By WIPP's Chief Advocate, Ann Sullivan
As 2018 comes to a close (how did that happen already?), I am grateful for the progress WIPP experienced this year as we strive to empower women entrepreneurs through our national advocacy. Our new, extremely capable President, Candace Waterman, brings strength and new energy to the organization. In addition, WIPP has been blessed with two very dedicated board chairs – Lisa Firestone and Angela Dingle. A new partnership with WBENC brings an expanded network to WIPP through its regional presence, enabling WIPP to bring its advocacy message to a much larger audience. WIPP leaders continue to lead by example. Putting aside their passion for politics, they work together to achieve legislative/regulatory results no matter which party they support. WIPP supports women who run, believing that more women in Congress will lead to better and different legislative priorities. We can’t wait to meet the 100+ women who won seats in the 2018 elections.
One of WIPP’s best assets is its ability to collaborate. Collaboration is pretty rare in Washington, D.C., because everyone worries about getting credit. But WIPP sees it differently. A results driven advocacy strategy requires many voices and the odds are long to get legislation enacted. This congressional session, almost 10,000 bills were introduced. According to a congressional expert, only about 200 (and the number is declining) pass each year.
WIPP collaborated with the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce to tackle the issue of small federal contractors who are about to bump into the “no man’s land” of midsize contractors. This effort resulted in movement of legislation to allow a 5-year lookback for purposes of determining size. The legislation is very close to getting over the finish line in these final days of the 115thCongress.
Similarly, WIPP collaborated with the HUBZone Council and the Montgomery County Chamber to tackle the federal acquisition strategy known as category management. The danger small business organizations need to guard against is being shut out of large, multiple award contracts. Our job as advocates is to ensure that women owned businesses can compete for federal contracts. We accomplish that by collaborating with the greater small business community to ensure our voices are heard.
The Small Business Saturday Coalition, which WIPP heads, showcases our reach. WIPP spearheads passage of a resolution by the House and the Senate officially declaring the Saturday after Thanksgiving as a day when small businesses should be celebrated and patronized. Sponsored by Small Business Committee Chair Risch and Ranking Member Cardin, over half of the Senate signed onto the resolution. A full 260 Members of Congress engaged in some way by shopping, using social media or other forms of communication to indicate their support. By engaging our partners in echoing our message, “Shop Small” is on the tip of everyone’s tongue.
Advocacy is not limited to Capitol Hill, it also pertains to federal agencies. WIPP’s ChallengeHER program engages federal agencies and partners with the Small Business Administration. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is involved in almost every program we touch. Whether it is lending, procurement or counseling services for women businesses, the SBA sits squarely in the middle. Headed by a terrific Administrator, Linda McMahon is always on WIPP’s radar as the chief advocate for small businesses in this Administration. Another capable woman, Emily Murphy, who heads the General Services Administration (GSA), keeps women businesses front and center at her agency which procures just about everything the government buys.
As we look back on this year, we pause to marvel at what was accomplished. At the same time, we know that while WIPP’s advocacy is strong, but it can always be stronger. By engagement of its leaders and increased membership, the voice of women businesses continues to grow. My wish for next year is pretty simple – make WIPP bigger and better than it was this year.
Happy Holidays from our advocacy team.
