Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses Alum Receives White House Invite, Booth at International Trade Show

Kaddas Enterprises CEO Natalie Kaddas, an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program at Salt Lake Community College, attended a recent dinner in Germany at the request of the White House and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and also exhibited her business at Hannover Messe, the world’s largest industrial trade fair held in Germany.

The dinner’s attendees included executive leaders from U.S. companies such as Microsoft, Honeywell and Lockheed Martin, along with top German business leaders, various government officials and foreign dignitaries. Kaddas, the only small business represented at the table, was able to promote a high-quality manufacturing business model and present American-made products as industry-leading examples. Discussion topics at the event ranged from economic growth promotion to energy and climate and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Kaddas was able to speak at the dinner with both President Barack Obama and Chancellor Merkel.

Natalie Kaddas and President Barack Obama

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) provided six Utah companies, including Kaddas Enterprises, the opportunity to exhibit in Germany at Hannover Messe through Utah’s State Trade and Expansion Program (STEP), a U.S. Small Business Administration program aimed at helping small companies expand into foreign markets. Kaddas Enterprises is a second generation, family-owned business specializing in thermoform plastic manufacturing. In operation for more than 50 years, Natalie Kaddas’ company has joined GOED on a number of trade missions and shows and has tripled international sales since 2013.

“Kaddas Enterprises is a true trade mission success story,” said Franz Kolb, regional director in GOED’s International Trade and Diplomacy Office. “Our trade missions and participation in trade shows are designed to open doors for these companies, and then they do the rest. Natalie has stepped up in an admirable way and serves as an excellent example of utilizing programs like STEP and opportunities like GOED trade missions to grow globally.”

Kaddas took part in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at SLCC and is also a client of the Salt Lake Region Small Business Development Center (SBDC). “It was a very, very cool experience! I never thought my business would take me to a place and event like that. I am honored to have represented U.S. small businesses,” said Kaddas. “The Kaddas Enterprises team is dedicated to developing some of the most sought-after products available in the global market. Commitment to quality and perseverance in customized strategy are at the heart of small business. It has been an honor to represent that at such a prestigious event. Before the (Goldman Sachs and SBDC) programs we had seven employees and a very small customer base, with revenues that were declining year over year. With Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and the SBDC I began to export internationally and am now realizing the potential of my business.”

SLCC’s Miller Business Resource Center (MBRC) is home to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. The MBRC offers a wide range of services and support to businesses and organizations within our community. Additionally, the MBRC has community and industry partnerships that also provide assistance to the Center.

The Utah Small Business Development Center Network (SBDC) is the largest and most accessible statewide source of assistance for small businesses in every stage of development. The Network has 14 locations across Utah, including 10 regional centers and five service locations staffed by more than 30 team members. The Utah SBDC Network is a partnership between the state’s colleges and universities, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

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