History
Twelve women business owners in the Washington, DC area started meeting informally in December, 1974 to trade information about federal contracts, bank credit and other issues related to their businesses. Every few weeks the number of women increased and it soon became clear that a formal organization was necessary for this nascent group to develop visibility, political impact and sustained growth.
Leaders emerged and with amazing insight, supporting each other, they set out to open doors. They learned to be politically savvy and discovered the power of unity and of public and media relations.
"...We worked hard to position the emergence of women business owners as a growing segment of the women's movement and to develop the organizational base and structural guidelines for a national association. Our multiple strategy was to demonstrate to the media, to lawmakers, to federal government agency chiefs, to the White House staff and to the business community that women business owners were indeed viable. We were a new and growing market and growing constituency." --Susan Hagar
First NAWBO National President
Recognizing the value of the group, they incorporated as the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) on July 7, 1975. Two years later they began recruiting members from across the country, and in 1978 the first chapters were formed...
...and the rest is history!