OCMetro Business - (Cassie Hoag, past president, NAWBO OC)

Women and health care reform

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:34:00 GMT

I broke my arm last month and have been through an odyssey of tests and treatments. With the experience so fresh, health care reform has been top of mind. I’m keenly aware that Congress is under intensifying pressure to deliver a bill and that consumers are polarized over key (and sometimes tangential) talking points. In the midst of the confusion, it’s indisputable to many that our current system is failing, and failing women in particular. More than 76 percent of women believe our health care system should be reformed or radically changed, according to a poll conducted this past spring by the National Women’s Law Center.

It's no wonder: In study after study, we’ve learned that women are more likely than men to forgo needed doctor visits, tests, treatments, prescriptions and follow-ups, even though they have a higher awareness and understanding of the need. Today, 60 percent of women are unable to pay their medical bills. As we know intuitively, fewer women than men have full-time jobs (52 percent versus 73 percent) where decent private insurance is accessible. And those who work part time or are tending to children at home are out of luck: They are paying excessively for individual policies, funding care out-of-pocket or forgoing care entirely with no ability to pay.

Even when women are insured, they’re victims of “gender rating,” where women, as well as businesses with a majority female work force, are often charged more than men for the exact same coverage. This is because women are more likely to use health care than men are: They need coverage for a full range of reproductive services and are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions such as arthritis or asthma). The “new normal” of insurance – stripped down plans with escalating co-pays, deductibles and out-of-pocket charges – is particularly hard on and harmful to women. Preventive and “well care” is seemingly out the proverbial window.

As the federal government struggles with the question of health care reform, I hope that the gender inequalities that have forced women into a sort of medical underclass are front and center. For those interested, there’s some enlightening and useful information available from organizations like the National Partnership for Women and Families, Moms Rising and the aforementioned National Women’s Law Center. These groups, and others like them, are pushing hard for fairness and parity and a true representation of women's experiences, in whatever form new legislation takes.

It’s biologically irrefutable: Women’s health impacts their jobs, their families and society at large. We need Congress to recognize this as it considers both new subsidies and cost-saving opportunities. Perhaps this should be at the core of reform, understanding that the process will be complex, multi-tiered and gradual. Although said often through the national debate of the last 11 months, helping women stay healthy will help us all.

Sweet, elusive summertime

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:05:00 GMT

Is it just me, or is summertime somehow slipping away? It’s a rhetorical question of course, and as a grownup, I don’t expect to be spending 10 weeks enjoying my freedom in the splendor of warm weather, long nights and the companionship of my equally untethered peers.

But what happened to that perceptible slowdown in business from mid-July to the end of August? You know what I mean: a subtle, temporary easing of the pace. A time to get caught up on important action items – those simmering on the proverbial back burner for too long; a time to socialize with business associates and friends around the barbecue (making the former into the latter); a time to take in a ballgame with key clients; a time to regroup and plan for the coming fourth-quarter rush. Has summertime gone away entirely, or am I just getting older, more burdened or more distracted – and somehow unable to notice it?

I speculate that the answer is complex. People are still taking vacations, after all, and most around this time. Why doesn’t that invoke my (OK, somewhat romanticized) version of a working professional’s summer? We can blame most of it on the Internet and connectivity. Long gone are the days when you worked till midnight before heading off to wherever with the family – and no one at the office heard from you for a couple weeks. Technology creep – from the pager to the cell phone to the laptop to the PDA to Wi-Fi and the ubiquitous USB connection device – has morphed staying in touch from a luxury to a requirement. (We should have paid attention to the old adage, “Be careful what you wish for.”) Now, vacationing colleagues check-in far more than we want them to. Their needs inevitably put more demands on those manning the fort. (Of course, I’m as guilty on this front as anyone.)

The Internet also has many blessings, so I’m going to spread the blame around a bit: The slowed economy necessitates reduced, canceled or “staycations” for many. Although some folks are out of the office, they’re literally climbing the walls at home, and essentially telecommuting (or job-searching) full-time. Year-round schools and the demands of high school sports keep even the most nimble families grounded, and increased lifespans have us tending to multigenerational obligations, sometimes in lieu of a trip to the Grand Canyon.

I’m not ready to surrender though; it’s not just nostalgia. There are still ways – however fleeting – to invoke the sweet comforts of summer. When we light the outdoor fire under a full moon, or grab two hours at the beach and wiggle our toes in the sand, or invest in a bestseller and steal away to the hammock, or invite the neighborhood kids over to delight in their laughter and grace – now that’s summertime.

