Sacramento, CA (March 25, 2026) — The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) and the National ACE Foundation, in partnership with the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce (CalAsian Chamber) and CalAsian Foundation, convened small business owners, policymakers, and community leaders for a Small Business Roundtable in Sacramento, California. The gathering created space for meaningful dialogue around the challenges facing entrepreneurs and the opportunities to strengthen California’s small business ecosystem.

Sacramento’s small business community plays a vital role in driving the region’s economy, creating jobs, and developing a vibrant business environment. The roundtable focused on elevating the voices of business owners and connecting them directly with decision-makers to explore solutions that support long-term growth and sustainability.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our local and state economy, and it is critical that their voices are part of the policy conversation,” said Pat Fong Kushida, President & CEO of the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce. “Through convenings like this, we are creating intentional space for entrepreneurs to share their lived experiences while working alongside leaders who can help drive meaningful change.”

“This roundtable reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that small business owners have access to the resources, capital, and opportunities they need to succeed,” said Chiling Tong, President & CEO of National ACE. “By bringing together entrepreneurs and policymakers, we can turn conversation into action and strengthen pathways for economic growth.”

We were honored to be joined by State Senator Roger Niello of California’s Sixth District, Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum of Sacramento’s Fourth District, Vice Mayor Darren Suen of Elk Grove, U.S. Small Business Administration District Director Heather Luzzi, Commissioner Amy Tong from the California Racial Equity Commission, Monika Lee; Chief of Staff to Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes, and Field Representative Josh Gumacal from the Office of Congressman Ami Bera, M.D.

Other participating partners and community leaders included Mario Salazar, Principal Public Policy at Amazon; Michele Breining, Assistant Vice President and Business Banking Relationship Manager at Bank of America; Troy Gilbert, Business Banking Relationship Manager at Bank of America; Jeremy Wakamiya, Chamber Ambassador and Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual; and Diana Simons, Business Access Advisor at U.S. Bank.

The roundtable featured an interactive discussion, with participants to share their experiences, challenges, and ideas for strengthening the small business landscape across the region.

Key topics discussed include access to capital, navigating government resources, workforce challenges, and opportunities to better support small business growth through policy and partnerships.

“As a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business owner new to this space, I found this roundtable very helpful to learn about the chambers’ initiatives and network with other small business owners and entrepreneurs,” said John Patricio, President of Patricio Systems LLC. “This roundtable allowed us to hear problems small business owners have, and to share possible solutions. We know not all of these challenges will be solved right now, but if we continue to take the right steps going forward, we are going to be successful."

“This roundtable is a great chance for small businesses to amplify their voices and bring together resources to truly help owners,” said Joseph Kwon, Founder and CEO of EVEN Recharge. “National ACE and CalAsian have created a very necessary space for small businesses to talk about their specific needs and bring it to the attention of lawmakers and peers.”

This roundtable is part of CalAsian Chamber and National ACE’s ongoing commitment to support entrepreneurs, strengthen small business ecosystems, and advance policies that help businesses grow and compete in today’s economy.