NFIB State Director Speaks at SBA Luncheon

May 4, 2024 Last Edit: June 5, 2025

NFIB State Director Speaks at SBA Luncheon

NFIB California State Director John Kabateck delivered the keynote address at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Northern California Awards luncheon on Friday (May 3) in Sacramento. “I was honored to be invited to speak at the event that recognized the accomplishments of so many extraordinary women, veteran, minority, and other owners of Main Street enterprises who have demonstrated the courage and tenacity it takes to turn their dreams into a reality,” said Kabateck. “I also want to Kudos to SBA’s District Director Heather Luzzi, Region IX Administrator Elmy Bermejo, and Julian Canete of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce for their work in putting together a wonderful event honoring our Main Street Heroes.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “56.6% of all U.S. employer establishments in 2021 (the latest year for which these statistics are available) had fewer than five employees, up from 55% in 2020. In addition to small employer businesses, there are many self-employed entrepreneurs with no paid employees who run small businesses and contribute to the economy. “According to Nonemployer Statistics (NES), there were 28,477,518 businesses with no paid employees in 2021. These nonemployer businesses operated in various sectors of the economy such as retail, manufacturing and services.” More about the SBA’s Small Business Week can be read here. More Census Bureau information about small businesses can be read here.

NFIB California State Director John Kabateck with SBA Award winner Carrie Schmidt Poyner

From left to right: SBA Northern California District Director Heather Luzzi; Scott Rogalski, deputy director of the Northern California Small Business Development Center; and SBA award winner for veterans, Joshua Gilliam

California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce President and CEO Julian Canete, left, with NFIB State Director John Kabateck