Direct Selling Leaders Press Case For Independent Entrepreneurship In Washington Meetings

CEO and Senior Executive Delegation Engages Federal Policymakers Days After Department of Labor Action on Independent Contractor Standards

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) A delegation of chief executives and senior industry leaders from member companies of the Direct Selling Association (DSA) met with federal policymakers and national business leaders in Washington today to discuss policies affecting independent work, entrepreneurship, and the direct selling channel.

The meetings took place days after the U.S. Department of Labor announced a proposed rule clarifying the distinction between employees and independent contractors under federal wage-and-hour law, an issue of significant importance to the millions of Americans who participate in direct selling.

Among the day's engagements was a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith E. Sonderling, the second-highest ranking official at the U.S. Department of Labor. During the discussion, DSA leaders thanked the Department for its recent action proposing a rule grounded in long-standing economic reality principles and emphasized the importance of clear standards that recognize legitimate independent contractor relationships.

"Clear and consistent standards matter for the millions of Americans who choose to pursue entrepreneurship through direct selling," said Dave Grimaldi, CEO of the Direct Selling Association. "Direct sellers are independent individuals who decide whether, when, and how they engage in building businesses on their own terms. We appreciated the opportunity to thank Deputy Secretary Sonderling for the Department's recent action and to discuss how regulatory clarity helps ensure that independent business models can continue to operate with confidence."

The CEO and senior executive delegation met with leaders across government and the business community to discuss the role direct selling plays in expanding economic opportunity and enabling individuals to build businesses on their own terms.

"Direct selling offers people a uniquely accessible path to entrepreneurship," said Andrew Schmidt, Region President, West Markets for Amway and Chairman of DSA. "Every day, millions of individuals choose to build businesses through our channel because it gives them the flexibility and independence to pursue business ownership in ways that fit their lives. Engaging directly with policymakers helps ensure they understand how the model works and why clear, consistent policies matter for the Americans who depend on it."

On Capitol Hill, the delegation met with Senator John Curtis (R-UT), a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, to discuss policies affecting independent contractors and the role direct selling plays in supporting entrepreneurship and small-business formation. During the past year, Senator Curtis has raised concerns about regulatory approaches affecting legitimate direct selling businesses.

The delegation also met with the offices of Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), whose office serves on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), to discuss the importance of bipartisan engagement on independent contractor policy and the potential Senate companion to H.R. 3495, the Direct Seller and Real Estate Agent Harmonization Act.

Industry leaders also met with the offices of Democratic members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which oversees agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission. Discussions focused on the direct selling channel's commitment to consumer protection and compliance, including the DSA Code of Ethics and the work of the Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC).

Additional conversations highlighted the industry's role in the broader American economy. At the U.S. Small Business Administration, the delegation met with executive staff to discuss direct selling as a powerful engine of entrepreneurship and small-business formation.

A meeting with Ambassador Kristen Silverberg, President and COO of Business Roundtable, focused on effective advocacy strategies, coalition building, and how industries can engage constructively with policymakers and regulators.

The delegation also met with senior policy staff from the office of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) to discuss issues affecting the direct selling channel and the Federal Trade Commission, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

The delegation included the following CEOs and senior executives from DSA member companies:

• Kevin Guest, Chief Executive Officer, USANA Health Sciences
• Danny Lee, Chief Executive Officer, 4Life
• David R. Merriman, Executive Vice President, ACN
• Randall Popelka, Vice President, Global Government Affairs, Herbalife
• Andrew Schmidt, Region President, West Markets, Amway and Chairman of the Direct Selling Association
• Nevena Srebreva, Chief Executive Officer, Pampered Chef

Across the meetings, DSA leaders emphasized that direct selling enables millions of Americans to pursue entrepreneurship with independence and flexibility, choosing whether, when, and how they engage in building businesses.

"Direct selling remains one of the most accessible pathways to entrepreneurship in the American economy," Grimaldi said. "Our goal in Washington is to ensure policymakers understand how the model works and why clear, consistent policies are essential for the individuals building businesses through it every day."

About the Direct Selling Association (DSA)

We are the collective voice of the visionaries, entrepreneurs, trailblazing women, and innovators comprising the most powerful, people-driven distribution channel in the world. Our mission is to advance a policy and regulatory environment that embraces innovation, protects consumers, and empowers entrepreneurs across America and the globe to build businesses on their own terms.