NFIB

LaMont "Monty" Friebel and his brother, Edward, are leading their family business, Cooper Enterprises, into the 21st century by manufacturing quality wooden parts, fixtures and furniture, as well as laminated components at their 100,000-square foot manufacturing and warehousing facility in Shelby, Ohio. Cooper Enterprises services industrial, recreational, commercial, architectural millwork and retail accounts. The facility is in operation 24 hours a day and offers on-site engineering and customer service as well as state-of-the-art equipment and technology.

The business was founded in 1965 and the brothers are second-generation leaders who have a combined total of 33 years of experience. Monty serves as president and CEO, while Edward serves as vice president. Together with their 54 full-time employees, the Friebels have successfully guided Cooper Enterprises through changes in technology, the marketplace and government policies.

In 1994, Cooper Enterprises teamed up with NFIB in order to become more active in the policy-making processes that affect the business. After more than a decade of involvement on issues ranging from federal health-care legislation to changes in Ohio's Workers' Compensation System, Monty was recently elected to serve as the vice-chair of the Richland County Area Action Council.

"I see these meetings of local business owners as a great opportunity for us to be leaders in our communities," said Monty. "They also give us the ability to be potent advocates for the needs of small business."

Monty said he was initially attracted to NFIB because it offered an opportunity for small-business owners to collectively make their voices heard in the political sphere in a convenient and effective way.

"NFIB has kept me informed of trends and pending legislation so I could best position my business and take necessary action on specific items to influence a favorable outcome," said Monty.

While Monty has taken an active role in educating legislators and fellow business owners about the effects of policy decisions, he says that one of the biggest challenges Cooper Enterprises still faces is competition, particularly from companies in other states and countries. NFIB and Monty are working to make lawmakers aware of the impact that burdensome regulations and policies can have on the cost of doing business in a global economy, where competition not only crosses state lines, but continents as well.

Yet despite the challenges, Monty says the best part of being a small-business owner is having the ability to be independent and agile. Ultimately, he still wakes up every morning "excited to get on with the business day."