Empowering Small Businesses
Empowering Small Businesses for a Thriving Economy: Advocacy, Resources, and Community Support
About uS
At Free Enterprise Partners, we believe in a thriving national landscape where every small business has the resources, support, and equitable opportunities needed to innovate, succeed, and contribute to a prosperous economy. As a dedicated 501(c)(4) organization, we work tirelessly to advocate for policies that break down barriers, enhance access to essential resources, and foster an inclusive environment where entrepreneurs can build resilient businesses that strengthen our communities.
Our mission extends beyond advocacy; we are committed to educating and empowering small business owners through strategic partnerships that drive growth and create a lasting economic impact. We recognize the essential role of small businesses as the backbone of our economy, and we champion leaders who share our vision for a robust, fair, and prosperous business landscape. By supporting candidates who will represent the interests and principles of small businesses in political office, Free Enterprise Partners ensures that the voices of entrepreneurs are heard and respected at every level of government.
Through our work, we aim to build a future where small businesses are not only integral to the economy but also equipped to thrive and innovate, driving economic progress for all.
OUR PEOPLE
Larry Kidd
STEVE STIVErS
STEVE STIVErS
As the Founder and CEO of :hire, Larry Kidd believes that remarkable results are achieved from taking creative measures. This cornerstone belief has been the very foundation of his business models and the main guiding principle throughout Larry’s career. In the spirit of doing things differently, Larry pairs innovative technologies along
As the Founder and CEO of :hire, Larry Kidd believes that remarkable results are achieved from taking creative measures. This cornerstone belief has been the very foundation of his business models and the main guiding principle throughout Larry’s career. In the spirit of doing things differently, Larry pairs innovative technologies along with customizable services to achieve the strongest results for his clients and employees.
Having owned and successfully operated businesses spanning many industries, Larry is well positioned to understand the staffing challenges that clients face and the importance of delivering timely solutions. Larry firmly believes in finding and retaining the right people for the right positions. With precision leadership, Larry and his management team have grown :hire from a start-up into one of the most well-recognized and premiere staffing firms in the Midwest.
:hire, formerly Reliable Staffing Services, has proudly graced the 2019 and 2020 Inc. 5,000 List of Fastest-Growing Companies in America. The company has also earned the distinction of being listed among the industry’s leaders by the Staffing Industry Analyst twice. Through being on the forefront of industry trends, focusing on creating an exceptional client experience and continuing to build and expand his top performing internal team, Larry vows to be a staffing partner that stands the test of time.
Larry’s commitment to excellence extends beyond business. He serves on the board of US Chamber, US Chamber Small Business Council, One Ohio Recovery Foundation, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, a regional economic development organization and a regional health care system. He has held leadership roles with all these organizations, playing an active role in shaping policies that encourage growth and community development. Larry is deeply engaged at the local, state, and national level, driven by a desire to make a positive impact.
At the center of Larry’s life is his family. Married to Dr. Cindy Kidd, DVM for more than thirty years, Larry and Cindy are the proud parents of three grown children. Although their children’s paths have led each of them to reside in different states, the Kidd family remains close and gathers frequently. As avid travelers, Larry and his family enjoy the adventure of experiencing new places together.
Working and living in the same community where he was raised, Larry is committed to making a positive impact. He actively participates with many organizations and causes on the local, state and national levels that encourage economic growth and development with a focus on helping small businesses.
STEVE STIVErS
STEVE STIVErS
STEVE STIVErS
Raised in Ripley, Ohio, Steve Stivers learned from his mother and father the importance of family, hard work and public service, which have been the values he has carried with him throughout his life.
He currently serves as the President and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. In this role, he focuses on ensuring a growing and prosperou
Raised in Ripley, Ohio, Steve Stivers learned from his mother and father the importance of family, hard work and public service, which have been the values he has carried with him throughout his life.
He currently serves as the President and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. In this role, he focuses on ensuring a growing and prosperous economic and business climate in the state of Ohio.
Prior to this role, Stivers represented Ohio’s 15th Congressional District from 2011 until May 16, 2021. He served on the Financial Services Committee and was the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance. He also served in the Ohio Senate from 2003-2008.
Throughout his career, Steve Stivers has led the way supporting programs and initiatives to encourage job creation, promote economic development, and put our country’s fiscal house in order.
Additionally, as a career soldier, Stivers served for over 30 years in the Ohio Army National Guard, holding the rank of Major General before he retired in 2023. He served the United States overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Djibouti where he led 400 soldiers and contractors and is proud that each and every one returned home safely to the United States. Stivers received the Bronze Star for his leadership throughout the deployment.
Stivers received both his bachelor’s degree and his MBA from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the Army War College. He resides in Upper Arlington with his wife, Karen, and children, Sarah and Sam.
TOM SULLIVAN
STEVE STIVErS
TOM SULLIVAN
Thomas M. Sullivan is vice president of small business policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Working with chambers of commerce and the U.S. Chamber’s nationwide network, Sullivan harnesses the views of small businesses and translates that grassroots power into federal policies that bolster free enterprise and reward entrepreneurship. He
Thomas M. Sullivan is vice president of small business policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Working with chambers of commerce and the U.S. Chamber’s nationwide network, Sullivan harnesses the views of small businesses and translates that grassroots power into federal policies that bolster free enterprise and reward entrepreneurship. He runs the U.S. Chamber’s Small Business Council, engaging those members on a regular basis to increase small business input and involvement in Chamber activities.
Previously, Sullivan was an attorney in the government relations practice of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP, a law firm with a major East Coast presence from Tallahassee to Boston. Before rejoining Nelson Mullins, he served as general counsel for the Bipartisan Policy Center, a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell.
Sullivan represented several firm clients before Congress and federal agencies and built a small business advocacy platform that included the Coalition for Responsible Business Finance, a group of non-bank small business providers, and the Small Business Coalition for Regulatory Relief.
Sullivan served under President George W. Bush as the highest-ranking government official charged with exclusively advocating the views and needs of small business before government agencies and Congress. As chief counsel for advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration, he was directly involved in more than 100 regulatory and legislative matters, testified frequently before congressional committees, and was a spokesman on economic conditions and entrepreneurship. The hallmark of his tenure at SBA was a national legislative initiative guaranteeing that small business has a voice in state regulatory decisions.
Upon leaving government, Sullivan was named to the National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center Advisory Board, and he serves on the board of directors of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, a platform of programs and initiatives aimed at creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Sullivan earned his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School in 1993 and a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1989 from Boston College. He lives in Virginia with his wife and two sons.
Help Us Foster Innovation and Economic Growth
Yes, I want to help create a robust environment for small businesses that fosters innovation and economic growth.