JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville small business owner Andy Harold spent his birthday with the commander-in-chief.
Harold was one of 15 small business owners invited to meet with President Obama about how the fiscal cliff could affect businesses.
"We are really worried about them coming up with a budget, coming up with a plan do we can operate," said Harold.
Harold owns Harold and Associates, a Florida-based company that specializes in providing technology, education, engineering and training support services to federal, state and local programs.
Harold works with CSX, the air force and the Department of Defense. In just five years, the retired Navy Pilot grew his company from three employees to 105.
"I'm making decisions about whether to hire people or fire people. What happens nationally depends on that. It's just like buying a house or spending money," said Harold.
Harold and his fellow small business owners weren't in Washington D.C. to reinvent the wheel, but rather act as a sounding board.
Harold said he certainly worries about health care costs and taxes while managing his business, but the uncertainty is worse. Harold said he and the other small business owners who met with President Obama provided feedback on what they'd like to see happen with the economy.
"Come up with a plan and execute it so we can go back to doing business, that was our input," said Harold. "They took the time. They may go off and make a different decision, but they took an hour and 15 minutes."