Read the full article by POLITICO Influence here.

PHRMA LOBBYIST HEADS FORBES TATE: Scott Olsen, a top lobbyist for the pharmaceutical industry, is heading to Forbes Tate Partners. Olsen is currently Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America‘s senior vice president of federal advocacy, but isn’t expected to lobby in his new role. He’ll be a partner at Forbes Tate, working in the venture capital and emerging biotech division and advising health care clients.

NEW BUSINESS: Former Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), who recently left McDermott Will & Emery for Mercury, has signed his first clients at his new firm. He’ll lobby for GovernmentCIO and Maxor National Pharmacy Services, according to disclosure filings. Miller, who left Congress in 2017, lobbied for both clients at his old firm. McDermott Will & Emery filed paperwork last month terminating its relationship with 10 lobbying clients that Miller represented — including GovernmentCIO, Maxor and Salesforce — that collectively brought in $370,000 in revenue in the fourth quarter.

Good afternoon, and welcome to PI. Tips: tmeyer@politico.com. Twitter: @theodoricmeyer.

HOW TO HOLD FUNDRAISERS WITHOUT RAISING MONEY: The New York Times’ Alexander Burns and Nick Corasaniti have new details about the events Mike Bloomberg is holding with Democratic donors in cities such as New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Los Angeles. “Resembling fund-raisers in every aspect but one, Mr. Bloomberg’s events are organized under the auspices of a division of the campaign known as the Committee for Mike, a unit that closely resembles the structure of a traditional fund-raising operation — except that it does not actually solicit donations.”

— “Unveiled last month, the Committee for Mike was described by the campaign as a network of influencers committed to Mr. Bloomberg’s candidacy. … Among the people managing the operation are former top fund-raisers for Senators Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey.”

AN AWARD FOR IVANKA: The National Association of Manufacturers will give Ivanka Trump a new honor it’s created, the Alexander Hamilton Award. “Like no one in government has ever done, she has provided singular leadership and shown an unwavering commitment to modern manufacturing in America,” Jay Timmons, the trade group’s president and chief executive, said in a statement. (The clothes in Ivanka Trump’s own line were made in countries such as Bangladesh, China, India, Vietnam and Indonesia, according to The Washington Post. She shut down the line in 2018.)

— This isn’t the first award a trade group has bestowed upon Ivanka Trump since her father took office and she became one of his top aides. The Internet Association last year gave her its Internet Freedom Award, which had previously been awarded to lawmakers such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer; House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy; former House Speaker Paul Ryan; Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and former Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) as well as Maureen Ohlhausen, the acting chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission at the time.

YES, THERE’S A TRADE GROUP FOR THAT: The Academy of Model Aeronautics has started a new coalition to persuade lawmakers that the “industry has taken a hit from a growing number of rules that deter people from buying and flying model aircraft,” POLITICO’s Brianna Gurciullo reports. Tyler Dobbs, the trade group’s head of government affairs, said the Federal Aviation Administration has been focused on drones and needs to “‘remember that there’s a traditional, legacy-style model aircraft community that doesn’t necessarily fit in the same bucket as what the quadcopter or the drone community fits in.’ The coalition sent a letter Thursday to the leaders of congressional committees with jurisdiction over the FAA, saying that hobby shops have seen their sales decline in recent years as ‘regulations have steadily increased on model aviation hobbyists.’”

JOBS REPORT

— The Clyde Group has promoted Aubrey Quinn to partner. She was previously a managing director. The firm also hired Mary Rollins as senior vice president of talent and culture and Kristen Voorhees as a manager. Rollins was previously a senior vice president at Discovery Communications. Voorhees previously worked for the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

— Rachel Goldberg is now head of U.S. government affairs at TransUnion. She was previously vice president of government affairs at Guardian Life.

