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| John Arensmeyer, CEO and Founder of Small Business Majority, at at Small Business Majority’s inaugural Small Business Leadership Summit. |
More than 100 small business leaders from across the country met with policymakers, issue experts and senior members of the Obama Administration to identify policies to help small businesses thrive at Small Business Majority’s inaugural Small Business Leadership Summit, May 11-13.
The Summit featured panel discussions, keynote speeches, interactive workshops and presentations by top policymakers at the National Press Club and the White House. Small business leaders heard from Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator of the Small Business Administration, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and top economic advisors to the president. Interactive discussions focused on key issue areas, including problems accessing capital, tax and economic policies, crowdfunding, women’s entrepreneurship, minority entrepreneurship, the freelance/microenterprise economy, technology and workforce issues.
“This year’s Summit allowed me a unique opportunity to discuss important issues facing my small business and other entrepreneurs today,” said Harland Henry, President of SunBiz Showcase Alliance in Tampa, Florida. “The Summit was not only invigorating, but informative and engaging. I met so many kindred spirits in the small business advocacy world that I no longer feel like a lonely fish swimming with the sharks. I am extremely proud to have been part of the entire Summit.”
Three small businesses also received awards for their industry leadership:
- Virginia McAllister, Owner of Iron Horse Architects in Denver, Colorado, who received the Technological Innovation Award for her commitment to architectural design solutions that incorporate sustainability, adaptability, and longevity
- Beverly Hanstrom, President and Owner of Colorado Medical Waste in Aurora, Colorado, who received the Sustainability Award from her local congressman, U.S. Representative Mike Coffman (R-CO), for her work as a long-time local leader in the medical waste industry and innovation of new environmentally friendly technologies
- Chanceé Lundy & Veronica Davis, Owners of Nspiregreen in Washington D.C., who received the Community Development Award for their work assisting businesses, governments andnot for profit organizations in developing and implementing their sustainability goals
“It was an honor to receive the Sustainability Award from Small Business Majority,” said Hanstrom. “The Summit gave me a platform to raise awareness and promote change in the medical waste industry. It was an unforgettable opportunity to share our sustainable disposal method with fellow participants, leaders from the Environmental Protection Agency and to speak with policymakers to discuss issues to help our businesses grow.”
Policies identified during the three-day event will be incorporated into Small Business Majority’s policy platform—the Small Business Economic Agenda for 2015-16—and shared with decision makers to elevate issues of importance to small business owners.
“Small business owners—from all walks of life and all areas of the country—engaged directly with policymakers and worked together to identify pragmatic policy recommendations to help their business thrive,” said John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority. “In the coming weeks and months, we will be presenting those ideas to top policymakers to advance legislation to help our country’s top job creators continue to grow the economy and stay in business.”
For more information about the Summit, please visit: www.sbmleadershipsummit.com
For interviews with Small Business Majority staff or small business owners who attended the Summit, please contact Kelsey Bye at (202) 289-0957 or kbye@smallbusinessmajority.org
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Small Business Majority is a national small business advocacy organization, founded and run by small business owners to focus on solving the biggest problems facing America’s 28 million small businesses today. We actively engage small business owners to drive smart public policy and get entrepreneurs the resources they need to thrive. We conduct extensive opinion and economic research and work with our rapidly growing network of 40,000 small business owners across the country to ensure their voices are an integral part of the public policy debate. Learn more about us on our website and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
