NFIB

Charles Owens has been advocating the interests of small business in the Michigan Legislature for over 23 years, beginning with his tenure at the Michigan Institute of Laundering and Dry-cleaning and currently with the National Federation of Independent Business/Michigan.

As the state director of one of Michigan's most respected small-business organizations, Owens is responsible for directing NFIB in its mission to maintain the viability of small business in the face of expanded legislative and regulatory challenges. Owens has been active in the legislative debate over numerous landmark Michigan issues, including the Michigan Environmental Protection Act, Federal Clean Air Act implementation, inheritance tax, Single Business Tax, tort liability reform, unemployment insurance reform, workers' compensation, and Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act issues. Most recently, Owens and NFIB spearheaded the efforts of other groups in the fight for fairness and equity for small business in the development of the Michigan Business Tax replacement for the Single Business Tax.

Owens is a 23-year member of the Capitol Club, a dedicated group of association executives committed to the advancement of legislative advocacy for their respective organizations. In 2005 he was elected by his peers to be president of the organization.

In 2006, Owens was ranked number five of the top 10 single-interest individual lobbyists in Michigan by Inside Michigan Politics. Under his leadership, NFIB was also ranked in the top 20 lobbyist organizations and top 10 single-interest lobbying organizations by the same publication.

Originally a native of Rockford, Ill., Owens graduated from Northern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in finance and business administration.