NEW JOINT FUNDRAISERS

Michgan [sic] 2020 (Peters for Michigan, Elissa Slotkin for Congress, Haley Stevens for Congress)
Michigan 2020 (Peters for Michigan, Elissa Slotkin for Congress, Haley Stevens for Congress)

NEW PACS

Carolina Blue (Super PAC)
Dickinson Wright PLLC PAC (PAC)
Indivisible Chicago Alliance Political Action Committee (PAC)
Make My Day PAC (PAC)

NEW LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS

Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Campion Advocacy Fund
GrayRobinson PA: City of St. Cloud FL
GrayRobinson PA: Kasasa Ltd.
Greater America LLC: GreenPoint Resources, Inc.
Holland & Knight LLP: MarineMax, Inc.
K&L Gates LLP: Axiom Space, Inc.
Kadesh & Associates, LLC: MATSYS, Inc.
Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC: Purdue University
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: GovernmentCIO
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Maxor National Pharmacy Services, LLC
Ms. Laura Lawlor: NewLight Healthcare
O’Rourke and Associates, LLC: International Game Technology, and its subsidiaries
The Ingram Group LLC: The Hermitage Hotel
The Russell Group, Inc.: SAS Institute, Inc.

NEW LOBBYING TERMINATIONS

The Colling Group, LLC t/a Colling Swift & Hynes: White Pigeon Paper Company

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2020

CONTACT
Connor McKay
cmckay@forbes-tate.com
202-638-0125

HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY SPECIALIST BARRETT THORNHILL JOINS FORBES TATE PARTNERS

FTP Continues Growth with Addition of Leading Health Care Strategist, Crapo and Toomey Veteran 

WASHINGTON – Forbes Tate Partners (FTP) today announced the addition of Barrett Thornhill to its bipartisan public affairs and lobbying firm. Thornhill joins FTP in the midst of the firm’s continued growth, lending his expertise in health policy and regulatory matters to FTP’s established and recognized health care practice.   

“As we look to the rest of 2020 and beyond, it’s clear that health care policy – and its national and state ramifications – will continue to dominate the conversation, as well as many of our clients’ priorities,” said Founding Partner Jeff Forbes. “Barrett’s experience in this arena is unparalleled, and he also brings significant relationships and experience within the current tax and trade policy debates. We know clients will benefit from his experience.” 

Thornhill’s experience has spanned numerous private sector, industry, and governmental positions. On the Hill, Thornhill served as a health care Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (ID), Legislative Assistant for then-Representative Patrick Toomey (PA), and as Legislative Assistant for the late Representative Charlie Norwood (GA). 

“For most of my career, I’ve worked with innovators in the health care and pharmaceutical industries, as well as the elected officials and dedicated regulators that turn these innovations into everyday realities,” said Thornhill. “Forbes Tate’s reputation, particularly in the health care industry, is renowned in D.C. and across the country. This is a unique opportunity to further my passion for developing novel strategies for companies looking to advance their positions in the industry. I’m thrilled about the opportunity to join such a deep bench of professionals, many of whom I’ve worked and collaborated with before.” 

“Barrett’s expertise working with CMS and the FDA in developing strategies for products in the chronic disease and therapeutics space makes him an invaluable contributor to our clients’ objectives. We couldn’t be happier Barrett is joining the team,” said Founding Partner Dan Tate.

Prior to joining FTP, Barrett held a number of senior positions in Washington-based firms, including as a founding Partner of the East End Group, LLC, counseling leading biopharmaceutical manufacturers on federal legislation and coverage and reimbursement issues. He also served as a Health Policy Specialist at Foley Hoag, LLP, and as Director of Federal Government Relations for the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

Thornhill holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. from Dartmouth College. 

About Forbes Tate Partners:

Forbes Tate Partners is a bipartisan, integrated full-service public affairs consultancy specializing in government relations, communications, grassroots advocacy and third-party coordination, coalition management, and business development. The firm develops and implements strategies and campaigns related to tax, health care, financial services, trade, energy, telecommunications, appropriations, outdoor recreation and natural resource management, and agriculture. Longtime strategists Jeff Forbes and Dan Tate, Jr. founded the firm in 2012.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2020

CONTACT
Jeanne Moran
jmoran@forbes-tate.com
202-638-0125

LEGAL CANNABIS STRATEGIST ANDREW FREEDMAN JOINS FORBES TATE PARTNERS
FTP Expands Cannabis Practice with Addition of Nation’s First Cannabis Czar

WASHINGTON – Forbes Tate Partners (FTP) today announced the addition of Andrew Freedman to its growing bipartisan public affairs and lobbying firm. Freedman joins the firm’s public affairs team as they formalize and expand their bipartisan cannabis practice, bringing with him multiple clients with interests in the cannabis industry.

