What are Regional Councils?

AEO’s Regional Councils are meetings of local microbusiness champions (government, private, foundations, non-profit, etc.) who want to elevate the issues facing microbusinesses in their regions to all local ecosystem stakeholders so that together we can focus on solving the most pressing challenges facing our communities. Ultimately, our goal is to provide local solutions to regional issues by convening key stakeholders in a series of virtual and in-person events throughout the year.

Three Ways to Participate

Become a Member:
participate in discussions, share learnings, and solve problems.

Sponsor a Region:
underwrite costs, share the work you are doing, and/or brand your organizations work to the ecosystem

Be a Convener:
host one of the in-person summits at your facility

Regional Councils Summit: Leveraging Regionalism to Empower Small Businesses

The Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) is proud to announce our upcoming summit: “Leveraging Regionalism to Empower Small Businesses.” This groundbreaking event will convene experts, thought leaders, and stakeholders to delve into strategies aimed at fostering small business growth within diverse regional landscapes.

Date: Thursday, May 2, 2024
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: National Press Club, 529 14th St, NW, Washington, DC 20045

In recognition and celebration of Small Business Week, our summit seeks to underscore the pivotal role of small businesses as drivers of economic vitality and community prosperity. By exploring innovative approaches to harnessing regional resources, enhancing infrastructure, and fostering collaborative partnerships, we aim to unlock new pathways for small business success.

The Regions

West

Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Oregon
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

Midwest

Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin

South

Alabama
Arkansas
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
West Virginia

Northeast

Connecticut
Massachusetts
Maine
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont

Objective

Our mission is to elevate the issues facing microbusinesses, particularly those underserved, in our regions to all local ecosystem stakeholders so that together, we can solve the pressing challenges within our community.

The Regional Councils will seek to find pragmatic approaches to these challenges by: highlighting best practices; collaboratively devising strategies; and, advocating for the necessary interventions.

Our commitment is to ensure that knowledge and insights are shared with the larger ecosystem, thereby fostering a collective understanding of microbusiness interests and driving positive change across the country.

Meet the AEO Regional Council Leadership

Carolina Martinez

West
Chief Executive Officer |
California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity (CAMEO)

Ron Fong

West
Executive Director |
Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Collaborative

Wendy Baumann

Midwest
President & Chief Visionary Officer |
The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation

Bridget Ross

South
Vice President of Business Support |
LiftFund

Elizabeth Wilson

South
Executive Director |
Georgia Micro Enterprise Network, Inc.

Gustavo Lasala

South
President & Chief Executive Officer |
PeopleFund

Hal Bowling

South
Co-Founder & Executive Director | LAUNCH Chattanooga

Inez Long

South
President & Chief Executive Officer |
BBIF

Ray Pennie

South
Chief of Business Advisory Services |
Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs, Inc. (ACE)

Emi Reyes

Northeast
Chief Executive Officer |
Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC)

James Bason

Northeast
President & Chief Executive Officer |
TruFund Financial Services, Inc.

Samira Cook Gaines

Northeast
Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships |
Rising Tide Capital

Become an AEO Member

Sponsor Regional Councils

FAQ

What does it mean to be a Member of a Regional Council?

Regional Council Members are local microbusiness champions who want to elevate the issues facing microbusinesses in their regions to all local ecosystem stakeholders so that together we can focus on solving the most pressing challenges facing our communities. Participation in Regional Councils is open to AEO members. Registered attendees who are not currently members will be auto enrolled into AEO’s free membership tier the week of the event.

Does it cost money to be in the regional council?

Membership in regional councils is free. The only cost will be expenses incurred to attend the in-person regional summits.

Are there opportunities to sponsor a region, a virtual meeting, or a regional summit?

Send an email to [email protected].

How often do Regional Council meetings take place?

Regional Council meetings will take place virtually once per quarter with the exception of (1) in-person event per year.

Will AEO still do National Conferences?

Yes, our national conference will resume in 2025. This year, regional virtual meetings and in-person summits will take precedence.

Who is invited to participate in Regional Council meetings?

Regional Councils are open to anyone interested in solving issues that affect Main Street microbusiness owners and service providers across America. All sectors are welcome (Government, Foundation, Non-profit, CDFIs, Academic Institutions, Investors, Accelerators, Quasi-Government, etc.)

How are the regions determined?

The AEO Regional Council Map was updated in February 2024 to better align with the U.S. Census Bureau Regions.