It takes far more deliberation than it used to, but it’s still there. And even though Apple hasn’t made an app for it yet, my wish for all is that we keep finding ways to enjoy, dare I say revel, in these long days and temperate nights. Happy summer!

Of news feeds and good news

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:37:00 GMT

Thank God for Internet news feeds and alerts. If we do a good job at setting up our filters, we can keep track of the news and events most meaningful to our lives – without having to weed through the massive amount of information now literally at our fingertips. Because it’s important to my business and to my role as president of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) here in O.C., I try to keep my “news feed finger” on the pulse of small business legislation.

So, yesterday one of those “better take a look” stories landed on my desktop. Amid a political smorgasbord of high-profile and volatile issues, Washington somehow made time to address two potentially game-changing Senate bills for startups and small businesses. Essentially, Sens. Landrieu and Snowe, leading the bipartisan Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, are working to revive and update two sweeping SBA initiatives: one having to do with availability of counseling and resources, and the other with economic incentives to stimulate innovation and technology transfer.

May sound boring, but it’s not. Consider this: As part of the Entrepreneurial Development Act of 2009, the SBA’s counseling programs will be reauthorized to provide small businesses with the tools they need to succeed, teaching them how to write and execute business plans, manage cash flow or put together successful loan packages. The committee points out that for every dollar invested in counseling, $2.86 is returned to the Treasury in the form of increased tax dollars. And SBA counseling programs are estimated to create or save more than 200,000 jobs a year. Now, this seems worthwhile. And tangible. This reauthorization will specifically jumpstart the Small Business Development Center program (SBDC), SCORE, the Women's Business Center program (WBC) and its grant process, the National Women's Business Council and other programs. It also establishes an online networking, information and education resource platform for small businesses. Wow! Music to my NAWBO (and client) “ears.”

Also shaking the cobwebs off of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) programs, this portion of the act more than triples the funding available for SBIR grants and increases that for SBTT. It also reopens the door to venture-backed startups – which often incubate the disruptive technologies and business models that ultimately stimulate industries and employ thousands – and have been effectively shut out from these programs since 2001. This is very meaningful to us here in Orange County, where many of our promising medical device and other life-science companies have been thwarted by limited access to capital.

Of course, the Senate will continue to vet these bills before bringing them to vote, and the House will do the same on its version, which I understand is quite similar. We’ll see what comes out of the legislative process. I’m hopeful that the final bills will indeed put ARRA (the Obama administration’s economic stimulus initiative) to work for promising small businesses. Whatever the outcome, I’ll know almost instantaneously with the click of a mouse.

And as a hands-full citizen, juggling career, family and volunteer work, I’m supremely grateful for the likes of the WSJ Small Business Journal, Google Alerts and even the federal government’s surprisingly accessible and increasingly user-friendly Internet portals. They all make me smarter and better informed. They all serve my business, my clients and my community.

Is the media fueling the recession?

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:19:00 GMT

As a transplanted East Coaster, I’ve long chuckled over the Los Angeles media’s coverage of weather. The mere prospect of rain always incites some version of “Storm Watch,” warning all of us to take cover from the coming natural disaster – which more often than not manifests in a light shower versus a downpour. Of course, outside of the desert Southwest, rain is a non-event. In Southern California, however, its mere scarcity over-stimulates bored news producers.

Is that what’s happening with the media and the recession? Are producers over-playing bad news because it’s so uncommon? Lots of people think so. And they’re quick to draw the conclusion that all of the drama around the reading of monthly unemployment statistics, for example, is actually exacerbating the situation. Fuel on the fire, so to speak. I’ve even heard some attribute the recession to the media. They reason that we’d all be out there spending, just like we did before the financial crisis, in the absence of the media’s insistence on doom and gloom.

It’s a real stretch to blame toxic assets on TV, newspapers and the Internet. Some are on the other side of this argument, wondering why it took the media so long to recognize the enormity of the situation. But we all had our heads in the sand, and until reality set in, the stuff of economists didn’t typically get our juices flowing. Leave the financial reporting to Bloomberg News …

We find ourselves now overnight experts on market behavior. Securitized mortgages, bailouts, deficits and derivatives are part of our everyday lexicon. My teenager knows what the GNP was last quarter. When AIG is more sensational than Octomom, the financial reporter is no longer the nerd in the newsroom. Is our abrupt education in the ways of global economies borne of genuine interest, concern, fear or sensationalism? How much of this emotion is media-driven, and how should we respond to the relentless recession-babble?

