For immediate release: May 5, 2015
CONTACT:
Kelsey Bye | Media and Communications Associate
(415) 332-0340 | [email protected]
Los Angeles small business owners available to discuss upcoming Small Business Leadership Summit in Washington D.C.; opportunity for Los Angeles small employers to meet with policymakers and members of the Obama Administration to discuss top issues affecting small businesses
LOS ANGELES— A group of small business owners from Los Angeles will be among 100 small business owners from across the country attending this year’s Small Business Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. from May 11-13, 2015. The businesses attending include Hemingway and Pickett, Southern Girl Desserts, Créme Caramel LA, Kelly Rolfe Financial Services, Executive Temps, Teres McClen Company and Laurette Healey Public Affairs.
The Summit, hosted by small business advocacy organization Small Business Majority, will feature presentations and keynote speeches from top policy and small business experts, including SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and senior members of the Obama Administration. With its theme “Shaping the Future of the American Economy,” the Summit will provide a unique opportunity for Los Angeles small businesses to identify policies to bolster small business and the economy.
Small business owners will have the opportunity to participate in panel discussions exploring central issues affecting small businesses today. The first panel discussion, “Access to capital: The key to entrepreneurship and economic development,” will look at the hurdles small businesses must overcome to access capital, expanded opportunities that exist with traditional lenders, the new class of online lenders, and how we can protect small businesses from unscrupulous actors while getting them the capital they need to thrive. A second panel, “Taxes, budget and the economy: Creating the environment for small businesses to thrive,” will tackle broad tax and economic policies lawmakers should be pushing that directly impact small businesses.
“Being chosen as one of the 100 small business owners to attend this year’s Summit allows me an incredible opportunity to discuss the most important issues facing my small business and other entrepreneurs today,” said Catarah Hampshire, co-owner of Southern Girl Desserts. “It’s a chance for me to learn from other small business owners about their best practices, cultivate new relationships and promote policies in Washington that actually support small employers’ needs, job creation and the economy.”
WHO:
- Toby Burke Hemingway, owner, Hemingway and Pickett in Los Angeles
- Kristine de la Cruz and Sean Gilleland, co-owners, Créme Caramel LA in Sherman Oaks
- Shoneji Robison and Catarah Hampshire, co-owners, Southern Girl Desserts in Los Angeles
- Kimberly Rolfe, CEO, and James Rolfe, Executive Director, Kelly Rolfe Financial Services in Los Angeles
- Stacy Milner, Founder, and Ted Milner, President, Executive Temps in Burbank
- Laurette Healey, principal, Laurette Healey Public Affairs in Los Angeles
- Teres McClen, CEO/government contractor, Teres McClen Company in Los Angeles
WHAT: Small business owners available to discuss upcoming trip to the Small Business Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.
WHY: Policy recommendations outlined at Summit 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
WHEN: Small business owners available via phone now and in person until Friday, May 8
TO REQUEST AN INTERVIEW: Contact Kelsey Bye, Media and Communications Associate for Small Business Majority: (415) 332-0340 or [email protected]
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Hemingway and Pickett opened in 2011, in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, selling art, design and small furniture products for the home – with an emphasis on new items from Australia and local finds. The name is taken from owner Toby Burke Hemingway’s family’s old Melbourne business, established as a small barber shop on Sydney Rd in 1888 and growing into a large distribution network owned by Toby’s grandfather, for stores of all kinds. We offer design products and art exclusive to our store. Jewelry, art prints, books, paper goods, ceramics, small furnishings, kitchenware and whatever else we believe can improve and enlighten anyone’s life and home. All in an original environment, with a slightly more masculine sensibility than most Los Angeles home, gift and design stores. Hemingway and Pickett is not about people’s homes or lives being more perfect, it is about them being more interesting. We hope you enjoy your stay.
Crème Caramel LA, a former farmers’ market sweet booth, has opened a sweet bakeshop in Sherman Oaks. Since 2010, their crème caramels, custard pies, and bread puddings, formed the base of their sweet offerings, but since opening their storefront in September 2013, they’ve expanded their menu to savory quiches and stratas, and other delectable pastries and baked goods. Along with fantastic eats, they’ve added a robust coffee program from Cafecito Organico (another farmers’ market favorite). Partners, Kristine de la Cruz and Sean Gilleland, strive to develop comfort food with a twist while providing a community base for the surrounding neighborhood. Their growing business continues to garner local and national recognition. Crème Caramel LA was honored to be one of the 23 LA businesses recognized by Mayor Eric Garcetti and the SBA as an “Outstanding Small Business” in 2014, and chosen to be members of the awards panel in 2015. Owner and head baker Kristine de la Cruz can also currently be seen showing off her skills by competing on the Food Network’s “Spring Baking Championship.”
Southern Girl Desserts (SGD) was born out of a need to bring a taste of southern hospitality and a taste of home to the West Coast. In 2007 when the company was founded, there were no dessert companies dedicated to desserts made popular in the south. Eight years later, Southern Girl Desserts remains the only southern inspired dessert company in Los Angeles where every dessert on the menu has roots from the south. Southern Girl Desserts only creates desserts that have strong southern ties and do their best to introduce and many times remind their customers of the unique and sweet flavors found only in the south. Each dessert has story and was named after a family member or popular southern term. Southern Girl Desserts offers cupcakes, cakes, pies, sweet tea and more. Whether you just have a sweet tooth or are in need of a bridal cake, let Southern Girl Desserts give you a taste of the south.
Kelly Rolfe Financial Services
Kelly Rolfe Financial Services is a small boutique-like Tax & Accounting firm focused on the comprehensive financial needs of our clients. Our services include Tax Preparation, Accounting and Consulting through our Boot Camp programs. We pride ourselves on offering superior service and specialize in positioning our clients for financial success. In addition to providing reliable financial services, we serve our clients in the capacity of an advocate: We protect our client’s assets and strategize with them to maximize success.
Founded in 1989, Executive Temps is a full service employment agency, designed to exclusively meet the staffing needs of the entertainment industry. Temporary, contract, temp-to-perm and permanent positions drive our areas of service. Our ET leadership team, led by founder Stacy Milner, former executive assistant to both network and studio chairmen, boasts a rich history of experience in recruiting, interviewing, training an employing highly qualified professionals who are able to hit the ground running.
Laurette Healey Public Affairs
Laurette Healey Public Affairs is a Government and Public Affairs company adept at managing high profile, time-sensitive land use initiatives in Los Angeles. The firms combined proficiencies in leveraging government, media, and community relations delivers comprehensive expertise to navigate a complex urban environment.
An innovative brand heightening awareness through ethical practices, procedures, products and services with the lowest impact to the environment. Teres McClen Company offers an array of like-minded brands committed to social responsibility.
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.