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Public Private Strategies Founder & Small Business Roundtable Co-Executive Director Moderates Roundtable Featuring House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Discuss COVID-19 & Small Business

nat rosasco • May 7, 2020

Public Private Strategies Principals Rhett Buttle and Katie Vlietstra Wonnenberg led a poignant discussion featuring House Speaker Nancy Pelosi & several national CEOs about COVID-19’s continued implications for small business owners and the potential for future relief efforts by the U.S. Congress.  A full video is above and a written read out is available here
 
Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave remarks on the state of COVID-19 relief efforts in Congress thus far, as well as the direction she would like to see future legislation take. Speaker Pelosi made the call for participants to “know their power” to engage in the legislative process with their local members of Congress to influence change. 
 
Following the Speaker's words, small business owners gave personal accounts of their experiences coping with the COVID-19 crisis:
  • Frank Knapp, the Owner of Carolina Pet Resort, LLC and President of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce
  • Shaundell Newsome, the Founder of Sumnu Marketing, LLC and Chair of the Las Vegas Urban Chamber of Commerce
  • Anne Zimmerman, the Founder and Owner of Zimmerman and Co. CPAs, Inc. and Co-Chair of Businesses for Responsible Tax Reform
Small business leaders kicked off the discussion with specific questions for the Speaker regarding the response to the pandemic:
  • Ramiro Cavazos, the President and CEO of U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC)
  • Jen Earle, the CEO of the National Association of Women's Business Owners (NAWBO)
  • Chiling Tong, the President and CEO of Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE)
Each expressed what they were hearing from their members on the ground and Speaker Pelosi thanked each for their perspective and stated her desire to help. The roundtable then opened up to the entire group of small business leaders present; we heard from:
  • Ron Busby, the President and CEO of U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC)
  • Keith Hall, the President and CEO of the National Association for the Self Employed (NASE)
  • Jill Houghton, the President and CEO of Disability:IN
  • Karen Kerrigan, the President and CEO of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council)
  • Todd McCracken, the President and CEO of the National Small Business Association (NSBA)
  • Aram Nadjarian, the Chair of the NextGen Chamber of Commerce
The leaders touched on their membership's experiences amid COVID-19 and their priorities moving forward. Lastly, Small Business Roundtable Co-Executive Director John Stanford moderated questions from webinar attendees with small business legislative experts:
  • Katie Vlietstra Wonnenberg, Principal at Public Private Strategies and Vice President for Government Relations and Public Affairs for NASE
  • LeRoy Cavazos, the Vice President for Government and International Relations for USHCC
Joined by the remaining small business leaders, each discussed potential legislative action in the works.
 
Other Special Partners included:
  • American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC)
  • Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO)
  • Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC)
  • Businesses for Responsible Tax Reform (BRTR)
  • Connected Commerce Council (3C)
  • Latino Business Action Network (LBAN)
  • National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB)
  • National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
  • Main Street Alliance (MSA)
 
