Businesswomen helping to build nationwide bonds

She's had to work with governments in two countries — Afghanistan and Rwanda — and deal with travel agents, the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to make sure the women get their visas on time.

"The most difficult thing is the visa process,” Neese said. "It's very traumatic.”

The program began last year, when Neese's organization Women Impacting Public Policy brought 12 Afghan women to Michigan and Oklahoma for five weeks of intensive study and one-on-one mentorship.

Along the way, the organization under went a name change, with the State Department prompting that "you can't go into these countries with a name like ‘WIPP'” and expect a favorable response, Neese said.

So WIPP was renamed the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.

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