Local small-business leaders cheer White House talks

Posted to: Business
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By Carolyn Shapiro
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 14, 2012

When Ulysses Turner left the White House on Friday, he was eager to explore new investment in Hampton Roads.

The CEO of Atlantic Apartment Rentals and Development Co., which builds multifamily housing primarily in Norfolk, spent the day with 27 other Hampton Roads business leaders who met with the Obama administration to discuss ways to help small businesses grow. The visit convinced Turner that the economy would head in a positive direction this year.

"I came away feeling that the president's policies are very pro-small business," he said. "It was a very inspirational day."

Gary McCollum, senior vice president and general manager of Cox Communications Inc.'s operations in Virginia, agreed that the meetings showed the administration's belief in small business "as a key driver in this economy."

During a series of afternoon workshops, McCollum said, he heard encouraging ideas about the use of technology to improve productivity and about opportunities for small- and medium-size defense contractors. Despite reductions in defense spending, administration officials assured the local companies that money is available and that the process to get it would become more efficient, McCollum said.

Among those who attended the White House meetings were Mike Petters, president and CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries in Newport News; Gilbert Bland, president and CEO of Tymark Enterprises Inc., the Norfolk-based owner of several Burger King franchises; and Tom Walker, president of Chesapeake technology development firm Web Teks. The meetings were set up by Business Forward, which organizes businesses to inform government decision-making on economic issues.

Some in the group attended President Barack Obama's news conference earlier in the day, when he suggested shrinking the number of federal agencies that deal with business.

The simplification of government regulations arose as a common theme, Turner and McCollum said. So did the need to nurture an educated workforce, from kindergarten through college, McCollum said.

"So we're producing the talent that can not only get a job but can create a job."

Carolyn Shapiro, (757) 446-2270, carolyn.shapiro@pilotonline.com

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I was in the meeting

Submitted by Sam_D on Sun, 01/15/2012 at 10:58 pm.

I find it curious that they quoted someone who left just after 2 p.m., three full house before the event was over. And, they quoted the only person in the room who outright stated they were in support and "loved" this president. What about the others? Just saying...

Just wondering

Submitted by HRPhotographer on Sun, 01/15/2012 at 2:07 pm.

My post from the 14th. has disappeared, I received 7 thumbs up and 4 thumbs down so I'm at a lost how it could just vanish. If the pilot is thinking it may have offended someone here,then they have not read the post from other people here.

Please...

Submitted by edwards88711 on Sat, 01/14/2012 at 7:50 pm.

Mr. BIG GOVT. himself now wants to reduce the size of Govt. and help small business? If I didnt know better Id say this must be an election year. Oh wait- it is an election year, now this all makes sense. Let this socialist get re-elected and see how fast all this happy talk disappears when he has nothing to lose.

Republican lies

Submitted by Chris33 on Sun, 01/15/2012 at 3:55 am.

A "socialist" is what a Republican calls someone who is smarter than they are.

Redistribute other's wealth

Submitted by Reid_Greenmun on Sun, 01/15/2012 at 7:23 am.

A Socialist is what people who work hard to earn their money call those who enjoy the perks of power and privilege from redistributing money they did not earn to others who did not earn it.

Socialism isn’t a “Republican Party ” or “Democratic Party” abomination, it is a failure of ethics, integrity, and Social Justice.

The irony is not lost on many of us that the purveyors of Socialism have co-opted the banner of “Social Justice” in a perverted effort to try to brand a clear affront to “justice” as somehow a form of “enlightenment”. There is no justice in taking one person’s property by force to give to others so they will keep you in power.