"Small Business - Big Opportunity" Tour Visits Chicago

September 26, 2013

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Travelers Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV), today moderated a panel discussion at the Women’s Business Development Center’s (WBDC) 27th Annual Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference, Women’s Business & Buyers Mart in Chicago. Panel participants discussed topics ranging from access to capital and cyber security, to vendor selection and strategies for success in today's challenging small business environment.

The Travelers Institute’s Small Business - Big Opportunity tour had previously held nine events in major markets across the country, such as Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, New York and Boston.

“As one of the nation’s largest insurers of small businesses, we recognize how important women’s entrepreneurship is to expanding economic opportunity in the 21st century,” said Joan Woodward, President, Travelers Institute, and Executive Vice President of Public Policy, Travelers. “Travelers understands the challenges women entrepreneurs can face in operating successful small businesses and is committed to providing the necessary resources to help business owners succeed.”

Woodward moderated the discussion and the panel consisted of prominent business leaders, including:

  • Amber Colley, Director, Sales Partnerships, Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp.
  • Tim Ritz, Managing Director of Technical Procurement, United Airlines
  • David Frank, President and General Council, SomerCor 504, Inc
  • Michelle Kantor, ESQ, Federal Government Contracting Practice Lead, McDonald Hopkins, LLC
  • Kirstin Simonsen, Second Vice President of Underwriting for Global Technology, Travelers

“The goal of the Entrepreneurial Woman’s Conference is to bring together women business owners and to provide access to capital, contract opportunities and information that is relevant to their businesses,” said Emilia DiMenco, President and CEO of the WBDC. “Our partnership with Travelers is enabling our organization to better meet the needs of our small business clients.”

To learn more about the series and Travelers’ commitment to small business advocacy, please visit the Travelers Institute’s website: https://www.travelers.com/about-us/travelers-institute/index.aspx.

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 more broadly. 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, analysis and solutions 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.

The Travelers Companies, Inc.
Ashley Maagero, 860-277-2954
amaagero@travelers.com

Source: The Travelers Companies, Inc.