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

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

Member Spotlight: Sabrina Clark By Caylin Haldeman Can you provide a brief background on yourself for those who do not know you? I’m a Bronx,

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

Member Spotlight: Melissa Hovey By Meaghan Dunham Arena Learn more about the the thing Melissa loves most about our city! Can you provide a brief

Member Spotlight: Meenu Mahajan By Meaghan Dunham Arena Learn more about the book that has energized Meenu and motivated her over the years! Can you

Member Spotlight: Ana Silva Rey By Meaghan Dunham Arena Learn more about how Ana resonates with the mission of WIF, and why she decided to

Member Spotlight: Jessica Freely By Meaghan Dunham Arena Learn more about how Jessica resonates with the mission of WIF, and why she decided to join!

Member Spotlight: Beverley Francis-Gibson By Aimee Greeter Hear Beverley’s advice for how to make the most out of Women’s Impact Fund membership. Can you provide

Member Spotlight: Nikki Jarrell By Aimee Greeter Learn more about Nikki Jarrell, our Past Board Chair, and what she calls the “multiplier effect”. Can you

Celebrating a Month of Connection and Momentum: May 2025 Events Recap May was a meaningful and energizing month for Women’s Impact Fund as we closed
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.