Joanne Howes’ passion for almost 40 years has been advancing the causes and influence of progressive women. She is currently a consultant on women’s issues. For almost 20 years, she was a partner in the women-owned consulting firm BASS and HOWES. The public policy firm provided strategic advice to a broad array of women’s organization including the National Breast Cancer Coalition, Family Violence Prevention Fund and the National Partnership for Women and Families. In addition, the firm started two new organizations, the Society for Women’s Health Research and the Reproductive Health Technologies Project. Prior to forming BASS and HOWES, Joanne served as legislative director for then Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), a lobbyist for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and a senior staff member in Ted Kennedy’s Presidential Campaign. She was part of Team A that led to the Vice Presidential nomination of Gerry Ferraro. She was one of the founders and a current Board Member of EMILY’s List. As a volunteer, she campaigned relentlessly for Hillary Clinton for President, traveling to 9 states and organizing Nurses for Hillary.