Author Archives: WIPP

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About WIPP

Founded in 2001, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) is a nonprofit organization advocating on behalf of its coalition of 4.7 million businesswomen, which includes over 78 business organizations. WIPP works to increase the economic power and public policy clout of women business owners by providing business education focused on growth strategies, leadership opportunities for business and personal advancement, and a seat at the table among policymakers in Washington, D.C. View archived blog posts between 2007-2014 here: http://blog.wipp.org

December 2015 WIPP National Partner of the Month: Cindy Towers

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C. Towers
WIPP National Partner of the Month

December 2015

Cindy Towers, Co-Founder and CEO of JURISolutions

 

We sat down with Cindy to ask her a little more about her company and relationship with WIPP…

 

Tell us a little about your company and its mission.

JURISolutions is a company dedicated to delivering innovative and value-driven legal solutions to corporations, law firms and government entities across the country.   We sit in the space between in-house legal departments and outside law firms.  We provide a number of outsourcing and insourcing offerings including highly skilled project attorneys and subject matter experts, full-service legal staff augmentation, end-to-end litigation support and government support services.   Our corporate mission is to take a very client-centric approach to the design and delivery of legal services to increase efficiency within our client’s legal operations.  We also have an executive search arm as well.  The company’s secret sauce across all verticals is our unparalleled recruiting and vetting processes that enable us to find the best legal talent for each specific initiative.

 

 

Have you always been an entrepreneur?  If not, what, or who, inspired you to take this leap?

Although the nature vs. nurture verdict may still be out,  I can tell you that entrepreneurship is definitely a family trait.  My father was a child of the depression with the odds of success firmly stacked against him.  Despite very limited education and financial resources, he and my mother were able to build a very successful auto parts company.  After spending summers counting mufflers and spark plugs, I thought getting professional degrees would be more satisfying than owning my own business.  I was wrong.  It took me 10 years to figure out what my father had always known and was trying to teach me.   Being an entrepreneur is so much more than just being your own boss.   It is about having the authority and control to make a difference in the lives of others!

 

What has been your biggest lesson learned in working with the Federal Government?

To remain agile. Being mindful of all the moving parts and levels of urgency – from end user, to program and contracting offices each has a problem to solve within a certain timeframe – we get to know our customer closely and stay in alignment with each group in order to move the needle efficiently.

 

Do you have a contracting success story that you are proud of?

This year we were awarded a large contract with the CFPB.  We are particularly proud of this contract because it was the result of a very strategic process.   In 2013, I had attended an event where leadership from CFPB was a speaker.  In learning about the agency, it became apparent that their volume of legal work was very large and that they  likely had problems we would be able to successfully solve for them.  We set out to get to know as much about the agency as we could.  I personally attended their outreach events, met stakeholders and read every news alert published.   When the contract eventually went out to bid, we were invited to compete and won.

 

 

Tell us about your experience as a WIPP Member? What resources/value has WIPP provided that has been helpful to you and your company?

WIPP has been very instrumental in helping us grown within the government space.  The resources offered are incredible: speakers, webinars, legislative updates, sources sought blasts and much more.   I have also been given amazing opportunities to be a speaker at a ChallengeHER event, which afforded me amazing exposure to stakeholders in the government, SBA and corporate primes.

 

Click here to view Cindy’s Bio.

Open Enrollment for 2016 Health Insurance Marketplace Begins

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It’s time to get covered!  HCgov stock imageryMillions of Americans count on HealthCare.gov for quality and affordable health coverage. If you or someone you care about needs health insurance, you should know that Open Enrollment for 2016 coverage runs from November 1, 2015 through January 31, 2016.

Learn about options available in your area by visiting HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596.

Key Dates and Deadlines

  • November 1, 2015: Open Enrollment for 2016 Marketplace coverage begins.
  • December 15, 2015: Deadline to enroll for coverage starting January 1, 2016.
  • January 15, 2016: Deadline to enroll for coverage starting February 1, 2016.
  • January 31, 2016: Last day of Open Enrollment for 2016 Marketplace coverage.

