06/ 03/ 2008
by Shannon McRae
The voice of every NFIB member is crucial. Be inspired by members who have taken action and learn how you can get involved with NFIB to defeat anti-small business legislation expected to surface this year.
Michael Nevins knows there's a silver lining behind every gray cloud. In fact, it was gloomy skies that drove Nevins and his wife, Diane, to start their business selling light-therapy products 11 years ago. When the Nevins moved back to Michael's hometown of Jackson, Mich., after several years in Colorado, the couple desperately missed the clear mountain climate. Diane even began suffering from seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression triggered by changing seasons.
"With the grayer climate, shorter days and lack of sunlight, Diane really started getting depressed," Nevins says. Drawing on his 30-plus years experience as a general contractor, Nevins started making light-therapy units to help his wife's symptoms. The products worked so well, they decided to patent a few. And soon their business, Full Spectrum Solutions, was thriving.
As his business grew, Nevins noticed that the weather wasn't the only challenging environment--Michigan's business climate was tough, too. "Michigan is one of the worst examples in the country of how a state should treat its small businesses," he says. "They tax you extra just for being here."
The harsh business environment is what led Nevins to join NFIB. "Supporting small business is my top priority over everything else," he says. "I support NFIB because it helps my employees and my livelihood. If I can't keep my business growing, I can't do any of the other things I want to do."
Nevins invests his time and money in supporting NFIB. Paying the highest level of annual membership dues ($5,000) is just one way he ensures the nation's largest small business association continues fighting for his business in Washington, D.C., and in Lansing, Mich. Nevins also lends his time--working with NFIB/Michigan State Director Charlie Owens to address various business issues and meeting one-on-one with lawmakers to share his story.
"The nice thing about being an NFIB member is that it's pretty easy," Nevins says. "Our contributions of time and money ensure that NFIB is able to continue the important work they do at the state and federal levels."
Every voice counts
Members like Nevins have played an integral role in NFIB since the organization's founding in 1943. Unlike many other associations of our size, NFIB truly listens to each of its small business members. We never take a position on an issue unless the majority of our members tell us we should by voting their member ballots.
"This open relationship with our members makes your participation vital," says NFIB President and CEO Todd Stottlemyer. "Without the power of your voice, your vote and your story, NFIB would not be recognized as the nation's most powerful small business advocate."
In the coming year, your participation with NFIB will be more important than ever. "Key issues that affect your business every day are coming down the pipeline," Stottlemyer says. "Labor, taxes and healthcare all will be up for discussion in the next year. NFIB will make sure small business is heard--but we can't do it without your help."
The good news is that when you join together, the voice of small business is that much louder. National survey research commissioned by NFIB on Super Tuesday in February shows that small business owners account for approximately 11 percent of all registered voters nationwide (roughly the same percentage as union voters). When you include small business employees, the sector jumps to 32 percent of the electorate.
"Though we might not get the media coverage of ‘Soccer Moms' and ‘NASCAR Dads,' this research proves that small business owners are a major--and very important--voting bloc," Stottlemyer says. "Lawmakers see these numbers, too--and you can guarantee they will listen when you speak."
Worthy investment
Christine Sommer knows the powerful effect small businesses have on the nation's economy. "Here in the middle of Nebraska, small businesses keep the economy afloat--not big businesses," says the owner of North Platte, Neb.-based All About Caring, which provides in-home nursing care to clients who don't qualify for Medicare.
Before joining NFIB five years ago, Sommer used to feel like her voice wasn't significant. "One person can stand on a hill and shout, and their voice won't go anywhere," Sommer says. "But if you get a bunch of people on the hill to shout, their voices carry. Any small business owner who wants to be heard needs to join NFIB. If you choose to stand alone, you really don't have any room to gripe."
Sommer understands the current healthcare crisis firsthand. As a business owner, she struggles to afford coverage for herself and her 15 employees. Yet as a professional in the healthcare industry, she also notices the declining reimbursements from insurance companies. "We're paying more in premiums, and we're getting fewer services in return," she says. "Do I wonder where that money is going? You bet."
Like Nevins, Sommer pays annual membership dues at the highest level because she believes NFIB's work on issues like healthcare is important. "I don't stand on the street corner passing out money to people who claim they have a good cause," she says. "But NFIB has proven themselves time and again since I joined."
Tom Minnick also thinks the return on his investment in NFIB is well worth it. "NFIB is a top-notch, effective group that is recognized in every state and at the federal level," says Minnick, president and CEO of the National Counseling Group, which has 12 centers in Virginia that provide counseling and outpatient services to individuals and families. "My membership in NFIB is worth every dollar I spend and more."
