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‘Fueling Growth’ for Family-Owned Businesses Topic of Second Congressional Family Business Caucus Meeting
Four House Members Attend Caucus; Tim Schultz Named New CEO of Family Enterprise USA, Family Enterprise USA Action
The second of three Congressional Family Business Caucuses was recently held here at the Capitol Building with a focus on fueling growth for family-owned businesses.
The theme, “Fuel for Growth: Capital Solutions for Family Businesses,” dealt with key issues facing family businesses, such as solving day-to-day cash flow needs, long-term capital strategies, access to capital for the next generation, and government policies that help address capital issues affecting family-owned business.
The meeting, held in room H117, the historic old House Members’ dining room, saw in attendance House members Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), Rep. John McGuire (R-VA), Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), and Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK). Rep. Correa is Co-Chair of the Congressional Family Business Caucus, along with Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY)
The event kicked off with remarks from Pat Soldano, President, Family Enterprise USA (FEUSA), the event organizers. In her opening remarks Soldano introduced Tim Schultz, the new Chief Executive Officer of Family Enterprise USA and its sister organization, Family Enterprise USA Action, where Soldano is also President. Schultz starts in his new role on July 1, 2026.
In the announcement, Soldano will continue as President of Family Enterprise USA (FEUSA) and Family Enterprise USA Action (FEUSA ACTION) through the end of the year, when she becomes a Strategic Advisor working with donors, supporters, and members of both organizations.
Schultz comes to the organizations after over two decades of serving family-owned businesses as a leader, advisor, and convenor of family businesses, including Executive Vice President of Operations at Lundberg Family Farms. Most recently, he served as Director of the Center for Family Business at California State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics in Fullerton, Calif.
Panel Discussion on Capital Strategies
The Caucus meeting included a panel discussion on new capital access strategies led by John Gugliada, Director of Engagement, Family Enterprise USA and Family Enterprise USA Action, and the groups’ new incoming CEO, Schultz.
The panelists included David Kelly, Director, Kelly Benefits, Frank Foster, Hixon Family Companies, Paige Kavooras, Executive Vice President, Global, A 1st Flagship Company, and Nate Hamilton, Executive Chairman, FOX Office Exchange.
New Research, Policy Update
Prior to the panel discussion, Gugliada presented new survey findings from the recent 2026 FEUSA Annual Family Business Survey, detailing family business ownership, Next Generation transitions, and how new capital solutions play a major role in growth.
In addition, a legislative and political update was given by Russ Sullivan, shareholder, and Jared Jones, of counsel, at legal and government affairs firm, Brownstein.
Also, Dianne Mehany, Private National Tax Leader at EY, gave a presentation on “Equity-Capital Tools: QSBS and Opportunity Zones,” an overview on how early structural decisions can significantly affect after‑tax exit proceeds.
“While our last Congressional Family Business Caucus meeting was about affordability, this meeting’s topic was focused squarely on planning for future growth and how accessing capital will fuel that growth,” said Soldano. “We’re happy to so many House Members attend these meetings and to learn about the strength of family-owned businesses and how important they are to the growth of our economy,” she said. “These meetings are important because it allows Members of Congress to understand the unique challenges facing family businesses in this economy.”
America’s family businesses are the largest private employers in the country, accounting for 83.3 million jobs in some 32 million family businesses across the country, according to research. These businesses contribute $7.7 trillion annually to U.S. gross domestic product.
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The need for fact-based reporting of issues important to family offices and hardworking families and protecting a lifetime of savings has never been greater. Now more than ever, family offices and hardworking families are under fire. That’s why Family Enterprise USA Action is passionately working to increase the awareness of issues important to family offices and hardworking families, while continuing to strengthen our presence on Capitol Hill.
Family Enterprise USA Action engages with legislators on Capitol Hill on behalf of family offices, hardworking families, and family-owned businesses. It is focused exclusively on the critical tax and economic policies that impact them. Since 1995, FEUSA Action has been the leading advocacy group working daily in Washington, D.C., to reduce and eliminate estate tax, gift tax, and generation skipping transfer tax while blocking increased income and capital gains taxes, the creation of a wealth tax, and other hostile policies that punish hardworking taxpayers and success in the U.S. It is a bipartisan 501.c4 organization.