Small Business Administration and Staples Host Special Town Hall Forum in Seattle; 'Small Business Success: Igniting Innovation' Discussion Led by SBA and Staples Leaders

Business Wire, Feb 24, 2004

Business Editors

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 2004

The Small Business Administration, which has provided 50 years of service to America's small businesses, and Staples, Inc., operator of more than 1,500 office supply stores worldwide, today conducted a special town forum at the Staples store located at 1541 15th Ave. West. Melanie R. Sabelhaus, deputy administrator for the SBA and Tom Stemberg, chairman and founder of Staples, led a discussion exploring innovation with more than 250 Seattle-area small-business professionals.

"Small businesses are at the core of the American economy, and particularly dominant in Washington," said Sabelhaus. "Providing small businesses with the support they need to expand and grow is what the SBA is all about."

Stemberg and Sabelhaus joined Martha Choe, director of the Washington State Office of Trade and Economic Development; Tony Naughtin, CEO of Network Clarity Inc.; Don Rich, CEO of Aculight Corporation; and Roxy Vuong, president of Vuong Information Technologies.

Moderated by Kevin Ebi, business editor for KIRO Radio, Sabelhaus, Stemberg and the panelists discussed creative business solutions in a rapidly changing world, women entrepreneurship, maximizing technology resources and SBA support programs. Rich and Vuong shared insights and experiences surrounding their personal success stories stemming from their involvement with the SBA.

"This forum presents a unique opportunity for small-business owners to get first hand knowledge direct from successful business leaders in their own community," said Stemberg. "We are delighted to join the SBA in giving these entrepreneurs an edge in finding success. And now, with the recent opening of our Portland fulfillment center, Staples' next-day delivery promise is maximizing business efficiency even more."

According to a 2003 study by the Washington Technology Center, Washington ranks first in the nation for creation of new companies. The SBA reports that 98.1 percent of all businesses in Washington are categorized as small (fewer than 500 employees).

SBA and Staples have launched an online newsletter, SBA Solutions, to provide entrepreneurs with relevant and timely information to help them maximize their business success. SBA Solutions is part of a co-sponsorship between the SBA and Staples, to provide an informative training tool to the small-business community.

SBA Solutions also includes tips to assist small-business owners with their businesses' risk management and information security. For a free subscription to the SBA Solutions newsletter, go online to http://www.SBA.gov/SBAnewsalerts.

For more information about all of the SBA's programs for small businesses, visit the SBA's extensive Web site at http://www.SBA.gov.

You can receive all of the SBA's News Releases via email. To subscribe, visit http://web.SBA.gov/list and select "Press Office."

Editors Note: To arrange an interview with Tom Stemberg, contact Vanessa Whorley, Edelman, at 206-223-1606 or vanessa.whorley@edelman.com.

To arrange an interview with Melanie Sabelhaus, contact Benjamin Ready, SBA, at 202-841-2755 or benjamin.ready@sba.gov.