‘Cheers’ actor to speak at small-business hearing

John Ratzenberger, who played Cliff on the sitcom “Cheers” and has voiced characters in every Pixar film, will speak at a House Small Business Committee hearing next week.

Ratzenberger will testify on May 12 at a hearing called “The New Faces of American Manufacturing,” one of two hearings the House panel is holding next week featuring well-known small-business advocates. The committee said in a news release that the hearings are part of its celebration of National Small Business Week, which is this week while Congress is on recess.

{mosads}In addition to his work on “Cheers” and in Pixar movies, the Emmy-nominated Ratzenberger produced and starred in a Travel Channel show called “Made in America” that spotlighted products made in the United States. 

“Kids today are not making things,” he said on his website. “Instead they are going to college to get degrees and can’t get a job. There are plenty of jobs out there. We just need to teach kids the skills.” 

Also speaking at the hearing will be Dustin Tillman of Elite Aviation Products, Ray Perren of Lanier Technical College and Kim Glas of BlueGreen Alliance.

MSNBC Host J.J. Ramberg, entrepreneur and author Ramon Ray, author and news contributor Susan Solovic, and Quintessence Group founder and President Melinda Emerson will speak on May 11 at a House Small Business Committee hearing called “Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Learning from the Experts.”