Minnick points to the small business expensing limits included in the recent tax stimulus package as a good example. "A few years ago, small business owners could deduct just $25,000 a year--now it's all the way up to $250,000," he says. "I spend $5,000 in membership dues and get $250,000 in tax-expensing deductions--all because NFIB was a champion on this issue. You do the math."
A Big Thanks
Like the NFIB members profiled in this story, the following small business owners paid $5,000 in annual NFIB membership dues. Thanks to their generous support and that of all our members, NFIB is able to continue fighting for small business in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals.
James Acra, Eagle Beverage Co., Springfield, Ohio
David Anthony, Shenandoah Tower Service Ltd., Staunton, Va.
Jeffrey Armour, Armour Building Co., Newport Beach, Calif.
J. Bailey, Tekquest Industries, Sanford, Fla.
Bill Ballard, Ballard Petroleum LLC, Billings, Mont.
F. Beckwith, Fareway Stores Inc., Boone, Iowa
Scott Bergkamp, Bergkamp Inc., Salina, Kan.
Joseph Bohm, Horizon Builders, Crofton, Md.
Clifton Bradshaw, Nueces Power Equipment, Corpus Christi, Texas
Ronald Brasel, Control Services Inc., Omaha, Neb.
Warren Bridges, Aloes International Inc., Orlando, Fla.
Mark Browne, Agri-Source Inc., Fruitland Park, Fla.
Joel Bump, Radio Design Labs, Prescott, Ariz.
Victoria Burch, R. A. Burch Construction Co. Ltd., Ramona, Calif.
William Byrd, Pro Seal Plus Inc., Lithia Springs, Ga.
Anna Cablik, Anatek Inc., Marietta, Ga.
Tony Campos, Campos Bros. Farms/F & T Farms, Caruthers, Calif.
William Childs, Chaney Enterprises, Waldorf, Md.
Roy Cook, Cook Bros. Insulation, Kansas City, Mo.
Jay Curtis, Curtis Lumber Company Inc., Ballston Spa, N.Y.
John Davidson, Davidson Homes Inc., Swannanoa, N.C.
Scott Davis, Davis Neon Inc., Heath Springs, S.C.
Ed Doin, Morris Associates Inc., Morristown, N.J.
Jim Dickens, D. J. Roofing Supply Inc., Springfield, Mo.
Chris Ebert, Dispatch Transportation Inc., Fontana, Calif.
Joyce Eisenhard, J&E Trucking, Wescosville, Pa.
Andres Elizondo, Del Cielo Home Health Care Services, Alice, Texas
Bill Evans, Evans Fruit Co., Cowiche, Wash.
Dave Fraley, Fraley & Co. Inc., Cortez, Colo.
Chris Fuldner, EFCO, Monett, Mo.
Greg Gandee, Servicemaster of Alexandria/Washington, D.C., Alexandria, Va.
Bill Gilliam, Gilliam & Sons Inc., Bakersfield, Calif.
Frank Granara, General Insulation Co. Inc., Medford, Mass.
Brian Gribble, Systems Alternatives Intl. LLC, Maumee, Ohio
Clint Griffeth, McLintack Construction Corp., Bethlehem, Ga.
William Gullickson, McLaughlin Gormley King, Minneapolis, Minn.
John Hafner, Cities Edge Architects, Willmar, Minn.
David Harnett, David L. Harnett DDS Inc., Cortland, Ohio
Donald Harwell, Slayden/Harwell Door & Hardware Inc., Nashville, Tenn.
Ted Haworth, Meridian Engineering Co., Tucson, Ariz.
James Herr, Herr Foods Inc., Nottingham, Pa.
Dale Hockett, Elk River Construction, Pagosa Springs, Colo.
Dennis Hourany, Elite Tile, Walnut Creek, Calif.
Robert Howes, Howes Lubricator, North Kingstown, R.I.
James Hubbard, Robson Ranch Arizona Construction Co., Sun Lakes, Ariz.
Stephanie James, TEAM Industries Cambridge, Cambridge, Minn.
Tom Jernigan, Marathon Corp., Birmingham, Ala.
Bryan Johnson, A 2 Z Roofing, Sierra Vista, Ariz.
Paul Kalmbach, Kalmbach Feeds Inc., Upper Sandusky, Ohio
Bill Kennedy, Kennedy Metal Products, Taylorville, Ill.
Sandra Knigge, Mel's Water Service, Lysite, Wyo.
Kevin Koch, Trico Framers, Corona, Calif.
Richard La Chance, La Chance Associates, Methuen, Mass.
Richard Lane, Lane Eye Associates, Springfield, Vt.
David Larson, Piedmont Grocery Co., Oakland, Calif.
