Michael Ervin, owner of Coal River Coffee in St. Albans, recently traveled to Washington, D.C. for NFIB’s annual Fly-In event. Michael joined business owners from across the country to advocate for pro-small business legislation on Capitol Hill. In preparation for the day on the Hill, Michael and Ohio small business owner Clara Osterhage gave NFIB members tips and best practices.

“I’m from a small town in West Virginia, and you know, it’s like oh man, I’m going to be hobnobbing with the people that are making all these regulations that are you know, getting in the way of progressing and growing a thriving economy in my small town in Appalachia,” he explained. “…whoever it is that [you are talking to] is there because they want to hear your story. They need our stories to take to the Hill and share what is actually impacting small business owners because we actually have a powerful voice. We actually hold a lot of power because we make up the majority of the economy. And so they have to listen to what we’re saying.”

Listen to the full panel discussion here.