When we’re on Storm Watch, I usually smirk, and then throw an umbrella in my car. Maybe that’s how we should respond to Market Meltdown. Wonder over the drama of it all, and then take some action. If you’re lucky enough to enjoy financial security, then think about how you might reallocate your assets to stimulate jobs. If you’re behind on your mortgage, research some of the remedies that banks are starting to entertain. If you’re job hunting, contact one more person who might point you toward new employment. Do something to channel all that hyperbole into something meaningful. The media’s there to tell a story. Like all stories, put this one in perspective, and use the hype as a catalyst for action.

Is the media fueling the recession?

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:16:00 GMT

Here’s one to watch

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:46:00 GMT

We’ve got a new administration and a badly broken economy and – to me – keeping track of it all is overwhelming. I want to understand. I want to know what kinds of triggers, risks and rewards to anticipate as our country wades into untested waters, but it’s just plain information overload! So, I’m picking and choosing who and what I pay attention to. If you share my frustration, you’re probably filtering, too.

As far as the cabinet and other key federal appointments go – I’ve honed in on Karen Mills. Not yet a widely recognized name, my bet is Mills will end up a darling of the administration: a nonpartisan visionary and implementer who’ll be sought after for even higher public or private office. Who is Mills? She’s President Barack Obama’s choice to head up the Small Business Administration (SBA). Why is she on my radar? Because as a small business owner, as an adviser to other small business owners and as president of the Orange County chapter of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners), this is where I live.

I’m excited about Karen Mills for two reasons: She’s got a wonderfully diverse background and track record (ranging from parents who majority-own and run Tootsie Roll Industries to founding a private equity firm with two other women), and she “gets” what it takes to wake up the long-slumbering SBA and shape it into the job-generating, entrepreneurship-fostering innovation engine that it ought to be.

More advanced Mills-watchers have observed that she appreciates the vast differences among small businesses, as in the Facebook-like start-up vs. the new dry cleaner on Main Street. She’ll likely position the SBA to not only reinstate small business access to short-term credit, but also dust off (or create from scratch) some SBA mechanisms to stimulate venture capital. Hallelujah!

The icing on the cake is that Mills is keenly aware that the SBA has failed to meet its mandate to ensure at least 5 percent of government contracts go to women-owned companies.

Yet to be confirmed, Karen Mills is on my watch list, and if you’re in any way associated with a business under $50 million in annual revenue, then she should be on yours, too. There’s a lot to be scared about in this economy; but there are nuggets of hope – like this SBA appointment – that should keep us forward-focused. Karen Mills has the potential to be a true game-changer. I’ll be watching closely and doing everything I can to support her efforts.

New year, new hope, new paradigm

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:52:00 GMT

In many ways, 2009 is “newer” than most years. All of us are touched in some way by these unprecedented economic and geopolitical conditions. Change is more than a political slogan for business leaders. It’s something we all must do in order to survive, adapt, grow and continue to lead.

As unsettling as the prospect of change always is, this time around it’s wrapped in some unusual but welcome circumstances. The most obvious of these is that we want change. We’ve lost our collective tolerance for partisan and negative politics, for ill-founded wars and for the blind enablement of industries and business models that no longer serve the greater good. November’s historic election confirmed that, as daunting as change is, the American people are ready for it.

The other notable circumstance here is the co-mingling of change with hope. Our collective intolerance of a whole lot of bad situations has given way to a collective commitment toward better situations. And we’re smart enough to define “better” as more careful, more empathetic, more appreciative and more ethical. We’re anxious to change things because we believe that we can make a better life for ourselves, our families and those in our spheres of influence.

As is our custom, we use this annual change in the calendar to reflect on the past and prepare for the future. Individuals make New Year’s resolutions, and businesses finalize operating plans. My sense is that for businesses, this is a far more thoughtful process than has been typical. Business owners and executives are diving deeper than the company’s budget for the next 12 months. They’re focusing on core missions and value systems, and on shaping cultures and industries to respond in a far more favorable way to the needs of the marketplace. Instead of relying on conventions (many of which are shaky at best), business leaders must rely on ingenuity and work ethic to drive new and better paradigms. Although hard to dimension, we are certain that Americans have an abundance of both of these qualities.

History assures us that the outcome of all this will be the emergence of new industries and unique commercial models that will restore economic prosperity. We’ve set the bar higher this time, though. We won’t tolerate wealth without fairness. We won’t sell-out our future for the present. We won’t mistake greed for power. Although there are plenty more Bernard Madoffs and Rod Blagojevichs out there, the new business, political and cultural order that we’re carefully crafting will rapidly expose and dismiss those types.

2009: It’s when we’ll see change as inevitable and embrace it, rather than resist it. Unsettling and stimulating at the same time. Only good can come of it. A fair playing field in politics, in business and in life. This is a truly promising new year.

