PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The Travelers
Institute, the public policy division of The Travelers Companies,
Inc. (NYSE: TRV),
will bring its “Small Business – Big Opportunity” symposia series to the
Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry Township on Friday, March 21.
The event will be hosted in partnership with local independent insurance
agency Henderson
Brothers and the Pittsburgh
Regional Alliance.
Local leaders will examine regional and national recommendations on how
communities can help promote an atmosphere favorable to small business
success in a panel discussion moderated by Joan Woodward, President of
the Travelers Institute and Executive Vice President of Public Policy at
Travelers.
“We are pleased to partner with Henderson Brothers and the Pittsburgh
Regional Alliance to bring ‘Small Business – Big Opportunity’ to the
Pittsburgh region,” said Woodward. “With small business optimism on the
rise, we believe it is a critically important time to facilitate an
exchange of ideas aimed at helping grow this pivotal part of
Pennsylvania’s overall economy, where an estimated 1 million small
businesses employ almost half of the state’s workforce.”
Joining Woodward on the panel will be the following Pittsburgh
entrepreneurs and small business thought leaders:
- Neil Bassi, President and CEO, Charleroi Federal Savings Bank
- Ngozi Bell, Region III Advocate, U.S. Small Business
Administration
- John “Buddy” Hobart, President and Founder, Solutions 21
- Jared Sadowski, Senior Account Executive, Henderson Brothers
Guhan Venkatu, Vice President and Senior Regional Officer of the
Pittsburgh Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, will provide
a keynote address examining regional and national economic forecasts, as
well as trends within the labor market and long-term expectations for
small business development.
“The health of small businesses has a great deal of influence over the
strength of any economy, large or small,” said Venkatu. “Identifying
solutions to their current problems – and putting them into practice –
could have a positive effect on long-term U.S. economic growth.”
Bell, who advocates for small businesses across the mid-Atlantic,
recently toured the region to visit small business owners and learn
first-hand how to improve the regulatory and economic environment for
small businesses.
“Small businesses face countless challenges from the start,” said Bell.
“Initiatives like Travelers’ ‘Small Business – Big Opportunity’ symposia
help us connect with entrepreneurs, listen to their evolving needs and
encourage their innovation.”
The Travelers Institute launched “Small Business – Big Opportunity” in
2011 to raise awareness on a variety of concerns for the country’s
nearly 28 million small businesses. For more information, visit the Travelers
Institute’s website at www.travelers.com.
About 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.
About Henderson Brothers
Henderson Brothers, established in Pittsburgh in 1893, is a leading
independent insurance agent in the tri-state area. Henderson Brothers
designs and manages programs for thousands of individuals, leading
corporations, small businesses and non-profit organizations throughout
the region and beyond. For more information, please visit www.hendersonbrothers.com.
About Pittsburgh Regional Alliance
The Pittsburgh Regional Alliance (PRA), the marketing affiliate of the
Allegheny Conference on Community Development, markets the benefits of
conducting business in southwestern Pennsylvania to companies all over
the world that are growing, relocating or expanding. The PRA also works
to support the growth of existing regional employers. Learn more at www.pittsburghregion.org.
Travelers
Luke Shane, 860-277-4090
lshane@travelers.com
Source: The Travelers Institute