Joan Wages is a founding board member of NWHM and worked to raise the money and pass legislation to move the Suffrage Statue depicting founders of the U.S. suffrage movement from the U.S. Capitol Crypt upstairs into the Rotunda where it now stands. For over a decade, she has worked to identify a building site for the Museum and to lobby Congress for a permanent home.  She was elected president in July 2007. Lifetime Television honored her in its Remarkable Woman series with a public service announcement highlighting her efforts on the Museum.

Ms. Wages has served as president of Cash, Smith & Wages, a consulting firm with offices in Alexandria, Virginia. The firm specializes in government affairs, developing strategy and communications for getting federal legislation passed. As a registered lobbyist, she has a wide range of political experience including state and federal legislation, national grassroots lobbying campaigns, lobbying federal agencies to influence the regulatory process, and political campaigns. She has written frequently for national publications.

Ms. Wages has focused on women's issues on Capitol Hill and has worked with legislators, women's organizations and related political activities. Her legislative accomplishments include passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act, the smoking ban on aircraft, numerous aviation security measures and Delaware legislation preventing the take-over of corporations by corporate raiders. As a political action committees (PAC) director, she had frequent contact with members of Congress. Ms. Wages has been politically active and participated in numerous professional and political organizations. She also served on the Board of the Virginia Alliance for Health Care Freedom.

Ms. Wages has worked in public relations giving radio and television interviews. She frequently speaks to groups ranging from 30 to 500 people and is a published author. She has a B.A. in Mathematics from Auburn University and a Master's degree in Philosophy from Columbia Pacific.