Charlotte Business Leader, Karen Lawrence, to Participate in National Meeting for Women Businesses

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - July 15, 2014 - PRLog -- “The collective voices of women business owners working together in support of effective solutions for all in Washington, is a benefit to not only my business but also the [Charlotte] business community”, said Ms. Lawrence.    There are 7.6 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., generating $1.2 trillion in receipts and $217.6 billion in payroll, according to WIPP, a national, nonpartisan public policy organization, advocating on behalf of women-owned businesses in this country.

It’s My Affair, LLC has been based in Charlotte for 11 years.  It’s My Affair (http://demconvention.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=0c6d933b504b3244882c2b6d8&id=756f2c7489&e=c00f00e76d), provides full-service conference, meeting, and event management services.  The firm worked closely with the Charlotte in 2012 convention committee to manage more than 15,000 hotel rooms for convention week guests and was one of two women-owned small businesses to be awarded more than one contract for convention services.

“Given that women-owned businesses comprise nearly 30 percent of all U.S. businesses, and are growing at twice the rate of other businesses, it is critically important for them to have a seat at the table in Washington D.C. as policies are being created that will impact their business and the economic climate,” added Barbara Kasoff, president and founder of WIPP.

WIPP delegates will participate in a Senate Committee on Small Business hearing on women’s entrepreneurship to review government programs that assist women owned firms and their effectiveness and discuss topics such as the women's federal procurement program, training and counseling, and lending programs for women entrepreneurs. The House Small Business Committee is also hosting a meet and greet event for us to discuss issues important to women-owned businesses.

“The WIPP organization introduced me to government contracting.  Participating in programs such as ChallengeHer and the Give Me 5 programs were very instrumental in helping me understand how to do business with the government.    Having an organized voice to advocate on our behalf and open opportunities to compete for federal contracts through WOSB set asides has rendered phenomenal results for women businesses across the country.   It is an honor to have the opportunity to be a part of that voice to not only help my business but help other women succeed in business as well”,added Ms. Lawrence.   To hear more from women business owners who attend the WIPP leadership meeting, watch these: WIPP Entrepreneur Testimonials (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX7E6C4AJRE)



To learn more and attend the WIPP Annual Leadership Meeting, July 23-24 in Washington D.C., click here (http://www.wipp.org/event/2014annualmeeting).

About WIPP:

WIPP is a national nonpartisan public policy organization advocating on behalf of its coalition of 4.7 million businesswomen including 75 business organizations. WIPP identifies important trends and opportunities and provides a collaborative model for the public and private sectors to increase the economic power of women-owned businesses. For more information, please visit www.wipp.org.

About It’s My Affair:

It’s My Affair, LLC is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and is an 8(a) certified, economically disadvantage woman-owned small business providing conference, meeting and event management services for corporate and government events. For more information go to www.itsmyaffair.com