Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy, employing 58.9 million people, or nearly 50 percent of the private sector workforce. They’re in every town, on every Main Street, and at the very center of cutting-edge products and ideas. And few understand that more than last year’s winner of the IP Champion for Excellence in Advocacy, Karen Kerrigan, President and CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBEC).

At the helm of the SBEC, Kerrigan focuses on the key issues impacting small business owners and entrepreneurs, and she ensures the business climate in America is ripe for the American Dream.

The American Dream is founded on hard work and taking chances. Entrepreneurs shoulder tremendous risk when they set out to establish their ventures, so they rely on strong IP protections to succeed. Whether they’re creating the formula to a new medicine or the code behind software, inventors and creators’ competitiveness in the market is directly related to IP protections – such as copyright, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets.

Kerrigan is one of the most steadfast advocates for small business owners and uses her credible voice in Washington to influence public policies that strengthen the U.S. economy, including IP. There has never been a better time to start an independent venture in today’s economy, and Kerrigan has been instrumental in making that possible.

Who will inspire you at this year’s IP Champions Gala? Join us on September to honor our 2018 awardees.

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