Small Businesses Stir Up Washington, D.C.

 

Small business owners and local chamber leaders met with their elected representatives, networked, learned tips for running their businesses, and gained political insight during America's Small Business Summit 2008, April 16-18, in Washington, D.C.

 

Former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Thomas "Mack" McLarty (left), former Bush Chief of Staff Andy Card (right), and former House member and current TV talk show host John Kasich talk politics and the 2008 presidential campaign.

 

Employees of Permac Industries in Burnsville, Minnesota, including President and CEO Darlene Miller, react to Permac being named the U.S.  Chamber's Small Business of the Year during the gala dinner.

 

 

U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue calls on summit attendees to "tell everyone inside the Beltway what is really going on across the country."

 

 

 

The 50-plus Minnesota delegation of summit attendees poses for a picture on the roof of the U.S. Chamber with the Washington Monument in the background.

 

 

House majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) (at the head of table) discusses legislation and programs affecting small businesses with summit attendees from South Carolina.

 

 

 

A U.S. Chamber staffer leads a group of small business managers, entrepreneurs, and state and local chamber leaders to Capitol Hill to meet with their elected representatives.

 

 

Summit attendees gather on the steps of the Capitol with Sens. Norm Coleman (R-MN) (left) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA).

 

 

Summit participants e-mail and call their legislators, urging them to support trade legislation.

 

 

U.S. Chamber Council on Small Business Executive Director Giovanni Coratolo (right) and Chairman Jim Wordsworth of J.R.'s Goodtimes, Inc. (left) honor founding council Chairman Frank Morsani (middle left) and founding Director Ivan Elmer during the Chamber's Small Business Summit. Morsani and Elmer started the council in 1976.