W.S. Badger Co., manufacturers of eco-friendly body care products since 1995, has announced the appointment of co-CEO Rebecca Hamilton to the nonpartisan federal advisory committee: The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC).
 
Established as part of the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988, the NWBC is comprised of women business owners, policymakers, bankers, representatives of women’s business organizations and other stakeholders who discuss potential solutions to the challenges facing national women business owners, and recommend solutions to the administrator of the SBA, Congress, and the President.
 
A long-time advocate for issues concerning the environment, ingredient transparency, and societal change, Hamilton has spoken at the White House, addressed the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in support of organic and regenerative agriculture, testified before Congress on behalf of safer cosmetics, and attended Senate and House briefings on Capitol Hill in support of family-friendly workplace practices and chemical reform. She also spearheaded the passing of Benefit Corporation legislation in New Hampshire, a for-profit status that incorporates the pursuit of positive environmental and social impact in addition to profit.
 
“It’s an honor to join the National Women’s Business Council, and I look forward to working with my fellow Council members over the next three years to empower and advocate for female entrepreneurs and business owners,” said Rebecca Hamilton. “As a woman CEO running a rurally-located manufacturing company, I am particularly excited to join the Rural Women’s Entrepreneurship committee and focus on the challenges rural women entrepreneurs face in growing their companies.”
 
The National Women’s Business Council is a nonpartisan federal advisory committee established to serve as an independent source of advice and policy recommendations to the President, Congress, and the Small Business Administration on issues pertaining to women business owners.
 
It was twenty-three years ago that company founder Bill Whyte, a carpenter at the time, created a single, simple balm. Today, Rebecca Hamilton and Emily Schwerin-Whyte, second-generation family owners and sister CEOs, are at the helm of the global business with over 100 natural and certified organic personal care products—ranging from lip and body balms to hair oils, bug repellents, and award-winning reef-friendly mineral sunscreens. Badger’s unique company philosophy, pioneering family-friendly benefits, and B Corp community engagement has earned it numerous awards and recognition, including landing a spot on Forbes’ “Small Giants 2017: America’s Best Small Companies” list.
 
Stay tuned for more on Badger in Beauty Packaging’s September feature article on Made in the USA.