“As more and more states legalize cannabis, it’s just a matter of time before we see action from the federal government. Forbes Tate Partners will continue to be at the forefront of navigating state and federal policy debates on behalf of clients impacted by this expanding industry,” said Founding Partner Jeff Forbes. “When we were looking to bring someone on to lead our new cannabis practice, the first person we thought of was Andrew. Having worked with industry and government, Andrew’s expertise and unique background will help our clients navigate this new space. We’re thrilled to have him join our growing team.”

Freedman served as the nation’s first cannabis czar in Colorado under then Governor John Hickenlooper from 2013 to 2017. In this role, he developed and implemented the country’s first legal cannabis program and paved the way for Colorado’s massive adult-use and medical cannabis industry. After serving in Colorado, Freedman co-founded Freedman & Koski, a consulting firm that helps governments craft successful cannabis policy. Through that work, Freedman has advised the development of cannabis legislation and execution of cannabis regulations for numerous countries, states, counties, and cities. Most recently, Freedman became a partner at Caldwell Capital, a venture capital firm that funds and advises cannabis companies that will define the new cannabis economy.

“The cannabis legalization landscape continues to evolve at a rapid rate. Every day, more companies are capitalizing on opportunities to both directly and indirectly engage with the cannabis industry,” said Freedman. “I’m passionate about advising clients on how to navigate this complex, new regulatory space, setting them up for success not just within the next year, but for the next ten years. FTP is known for helping clients achieve their near-term goals while also positioning them successfully in the long-term. I’m excited to set up shop at Forbes Tate to help our clients effectively position themselves in a dynamic policy and commercial environment.” 

Freedman has been credited by both the Brookings Institution and Governor Hickenlooper as being one of the main reasons Colorado successfully legalized cannabis. Andrew Freedman holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. in philosophy and political science from Tufts University. ​

About Forbes Tate Partners:

Forbes Tate Partners is a bipartisan, integrated full-service public affairs consultancy specializing in government relations, communications, grassroots advocacy and third-party coordination, coalition management, and business development. The firm develops and implements strategies and campaigns related to tax, health care, financial services, trade, energy, telecommunications, appropriations, outdoor recreation and natural resource management, and agriculture. Longtime strategists Jeff Forbes and Dan Tate, Jr. founded the firm in 2012.

Legislatures in 46 states are set to meet in regular sessions this year. While the time each will spend in session varies dramatically (and is usually shorter in odd-numbered years), every state returns to business facing pressing policy issues. Based on our tracking of priorities in statehouses and governors’ mansions nationwide, we believe major areas of debate are likely to include topics such as health care coverage and pricing, the legalization of cannabis, data privacy, the future of transportation, and the environment. 

Our state and local team is engaged across the country looking after client interests. For more information, please reach out to Steven Palmer (spalmer@forbes-tate.com), Peter O’Keefe (pokeefe@forbes-tate.com), or Paul Dioguardi (pdioguardi@forbes-tate.com). For a complete calendar of 2020 state legislative sessions, please see our document here.

Health Care

Medicaid expansion and the nature of state Medicaid and exchange programs will continue to be a priority issue, with several developments already taking place early into the year. After Governor Andy Beshear (D-KY) rescinded proposed Medicaid work requirements, the Supreme Court officially declared the Kentucky-related lawsuit over these requirements moot. Even so, states are likely to continue considering such requirements and courts are still expected to weigh in this year, as a similar lawsuit from Arkansas remains pending on the Supreme Court’s docket. Meanwhile, the debate over expanding Medicaid continues, with Kansas being the latest to release a bipartisan proposal to expand the program. Expansion could also be considered on ballot initiatives at the end of the year, including in Missouri and Oklahoma.

Health care costs, especially in relation to prescription drugs, will also be discussed at length. Under a new proposal from the Trump Administration, states would be permitted to allow the importation of brand-name medicines from Canada after they get their plans approved by the federal government. States seeking to avail themselves of this potential policy are expected to consider bills establishing — or directing the establishment of — such plans. Many states are also going to step in on issues being considered at the federal level, such as the use of an international drug pricing index or addressing surprise medical billing. Finally, response to the opioid crisis will continue to be a priority.

Cannabis

The continued regulatory debate on the legalization of cannabis products will also be a leading issue. As the year begins, 19 states are actively considering legalizing adult use, while eight states may establish medical use programs. Should these states move to legalize cannabis for either medicinal or recreational purposes, the U.S. population living in states and jurisdictions with legal cannabis will increase to 54 percent of the country’s population. States to watch this year include Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, and New Jersey. Hemp production will also be an issue as state governments are expected to work closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish and certify plans allowing farmers to produce industrial hemp.

