Convenes Business, Government and Community Leaders to Raise
Awareness of and Identify Solutions to Top Entrepreneurial Challenges
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The Travelers
Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies,
Inc. (NYSE: TRV),
today hosted the second in a series of national symposia, "Small
Business, Big Opportunity," to facilitate discussion of the issues
facing small business owners across the country. The cornerstone of the
event included data recently released by the Travelers Institute showing
top concerns of surveyed entrepreneurs, in conjunction with a white
paper in which the Travelers Institute recommends principles for
small business advocacy to address these and other challenges.
The Travelers Institute’s symposium brought together business,
government and community leaders to discuss job creation and economic
growth. The event was held in Atlanta, where 97 percent of all
businesses employ fewer than 100 employees and two-thirds of job growth
comes from small business, according to the Metro Atlanta Chamber of
Commerce.
“Travelers is committed to helping small businesses face the risks that
challenge them, while influencing policy change to improve the business
environment,” said Joan Woodward, Travelers Executive Vice President of
Public Policy, who also heads the Travelers Institute. “Small businesses
are the backbone of our communities, and we understand it is essential
to have state and federal policies that encourage entrepreneurship and
fuel job creation in Atlanta and across the country.”
In addition to Woodward, who moderated the panel, program participants
included:
- Mark Berson, Regional Advocate for the U.S. Small Business
Administration’s Office of Advocacy
- Bob Brody, Senior Vice President, Global Operations Claim and Risk
Control, Travelers
- Karen Leone de Nie, Community and Economic Development Research
Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
- Bernie Meineke, Atlanta Director, Small Business Development Center at
Georgia State University
-
U.S. Rep. Tom Price of Georgia
- Marc Schmittlein, President and CEO, Travelers Select Accounts
- Naheed Syed, Founder and CEO, Global Resource Management Inc. and
Board Member, U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Southeast
Region
"The Travelers Institute, through its work, highlights some of the many
obstacles facing our country’s small businesses. It underscores the real
need for government at all levels to evaluate the direct and indirect
impact of regulatory and tax policies on job creation and economic
opportunity,” said U.S. Rep. Price, who spoke at the symposium. “Our
nation's small businesses are the greatest drivers of our economic
engine and our most prolific job creators. Protecting their ability to
grow and prosper will ensure that our cherished American spirit of
entrepreneurship has room to breathe and pave the way for a brighter
future for our country.”
At the symposium, held just days prior to the official start of
hurricane season and following a round of devastating weather, panelists
also addressed the issues of disaster preparedness and business
continuity. According to the Travelers Institute survey, more than half
of all small business owners surveyed do not have a business continuity
plan.
Further, while the survey reveals that small business owners may believe
their revenue will grow and that they will be hiring new employees over
the next year, close to a third of those surveyed feel government
regulations are negatively impacting their ability to hire and retain
employees, as well as grow their business.
Naheed Syed, who was recognized as one of the Top 50 Fastest-Growing
Women-Led Companies by Entrepreneur Magazine and was awarded
“International Women of Influence” by Global Women Executives, said,
“Given the significant presence of small businesses in Atlanta, we are
thrilled that Travelers is raising awareness of issues facing
entrepreneurs in today’s challenging economy and helping small business
executives like me and others address the risks that may challenge the
future of our business.” Syed also received the 2009 Asian Women in
Business Entrepreneurial Leadership Award and Top 50 Asian American
Businesses in USA.
In addition to today’s symposium, Travelers is also a sponsor of the
upcoming U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Summit in Washington,
D.C., May 23 – 25. The Travelers Institute has additional symposia
planned in select markets throughout 2011 to bring stakeholders together
to discuss ways to create better operating climates for small
businesses. For more information, visit www.travelersinstitute.com.
About the Travelers Institute
The Travelers Institute, the
public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc., engages in
discussion and analysis of public policy topics of importance to the
insurance marketplace and the financial services industry. The Travelers
Institute draws upon the industry expertise of Travelers’ senior
management and the technical expertise of many of Travelers’
underwriters, risk managers and other experts to provide information and
analysis to public policy makers and regulators. Travelers is a leading
provider of property casualty insurance for auto,
home
and business.
For more information, visit www.travelers.com.
Source: Travelers
Contact:
Travelers
Ashley Maagero
860-277-2954
AMaagero@Travelers.com