CEOs' Burning Questions to the President

From Vlukhbir (Luke) Roopra, CEO and founder of Vertiglo, a web development and brand management firm:

I feel the president is on point with a few of the agenda items he has already laid out. I specifically would like to see more [help] for small businesses that want to export. It’s important for a business owner to understand that there are greater markets than in the U.S. to sell their products and services. If U.S. firms receive assistance in reaching markets in the Middle East or North Africa, or in the EU, it will create a huge wave of other opportunities."

From Cary Daniel, CEO and co-founder of human resources company Nextaff:

No business owner I know has ever said, 'We're going to increase hiring because we're getting a $1,500 tax credit.' These hiring incentives are so complicated for the average small business person to understand, manage, track and apply for, that they are worthless. What's Plan B?

From Robert Litan, vice president of research and policy at the Kauffman Foundation:

It would be great if the president endorsed the bipartisan Start-up Act (Moran/Warner co-sponsors). Some of the ideas are the administration's, others have been advocated by Republicans, it would be an ideal way for the president to show he is willing to work with both parties, an important political asset given that the independent vote will almost certainly determine the outcome of the 2012 election.

From Glen Blickenstaff, CEO of The Iron Door Company, makers and distributors of high-end, hand-forged doors and windows:

When the recession started small business access to traditional forms of capital dried up substantially. Even traditional equity investors would only invest in a company like ours through a debt mechanism that subordinated other debt and came with high interest rates. We experienced our 1,839 percent growth by borrowing at an extremely high interest rate from private individuals. That high interest rate continues to reduce our ability to fund continued growth and new jobs and the debt on our balance sheet, along with tighter lending practices continues to preclude us from seeking capital. We actually had to cool sales last year because we could not continue to fund the growth.

Small business employs half of all private sector workers and has generated 65 percent of net new jobs over the past 17 years, according to the SBA.

Your predecessor and you invested in the economy through TARP. That investment was in large measure utilized to prop up the effects of financial institutions and large companies; many with a track record of poor balance sheets. Yet, only 2 percent of the TARP funds were dedicated to small business. What will your administration do to tap into the small business community to help create and sustain new jobs?

From Matthew Swyers, founder of The Trademark Company, a web-based law firm specializing in protecting the trademark rights of small to medium-sized businesses:

During your first term your administration’s agenda, as set forth during your presidential campaign, was slowed if not largely frustrated by the White House’s inability to negotiate and compromise with the Republican-controlled House. The detriment of this inability to compromise has not been felt by those who refuse to work together–they have jobs–but by the American public–those who have placed their faith in your White House and Congress as a whole. The inability to compromise can never be attributed to one party but on all parties involved in negotiations. So both sides, the White House and Congress, are to blame. With almost every model showing that the Republicans will hold the House in November, what would you do differently to reach compromises with the Republican-controlled House to benefit all of your combined constituents–the American people-if you are elected to a second term?

From Josef Gorowitz, the CEO of Prodégé, which offers "virtual currency" to its users, in exchange for their registration, every time they search, purchase, play games, and share opinions online:

While we do supply healthcare to our employees and look to give them the most benefits possible, as a company that is growing fast and is nearing the 50 employee mark, wouldn't it be easier for us to grow if there was an incentive to hire, not an obstacle? Will you consider removing the healthcare mandate for companies that have over 50 employees while this economy grows?

From Karl Stark, co-founder of Avondale, a strategic advisory firm focused on growing companies:

We have one key employee who is a South Korean citizen, and we've gone through a lot of time and expense to retain him. It's feasible for us because we know he is key to our business, but there are many other talented individuals where it just doesn't make sense to incur the risk and expense of bringing them on. Many of these young people come to the U.S. for their education, are well-qualified to help grow companies and start companies, want to build businesses in the U.S. where they will create jobs, but they are forced to return to their home country and invest there instead. These are not the faces of the immigration debate, but I believe they have more impact on the U.S. economy.

What will you do to allow U.S. companies to better access the best talent around the world and encourage more entrepreneurs and investors to build businesses in the U.S. rather than more entrepreneurial friendly countries?

We are also incubating a number of businesses and considering others that could benefit from low-cost, technically competent workers that exist in other countries. But, it's not always feasible to "outsource to India" and work remotely. There is no question in my mind that one of the best "stimulus" packages would be to allow highly-skilled, low-cost workers to come to the U.S. temporarily. It would spur entrepreneurs to start businesses and take risks that would otherwise be cost prohibitive with relatively higher U.S. wages.

Nicole Marie Richardson is the executive editor for special projects at Inc.com. She manages the website's largest projects, including the Inc. 5000, an annual list of the fastest-growing, privately-held companies in America. @nicole_marie79

Eric Markowitz reports on start-ups, entrepreneurs, and issues that affect small businesses. Previously, he worked at Vanity Fair. He lives in New York City. @EricMarkowitz

Kimberly Weisul is editor-at-large at Inc and co-founder of One Thing New, the digital media start-up that is rebooting women's content. She was previously a senior editor at BusinessWeek. @weisul

Eric Schurenberg is the editor-in-chief of Inc. Before joining Inc, Eric was the editor of CBS MoneyWatch.com and BNET.com and managing editor of Money Magazine. As a writer, he is a winner of a Loeb and a National Magazine Award. @EricSchurenberg