Transportation

While Congress faces the expiration of its major surface transportation law, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, states will be busy on infrastructure, highway funding, mass transit, and micromobility. On highway funding, states will continue their efforts to bring in new revenues to fix crumbling infrastructure. For example, Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) and the Michigan Legislature have backed increases in funding for fixing roads and highways in the state. Proposals are likely to include considerations of increases to the gas tax and imposing additional costs on the use of electric vehicles. States are also going to consider the issue of micromobility (electric scooters, bicycles, etc.). New York, for example, will likely follow up on vetoed legislation from last year which would have legalized electric bikes and scooters after Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) indicated he remains open to compromise. Other states, such as Massachusetts, are also likely to consider legislation that would broaden the ability of electric scooters to be legally operated.

Technology

On the heels of the January 1 implementation of California’s major privacy law, the California Consumer Privacy Act, states are likely to continue considering their own privacy bills as Congress fails to act. In doing so, legislators will likely take into account lessons learned in California and Europe to craft proposals which address current and future issues as technology continues to pervade daily life. Outside of privacy, other pressing technology issues at the forefront of states are election security, especially in the lead-up to the 2020 elections, and cybersecurity.

Energy & Environment

The lack of federal action on climate change has led to red and blue states pulling in opposite directions on environmental and energy issues. With the Trump administration continuing to roll back environmental protections at the federal level, Democratic-led states have already worked to respond. Last year, several states, including California, New Mexico, and New York, passed legislation aimed at targeting carbon emissions. Meanwhile, Ohio bailed out several coal and nuclear-fired power plants while reducing renewable energy standards for certain utilities and energy efficiency programs. 2020 will likely see a continued legislative divergence between red and blue states as there will likely be little change in federal oversight.

Part of the reason the blog was so late, was that in addition to being extraordinarily proud of our efforts to help our community, I am moved by FTP’s commitment to a cause intimate to me. This year my partners, led by my guy, Jeff Forbes, decided to make a sizable financial contribution to I Am ALS – a 501(c)3 organization that drives collaboration, builds and provides critical missing resources for the ALS community, drives increased awareness while we seek a cure. It is personal to me, because I am on the Board of this extraordinary organization, and I have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). I really am ALS.

ALS is often known as Lou Gehrig’s disease and is a neurological condition that aggressively affects voluntary muscle function leading to death on average within two to five years. Consider that Gehrig died from the disease slightly more than two years after the “Iron Horse” played his last game in the Majors. No one has ever survived in the more than 150 years that ALS has had its name. No one. But the past is the past and this is about the now.

Just after Forbes and I began together, he called me out in an “Ice Bucket Challenge” video. He was hilarious and awesome and made me laugh out loud – as he has a tendency to do. I was a bit self-conscious, so I did some research, thanked God I didn’t know anyone with ALS, and opted to give $1,000 to the ALS Association (never did the IBC video). Little did I know that only a few years later that life would come full circle.

I shared my diagnosis with people in 2018 and for several months tried to figure out which group I could get involved with helping. Turns out that this awful disease brings out powerful, raw emotions and fear in people facing it. Unfortunately, that creates tension between groups who should be working together toward a common goal. Anyone who has ever been involved in politics knows that disparate voices vying to speak for one community can create inaction. Such was the environment as I read it.

Then, in late 2018, I talked to a remarkable guy named Brian Wallach. He and his equally remarkable wife, Sandra Abrevaya, were launching I Am ALS. He was diagnosed about the same time the doctors puzzled out what I had. Brian had spent the interim time studying everything about ALS and the community and putting together a posse. He pitched me on his belief that the system and the community had to start listening to each other and organizing to work together or we were both going to die of this disease.

I’ve never claimed to be all that smart, but one of my strengths is recognizing a good idea when I hear one. His was brilliant, and hey, what were my choices? So, I joined him as he and Sandra put together an amazing Board of Directors and launched in January of 2019. FTP took on I Am ALS pro bono and every single FTPer who has engaged has brought something incredibly meaningful to the table. It means the world to me that people want to help change the trajectory of this disease.

