St. Louis Businessman, Michael V. Roberts, Selected by US Dept of Commerce for National Advisory Cou

Added: (Tue Aug 24 2010)

Pressbox (Press Release) - ST LOUIS MO, AUGUST 23, 2010: Michael V. Roberts, prominent African-American businessman in St. Louis, has been named an inaugural member of the United States Department of Commerce National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The Council was created to support President Obama’s Innovation Strategy, an essential component of his overall economic strategy.
Mr. Roberts was honored to receive this very special request from Secretary Locke. “I’m excited about the opportunity to help President Obama lead our business community into the 21st century. This is what I’ve been doing all my life – seizing unique opportunities and building successful businesses. I look forward with great enthusiasm to sharing my knowledge and experience for the purpose of moving our country forward”, he stated.
The Council will advise Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and the Administration on key issues relating to innovation and entrepreneurship. Their goal is to realize the economic benefits of innovation and turn new ideas into new businesses and ensure that the United States maintains its global economic leadership throughout the 21st century.
“America's innovation engine is not as efficient or as effective as it needs to be, and we are not creating as many jobs as we should,” Locke said. “We must get better at connecting the great ideas to the great company builders. The National Advisory Council will help the administration develop a broader strategy to spur innovation and enable entrepreneurs to develop breakthrough technologies and dynamic companies, and to create jobs all across America. I want to extend my gratitude to the leaders selected to The National Advisory Council. Their work will be a key component of America’s economic recovery,” Locke said.
The Council’s membership is comprised of successful entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, nonprofit and university leaders. The Council’s primary role will be to identify and recommend solutions for ensuring a supportive environment for innovation and improving the commercialization of ideas in our Federal labs and universities to spawn new businesses and new jobs.
Michael Roberts is a perfect choice for this Council. Over the past thirty-six years, he has built a multi-faceted company that includes television broadcast stations in three cities, full service hotels in eleven cities, and a large real estate portfolio of commercial and residential properties. His companies employ over one thousand people and reported gross revenues of over $125 million in 2009.