Blog

2026

Member Spotlight: Blanca Gonzalez

Member Spotlight: Blanca Gonzalez As a longtime WIF member and part of our Governance Board, Blanca shares more about how

Stories of Impact

Stories of Impact: Spark Award

  Stories of Impact: Spark Award   When the Spark Award was first conceived, it was in the knowledge that

2026

Member Spotlight: Toni Freeman

Member Spotlight: Toni Freeman As a founding member of Women’s Impact Fund, Toni shares both what she has loved about

2026

Member Spotlight: Annie Filer

Member Spotlight: Annie Filer Learn more about Kari’s WIF experience, including what inspires her about the Spark Committee. Can you

2026

Member Spotlight: Kari Kalgren

Member Spotlight: Kari Kalgren Learn more about Kari’s WIF experience, including what inspires her about the Spark Committee. Can you

2026

Member Spotlight: Andrea Kovacs Wolf

Member Spotlight: Andrea Kovacs Wolf Learn more about Andrea’s WIF experience, favorite event and valuable advice for making the most

Scroll to Top

Janet LaBar

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.