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December 13, 2024
Rhett Buttle, Founder and CEO of Public Private Strategies, joined Fox Live Now to talk about the state of the economy and the outlook for 2024. Watch the full interview here or below.
October 7, 2024
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – This month marks the anniversary of two pivotal pieces of legislation that are helping fuel a small business boom, the CHIPS & Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. Over the past four years, there has been a historic growth of American entrepreneurship across the country, with over 18 million new business applications filed, each one an act of hope and optimism in our economic future. This small business boom is fueled by investments like the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS & Science Act. Rhett Buttle, Founder and CEO of Public Private Strategies, released the following statement: “As we mark the two-year anniversaries of the CHIPS & Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, the positive impact across the business landscape, and particularly for entrepreneurs, is unmistakable. The CHIPS & Science Act is fueling entrepreneurship opportunities by dedicating over $50 million to help develop new ideas and technologies to strengthen domestic semiconductor production and supply chain. “The Inflation Reduction Act has helped lower costs for workers and consumers, driving up demand for small businesses across the country. The healthcare provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act alone are saving millions Americans an average of $800 per year on health insurance premiums. These investments have helped fuel America’s small business boom, including a record 18 million new small business applications filed over the past four years. “We have more work to do to address the issues that business owners have consistently said are their top priorities, from lowering health care and prescription drug costs to expanding and streamlining contracting opportunities for small employers to strengthening and protecting American democracy . We remained committed to working with business leaders to address these challenges and ensure these investments are implemented effectively to grow economies and support communities all across the country.” ### About Rhett Buttle Founder & CEO, Public Private Strategies President, Public Private Strategies Institute Senior Fellow, The Aspen Institute Rhett Buttle is an entrepreneur, advocate, and one of the most trusted leaders at the intersection of business and policy in Washington, DC. He has worked for President Biden, Vice President Harris, President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in government and campaign roles. Rhett is the founder of Public Private Strategies (PPS) and President of the Public Private Strategies Institute (PPSI), which works to bring together the public and private sectors to build coalitions, activate campaigns, and create strategic partnerships to drive policy and market outcomes. In these roles, he advises leading policy makers, foundations, nonprofits, and corporations. In addition to PPS and PPSI, he has helped found the Small Business Roundtable, Small Business for America’s Future, and the Next Gen Chamber of Commerce. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Aspen Institute and a regular contributor to Forbes, where he writes on the intersection of business, policy, and politics. Rhett has also been featured in The New York Times, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and several other business publications. About Public Private Strategies Public Private Strategies (PPS) creates opportunities where the public and private sectors meet. We bring together diverse allies including foundations, associations, corporations, small businesses, and entrepreneurs to solve pressing societal challenges. By harnessing the power of the private sector, we build coalitions, activate campaigns, and create strategic partnerships to drive desired policy and market outcomes. Learn more at www.publicprivatestrategies.com .
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August 15, 2024
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its March jobs report, showing the US economy added 303,000 jobs in March while the unemployment rate fell to 3.8%. CNN characterized US job growth in March as “whopping,” with gains far outpacing economists' expectations. In response to the strong jobs report, Rhett Buttle, Founder of Public Private Strategies, released the following statement: “The labor market continues to exceed economists’ expectations, with over 300,000 jobs added in March – 50% more than economists anticipated. Bipartisan investments like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS & Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act are fueling broad-based economic growth that is strengthening the labor market, increasing consumer confidence , and leading to over 16 million new small business applications in the past three years – the most ever in that period and a reflection of deep optimism among American entrepreneurs about our economic future.” “Lawmakers must continue to double down on America’s economic momentum, and that starts with addressing the issues that business owners say are their top priorities, from lowering health care and prescription drug costs to strengthening and protecting American democracy .” ### About Rhett Buttle, Founder, Public Private Strategies and President, Public Private Strategies Institute Rhett Buttle is an entrepreneur, advocate, and one of the most trusted leaders at the intersection of business and policy in Washington, DC. Most recently, Rhett served as National Business Advisor to President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign. He has worked for President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Rhett is the founder of Public Private Strategies (PPS) and President of the Public Private Strategies Institute (PPSI), which works to bring together the public and private sectors to build coalitions, activate campaigns, and create strategic partnerships to drive policy and market outcomes. In these roles, he advises leading policymakers, foundations, nonprofits, and corporations. About Public Private Strategies Public Private Strategies (PPS) creates opportunities where the public and private sectors meet. We bring together diverse allies including foundations, associations, corporations, small businesses, and entrepreneurs to solve pressing societal challenges. By harnessing the power of the private sector, we build coalitions, activate campaigns, and create strategic partnerships to drive desired policy and market outcomes. Learn more at www.publicprivatestrategies.com . As the United States marks the 14th anniversary of the AffordableCare Act (ACA), more Americans now have health care coverage than ever before. Since its enactment in 2010, the ACA has been a vital tool for Main Street, providing access to affordable healthcare options and fostering a healthier, more productive workforce.
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