PLAYING OFFENSE: NATIONAL PEO WEEK & PEO ADVOCACY DAY

It is hard to believe it’s already May, and my first PEO Capitol Summit (PCS) and National PEO Week are right around the corner. Both of these events provide unique opportunities to share the value proposition of PEOs with stakeholders in Washington, DC and across the country.

If you’ve read any of my previous columns in PEO Insider, joined any of our webinars or industry events where I’ve been fortunate to participate in over the past few months, you’ve heard that I came to NAPEO from the casino gaming industry. And while we had a lot to be proud of – employing millions of Americans, contributing to local economies, generous charitable giving, etc. – we also had a hard story to tell because of who we were and where we’d been. After all, casinos provide opportunities for adults to risk money for the chance to win more, and the industry had earned a reputation from its colorful history that was hard to shake.

That meant we played a lot of defense.

But PEOs have earned the right to take a much different posture. By creating and celebrating National PEO Week we collectively shout our benefits from the rooftops. We take this story directly to those with the greatest ability to impact our business, and enhance the appreciation for and understanding of all that you do for small and medium sized business.

Once again, Rep. Erin Houchin has introduced an official Congressional proclamation designating the third full week in May as National PEO Week, and NAPEO has been working hard to get proclamations in state capitals recognizing the important work PEOs are doing across the country.

We’ve also created great new merch, an updated toolkit of National PEO Week resources and will launch a new ad campaign. I encourage everyone to leverage the opportunity this week presents to promote our great industry.

During PEO Advocacy Day at PCS, we’ll bring that message directly to federal lawmakers who need to better understand PEOs as the advocates for and playing-field-leveler for the last remaining, truly bipartisan issue out there: small business. At this annual event, more than 200 industry professionals will come to Washington to share their stories directly with influencers on and around Capitol Hill. This engagement helps advance our industry priorities to support and strengthen your businesses.

As much time as NAPEO spends on the Hill, and as much as we engage NAPEO PAC to build relationships, nothing is more powerful than when our members visit with their representatives. Don’t just take my word for it, Rep. Van Duyne says so herself on pages 32-34.

I’m excited to bring our powerful industry together to play some offense and hope to see all of you later this month!