Mission Statement

The Coalition to Promote Independent Entrepreneurs was formed to inform the public and elected representatives about the importance of an individual’s right to work as a self-employed individual, and to defend an individual’s right to contract in this capacity.

We believe this right is vital to the economic well-being and continued prosperity of our nation and its citizens, and to an individual’s ability to achieve financial independence.

We seek engagement, debate and discussion on this issue from all perspectives: from those who agree with us, from those undecided, and from those whose opinion differs from ours.

To pursue these objectives, the Coalition:

1. Develops and/or supports the development of scholarly papers and studies on the importance of preserving an individual’s right to work as a self-employed individual, on the historical roots of the right, the economic and social justification for preserving the right, and potential threats to the right;
2. Monitors and reports on developments affecting the right;
3. Holds meetings and conferences to educate the public and elected representatives about the Coalition’s research and policy proposals concerning the issue, and to serve as a forum for the free exchange of ideas on these issues from a broad perspective;
4. Undertakes advocacy efforts to inform elected representatives about the issue;
5. Undertakes public awareness campaigns to inform the public about the issue; and
6. Drafts and submits amicus briefs in connection with pending legal cases that are determined to potentially impact the right to work as a self-employed worker.

Executive Director

Russell A. Hollrah

Russell A. Hollrah is an “AV” rated attorney with a national practice dedicated to employee-benefits, employment taxes and the specific application of those laws to contingent workers, such as independent contractors and leased employees. He advises firms on structuring relationships with contingent workers, either directly or through a third-party firm. He also defends companies against challenges to their treatment of workers as non-employees. His practice covers both federal and state laws.

Hollrah is the author of  Alternate Staffing (PJC Publishing) and When Leasing is Smarter than Hiring (Thompson Publishing Group). He has published numerous articles on contingent-worker issues and/or employee benefits issues in professional journals, and has been quoted on contingent-worker issues in publications such as Newsweek, Investor’s Business Daily, HR Magazine, IP Magazine, Telecommute Magazine, and Tax Notes.

Hollrah served as Chair of the Employment Taxes Committee of the Tax Section of the American Bar Association (2002-2004). He received a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Maryland, beta alpha psi, a J.D. from the University of Tulsa, where he served as a Member of its Law Journal, and an LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University.