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Pittsburgh Advertising Exec Attends White House Business Council Summit

Pittsburgh advertising executive Paul Beran was recently among a contingent of area trade leaders who attended a Business Council Forum at the White House.

The Council, first formed in 2011, is according the White House website, a way for “senior officials from the White House and across the Administration (to) meet regularly with business leaders from around the country.” The Council meets frequently with corporate vendors from all 50 states and Puerto Rico, but Beran’s invitation came from White House Business Council Director Sam Brown. Beran, of Brentwood, joined a roundtable discussion with other Pittsburgh entrepreneurs on December 9.

The Business Council, which covers a gamut of subjects with its guests, uses the meetings to get feedback from capitalists on how to create jobs, as well as share information about federal programs and resources. In late November, the forum discussed the credit union tax exemption, regulatory relief, mortgage rules and mortgage markets, among other economic enterprises with the National Association of Federal Credit Unions. The group Beran accompanied discussed integrating the nation’s veteran population back into the workplace, immigration, as well as other economic topics.

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“I was pleased to see such a large contingent of Pittsburgh companies represented at the briefing,” said Beran, President and CEO of Advertel, Inc., which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in advertising this year. “It suggests that Pittsburgh may be leading the way with business owners who care about this nation’s economy, and are willing to play a role in its recovery.”

Over its history, Pleasant Hills-based Advertel has developed a variety of niche products/services for retail, banking and manufacturing. The company focuses on telephone technology, or as Beran puts it, “The ‘Original Internet.’” He focused on some of his company’s technology as examples how private sector companies can work with Veteran’s Affairs committee. The summit is a way to network with some other companies, as well as the government.

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The group also touched on immigration, to which Beran commented, “If American businesses are going to sell so many products made in China, Mexico or other countries, we should be willing to put those qualified workers on a fast track to citizenship, here.  Make them U.S. citizens and taxpayers.  Why send all that money abroad?”

Beran also had an opportunity to talk with Federal Chief Information Officer Steve VanRoekel. VanRoekel also used to work for the Federal Communications Commission, the United States Agency for International Development, and was Chief Operating Officer at Microsoft.

 “It is truly an honor to be here,” Beran said.  “I will share what I’ve learned here with all my colleagues in Pittsburgh.  That is, those who didn’t attend the briefing!”

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