Known as one of the country’s leading small business advocates, Sharon Heaton, founder of sbLiftOff, is an avidly sought speaker on small business, growth strategies and M&A. “I founded sbLiftOff,” says Heaton, “to serve those special people who sit at their kitchen table come up with an idea, start a business, hire people, pay their taxes, and fuel our economy. Small business owners are the backbone of the American economy, and we are honored to make sure they get a fair deal.” sbLiftOff serves commercial and government contracting companies with $10 million to $100 million in revenues and more than $2 million in EBITDA. Heaton’s book, LIFT OFF: 12 Things to Know Before You Sell Your Company, published by FORBES, is available on Amazon. Appointed to the Small Business Administration’s Investment Capital Advisory Committee, she is working nationally to increase small business access to investment capital. Heaton publishes in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Washington Business Journal, Alabama.com and regional outlets around the country. Heaton has been associated with the global law firms of Skadden Arps and Latham & Watkins and has served as Senior Counsel on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, General Counsel and Deputy Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. She co-founded Wellford Energy Group, an investment bank serving clean energy and low carbon companies. Previously, she was Deputy Counsel of a Fortune 500 company operating in ten states. Ms. Heaton holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School and a B.A. from Barnard College.