RALEIGH –– Campbell Law School Dean Melissa Essary took part in a North Carolina delegation that traveled to Washington, D.C., to discuss jobs and economic growth with senior administration officials on Jan. 12.
Essary was one of more than 30 civic, business and educational leaders from North Carolina’s Research Triangle invited to participate in the discussions. Ari Matusiak, executive director of the White House Business Council, moderated the discussion.
“We had a very specific interchange with the White House Business Council,” said Essary. “While it remains to be seen if any specific initiatives will result from our meeting, delegates from North Carolina felt that their specific needs and concerns were heard.”
Essary and other delegates offered the council a “boots on the ground” report regarding their thoughts on what is specifically impeding job creation and economic growth. Delegates offered concrete ideas and examples, resulting in a healthy discussion among all parties.
The meeting lasted for more than four hours, with much of the discussion focused on the crucial role that technology, education, innovatio, and entrepreneurship play in our country’s future economic development. Access to capital remains a critical concern among business leaders to grow their companies and add jobs. The housing crisis also was discussed in-depth, and the group communicated to the administration that it remains a huge impediment to enhancing consumer confidence and morale.
In addition to Dean Essary, Campbell Law graduate Anthony Biller (’97) attended the council meeting and critiqued the new patent law reform legislation. He was invited by the administration to continue the conversation with them after the meeting.
The entire North Carolina contingency was invited to stay and attend a press briefing on small business by President Obama on Friday morning.
Story and photo courtesy of Brandon Yopp, Director of Communications for Campbell Law