The business-mentoring group SCORE is launching a new-member recruitment campaign in the Guilford area and has announced that its efforts have already paid off with the addition of a longtime business owner and manager.

Philip Regas has joined the southeastern Connecticut chapter of SCORE as its latest member on the Guilford mentoring team. SCORE is a volunteer organization that provides free counseling to start-ups and existing small businesses at nine locations in southeastern Connecticut, including Waterford, New London, Norwich, Old Saybrook and Mystic.

"We're ... looking for men and women with a variety of business backgrounds and skills who would like to share their knowledge to help people start up or improve their small business as a SCORE mentor," Regas said in a statement.

Regas' background as a business leader spans many different fields, including computer science, medical devices and music and film recording and production. Most recently, he started up the Profit Consulting Group, a consultancy for small- to mid-size companies.

"For many of our SCORE volunteers, the attraction is keeping their hands in the business world without having to worry about the 9-to-5 routine," said Margo Weitekamp, chair of local SCORE chapter, said in a statement. "It's fun and very rewarding."

To voluteer or seek business advice, go to www.sect.score.org, call 860-388-9508 or email scorechapter@gmail.com.

l.howard@theday.com