09 May May 9, 2025 – ADP’s Erron Stark, Business Leader of the Year Paul Rice and New Dating Trend Cindy Lim – National Small Business Week!
Erron Stark – General Manager and Vice President, Small Business Services at ADP
Erron Stark
For more than 60 years, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated National Small Business Week (NSBW) to acknowledge the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. Serving more than 900,000 small businesses across all industries, ADP has a unique view into the trends impacting small business owners today. In this interview, ADP’s Erron Stark will talk more about how small businesses can embrace change and be adaptable – finding ways to innovate and drive efficiencies while navigating the evolving compliance landscape. He’ll also reveal insights gained from nearly 18,000 small businesses across the U.S., as a result of ADP’s Grit & Wisdom Contest, which invited small business owners to share their best strategies for success to empower fellow entrepreneurs. A native of Staten Island, New York and currently living in New Jersey, Erron is an avid golfer when not spending time with his wife Marissa and his three young children or traveling the globe. Erron and his wife are active fund raisers for their Foundation that benefits Pediatric Heart Disease research.
Paul Rice – Founder of Fair Trade USA – Author of Every Purchase Matters: How Fair Trade Farmers, Companies, and Consumers Are Changing the World
Paul Rice
Paul Rice, founder of Fair Trade USA, has spent nearly four decades building a movement to answer these questions and change the world through business. He is the founder of Fair Trade USA and a pioneering figure in the conscious capitalism movement. He has been named Ethical Corporation’s 2019 Business Leader of the Year and Social Capitalist of the Year by Fast Company magazine. Rice was also named Outstanding Social Entrepreneur by the World Economic Forum. He lives in Berkeley, California. In his forthcoming book, Rice explores the untold story of the Fair Trade movement, uncovering insights and motivation for conscious capitalists and consumers alike. He shares his own deeply moving journey from the war-torn highlands of Nicaragua to the founding of Fair Trade USA, illuminating the inside story of the birth of a movement that has impacted millions of farmers, workers, companies, and consumers. Rice gives voice to the key protagonists that joined him to help build the ethical sourcing movement, from farmers and workers to activists and the pioneering corporate leaders working for change, including Doug McMillon (CEO of Walmart), Ryan Gellert (CEO of Patagonia), Libby Wadle (CEO of J. Crew), and John Mackey (founder of Whole Foods). Every Purchase Matters shows with optimism and urgency how business can (and must) be a force for good, making the case for a future in which ethical sourcing is the new normal. At the same time, it encourages us all to understand the powerful difference we can make, as conscious consumers, one purchase at a time.
Cindy Lim – Connection Expert and Head of Brand at YUZU
Cindy Lim
Cindy Lim, Connection Expert and Head of Brand at YUZU, Match Group’s social and dating app designed for the Asian community. She brings a fresh and personal take on “floodlighting”—the trending dating phenomenon where people share deeply emotional or personal details early in relationships. While experts often frame it as overwhelming, Cindy sees its potential: when the recipient is ready to invest time and curiosity, floodlighting can lay the foundation for profound connection. What sets Cindy apart is her own experience—she floodlighted in her relationship, sharing significant pieces of her story upfront, and it brought her and her partner closer. She argues that success hinges on gauging readiness and ensuring context isn’t lost. “If they’re engaged, asking questions, and care about the why behind your words,” she says, “early vulnerability can spark something real. But without that space, it’s a risk.” With her branding expertise at YUZU and a nuanced perspective shaped by real-life insight, Cindy is poised to offer your audience a compelling mix of professional authority and relatable storytelling.