5 Reasons Why We Champion Small and Midsize Businesses

National Small Business Month is dedicated to spotlighting the backbone of our economy: small and midsize businesses (SMBs). These businesses are often the unsung heroes driving economic growth, fostering job creation, and strengthening local communities.

The numbers are staggering: According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses alone account for 99% of all businesses and 44% of all economic activity in America. They employ 62.3 million Americans, including 46% of private sector employees.

Beyond those numbers, at the heart of every SMB lies the dedication and resilience of its leader. These leaders drive growth, innovation, and employment opportunities in communities across the country. They navigate a steady stream of obstacles with determination and creativity.

As we recognize National Small Business Month, we acknowledge the profound impact SMBs have on their communities. The following are just a few of the many reasons it is important to rally behind SMBs now more than ever:

1. Job Creation and Employment Opportunities

While job creation has always been important, it is even more critical today, given economic uncertainty, labor market challenges and growing concerns about the impact of AI. It’s one thing to create jobs; it’s another to create high-quality jobs at workplaces with exceptional cultures. High-integrity SMB leaders across the United States achieve growth, but not at any cost. They make business decisions based on their values and create workplaces where employees are treated with respect and care.

Multipet International CEO and Vistage member Mark Hirschberg exemplifies this people-first mindset. Under his leadership, the family-owned pet toy company has continued to innovate while maintaining a culture rooted in teamwork, long-term relationships, and purpose-driven growth. The company’s creativity — including the viral success of its Lamb Chop dog toy — reflects how SMBs can build enduring businesses by staying closely connected to customers and employees alike.

Businesses like Multipet drive economic prosperity not only through job creation but also by fostering workplaces where people can grow and thrive.

2. Innovation and Entrepreneurship

SMB leaders are driven by a continuous question: How can we make our product or service better for our customers?

Brandon LaVielle, a Vistage member and founder of Lavish Roots, has built a people-first catering company centered on opportunity, trust and community. After tech-sector layoffs impacted the business, LaVielle leaned on insights from his Vistage group to diversify revenue streams, strengthen resilience and continue growing the company, which now employs 300 team members, serves 2.5 million meals annually and maintains an industry-leading turnover rate of under 3%.

Innovation also comes from leaders willing to modernize long-standing industries. Vistage member Suzanne Zupec of Campanella & Sons has helped guide her third-generation family business forward by embracing operational improvements and leadership evolution while staying grounded in the values that built the company. Leaders like LaVielle and Zupec demonstrate how SMBs fuel innovation by balancing fresh ideas with strong organizational foundations.

This May, Vistage celebrates National Small Business Month in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Hear from members, experts, and thought leaders on what it takes to lead small businesses with confidence. 

3. Community Impact

What sets SMB leaders apart is their tight connection to their communities. They are often the first to sponsor local organizations, support charitable initiatives, and invest back into the neighborhoods that support them. Knowing their customers by name and understanding their unique needs allows SMBs to tailor their businesses to better serve their communities.

Vistage member Violet Grgich of Grgich Hills Estate demonstrates this commitment to community and legacy. As part of a multigenerational winery rooted in Napa Valley history, Grgich has helped preserve not only a family business but also a culture centered on sustainability, hospitality, and connection. Her leadership reflects how SMBs often serve as stewards of local identity and tradition while continuing to evolve for future generations.

The proximity SMB leaders have to their communities allows them to forge genuine relationships, strengthening the social fabric and fostering a sense of belonging and trust that transcends mere transactions.

4. Economic Stability

SMBs are engines for economic growth, particularly in today’s uncertain landscape. Amid economic challenges, SMBs serve as catalysts for resilience, stability, and opportunity.

Vistage member Dan Rootenberg, co-founder and CEO of SPEAR Physical Therapy, represents the kind of leader who builds economic strength through long-term investment in people and service excellence. By growing SPEAR into a trusted physical therapy organization while maintaining a strong culture and commitment to patient outcomes, Rootenberg demonstrates how SMBs can scale successfully without losing sight of their mission.

These CEOs represent just a few of the millions of SMB leaders nationwide focused on creating jobs, strengthening industries, and driving economic prosperity in their communities.

5. Resilience and Adaptability

One thing almost all the best SMB leaders have in common: They persevere. Resilience and adaptability are core to the DNA of SMB. On their journey to become better leaders, they actively seek opportunities to share best practices and learn from others.

With humility, they embrace mentorship by helping others while remaining open to learning from the wisdom of their peers. They seek out unbiased, diverse perspectives by engaging in peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing in local peer advisory groups, such as Vistage, and hold one another accountable. Approaching challenges with curiosity, they embrace change and remain agile, moving their businesses forward and helping ensure the sustainability of our economy.

Although people often think about small and midsize businesses on the macro level, each of those companies is run by an individual — someone who came up with an idea and pursued it with determination, who focuses on creating the best working environment for their team, and who seeks to improve their community or create a better product.

At Vistage, we have the good fortune of empowering SMBs through peer advisory groups, and we get an up-close look at the daily challenges they face. These businesses are the cornerstone of healthy communities, driving economic growth and creating opportunities for individuals to thrive. While National Small Business Month is an important reminder, it is essential to champion SMBs year-round.

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