"Dar is amazing at coaching you through challenging business situations. His experience and genuine care to see your business succeed is incredible. I meet with him monthly and it can't come soon enough." -- Stephine Poston
Stephine Poston (center) is with SBA's Adolfo Vasquez (left) and SCORE Albuquerque's Dar Johnson (right) at the 2018 SBA NM District's Small Business Week Awards Celebration in April.
What Makes Your Business Unique?

Earlier this year, Poston & Associates was named a finalist for the American Small Business Championship , hosted by SCORE and Sam's Club. Three $15K Grand Prize winners will be chosen from among the 102 finalists this September.

Stephine Poston says that running Poston & Associates allows her to pursue her passion: “honor[ing] tribal communities by showcasing their authentic narrative through inspiring marketing, public relations, strategic facilitation, training and event planning.”

Poston’s clients include the American Indian Gaming Center, National Indian Gaming Commission, National Congress of American Indians, Walmart, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Poston is now Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) certified.

Some of Poston’s proudest achievements are:
  • helping to launch the Inaugural Native Women's Business Summit in April 2018,
  • acting as the lead public relations point for the Pueblo of Tesuque in a campaign to protect sacred land, and
  • increasing Santa Clara Pueblo’s voter turnout from 30% in the 2008 primary to nearly 70% in the 2008 general election. 

Poston is no stranger to seeking out resources to amplify her success. She’s a graduate of the SBA’s Emerging Leaders Program, where she learned about the Procurement Technical Assistance Center and SCORE .

Poston meets with her SCORE Albuquerque mentor, Dar Johnson, every four to six weeks. Johnson has helped Poston get her financials in order, freeing her up to direct her time and energy to what she’s best at — communications. Johnson is also helping her pursue federal government contracts and has encouraged her to gain 8(a) certification, which would make her eligible for a wide range of support from the Minority Business Development Agency.

Why be a SCORE mentor?
To work with owners like Stephine Poston!

Contact us if you are passionate about using your knowledge and experience to assist and support local business owners, entrepreneurs and nonprofits during every phase of business. Most volunteers mentor, present workshops or facilitate Business Owners Councils. Some help lead or organize chapter activities. As a SCORE Albuquerque volunteer, we guarantee your business skills will stay sha rp!
At SCORE Albuquerque , we help small businesses grow from start-up through maturity by providing lifelong learning opportunities for business owners. Clients develop their own path to small business success by accessing one-on-one mentoring, workshops, Business Owners Councils and a national network of resources. Our team of over 30 experienced entrepreneurs, business owners, corporate executives and managers are trained mentors who help clients gain clarity to take the next step. In New Mexico, SCORE also has chapters in  Santa Fe  and  Las Cruces .