As we close out 2019, I can honestly say that I Am ALS is changing the ALS space. The community has engaged and are participating in the process. We championed doubling funding for research at DoD because our men and women in uniform deserve better – and we won. We brought together all of the major governmental and non-governmental funders for a first of its kind collaboration to name and address the challenges to rapid progress. We are pushing agencies to make ALS a priority because it can be a gateway to solving a myriad of neurological diseases. With four wonderful Congressional co-chairs, we supported the launch and growth of the Congressional ALS Caucus. In ten months of its existence, the caucus has over 80 members! It grows because its members are making a difference. At the core of all of this is the patient. People with ALS deserve more than sympathy, our condition deserves attention.

Jeff and the FTP family did not wait for me to ask for a donation. They asked “How much would be meaningful to I Am ALS? Because we want it to matter.” Just like our team tackled the Holiday Toy Drive, I am grateful to all of FTP for their willingness to take my need on their shoulders.

This blog post is very late this year, because I’ve never quite been able to close it. Emotions kind of get the better of me, but Liz added some urgency today, eight days before Christmas.

We need your help to make sure kids in DC have a better Christmas than they would otherwise. One of the foundations of Forbes Tate Partners is our commitment to supporting each other. We support each other, our clients, and our community. Part of that commitment is giving back to our city.

This is the third consecutive year that FTP has led a Holiday Toy Drive to provide gifts for the students of Wheatley Education Campus. Supported by everyone from our building management at CBRE to our amazing friends at Cornerstone Public Affairs, we have been able to give well over 1,500 toys to over 700 children. What began by reading a newspaper story chronicling the efforts of caring faculty and staff of Wheatley to save Christmas for their students, became a holiday tradition that reminds us to be thankful for what we have and can do for others.

Not everyone in our city is as fortunate as us. The great portion of the kids at Wheatley live in transitional housing or are in shelters. Without someone stepping up, many of these kids would not have anything for their holidays. Last year, our Holiday Toy Drive allowed Santa’s helpers to create a workshop in the Wheatley library for the students to come in and choose their gifts.

One story that a helper shared shows why kindness matters and filters beyond the act itself. He related how a 9-year old boy was in a section of toys for much younger children, and our helper tried to redirect him toward the older kid’s section. The boy resisted. When asked why he didn’t want to get his toy from a better group for his age, his response was calm and stunning. He knew that he was allowed two toys, and those two would be all that his family got. He was planted in the younger section because his second gift was for his sister, otherwise she wouldn’t get anything. Take a moment to think about that. Our making a really small sacrifice leads to amazing kindnesses.

Liz told me that another school reached out to say that they needed help for an additional 200 children – eight days before Christmas! Teachers heard what we did together and know that if someone does not step up and help, their kids will go without. While the Wheatley Educational Campus is again our commitment, and we have not yet reached our goal for them, we are going to do what we can to help address this need. Sometimes all it takes is letting friends know that there is a need.

Last year, our friends crushed it. So, if you are one of those fantastic people or organizations who wants to get involved, now is the time! If you’re able to contribute in any way, please contact Liz Gonzalez at egonzalez@forbes-tate.com or (202) 638-0125.

Lobbying Business Booms Despite Gridlock and Investigations
Bloomberg Government | By Megan R. Wilson | October 22, 2019

 Lobbying revenue continued to increase throughout 2019, despite turbulence surrounding the Trump administration and partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill.

The third quarter of 2019 was lucrative for many K Street firms, with 20 reporting an uptick in revenue, compared to the same time last year, according to figures provided to Bloomberg Government. In addition, 16 of those firms also had increased lobbying fees from January through September of this year, compared to 2018. It’s a continuation of a growth in lobbying fees since President Donald Trump took office.

…

Firms such as…  Forbes Tate Partners are among the firms that had the biggest jump of revenue on K Street so far this year.

Forbes Tate, that handles both public affairs and lobbying for clients, earned nearly $11 million in the first three quarters — 14% more than 2018.

Zach Williams, a partner at the firm, credits the success to diversifying its “issues expertise while maintaining the campaign-like approach that is focused on driving outcomes.”

“Understanding what is driving Congress and the administration’s decision-making processes, and building campaigns that address it from both political and policy-based perspectives is key to getting anything done during what are nothing if not crazy times here in town,” he said.

To read the full article on Bloomberg Government click here.

Last night, Democrats held their third round of presidential primary debates at Texas Southern University. Thanks to more stringent qualification requirements, for the first time, debates were limited to one night and all of the top contenders were face to face.