Helpful Resources for Business Owners & the Self-Employed

3 Ways Employee Policies Can Protect Your Business

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K Prinz

By Kristen Prinz, Founder and Managing Partner of The Prinz Law Firm

A study by specialty insurer Hiscox was recently published finding that U.S.-based companies have at least an 11.7 percent chance of facing an employment law charge. The study claims that the average cost for small and mid-sized businesses to defend these claims is $125,000. That’s a lot of money. It makes having effective employee policies all the more important.

On November 16, 2015, at 1:00 pm CST, I will be presenting the webinar 10 Employee Policies that Minimize Business Risk for WIPP and the WBDC. Participants will learn about 10 policies that can help businesses avoid the $125,000 average. Here are three ways that these polices can help protect your business:

  1. Address claims before they become lawsuits.

Employee policies can provide employees with an internal method to resolve a potential claim. Businesses can use policies to encourage and require that concerns about discrimination, harassment or even wage issues be reported. Knowing the concerns of your employees puts an organization in a much better position to swiftly resolve an issue that could otherwise become a lawsuit.

  1. Show the government your business is committed to compliance.

Having anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation policies shows the EEOC that your business has taken a stance against discrimination and retaliation. Similarly, an effective time keeping policy can show the DOL that your business is taking appropriate steps to comply with wage laws. These policies can bolster a defense when an agency audits your business or investigates a claim.

  1. Create a positive workplace culture.

Your business shouldn’t just have policies; it should abide by them and enforce them. Having well publicized policies that demonstrate your business’s dedication to a positive workplace is one of the best ways to deter employment law claims. Employees are far less likely to sue an employer they believe supports and values them.

To learn about the 10 policies that can help your business (i) address claims before they become lawsuits, (ii) show the government your business is committed to compliance, and (iii) create a positive workplace culture, register now for the WIPP and WBDC webinar 10 Employee Policies that Minimize Business Risk.

New IRS Resource helps Employers Understand the Health Care Law

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Healthcare taxThe new ACA Information Center for Applicable Large Employers page on IRS.gov features information and resources for employers of all sizes on how the health care law may affect them if they fit the definition of an applicable large employer (ALE).

Although the vast majority of employers will not be affected, you should determine if you are an applicable large employer.  If you averaged at least 50 full-time employees, including full-time equivalent employees, during 2014, you are most likely an ALE for 2015.  If you have fewer than 50 full-time employees, you may be considered an applicable large employer if you share a common ownership with other employers. As an applicable large employer, you should be taking steps now to prepare for the coming filing season.

The web page includes the following sections:

  • What’s Trending for ALEs,
  • How to Determine if You are an ALE,
  • Resources for Applicable Large Employers, and
  • Outreach Materials.

Visitors to the new page will find links to:

  • Detailed information about tax provisions including information reporting requirements for employers,
  • Questions and answers, and
  • Forms, instructions, publications, health care tax tips, flyers and videos.

In 2016, applicable large employers must file an annual information return – and provide a statement to each full-time employee – reporting whether they offered health insurance, and if so, what insurance they offered their employees. 

If you will file 250 or more information returns for 2015, you must file the returns electronically through the ACA Information Reports system.  You should review draft Publication 5165, Guide for Electronically Filing Affordable Care Act (ACA) Information Returns, now for information on the communication procedures, transmission formats, business rules and validation procedures for returns that you must transmit in 2016.

Visit the IRS’s new ACA Information Center for Applicable Large Employers resource page for more helpful information.

Sole Source Authority for the WOSB Program is Official Today!

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sole sourceWIPP has reason to celebrate with all women business owners. As of today, contracting officers now have the authority to award sole-source contracts to women-owned small businesses. This authority will level the playing field in the federal marketplace and provide additional opportunities for women entrepreneurs to expand their businesses.

So how do you get a sole sourced contract? There are four questions to ask when considering if a contract can be awarded to a WOSB via sole source authority:

  1. Is the contract in a WOSB or EDWOSB eligible NAICS code?

The Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) Procurement program is unique in that it is only applicable to contracts in certain NAICS codes. In addition some NAICS codes are open to all WOSBs, while some are only available to Economically-Disadvantaged WOSBs (EDWOSBs). You can check if a contract’s NAICS codes are in the program on the SBA website www.sba.gov/wosb. Again, the NAICS code of the contract, not just your company, is important.

