UA, Chamber of Commerce to Host SBA Chief Counsel for Advocacy Oct. 25

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Small Business Development Center Network and the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama will jointly host Dr. Winslow Sargeant, chief counsel for advocacy of the U. S. Small Business Administration, at a business reception at The University Club in Tuscaloosa from 5:30-7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct.  25.

Sargeant was appointed by President Obama as the sixth chief counsel for the Office of Advocacy in August 2010.

The Office of Advocacy of the U. S. Small Business Administration is an independent voice for small business within the federal government with a mission of encouraging policies that support small business start-up, growth and development.

As chief counsel, Sargeant directs the Office of Advocacy’s operations, which include conducting research on the U.S. small-business sector, advocating for small businesses within the federal government’s agencies and rulemaking processes, reaching out to regional and state small-business advocates and policymakers, and fostering public awareness of small business contributions and concerns.

While visiting Tuscaloosa, Sargeant and Mark Berson, regional advocate for the Office of Advocacy’s Region IV, which includes Alabama, will tour areas of Tuscaloosa that were devastated in the April tornadoes.

They will witness firsthand the remarkable recovery the local community has made and will talk with small- business owners about their progress in rebuilding.

They will also have the opportunity to participate in roundtable discussions with UA faculty, staff and students about on-going projects to create new jobs through the commercialization of University technology, including the University’s Center for Green Manufacturing and the University’s technology incubator program.

In addition, Sargeant will make remarks at the business reception to local Tuscaloosa citizens, board members, members of the Public Affairs Council of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, officials of the UA System, and UA faculty, staff and students who are involved in economic development and small-business assistance.

The presidentially appointed chief counsel for advocacy advances the views, concerns and interests of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts and state policymakers. For more information, visit www.sba.gov/advocacy, or phone 202/205-6533.