
Member Spotlight: Laurie Schwartz
Member Spotlight: Laurie Schwartz By Meaghan Dunham Arena Learn more about the the thing Melissa loves most about our city!

Member Spotlight: Laurie Schwartz By Meaghan Dunham Arena Learn more about the the thing Melissa loves most about our city!

Stories of Impact: The Relatives This Story of Impact highlights The Relatives, a Women’s Impact Fund grantee. The Relatives’ vision

Stories of Impact: Carolina Raptor Center This Story of Impact highlights the Carolina Raptor Center, a Women’s Impact Fund grantee.

Member Spotlight: Sabrina Clark By Caylin Haldeman Can you provide a brief background on yourself for those who do not

Stories of Impact: Wayfinders This Story of Impact highlights Wayfinders, a Women’s Impact Fund grantee. Wayfinders’ mission is to ignite students’

Member Spotlight: Kristina Burke By Meaghan Dunham Arena Learn more about the the thing Melissa loves most about our city!

Stories of Impact: Independent Picture House As Charlotte’s only nonprofit arthouse cinema, The Independent Picture House (IPH) exists to educate,

Member Spotlight: Melissa Hovey By Meaghan Dunham Arena Learn more about the the thing Melissa loves most about our city!

Stories of Impact: Arts+ Arts+ was founded as Community School of the Arts in 1969 by Henry Bridges, the organist and
Executive Director
jlabar@womensimpactfund.org
With more than 25 years of experience, Janet has a proven track record of leading organizations and teams in developing strategies that foster thriving communities. Her career is dedicated to the well-being of the places she serves, and the people and businesses within them, positioning her as a trusted sounding board, critical thinker, and purposeful protagonist across corporate, government, education, entrepreneurial, and civic spheres.
Janet joined Women’s Impact Fund in June 2025 to guide one of Charlotte’s most respected, women-led philanthropic organizations into its next phase of growth and impact. In partnership with the Women’s Impact Fund team, Board, Advisors, members, volunteers, and key community partners, she will continue strengthening communities by maximizing women’s leadership in philanthropy through collective giving, education, and engagement.
Inspired by her family, teams who dare greatly, and people and communities striving to be their best selves, Janet’s impactful career includes leadership roles as President and CEO of Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, President and CEO of Greater Portland Inc, and Chief Performance Officer of Greater Phoenix Economic Council. As a first-generation Filipino American, her lived experience deeply informs her professional drive to create equitable economic growth and opportunity in the metro areas she’s served.
She holds a BA in Communication Arts from the University of West Florida and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. Janet and her husband James are proud parents to an older daughter, and a daughter and son who are twins.