SBA U S Small Business Administration : Announces Appointment of Georgia Small Business Owner to Regional Regulatory Fairness Board

ATLANTA- Atlanta small business owner Albert G. Edwards has been appointed to the U.S. Small Business Administration's Region IV Regulatory Fairness Board by SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet.
Regional Regulatory Fairness Boards in all 10 of SBA's regions represent the voice of small business on regulatory fairness issues. Each board is comprised of five small business owners and serves as a resource and point of contact for small business owners who feel they have experienced excessive federal regulatory enforcement and compliance actions. SBA Region IV includes Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida.

Regional Regulatory Fairness Board members advise the National Ombudsman and Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Enforcement Fairness, Brian Castro. The National Ombudsman and board members host regulatory fairness hearings and outreach events nationwide where small business owners report concerns about burdensome federal regulations.

"Mr. Edwards brings 20 years of industry experience, strong leadership, and strategic advisory expertise, in addition to being a strong advocate for local small business owners," Castro said. "The members of the Regulatory Fairness Board play a critical role in making sure the voice of small business is heard by regulators and help to support regulatory solutions that save small business time and money."

As a Region IV Regulatory Fairness Board member, Edwards will serve as a local resource for small businesses and will work with small business trade groups and other entities to address regional concerns about federal regulatory enforcement and compliance issues.

"We extend a warm welcome to Mr. Al Edwards to this honorable position. Furthermore, we look forward to working with Mr. Edwards to be assured that small businesses have an opportunity to express any regulatory concerns they may have," says Cassius F. Butts, Regional Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration.
Edwards is the founder and managing director of Corporate Environmental Risk Management, LLC (CERM), and serves as the 2015 Chair Elect for the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce, board of directors. In addition, he serves on numerous boards and holds regional industry leadership positions to support the interests of small business. Edwards can be reached by email at [e-mail](link sends e-mail) or by phone at 678-999-0173.

The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), which created the Office of the National Ombudsman, also created five-member Regulatory Fairness Boards in each of the SBA's 10 regions. The members of the Regulatory Fairness boards represent the small business community to provide insights on immediate regulatory challenges facing small business owners - perspectives that are critical to eliminating ineffective, duplicative, or outmoded regulatory business barriers to small business.www.sba.gov/ombudsman.

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