What is the purpose of the Commission on Small Business Advocacy?

• Address matters of small business as it relates to government affairs;
• Promote a cooperative and constructive relationship between state agencies and the small business community to ensure coordination and implementation of statewide strategies that benefit small business in the Commonwealth;
• Coordinate and educate the small business community of federal, state, and local government initiatives of value and importance to the small business community;
• Create a process by which the small business community is consulted in the development of public policy as it affects their industry sector;
• Aid the small business community in navigating the regulatory process, when that process becomes cumbersome, time consuming, and bewildering to the small business community; and
• Advocate for the small business, as necessary when regulatory implementation is overly burdensome, costly, and harmful to the success and growth of small businesses in the Commonwealth.

The most notable key functions of the Commission on Small Business Advocacy are as follows:

• Advocate on behalf of small business interest at the state and federal level
• Assist the small business community in navigating the regulatory process
• Consult with the small business community in the development of public policy
• Educate the small business community on valuable initiatives initiated by federal, state and local entities
• Promote cooperative and constructive relationships between state agencies and the small business community
• Represent small business interest when regulatory implementation is overly burdensome

What are the duties of the Commission on Small Business Advocacy?

• Coordinate and promote the awareness of the Federal Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, and its subsequent amendments within the small business community of the Commonwealth;
• Develop a process by which the small business community is made aware of state legislation and administrative regulations affecting it, both prior to its enactment and during its implementation;
• Advocate for the small business sectors when state legislation and administrative regulations are overly burdensome, costly, or harmful to the success and growth of the sector; and
• Collect information and research those public policies and government practices which are helpful or detrimental to the success and growth of the small business community; and
• Review administrative regulations and provide advisory opinions on potential impact to small business.

Who are the members of the Commission on Small Business Advocacy?

The commission consists of 13 members appointed by the Governor. Two members are appointed form each of the Commonwealth’s six congressional districts. The Governor also appoints the Chair and Vice Chair and each member serves a four year term. The current membership of the Commission as of December, 2006 is as follows:

First District: Todd Duff - Paducah / Loretta Daniel - Sedalia
Second District: Keith Bratcher - Leitchfield / Greg Burkot** - Bardstown
Third District: Tom Underwood - Louisville
Fourth District: Suzan Ross - Maysville / Vivian Llambi - Florence
Fifth District: Donna Vance - Corbin
Sixth District: Ajay Gupta - Lexington / Elizabeth Ruggles-Pitchford - Salvisa

Honorary Member: Judy Moore, Lexington

**Chair

Small businesses throughout the Commonwealth are represented on the Commission by a carefully selected and diverse group of business owners and watchdogs. They come from business backgrounds ranging from manufacturing, construction, the service sector, technical consulting and retail. Each member brings to the commission a unique understanding of business as it relates to the day-to-day operations of managing a small business. They deal daily with every issue facing a small business from startup to being a mature company and even succession to the next generation.