Mark Lewon, Utah Metal Works Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah
Phil Linden, Linden's Propane Inc., LaGrange, Ohio
Bruce Logan, Logan Contractors Supply Inc., LaGrange, Ohio
Kenneth Lunceford, Slip Service Co., Odessa, Texas
Carol Manning, Technical Maintenance Support, Foothill Ranch, Calif.
Dennis Maupin, Yates Petroleum Corp., Artesia, N.M.
Greg McGee, Event Logistics, Hendersonville, Tenn.
Pat McKenzie, Pat L. McKenzie Inc., Ellisville, Miss.
Laureston McLellan, McLellan Estate Co., Belmont, Calif.
Debbie McShane, J&S Concrete Inc., McMinnville, Ore.
Gerry Miller, Miller Welding & Machine Co., Brookville, Pa.
Thomas Minnick, National Counseling Group Inc., Manassas, Va.
Don Moore, Engineered Restorations Inc., Lawrenceville, Ga.
Ralph Morgan, Elliott Stone Co. Inc., Bedford, Ind.
Deborah Morrow, Cable Prep, Chester, Conn.
Henry Moxon, Ocala Lumber Co. Inc., Ocala, Fla.
Daniel Murray, West Texas Pump & Equipments Inc., Odessa, Texas
Michael Nevins, Full Spectrum Solutions, Jackson, Mich.
Craig Obermueller, Craig's Roustabout Services, Jensen, Utah
Gregory O'Brien, The Staubach Company, Washington, D.C.
Mike Piscelli, SML Enterprises Inc., Bristow, Va.
Mike Pope, Pope Transport Inc., Whitewater, Wis.
Garth Price, Sunstate Equipment Co., Phoenix, Ariz.
Robert Pritchard, Gilton Solid Waste Management Inc., Modesto, Calif.
Kurt Rasmussen, Rasmussen Group, Des Moines, Iowa
Terry Reinhart, Centrex Plastics LLC, Findlay, Ohio
Marilyn Renshaw, Rama Corporation, San Jacinto, Calif.
Joe Rhoads, H. A. Thomson Co., Chester Springs, Pa.
Mark Richards, Maryl Group, Honolulu, Hawaii
Rodney Roberts, Roberts Construction Co. Inc., Gallipolis, Ohio
Alan Robinson, Woodhaven Lumber & Millwork, Lakewood, N.J.
H. Rodgers, Rodgers Metal Craft Inc., Fortson, Ga.
Fred Rosenberger, Hutchens Industries, Springfield, Mo.
Rory Rottschalk, Culp & Tanner Inc., Chico, Calif.
Tom Rumney, T&C Construction Ltd., Houston, Texas
Tom Sadler, Sadler Machine, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
William Schaal, Hardinger Transfer Co. Inc., Erie, Pa.
Lisa Schomp, Ralph Schomp Inc., Littleton, Colo.
Woody Scott, Western Carolina Tool & Mold, Horse Shoe, N.C.
David Sharpe, C-Sharpe Co., Orange Beach, Ala.
Craig Shelton, Area Erectors Inc., Rockford, Ill.
Pat Shield, Shields Bag & Printing, Yakima, Wash.
Christine Sommer, All About Caring, North Platte, Neb.
Jeff Spruell, Sharp & Williams Plumbing & Heating Inc., Mount Carmel, Ill.
Mary Stangl, Team Finish Inc., Brea, Calif.
Karin Stoltz, J L Brooks Welding Inc., Arlington, Wash.
Brian Stremlau, National Sales Co., St. Louis, Mo.
Sally Strickland, Standley Batch Systems Inc., Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Vincent Tanner, McDonalds, Hartford, Ky.
Jack Tepe, LT Enterprises Inc., Fairfield, Ohio
Jim Tower, Calaveras Telephone Co., Copperopolis, Calif.
Roger Tremayne, Tremayne Farms, Walthill, Neb.
Kelly Troila, Burke Engineering Co., South El Monte, Calif.
Richard Uihlein, Uline Inc., Waukegan, Ill.
Anden Van Beek, A & I Products, Rock Valley, Iowa
Charles Vobora, Tri-Star Dairy Inc., Auburndale, Wis.
Thomas Walker, Anthony Lift Gates Inc., Pontiac, Ill.
Tommy Walker, T L Walker Electric, Chantilly, Va.
Jackie Walker, Town & Country Insurance, Vega, Texas
Ray Ward, R. Ray Ward Construction, Ogden, Utah
Don West, House of Batteries, Fountain Valley, Calif.
Mike Wheeler, Oswego Excavating, Oswego, Ill.
Robert White, White's Site Development, Sanford, Fla.
Gus Wintzer, G. A. Wintzer & Son Co., Wapakoneta, Ohio
Don Wortley, DSW AG Inc., Lodi, Calif.
