New York, U.S.A. – Newtek Business Services,  The Small Business Authority ‘s President and CEO Barry Sloane appeared on Fox News Channel’s Fox and Friends the morning of July 18. Mr. Sloane was interviewed by host Gretchen Carlson addressing the recent statements made by President Obama about small business.

Mr. Sloane took the position that the government and larger regulation are interfering with the ability of the economy to grow. He stated that business owners are offended by President Obama’s comments because they feel they have earned the right to be successful. Business owners do a great job within their communities by giving to charities, hiring workers and paying taxes that build roads and bridges. This is a government by the people and for the people; it is the people who have paid taxes and created revenue to create all this. The full video clip of the interview can be seen here.

Barry Sloane also presented his position on this issue in a blog on Forbes and on Twitter.

President and CEO, Barry Sloane commented, “Unfortunately, the country is now in a debate over deciding whether successful business owners and entrepreneurs should thank the government for building roads or great school teachers for their education. At Newtek – ‘The Small Business Authority,’ we represent over 100,000 business accounts and owners and believe that the American philosophical and cultural way of doing things has made them and all of their stakeholders successful.

Their stakeholders include their employees, spouses, children and communities who benefit from taxes assessed against their income and success. It is not necessary for the government or any federal official to remind us that the government needs to be thanked for providing services. Our government is for the people and represents the people; it should only be providing a support mechanism for the American way. We are presenting our opinion using these channels as an advocate for our small business clientele who feel the need to celebrate their success outside of the political circle and to elaborate on their concerns over government expansion and the sharing of wealth outside of the free market mechanisms.”

Image Courtesy of  Intel Photos

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Houston, U.S.A. – Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP), a business boot-camp that teaches qualified Texas prisoners real-world business skills so they may become productive members of the business community upon their release from incarceration, announced its Class 18 Kick-off event. The event will take place on Friday, July 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Cleveland Correctional in Cleveland, Texas, and is open to executives, politicians, and investors who can apply to attend by visiting http://www.pep.org/rsvp/about/.

On June 8, 2012, PEP graduated 64 future business owners and employees in its 17th graduation ceremony. “Having a new identity as a business owner who can contribute to the community from which we have taken something means so much to us,” said Sherif Alghali, Valedictorian of PEP’s Class 17. “This program has been absolutely wonderful.”

PEP also recently announced the addition of 14 new advisory board members whose experience ranges from highly successful entrepreneurs, investors, and politicians, to men who first came to PEP as incarcerated men.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the PEP program as I strongly believe in second chances—particularly with programs that help people who want to help themselves,” said Keith Okano, president of Bridgeway Software and PEP Houston Advisory Board member. “PEP’s requirements, selection process, and strenuous program ensure that its participants are truly committed to change and proving they are willing to work for it.”

“Since 2004, the Prison Entrepreneurship Program has been guided by some of the strongest business minds to ever lend their time and talent to the nonprofit sector,” said Bert Smith, PEP’s chief executive officer. “The experience, time, and enthusiasm these volunteers bring to PEP are critical to helping empower men in prison to stay out of prison.”

About the program

Established in 2004, the Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP) is a Houston-based  nonprofit organization. The program’s mission is to transform inmates and executives by unlocking human potential through entrepreneurial passion, education, and mentoring. PEP’s groundbreaking results include a return-to-prison rate of less than 5%, employment rate of 100% within 90 days, and the successful launch of more than 100 businesses. To learn more, visit www.pep.org.

Image Courtesy of  spirit of america / Shutterstock.com

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