  1. Is the contract (including options) valued at $6.5 million or less for manufacturing contracts or $4 million or less for all other contracts?

Similar to other small business contracting programs, WOSB sole source contracts are limited to certain sizes. For manufacturing contracts (the 31-33 NAICS codes) that cap is $6.5 million, while all other contracts have a cap of $4 million. This is including all options on the contract.

  1. Can the contract be awarded to the WOSB or EDWOSB at a fair and reasonable price?

The law also requires that the contract can be awarded at a “fair and reasonable price.” This common term in federal contracting is described in the FAR – essentially the federal procurement rulebook.  Good news – if you are submitting pricing that is on the GSA schedule, it is already considered fair and reasonable.

  1. Lastly, in the determination of the contracting officer, is there a reasonable expectation that there is only one WOSB/EDWOSB that can perform?

The final requirement for a sole-sourced contract in the WOSB program is the contracting officer’s determination, through market research, that only one WOSB/EDWOSB can perform the requirement. Many people find this component especially difficult, however, it is important to note that agency-specific requirements may make your solution unique. Also, if it is determined that 2 or more WOSB/EDWOSBs can perform, the contract can be set-aside through the WOSB program.

If the answer to all four questions was yes – you have yourself a strong case for a WOSB sole source contract.

Keep an eye out for additional education from WIPP on sole source authority.  WIPP will be working with the SBA and OSDBU offices to help educate both women business owners and contract officers on sole source authority.

Don’t forget! If you are looking for federal contracting opportunities, make sure to get your business listed in WIPP’s National Directory of Women-Owned Small Businesses.

Women Business Centers Get A Boost

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Annual Mtg 2014 - #7Early this month, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship unanimously approved the Women’s Small Business Ownership Act of 2015, which reauthorizes the Women’s Business Center (WBC) program. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair David Vitter (R-LA) and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) sponsored this landmark legislation and the bill  passed on a bipartisan, unanimous vote – a rare occurrence in Congress as of late.

Women entrepreneurs receive business training and counseling from more than 100 Women Business Centers (WBCs) throughout the country. Because of this bill, the WBC program will now be authorized $21.75M through FY2020, adding more Centers and providing additional support to existing Centers. WBCs can now receive grants up to $250,000, nearly double the previous maximum of $150,000. Funds above the $250,000 level will be made available to Centers that meet goals and wish to establish new projects. These updated funding levels will encourage growth in established Centers and allow WBCs to provide additional support to women entrepreneurs. The Act also requires important updates to the Women Business Center program.

Women’s Business Centers provide an invaluable resource for women entrepreneurs. Ten million women-owned businesses contribute to the nation’s economy by generating $1.6 trillion in revenue and employing nearly 9 million Americans. WBCs are an important partner for these 10 million women-owned businesses and this legislation will enhance their capabilities and build on their successes.

Learn more: http://awbc.org/news/

Find your Women Business Center: http://1.usa.gov/1MpMFWJ

WIPP National Partner of the Month – October 2015: Lynlee Altman

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Lynlee

WIPP National Partner of the Month – October 2015

LynLee Altman, President and Founder of Pinnacle Construction Development Group, Inc. – Cleveland, OH

 

We sat down with Lynlee to hear a little more about her company and her relationship with WIPP…

 

Tell us a little about your company and its mission.

Pinnacle Construction is a general contractor specializing in unique, complex, and safety-critical construction.  As a full-service design-build company, Pinnacle delivers one-of-a-kind projects nationwide, including anything from recreating the surface of Mars to blastproof access control points.  We have successfully tackled numerous high profile projects that would intimidate most other construction firms.  Accelerated timelines, hazardous environments, atypical engineering specifications, environmental sensitivities and historic preservation are all par for the course for Pinnacle, where failure is not an option.

Have you always been an entrepreneur?  If not, what, or who, inspired you to take this leap?

Unlike the typical entrepreneur who grew up with a lemonade stand or selling girl scout cookies, I would consider myself to be an accidental entrepreneur. I cut my teeth working for larger businesses and my small business began as more of a night-job.  Eventually, it became clear that my night job was really where my passion lied, and I made the decision to devote all of my time to Pinnacle.

