WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council appointed Natalie Kaddas, CEO of Kaddas Enterprises, as its new Chair and Joe Shamess, co-founder and owner of Flags of Valor, as Vice Chair. Kaddas succeeds former Chair Ian MacLean, president of Highland Landscaping LLC.
As leaders of the U.S. Chamber’s small business policy committee, Kaddas and Shamess will assist in creating strategies on legislative, regulatory, and international initiatives to support small businesses around the country. Both are small business leaders with experience running and growing successful manufacturing businesses and have a deep knowledge of the current landscape for founders, small business owners and entrepreneurs.
“Small businesses are facing tough challenges right now with inflation, labor shortages, and supply chain disruptions, and it’s essential that small business has a seat at the table on legislation that impacts them,” said Tom Sullivan, Vice President of Small Business Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Natalie Kaddas and Joe Shamess are the kind of leaders who will ensure small businesses continue to play a critical role in the advocacy and engagement efforts of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.”
Kaddas Enterprises is a second-generation, family-owned thermoplastic manufacturing business that has operated in Utah for over 50 years and provides cutting-edge solutions for energy, transportation, and aerospace customers across the globe. Kaddas is an active leader in the Salt Lake City business community and currently sits on the board of the Utah District Exports Council. Kaddas is also on the National Leadership Council of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Voices Program.
“From its start 110 years ago, the U.S. Chamber has elevated the voices of small businesses to elected leaders in Washington, D.C.,” Kaddas said. “I am proud to work with Joe Shamess and lead the Chamber’s Small Business Council forward to help ensure government leaders and others embrace and reward innovation and entrepreneurship for the good of our communities and for the progress of our nation.”
Flags of Valor is a veteran owned and operated manufacturer in Winchester, Virginia, specializing in manufacturing hand built patriotic products. Flags of Valor was founded by Shamess and his fellow veteran special operation pilot Brian Steorts in 2015. Shamess continues to serve as a pilot in the National Guard and has represented his business at the White House and before Congress, including testifying before the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship on the state of small business 15 months after COVID-19 forced closures throughout the United States.
