Small Business Majority Bringing 19 California Small Business Owners to D.C. to Tackle Issues Facing Entrepreneurs

Small Business Leadership Summit bringing 19 small business leaders from California to join more than 150 small business leaders from across the country in D.C.; opportunity to talk with elected officials and members of the Administration about policies that bolster small business

Washington, D.C.—Small Business Majority will host its second annual Small Business Leadership Summit May 8-11, 2016, where it will bring 19 California small business owners to join 150 entrepreneurs from across the country to our nation’s capital to interact with policymakers, members of the media, issue experts and senior members of the Obama Administration to put the small business voice at the center of public policy conversations. Attendees will hear from speakers including U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Dr. Karen B. DeSalvo, Assistant Secretary for Health at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Jessica Milano, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Small Business, Community Development, and Housing at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Dr. Sam Clovis, National Co-Chair and Chief Policy Advisor for the Donald J. Trump for President campaign, Ann O’Leary, Senior Policy Advisor for the Hillary Clinton for President campaign, Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama and Jeff Zients, Director of the National Economic Council and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy.

“California is an influential state with a lot of sway over national policies, which makes it very important for small businesses to have a say,” said Candace Combs, owner of In-Symmetry in San Francisco. “From retirement security to raising the minimum wage, we’re really at the forefront of a lot of issues. That’s why I’m excited to represent California’s small business community in D.C. and to make sure the small business voice is being heard.”

With its theme “Recognizing the Power of the Small Business Economy,” the Summit will discuss the ways in which the small business case is misunderstood and too-often misrepresented by special interests and policymakers. Small business owners will participate in interactive panels and meet with small business leaders from across the country to explore how small business owners can be better heard in the legislature, in the media and at the ballot box. Leading small businesses will also receive awards at the event.

“This Summit will allow small business owners to engage directly with policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the high-profile issues impacting small businesses, ” said Rhett Buttle, President & Managing Director of Small Business Majority. “At this event, we’ll hear from a diverse group of entrepreneurs about what matters to them and what our leaders can do to help small businesses grow and thrive.”

The Summit will focus on top issues of importance to small business, including but not limited to access to capital and alternative lending, asset building and entrepreneurship, the growing freelance economy, critical workforce issues and more.

For more information about the Summit, please visit: https://sbmleadershipsummit.com/.

For interviews with Small Business Majority staff or small business owners attending the Summit, please contact Cassie Mills at (415) 332-0340 or [email protected].

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About Small Business Majority

Small Business Majority was founded and is run by small business owners to focus on solving the biggest problems facing small businesses today. Since 2005, we have actively engaged small business owners and policymakers in support of public policy solutions, and have delivered information and resources to entrepreneurs that promote small business growth and drive a strong economy. We regularly engage our network of 45,000 small business owners and more than 2,000 business organizations, along with a formal strategic partnership program of more than 125 business organizations, enabling us to reach more than 500,000 entrepreneurs. Our extensive scientific polling, focus groups and economic research help us educate and inform policymakers, the media and other stakeholders about key issues impacting small businesses and freelancers, including access to capital, taxes, healthcare, retirement, entrepreneurship and workforce development. Learn more about us on our website and follow us on TwitterFacebook and Instagram.