot of times on how to out that good idea into business," said Roberts. "We have 85 volunteers with all kinds of experience; financial, manufacturing, legal, advertising, marketing. We can put a team together to help people grow their business."

Starting and succeeding a small business isn't easy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says half of all small businesses fail within five years.

Lisa Ivers started an at-home embroidery business. Six years later she sold it, and now plans to open a gift shop in Canandaigua in December. She's turned to SCORE mentors again for advice, this time about how to use social media to boost sales.

"I am not involved in social media now, personally, so now to try to do it for a business makes it even harder. I am taking three different seminars all about social media and I am hoping to get up and going because I do not think you can grow a business with that," said Ivers.

Martin Langen has owned a dental lab for more than 30 years. He's here to learn how to reach more clients.

"Over the year, the doctors I have worked with have started to retire so I am looking to find new business. My background is manufacturing, not sales. These people have the expertise and they are willing to share it," said Langen.

SCORE has more than 300 chapters across the country and holds workshops year-round to help more people start-up and succeed.