Truly Remarkable Women

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:09:00 GMT

The 13th annual Remarkable Women Awards hosted by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) – Orange County’s biggest event honoring women – took place on Friday, dispensing the usual big dose of inspiration, humor, tears and cheers. With a unique perspective this year as co-chair, I’ve been coming off of a multi-day high from the event. I’m now in the reflective phase of a pleasant decompression and am struck by the utter diversity of this year’s honorees. They came from such distinctly different backgrounds, with few similarities in education, career path, vision and drive. Yet, all are supremely successful. It makes me wonder: What do you say to someone who seeks to be recognized as a Remarkable Woman? What’s the path to such a prestigious acknowledgement? How does one achieve remarkability?

From thefreedictionary.com:

re·mark·a·ble
adj.
1. Worthy of notice.
2. Attracting notice as being unusual or extraordinary.

OK. That’s somewhat helpful. Remarkable women are more than notorious; they’re worthy. And although we all know that someone or something can be remarkable in a negative sense, clearly NAWBO narrows its awards down to the extraordinary. Pretty intimidating – unless you’ve been to one of these events and basked in the stories that the honored women tell.

Yes, they’re remarkable. But they’re also genuine, accessible and humble, with as many false starts and mistakes under their belts as the rest of us. Whether graduates of the Ivy League or school of hard knocks, these honorees are down-to-earth, identifiable and real (Orange that is). As impressive as their accomplishments are, it feels like there’s just one degree of separation between them and us mere mortals.

NAWBO leads the in women’s awards in Orange County because it takes the time to tell its main honorees’ stories. Beyond the impressive accomplishments, this format exposes the beauty, the connectedness of these women, in spite of their differences, and makes them all that much more tangible.

The Remarkable Women 2008: Tammy Taylor of Tammy Taylor Nails, Sue Ellen Cooper of the Red Hat Society, Gina Kay of InHome Care Solutions, Dee Elliott of King Relocation Services. Each has a wonderfully unique history and perspective. No stereotypes here. And, thank goodness, there’s no prescribed formula at play. We’ve come a long way, baby. We’ve arrived at a place where success is solely linked to accomplishments, results and legacy.

Want to be a remarkable woman? Go for it! And do it your own special way – with your own flair and style and interpretation of the world. We have a seemingly endless supply of remarkable women candidates in Orange County. May that always be the case!

Of women and politics...

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:46:00 GMT

On the heels of the political conventions, I’ve had several media calls asking for NAWBO’s position on the candidates. “NAWBO” is the National Association of Women Business Owners and as president of the Orange County Chapter, I’m the logical call to make. I’ve appropriately demurred, as we’re a non-partisan organization that gets solidly behind policy, not candidates. But I appreciate why the media is circling. For the first time in history, our country has offered up viable female candidates for both of the top offices.

Beyond the media inquiries, I’ve been surprised by the number of my acquaintances who, through the course of the primaries and now in the run-up to the election, have expressed breathless admiration for our female candidates. The exuberance is understandable; I, too, am enthralled by this political season. What puzzles me is that knowing the beliefs and values of some of these women, the candidates that they’re fawning over simply don’t fit. So, we’ve got a case of gender trumping issues. And that doesn’t sit well with me. It’s kind of like choosing a candidate because they look good.

Women in politics is indeed cause for celebration. More than any other industry, the proverbial glass ceiling is (almost) shattered in our local, state and federal governments. Regardless of personal beliefs, all women should be proud that we have a female Speaker of the House, a female Secretary of State and a growing number of female senators, governors and congressional representatives. All of those women fought hard for their positions and earned them as champions of the rights and initiatives closest to the voting public’s heart. So, why overlook those rights and initiatives when advocating a presidential ticket? Is this an exception, where we choose the woman at any cost, no matter what she stands for? In my mind, that’s a shallow mindset, and if widely held, subject to a dangerous backlash in a field where so much has been accomplished, and where the stakes are incredibly high.

I implore all women to take the high road, familiarize themselves with the candidates’ positions, and place their advocacy and their vote solidly behind whoever best represents their personal beliefs – relative to human rights, the war in Iraq, economic policy, gun control, healthcare, education, and all issues impacting women and families. Indisputably, that’s the best way to sustain progress toward gender equality.

Is America ready for a president of either gender and any ethnicity or faith? I hope so. In any case, let’s vote for the candidates who will assure this circumstance in the next, and all future elections.

Today's economy and women-owned businesses...

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:01:00 GMT

Today's economy...