As a result, candidates had more time and space to delve into the issues, allowing them to move beyond broad consensus statements and draw contrasts on details. After spending three hours with the ten candidates who made the cut, here are four takeaways that shed light on what the Houston debate says about the state of issues in the primary race.

Surprisingly, even with a longer debate time and fewer candidates, several key issues – the direction of the economy, big tech, energy, and women’s health to name a few – received short shrift. Perhaps they will reemerge next month when the Democratic field reconvenes in Ohio.

Out of all the complex policy discussions in Washington, D.C., the future of legalized cannabis has come to the forefront. Debate swirls around how states can legally stand up medical or recreational markets while the federal government still holds back from legalizing cannabis. The implications of these state experiments pose more questions than answers for stakeholders working in commerce, finance, public health, legal compliance, and many other facets of public policy on the federal and state level.

Most recently, our team took a closer look at the newly legalized production of hemp, which was authorized with the passage of last year’s Farm Bill. In our first “Hemp State of Play,” reported by Politico’s Paul Demko, Natalie Fertig, and Mona Zhang, FTP provided a primer of all 50 states’ hemp markets within the local and national policy context.

Top 10 Hemp States in 2018

A quick review of the top ten hemp cultivation states illustrates how complicated legal cannabis regulations and statutes are across the country. For instance, within the ten states listed above:

Regulation of commercial hemp cultivation has reached a critical point. If handled wisely, imminent decisions at multiple levels of government could create opportunities for states to lead in the growth of exciting and new legal markets, including textiles, food, fuel, biodegradable plastics, and other industrial materials. However, poorly considered or loosely coordinated rules could lead to serious missteps within both federal and state regulatory structures.

FTP will be monitoring the emerging market and policy landscape closely. Issues we’ll be tracking include:

To download our full report on hemp farming, visit here.

Earlier this month, Forbes Tate Partners (FTP) was proud to launch its Women in Policy (WIP) Lunch Series, Power of the Purse: Women Entrepreneurs and Investment. FTP began its WIP platform in 2017 to connect and empower women across all industries. Since then, it has worked to develop an engaged, tenured community of women. In 2019, the WIP platform expanded its events series to include a lunch program to discuss a range of today’s most pertinent issues from entrepreneurship to health care. A natural place to start our program was to highlight female business owners and address the challenges often faced by women across industries.

Over the past decade, women have experienced significant gains in global enterprise – continuing to break barriers, champion women-centric legislation, hold top political offices, and lead major corporations. However, the number of women-owned businesses has grown by only 58 percent between 2007 and 2018, just 12 percent growth in business overall.

Joining us for a dynamic panel discussion on fashion, finance, and everything in between were Catherine Cassidy, Founder of Boutique Box, Fiona Lewis, Founder of The District Fishwife, and Kimberly Wattrick, Founder of Summit to Soul. All three panelists are local entrepreneurs, with Cassidy leading trends in professional women’s wear, Wattrick in athleisure, and Lewis as DC’s first woman fishmonger.

During the panel, the women discussed the persistent challenges faced by female innovators and what can be done to ensure female businesses receive an equal piece of the economic pie. The first challenge addressed by the panel, and one that is often a determining factor in the visibility and growth of women-owned businesses, is capital. As women entrepreneurs are all too familiar, the private-equity and venture-capital industries have trillions of dollars in assets. However, only seven percent of capital is invested in female-led businesses. As investors’ gender bias is nothing new to the world of female-startups, the room considered steps to close the venture capital gap, secure angel investors, and increase investment opportunities for woman overall.

In addition, the women tackled equal pay and the importance of women’s economic freedom to the success of their professional lives. Our panel discussed salary negotiations, breaking into traditionally male dominated industries, and the importance of female mentors in climbing the leadership ladder. If women were empowered by money, they would have more of it, and the country’s cultural and political life would shift accordingly.

Forbes Tate Partners was grateful to host a group of incredible women for such a dynamic and thoughtful discussion. It was inspiring to hear so many success stories and discuss how we can shift the incentives, structure, and culture of global enterprise to push women forward. Part of the WIP mission is to provide opportunities and resources to help women overcome barriers to success, and we look forward to our next event this fall.

Please contact Katie at kmccracken@forbes-tate.com to be added to our mailing list for all future Women in Policy events.

Ready to change Washington?

Join Our Team.

View Career Opportunities