Marquand woman representing Missouri small businesses in D.C.

MARQUAND, Mo. -- Tammy Halbrook of Marquand has been appointed to serve on the Business Advisory Council as the representative for Missouri's small businesses, the National Republican Congressional Committee has announced.

Halbrook co-owns Halbrook Enterprises, a trucking company based in Bollinger County. She was appointed to the one-year term recently by Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-N.Y. The purpose of the BAC is to ensure that small businesses from across the country have a voice in Washington. A representative is chosen from each state and Halbrook is the lone representative from Missouri.

"To come from a little city like ours -- Marquand has 243 people," Halbrook said. "I'm very proud."

Halbrook was chosen to serve on the BAC because she is a rare commodity in the trucking industry. Less than 1 percent of trucking companies nationwide are owned by women.

Halbrook and her husband, Bill, own a growing company that now consists of two trucks. They own one that Bill drives, and their son also drives a truck that is leased to them. They've been in business independently for one year, but have been involved in trucking for decades. They are looking to add more trucks in the near future.

One of Halbrook's first duties during her one-year term will be to travel to Washington, D.C., in late June to meet with Congress to discuss matters concerning small businesses. And she is already preparing an agenda.

"Diesel fuel prices are a big thing on my agenda because I run a trucking business," Halbrook said. "We've reached a point where people are having to decide whether they want to buy gas or take their kids to the theater."

The Poplar Bluff, Mo., native said she is not only concerned for her business, but for other small businesses in the area. As a representative of the entire state, she said she would like to hear concerns from as many small business owners as possible. She can be reached via e-mail at tammyhalbrook@hotmail.com.

Halbrook said she is looking forward to her opportunity to make a difference for all small businesses.

"The big thing with BAC is to get people who haven't served before," she said. "We need some fresh ideas to find out what needs to be changed."