The third part of a three part series focused on Support Kansas City's 2011 Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Awards, profiles the agency winner with a budget of less than $1,000,000.
In 1986, Beth Smith and the late Marjorie Powell Allen founded the Women’s Employment Network. They were inspired by a successful women-focused employment program in San Antonio that emphasized self-esteem. Realizing the need for this vital service in our city, they created WEN, the only organization of its kind in the area
WEN has grown significantly in the last 25 years, with over 300 employers that are involved in a variety of ways to serve their clients. WEN plays matchmaker with clients and job posting employers, introducing corporate cultures to their clients through onsite visits, and providing employers the opportunity to volunteer through workshop facilitation, resume review and mock interviewing.
In the words of Cheryl Smith, WEN Board Chair, “Our board believes in the core mission of WEN: helping women help themselves. Our commitment to the women who come to WEN for help is foremost in our minds during our board and committee meetings. With the guidance of the current executive director, the board feels poised to take WEN to new heights.”
WEN leadership is a role model for best practices for nonprofits in governance and accountability. Speaking from personal experience, my first board training was conducted by Beth Smith. Twelve years later, I still draw on the shared wisdom of that experience with the boards I train. We look forward to sharing in WEN’s next 25 years of success!
Watch for WEN’s Annual Legacy Circle event to be held in September and the Fashion Show on September 20th, at the Webster House.
Debra Box
Executive Director
In 1986, Beth Smith and the late Marjorie Powell Allen founded the Women’s Employment Network. They were inspired by a successful women-focused employment program in San Antonio that emphasized self-esteem. Realizing the need for this vital service in our city, they created WEN, the only organization of its kind in the area
WEN has grown significantly in the last 25 years, with over 300 employers that are involved in a variety of ways to serve their clients. WEN plays matchmaker with clients and job posting employers, introducing corporate cultures to their clients through onsite visits, and providing employers the opportunity to volunteer through workshop facilitation, resume review and mock interviewing.
In the words of Cheryl Smith, WEN Board Chair, “Our board believes in the core mission of WEN: helping women help themselves. Our commitment to the women who come to WEN for help is foremost in our minds during our board and committee meetings. With the guidance of the current executive director, the board feels poised to take WEN to new heights.”
WEN leadership is a role model for best practices for nonprofits in governance and accountability. Speaking from personal experience, my first board training was conducted by Beth Smith. Twelve years later, I still draw on the shared wisdom of that experience with the boards I train. We look forward to sharing in WEN’s next 25 years of success!
Watch for WEN’s Annual Legacy Circle event to be held in September and the Fashion Show on September 20th, at the Webster House.
Executive Director
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