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FROM THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS September 15, 1998RR-2682 Secretary Robert E. Rubin announced Tuesday the names of seven CEOs who will participate in the BusinessLINC initiative. The group includes: Walter V. Shipley, Chairman & CEO, The Chase Manhattan
Corporation; John E. Smith, Jr., Chairman, CEO & President, General Motors Corporation;
Gary C. Wendt, Chairman & CEO, GE Capital Corporation; Jack M. Greenberg, President &
CEO, McDonald's Corporation; J. Robert Beyster, Chairman, CEO & President, Science
Applications Information Corporation; Carlton Guthrie, CEO, Trumark Metal Stamping; Diva
Garza, President of ITC Personnel Services. The group's members are leaders in the field of
promoting small business development. BusinessLINC is one component of Vice President Gore's year-long effort to spotlight the
importance of business investment in cities and distressed areas. BusinessLINC focuses on
encouraging the linkage of large businesses to locally-owned small businesses in distressed
areas to increase their economic competitiveness. Examples of these programs include
one-on-one technical assistance, boards of advisors, classroom business training, and supplier
development programs. These programs benefit small firms by providing technical assistance,
improved market and financial access, expansion opportunities and procurement
opportunities. As part of its initiative, BusinessLINC has hosted five regional meetings across the
country focusing on different business-to-business strategies. Representatives from small and
large businesses as well as community members were invited to gather and share information
about their programs. Following the final meeting, scheduled for September 18, 1998, in Atlanta, Ga., a report
will be compiled and then reviewed by the CEOs listed above. The report will profile
successful programs, highlight the key principles of success and explore how to expand
private-sector activity in these areas. The report will be presented to Vice President Gore at a
roundtable later this year with Secretary Rubin and Administrator Aida Alvarez of the Small
Business Administration.
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