SCBIZ Daily Staff

COLUMBIA -- The National Federation of Independent Business has hired Wendy Nipper Homeyer as its director. Homeyer succeeds Jay W. Ragley, who left the organization in December.

NFIB/South Carolina is the state’s leading small business association, with almost 5,000 members throughout the Palmetto State. Four out of five South Carolina members have fewer than 15 employees, and 56% have five or less. Unlike some other business groups, NFIB bases its public policy positions solely on the input of its members; each member gets one vote, so no single member has more of a say than any other member.

“We’re pleased to have Wendy on board,” said Gary Selvy, NFIB’s Regional Public Policy director. “Her experience as a small business owner and government relations professional in Columbia make her uniquely suited to lead the National Federation of Independent Business in South Carolina.”

Homeyer founded the government relations firm Homeyer Strategy Group LLC of Columbia. Previously, Homeyer previously was executive director of the Palmetto Leadership Council, a pro-business political action committee, where she increased membership 100% in five months and created and managed one of the largest PACs in South Carolina. 

Before that, Homeyer served as the public information officer for South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness, a comprehensive results-oriented initiative for improving early childhood development. Homeyer also worked in the White House Office of Media Affairs and the White House Office of Global Communications from 2001-03.