The Future of Free Enterprise: Gentry Collins on Empowering Entrepreneurs
In this week’s episode of Next Steps Forward, Dr. Chris Meek sits down with Gentry Collins, Founder and CEO of the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce, to explore how small and medium-sized businesses can thrive in today’s economy. Gentry, a seasoned political strategist and partner at CAP Public Affairs, has worked at the highest levels of American politics, from serving as National Political Director of the Republican National Committee to advising across multiple sectors of the economy. Together, Chris and Gentry discuss the meaning of “equal access to the marketplace” and how the American Free Enterprise Chamber is redefining what it means to advocate for entrepreneurs and family businesses. They dive into the challenges facing small business owners, from navigating complex regulations to competing with corporate consolidation, and explore practical strategies for empowerment, trust-building, and sustainable growth.
Gentry also shares insights from his work in politics, brand strategy, and public affairs, reflecting on how economic opportunity shapes the broader political landscape and what policymakers should prioritize when crafting policies that impact entrepreneurs. Whether you’re a business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply curious about the intersection of free enterprise and advocacy, this episode offers actionable takeaways for building opportunity, credibility, and lasting impact in your community. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on creating a more equitable, opportunity-driven economy and taking the next steps forward in your business and personal growth.
About Gentry Collins: Gentry Collins is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce, a national advocacy and trade association working to expand equal economic opportunity for all Americans and to ensure that small and medium-sized businesses have fair access to the marketplace. Gentry is also a partner at CAP Public Affairs, where he’s worked across multiple sectors of the American economy on large-scale advocacy and brand-management efforts. He’s served as a Fellow at the University of Southern California’s Center for the Political Future, lecturing on the future of the Republican Party, and he’s a co-founder of NewRepublican.org, created to rethink how political organizations understand brand and message. Earlier in his career, Gentry served as National Political Director of the Republican National Committee, helping return a Republican majority to Congress, and previously held senior leadership roles with the Republican Governors Association and the Republican Party of Iowa. He’s been named Politico’s “Top Presidential Staffer Get”, and The New York Post has called him “one of the most highly regarded operatives in the party.”