What has been your biggest lesson learned in working with the Federal Government? 

Teaming with other businesses is the key to growth. I call it Co-op-etition, a combination of cooperating and competition.  Rather than viewing other companies as competitors, there is tremendous opportunity in building them up.  Pinnacle’s very first client is Pinnacle’s largest subcontractor today.   Over the years, we have built trust and a strong history of performance with our teaming partners, and that relationship has enabled us to complete things together that we didn’t have the capabilities to complete alone.

Do you have a contracting success story that you are proud of? 

As a firm believer in the capabilities of small business, I am most proud when Pinnacle competes against large businesses and triumphs.  The personal attention and true teaming nature that we can give to clients sets us apart from a large business working on hundreds of jobs across the country simultaneously.  Our clients understand that they have our full attention, and they are, at that moment, our most important project.   The clients and agencies that embrace that differentiating factor, are the people that we enjoy working with the most.

Tell us about your experience as a WIPP Member? What resources/value has WIPP provided that has been helpful to you and your company?

WIPP has been instrumental in introducing me to the right people.  In the federal marketplace, there are a select group of individuals who are committed to building small businesses. These amazing people, all of whom are known by WIPP, recognize the importance of small businesses to the health of our country and economic policies, and many of them have dedicated their lives to the cause.  These individuals have truly impacted the federal market place, and if you are willing to match their time and efforts, they will help you build a strong business.

Congress Temporarily Extends Internet Access Tax Ban – GUEST POST

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by Rob Schrum, myWireless.org

myWireless logoJust as time was running out, Congress passed a continuing resolution, which – among a handful of other provisions – will extend the ban on Internet access taxes through December 11th. As you may recall, the ban on Internet access taxes was due to expire on October 1st.
Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives made a move to permanently extend the ban on Internet access taxes by passing the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act (H.R. 235). Unfortunately the Senate has yet to take up the companion legislation, known as the ‘Internet Tax Freedom Forever Act’ (S.431).
The ban on Internet access taxes was originally put in place in 1998 and incrementally extended by Congress over the years to encourage the continued expansion of Internet use. Last year, CTIA – The Wireless Association found that the decision to keep Internet access tax free led to more than $34.4 billion in savings for Americans – and that doesn’t even account for the benefits the Internet provides on how we communicate, learn and conduct business.
If the Internet access tax ban expires, the high state and local taxes that are already applied to wireless service could be expanded to include Internet access, increasing the cost of service. This despite the fact that the FCC National Broadband Plan says that cost is the largest barrier to consumer broadband adoption. We urge Congress to address this issue once and for all by enacting a permanent ban on Internet access taxes before the December 11th deadline. We can’t afford anything less.
View the original post at myWireless.org:  http://bit.ly/1LtinGf 

WIPP is a proud partner with AT&T for their “It Can Wait” campaign

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ICW

September is here, and we’re shifting the It Can Wait® movement into high gear! During this month, we want you to show your commitment to this cause by sharing our new impactful video, “Close to Home.” There’s power in numbers!

Friends, family members, and even your social network can make a difference. While many of us have hundreds of smartphone contacts, new research from AT&T found that 2-in-3 people have almost all or most of their smartphone communications with just 5 people. More than 8-in-10 surveyed said they’d likely stop or reduce their smartphone use while driving if one or more of their top 5 contacts asked them to.1 Let’s band together and keep each other safe behind the wheel. Here’s how:

Spread the Word
During the month of September, you can spread the word by:

  1. Sharing this video “Close to Home” on social with your family, friends, and social network. Your influence can help keep those closest to you safe. #Tag5toSave5 friends by encouraging them to share this life-saving message.

    SAMPLE POST: No post, glance, or email is worth a life. RT to pledge to keep your eyes on the road, not on your phone. #ItCanWait http://soc.att.com/1PJXypp

  2. Renewing your pledge. Go to ItCanWait.com to extend your commitment beyond not texting while driving. No text, search, post, glance, or email is worth a life.

Thank you for your loyal commitment to helping us take the distraction out of driving. Please use this email to communicate the importance of safe driving and remind your network that no emailis that important. It Can Wait.

Follow us on Twitter @ItCanWait
Visit us at ItCanWait.com
Visit our merchandise store