Small Business: America’s Unsung Heroes

By Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Small business owners are America’s unsung heroes. The nation’s 27 million small businesses represent more than 99 percent of all employers, account for about half of all private sector workers, and create 60-80 percent of the nation’s net new jobs.

These dreamers and risk takers embody the entrepreneurial spirit that makes this country so great. They bring dynamic ideas, innovative services, and new products to the marketplace. They prove day after day that the American Dream is attainable if you have a good idea, work hard, and provide outstanding customer service.

That’s why the U.S. Chamber is proud to fight for these businesses every day in Washington, D.C., and why we’re always the first to sing their praises before the nation. We are among the loudest cheerleaders for entrepreneurs who work to make life better for their families, their employees, and their communities.

This week is National Small Business Week, and the Chamber celebrated early by holding its annual Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. last week. Hundreds of small businesses came from across the country to hear from President Bush and other outstanding speakers and to rally for small business priorities on Capitol Hill. A special part of the Summit is our Small Business of the Year Award, which recognizes a business for demonstrating excellence in financial performance, business planning, staff training and motivation, community involvement, and customer service.

This year’s winner – from hundreds of entrants across the country – was Permac Industries of Burnsville, MN. Permac manufactures precision machine parts for a wide range of industries. Led by Darlene Miller, owner and president, Permac has grown from a simple screw machine shop into a state-of-the-art precision machining company. The company doubled the size of its plant in 2007 and increased profits by 15 percent.

Permac is a shining example of today’s small businesses – politically active, generous to their employees, and making a difference in their communities. Permac took part in a trade mission to India with Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty in 2007, offers a profit-sharing plan for all eligible employees, and established Hope for Tomorrow, a mentoring program for at-risk girls.

Whenever someone has doubts about the future of our country, they should stop and think about the millions of entrepreneurs who risk it all to make their dreams come true. When you think of their optimism, hard work, and sense of possibilities, you can’t help but conclude that America will continue to be the greatest nation on earth.

THE STATS

In case you had any doubts, email really does rule:

100 percent of information technology managers and workers in 13 countries use e-mail
80 percent of the same respondents reported using the telephone
76 percent use mobile phones
66 percent use instant messaging
70 percent of respondents reported that email impacted their productivity positively
50 percent felt that fixed-line phone and mobile phones have the same positive effect (as email).

– Data-monitor

This global CEO survey outlining the top tactics CEOs would use to grow business in the next 12 months really surprised me.

How would you respond?

57 percent of CEOs indicated they would focus on new markets, mergers and acquisitions, new products and innovations
23 percent of CEOs indicated they would focus on better penetration of existing markets for existing products
16 percent of CEOs indicated they would focus on better customer service and employee retention.

– PriceWaterhouseCoopers

Source: The Stats are taken from “Quick Bites” by Sam Geist. (800)567-1861

CHAMBER NEWS

Speakers and Topics for Business Link/NewsTalk 1230

May 3 – 12:30 p.m.

May 4 – 8:00 a.m.

Brian Baker, Joe DiStefano & Rob Burke

Preview of Chamber’s upcoming small business finance seminar

May 10 – 12:30 p.m.

May 11 – 8:00 a.m.

Doug Quarles, Jr. & Ben Wafle of Quarles Petroleum, Inc.

Update on Quarles Petroleum

CHAMBER HAPPENINGS

To register for any of these events, call (540)373-9400 or visit the Chamber’s website at http://www.fredericksburgchamber.org. Please call the Chamber office for directions. Dates and times are subject to change.

Time is running out to register for the business finance seminar!

You’ve got less than two weeks to get your tickets for a Chamber-hosted seminar of vital importance to Fredericksburg-area entrepreneurs.

“Adapting Capital Management in Today’s Market” will give you the tips you need to tune up your balance sheet, build your company’s assets and improve your bottom line. The event will take place at 3 p.m., Wednesday, May 14 in the conference facility at Gari Melchers Home & Studio at Belmont.

Cardinal Bank is serving as the Title Sponsor. University of Mary Washington and the Rappahannock Region Small Business Development Center are serving as Gold Sponsors. Tickets are $25 for Chamber members, $35 for non-Chamber members. To register, call the Chamber office at (540)373-9400. In addition to the forum, attendees will have the chance to participate in a pair of half-hour follow-up webinars.

Sponsorships are available. For more information, call Chamber Sales Manager Gary Boyd at (540)373-9538 or Sales Rep. J.D. Southerland at (540)373-9482.

Let the good times roll!

The Chamber is throwing a party for a few hundred of its closest friends and associates. Come on out to Cannon Ridge Golf Club on Friday, June 6 for SpringFest. It’s going to be a memorable day of food and fun, golf and plenty of classic rock-n-roll supplied by the Glass Onion Band.

Time is running out to get your tickets at the special discount rate of $40 apiece! Beginning May 17, tickets will be $55 apiece. Tickets will not be sold the day of the event.

The SpringFest golf tournament will have a shotgun start at 11 a.m. The cost for a foursome is $450. Now is the time to sign up as a SpringFest sponsor. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, call Sales Rep. J.D. Southerland at (540)373-9482, Sales Rep. Stephanie Roberts at (540)373-9400 or Sales Manager Gary Boyd at (540)373-9358. The Chamber staff also is looking for volunteers to help with set-up, tear-down and parking.

Tuesday, April 29 – 3 p.m. – FRCC Education Foundation Workforce Development & Readiness Event – Germanna Community College’s Fredericksburg Area Campus. Dr. Glenn Dubois, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, will offer the keynote address. The event will highlight existing workforce development programs in the region to the Chamber membership, as well as the Fredericksburg at-large business and education communities. The event will open and close with an “expo” that highlights organizations involved with workforce development from the entire Fredericksburg Region.

Wednesday, May 7 – 8 a.m. – Spotsylvania Roundtable – WyteStone Suites of Fredericksburg, 4615 Southpoint Parkway. This meeting includes a buffet breakfast for a cost of $10. Please call the Chamber at (540)373-9400 to pre-register and pre-pay.

Topic: Civil War Life Museum Sponsor: New York Life

Wednesday, May 13 – 8 a.m. – FredTech Breakfast Series – Faculty Dining Hall, UMW’s Seacobeck Hall.

Topic: Telephone Choice Sponsor: Cox Business Services

Wednesday, May 14 – 8 a.m. – Stafford Roundtable – King Street Blues of Aquia, 2866 Jefferson Davis Highway. The meeting includes a buffet breakfast for a cost of $10, to be paid at the door (cash). Please call the Chamber at (540)373-9400 to pre-register.

Topic: HR Sponsor: New York Life

Tuesday, May 20 – 11:30 a.m. – CNEW Luncheon – 11031 Tidewater Trail, Fredericksburg. The cost of attending is $16 for Chamber members. Attendees must pre-register and pre-pay by noon on Friday, May 16. Walk-ins will not be accepted.

Topic: Taking Care of Yourself from the Inside Out Sponsor: Peoples Community Bank

Thursday, May 22 – 5:30 p.m. – Business After Hours – Country Inn & Suites, 5327 Jefferson Davis Highway, Fredericksburg. No fee to attend.

Monday, May 26 – Chamber office closed for Memorial Day

Listen Up!

The Chamber’s Community Profile publication is now on line! Surf over to http://www.villageprofile.com/virginia/fredericksburg/ to check it out for yourself. And if you’ve got something on your mind, leave a message on the handy dandy Chamber blog at the site.