On October 21, 2010, Governor Beverly Perdue singed a new executive order to modify the rulemaking process and help reduce the cost of regulation across North Carolina. The effects of this order on small businesses across the state prompted Governor Perdue to conduct a small business roundtable discussion on November 22, 2010 inside Harvey Hall at the Murphy Center, on the campus of East Carolina University.

The discussion centered on the Governor's Regulatory Review and Reform initiative. Thirty-five small business owners/representatives from around Greenville and Pitt County attended the event; various audience members were also present. Representing the state, were Department Secretaries, Lanier Cansler (Department of Health and Human Services) and Dee Freeman (Department of Environmental and Natural Resources). Jim Trogdon, Chief Operating Officer for the NC Department of Transportation, was also amongst the state officials that attended the discussion. Members of the Greenville City Council and the Pitt County Commissioners represented our local elected officials. 

Governor Perdue addressed questions from the business owners in attendance regarding existing rules or regulations that ought to be reviewed for possible change or elimination. The Governor answered questions and made clarification of concerns about state government regulations that hinder or adversely affect small business. 

Susanne Sartelle, President of the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce, moderated the hour-long discussion. Governor Perdue has held other similar discussion across the state, but this event was the only one to date with two Department Secretaries and a high-ranking official from the NCDOT on-hand.