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American Express Article Recognizes Lloyd Chapman as Small Business Advocate By Lloyd Chapman I was very flattered when Kelly Spors included me in her article for American Express Open Forum titled, “Meet 4 People Giving Small Business a Big Voice in Washington.” It is very rare that I get recognition of any kind for my 25 year battle with the federal government to stop the rampant fraud and abuse in federal small business programs. Usually any journalist that even speaks to me gets an angry conference call from the SBA or Pentagon Press Office berating their journalistic integrity. I’m sure Kelly got one of those hostile conference calls from the current SBA Press Office Director and former Director of Corporate Communications for the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, retired Naval Commander, Terry Sutherland. When you think about it, what better person to be the spokesman for the only agency in government to help small businesses than the former spokesman for Corporate Communications at the Pentagon Force Protection Agency. I don’t know about you, but when I think small business, my mind immediately goes to Pentagon Force Protecting Agency. But I digress. Anyway, Kelly’s words were worth the wait: “Depending on whom you ask, Lloyd Chapman is either a crusader fighting for small businesses or an outspoken and litigious leader.” I especially appreciate the “litigious leader” part. I’m sure Kelly is referring to the 30 plus legal battles I have won against the federal government. I think some of my proudest accomplishments in life will be twice witnessing government attorneys sobbing in court after being berated by a federal judge. I woke up this morning thinking about the American Express article and I began to remember other times when I have received rare moments of recognition. I recall a journalist for the Washington Post that penned an article on the fraud in federal small business contracting that mentioned me. On her blog she compared me to a “junkyard dog for small business”. I love that. I am tempted to change the name of the American Small Business League to Junk Yard Dog for Small Business League. I think it’s very descriptive of what I actually do. In December of 2010 Hispanic Business wrote an article about me titled, “In the SBA’s Face.” I love that title. That’s another possible new name for the American Small Business League, the In the SBA’s Face League. I think it’s also very descriptive of my activities and accomplishments. In 2005 Entrepreneur magazine wrote an article about me that said, “Depending on whom you talk to, Texas born small business advocate Lloyd Chapman is either a modern day Cesar Chavez or a conspiracy theorist with a grudge. Either way, the SBA has learned he’s become hard to ignore.” The guys at the SBA and Pentagon Press Offices must have had a stroke when I was compared to Cesar Chavez. I could write a book and a movie script on what the feds did after that article came out, but that’s another story. In 2011 the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists gave me the James Madison Freedom of Information Award. That was very nice. They had a lovely awards dinner for all of the recipients. I have that award hanging in my office. When I think back to some of those events it makes me think I should seriously consider changing the name of the American Small Business League to something more visual. A name that is demonstrative and more empowering for me. I might combine my favorites and begin to refer to myself as Lloyd Chapman, Modern Day Cesar Chavez, Conspiracy Theorist, James Madison Type, Junk Yard Dog For Small Business and President of the In The SBA’s Face League. I like that one but the plastic nametag for conventions would be rather large, not to mention heavy. I am very, very grateful to Kelly Spors for the rare acknowledgment of my efforts. It gave me a little more momentum at just the right time. I just hope her ears are not still ringing from her conference call from the SBA’s Commander Cover-Up, Terry Sutherland. (BTW, if you would like to contact Terry Sutherland and ask him what he thinks about Kelly’s article, here is his number and email: (202) 205-6919 terrence.sutherland@sba.gov) To view the full article, click here: https://shadowproof.com/2014/05/19/american-express-article-recognizes-lloyd-chapman-as-small-business-advocate/ |