Originally posted by The Pottstown Mercury.

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th Dist., visited ANEU Catering, a female-owned small business in Paoli — to take part in a conversation with several women small business leaders from the greater Philadelphia area.

The event was part of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices “Small Business, America’s Future” series, and gave the attendees a chance to talk about the challenges and opportunities that Philadelphia-area small businesses face in the current economy.

“The visit to ANEU Catering and the insightful discussion with fellow business leaders underscore the vital role that women play in shaping our growing economy,” Houlahan said in a statement. “As a female entrepreneur myself, I know how important it is to champion issues such as paid family leave, affordable child care, and access to capital, which directly impact the success of women-owned small businesses.”

Meridith Coyle, owner of ANEU Kitchens and Catering, led the attendees on a tour of the business, which in addition to its market kitchen, offers residential and corporate catering.

Coyle and Houlahan were joined by Rosemary Fordjour of Row Psychiatric Services in Paoli; Maria O’Connell of Express Employment Professionals in East Whiteland; Lauren Schwartz of TechWise Group in Conshohocken; and Julie Brufke Wenger of Phoenix Tax Consultants in Phoenixville.

Houlahan added that initiatives like the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices program provide a “platform for women entrepreneurs to advocate for themselves and pave the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future for all small businesses in America.”

Coyle said it was “a privilege” to host Houlahan and other local women business owners.

“I appreciate Rep. Houlahan’s thoughtful discussion on the issues impacting the small business community,” Coyle said in a statement.

The “Small Business, America’s Future” policymaker series builds on prior years’ roundtable meetings with a focus on the future of small business in America and the need to reauthorize and modernize the Small Business Administration.

For more information about 10,000 Small Businesses Voices visit www.gs.com/10ksb-voices.

For more information about Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses visit  www.gs.com/10ksb.