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:01:00 GMT

I recently had the pleasure of answering a few questions posed by anchors Pete Weitzner and Shally Zomorodi on KDOC-TV’s "Daybreak OC" morning news program. They were interested in the effect of our current economy on women-owned businesses. Although I hope I answered in some meaningful fashion, this subject merits more than a few sound bites. And more than a blog, too – so next I’ll write a paper, and then publish a book, followed by a speaking tour, and an honorary degree . . .

Sorry; you caught me dreaming. The point is that this is a darn stimulating issue, and I find myself thinking about it a lot. In a nutshell, women generally face the same issues as men in this economy, but with some subtle but important distinctions.   Take access to capital: it’s daunting for all of us - it stifles innovation and delays otherwise promising start-ups. This phenomenon is particularly harmful to women, because they start-up businesses at twice the rate that men do. And then there are the societal implications of reduced family income. Because women still carry the largest share of homemaking, child and elder care responsibilities, they suffer the effects on a multi-dimensional scale.

It’s not all gloom and doom, though. We can take advantage of certain feminine traits to keep our businesses and families afloat. Like using our strengths as consensus builders to strike innovative strategic alliances. Or taking advantage of the availability of human capital to bolster our ranks.   And, using our capacity for empathy and adaptability to shape important economic trends and policy. As I told the KDOC-TV audience, a “perfect storm” for change is brewing: the economic downturn; the most compelling election we’ve had in decades; intense globalization; entry of the “millenials” into the workforce – all in and of themselves, strong catalysts for change.

What a remarkable opportunity to demonstrate what some call “womenomics”. The relics of the perfect storm will likely move us closer to gender equality, closer to an accommodation in the workforce for parenthood, closer to health care reform, closer to fair and equitable financial markets, and closer to fair and ethical business practices. A rallying cry for women to pay attention, be informed and get involved if I’ve ever heard one!

In this country’s last recession, women-owned businesses outpaced the economy as a whole. This time around, maybe we’ll also jump-start it.

My mentor said...

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:39:00 GMT

Most established businesspeople, men and women alike, attribute at least some of their success to the sage advice of a mentor or two. This is just as true for entrepreneurs as it is for corporate executives. Entrepreneurs, however, have a tougher time finding mentors. When you’re the owner, sales rep., CFO (and part-time janitor), there’s no corner office harboring a nurturing “been there done that” type to help keep your head straight.

So what to do? Like anything else in business, start with some goals. Jot down what you would like to accomplish through a mentor. Outline what a reasonable mentoring relationship would be like for you. And figure out how such a relationship could afford mutual benefit – to you and to your mentor.
Once that’s done, put together a strategy to find and engage a mentor. Trade associations and networking groups are great places to start, as are local colleges and universities, retirees from your industry and even online communities. You’ll need to be proactive though - to source out, vet and interest the right candidates.

We’re fortunate at NAWBO-OC. With a membership of over 400 women business owners, we’re loaded with potential mentors. And as a result, we run a highly sophisticated, and perhaps unprecedented, mentoring program. One that carefully matches “mentees” with mentors, and then shepherds those pairings through a process that keeps both parties accountable to stated goals.
In fact, many of our members joined NAWBO specifically to participate in our mentoring program. And that makes just plain good sense.

So here’s some sage advice for all of you mentor-seekers out there: consider NAWBO – it may be a very wise choice!

More entrepreneurs. More women.

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:32:00 GMT

As I speak with acquaintances from the corporate world, I sense that these volatile economic times will yield a new legion of entrepreneurs. With layoffs and bankruptcies on the rise, many highly skilled executives find themselves at least psychologically ready to take that proverbial plunge into the murky waters of owning their own businesses. While men and women both have expressed this sentiment, it’s the women who seem to have given the concept more thought, and appear more likely to actualize their dreams.

Why is that? Perhaps it’s because women are more likely than men to have been living dual lives – where they’re balancing the demands of a career with the demands of their families. They’re simply more familiar with the concepts of working from home or working on a flexible schedule. Maybe it’s easier for them to tune out of their corporate existence. And, women are nurturers by nature. On a purely genetic level, perhaps they’re best suited to “give birth” to an enterprise and shepherd it through its infancy.

Whatever the reason, I expect lots of new entrepreneurs to be knocking on the doors of NAWBO-OC - the National Association of Women Business Owners, with its 400-member-strong chapter in Orange County. As President-elect of this dynamic organization, I’m confident that our arms are wide open, in the tangible sense of programs and initiatives that are true accelerants for start-up businesses. Further, we’ll learn a lot from this new wave of corporate refugees. I envision a step-up in entrepreneurship in the next several years, and NAWBO-OC will be both a catalyst for and a representative of these newly reinvented business pioneers.