National ACE Brings the Voice of Main Street Entrepreneurs to the Aspen Ideas Festival
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2026
PRESS CONTACT
Phuong Nguyen
pnguyen@nationalace.org
National ACE Brings the Voice of Main Street Entrepreneurs to the Aspen Ideas Festival
[June 26, 2026, Aspen, CO] National ACE President & CEO Chiling Tong joined national leaders in business, technology, and public policy at the Aspen Ideas Festival to discuss how entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic mobility will shape the future of the American economy.
President Tong participated in the panel, "Building the Next Economy: Entrepreneurship & Economic Mobility," where she shared insights from National ACE's work supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners across the country. The discussion explored how emerging technologies, workforce shifts, and community-driven solutions can expand economic opportunity and help more Americans achieve upward mobility.
Joining President Tong on the panel were distinguished leaders Angie Cooper, President of Heartland Forward; Elizabeth Kelly, Head of Beneficial Deployments at Anthropic; and Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council in a discussion moderated by Francesca de Quesada Covey, Vice President of Community Impact at the Knight Foundation.
“The future of economic mobility will be defined by our ability to connect innovation with opportunity. The next economy will not be built by technology alone - it will be built by entrepreneurs who use innovation to solve problems, create jobs, and strengthen their communities,” said Chiling Tong, President & CEO of National ACE. “We must ensure that every small business owner has access to the capital, technology, talent, and networks needed to participate in and benefit from that future. Aspen Ideas Festival provides a unique opportunity to engage with leaders across business, technology, philanthropy, and government to identify solutions that expand opportunity and strengthen economic mobility for communities nationwide.”
Since its inception in 2005, the Aspen Ideas Festival has served as the flagship convening for the Aspen Institute, bringing together some of the most influential changemakers—from global heads of state and academic researchers to pioneering tech leaders and transformational artists—to address the defining challenges of our time. As one of the nation's most influential forums for ideas and leadership, the Aspen Ideas Festival attracts over 3,000 attendees annually and has welcomed renowned figures including President Barack Obama; former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; former Senator Mitt Romney; Melinda French Gates, Philanthropist and Global Advocate for Women and Girls; Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Facebook/Meta; and Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, among many others.
The 2026 festival, held during the lead-up to America's 250th anniversary, explored themes such as The American Experiment, The Next American Dream, Inventing Tomorrow, and the future of economic opportunity. This year's festival featured prominent leaders and thinkers from across sectors, including acclaimed journalist and author Fareed Zakaria, who served as a Guest Curator, and award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns.
In addition to speaking on the “Building the Next Economy: Entrepreneurship & Economic Mobility” panel, President Tong engaged in numerous strategic sessions focused on the future of workforce development, emerging business opportunities associated with AI, and fostering economic mobility for all Americans.
As conversations at the Aspen Ideas Festival explored the future of America’s economy, National ACE remained focused on ensuring that entrepreneurs and small business owners have a seat at the table. Through continued advocacy, collaboration, and thought leadership, National ACE is committed to advancing opportunities that help small businesses innovate, compete, and thrive in the years ahead.
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About National ACE: National ACE’s mission is to serve as a strong advocate of AAPI and all small business interests and positive change on issues that enhance and advance the goals and aspirations of business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders. National ACE supports policies and programs that strengthen small businesses, expand economic opportunity, and foster the next generation of entrepreneurs and executives. Learn more at www.nationalace.org.