NFIB

In addition to being state director of NFIB/Rhode Island for more than 18 years, Terrance S. Martiesian has maintained a law office and been responsible for payroll, health insurance, workers' compensation, taxes, regulations and all the other daily activities of a small-business owner.

Martiesian considers his single largest victory with NFIB to be the repeal of striker's benefits because of its symbolic and positive significant to the entire Rhode Island business community. He was a principal in the drafting Rhode Island's right to know, family and medical leave, employee access to personnel files, equal access to justice and bad check legislation. Martiesian was also an early advocate of the repeal and phase out of the automobile and retail inventory tax.

"I have been fortunate to have been involved in a wide range of business and economic issues, including labor law, consumer protection, health care, workers' compensation, insurance, taxes, business regulations and environmental matters," Martiesian, the son of an immigrant small-business owner, said. He has been featured as a representative of business on television, radio and in newspaper journals and writes articles for various business trade journals.

"NFIB has been the voice on many issues that other business trade associations have been reluctant to take a stance on," he said. "For example, for years NFIB/Rhode Island was the sole business voice in opposition to costly health insurance legislation and one of few in opposition to onerous and possible costly tort legislation. A business should join NFIB because we are the advocate of small business, not compromised, influenced or controlled by the middle and large business sector."