02/06/2003
NEW JERSEY, February 6, 2003 -- Red Bank small-business owner Lisa Tevis has been named vice chair of New Jersey's first small-business Area Action Council (AAC) in Monmouth. The AAC, organized by NFIB, the nation's largest small-business advocacy group, aims to educate the public and state leaders about the issues that impact Main Street businesses. Tevis is the owner of the Oakland House Restaurant & Caterers at 58 Oakland Street in Red Bank."I am very excited about the Area Action Council," said Tevis, a former general manager at Goldman Sachs in New York. "Too many politicians claim to stand up for small-business while advocating policies and laws that make life on Main Street more and difficult. Small-business owners are very busy people, but it is vitally important that we band together to provide a forum for discussion and amplify our voice to state lawmakers.
"We will speak out on legislation that affects the state's economic backbone, small business, which creates a majority of all new jobs," continued Tevis. "From taxes to affordable healthcare to lawsuit abuse to the bad legislation that makes these problems worse, small business is confronted by many obstacles, and the AAC will help educate the public and state leaders about these impediments to New Jersey's economic health and job growth."
As part of a national effort by the 600,000 strong NFIB to complement its successful lobbying operations in the nation's capitol and in all 50 states, AAC's will be set up throughout the nation to serve as an educational forum on small-business issues for locally elected officials, with lobbying and political-action components to follow. AAC's are a grassroots initiative for small-business owners and community leaders to band together to influence state policy and elections.
"Our primary mission is to make elected officials at every level of government know what they are talking about when they presume to speak for small business, "said NFIB/New Jersey State Director Rob Tartaglia. "Our education efforts will pack a little more punch when combined with our increased lobbying and political activism components. We are very excited to have an outstanding community and business leader like Lisa Tevis to help lead our efforts."
The Monmouth AAC will convene on February 5, 2003 at 8:00 a.m. to discuss the state budget and business climate. Assemblyman Sean Kean will address the meeting.
For more information on the Monmouth Area Action Council, please contact Rob Tartaglia at 609.989.8777.
CONTACT: Rob Tartaglia 609.989.8777
or Mike Donohue 202.554.9000
