Lynn St. Laurent, co-owner of Amelie's French Bakery & Café, said Monday she's "just beginning to come down" from the excitement of her Friday visit to the White House to discuss small-business successes with a select group of entrepreneurs.

The White House Business Council, in conjunction with an independent group called Business Forward, organized the forum involving 100 small-business owners from around the country, St. Laurent said. She and co-owner Brenda Ische made the trip; a third partner, Bill Lamb, stayed in Charlotte minding the café's NoDa and uptown Charlotte locations.

St. Laurent thinks the White House learned of the café business through Mayor Anthony Foxx, who met with St. Laurent and other women business owners at Amelie's this year.

"I guess they heard the story, and they liked what they heard," St. Laurent said.

"The first email I got said basically they were looking to speak with businesses that succeeded during difficult economic times. They wanted to hear the story and basically understand why that was."

Amelie's opened in 2008; within seven months it decided to open 24 hours, 7 days a week at its location on North Davidson Street. The business developed a loyal following through its baked goods, comfortable setting and eclectic crowd. Staff boomed from five to about 70 when the second location opened uptown in 2010.

St. Laurent said the entrepreneurs discussed how businesses stay competitive, how federal regulations can hinder business growth, and how the government can improve conditions for typical wage earners.

Business owners also stressed concerns about the slow economic recovery, St. Laurent said. "We're actively looking to expand... but we're frightened because of the lack of action in Washington...preventing the recovery from getting under way full force," she said.