Family Enterprise USA Appoints New Executive Director

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Family Enterprise USA (FEUSA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Caroline McLean as the organization's new Executive Director. With over 20 years of fundraising and organizational experience, Caroline comes to FEUSA with a deep level of knowledge in national, state, and local politics and will lead FEUSA's efforts to grow its membership and financial base. "Caroline is a great addition and we're excited about the knowledge and passion she brings to our organization," says Mike Hamra, Chairman of FEUSA and President and CEO of Hamra Enterprises.

FEUSA is committed to highlighting the positive contributions of family enterprises and drawing attention to the challenges these businesses face. Contributions of family business are impressive. National statistics indicate there are approximately 5.5 million family businesses in the U.S. with 75% of all new jobs generated by family business. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been attributed to family enterprise and 60% of all publicly held U.S. companies are family-controlled. The significant role that family enterprises play in our economy should not be understated.

"Today, there is a true sense of urgency, more than ever, that family businesses come together to share our stories. We need to stand up and be counted at the local and federal levels. FEUSA provides tools and resources for the voice of family enterprises to be heard," said Jamie Richardson, Vice Chairman of FEUSA and Vice President of Corporate Relations at White Castle Management.

FEUSA is forwarding key efforts to highlight family enterprise by organizing town hall meetings, fly-in events to Washington, its annual Capital City Family Reunion – an event held each spring in Washington - and providing advocacy resources to family businesses. "We are eager to build on the great work FEUSA has been doing and we are now offering a complimentary level of membership so that more families can join our efforts. FEUSA's commitment to help families engage at the local, state, and national levels is stronger than ever and I am inspired by the family enterprises that are making the difference," shared Caroline.

Family Enterprise USA, established in 2008, is a 501(c)(3) membership organization and the only national group advocating to public policy makers and opinion leaders on behalf of America's business-owning families.

SOURCE Family Enterprise USA