Professional Women of Winston-Salem

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ABOUT PWWS

Founded in 1990 by a dedicated group of professional women in Winston Salem, Professional Women of Winston-Salem (PWWS) has evolved into an energetic organization with more than 100 members.

Throughout the years, the leadership continues to strive to establish goals to meet the needs of its organization, recruit new members and maintain a superior level of standards for meeting programs.

As a visible sign of this strong commitment, PWWS offers the annual PWWS Scholarship Program designed to enhance the lives of women in our community.

The current purpose and goals of PWWS are:

to support women on a professional level;
to learn from each member by sharing professional experience and ideas;
to develop and influence confidence in women who aspire to higher career goals;
to build a community of women who support each other in becoming more effective in the business world;
to provide programs that stimulate professional and personal growth and development;
to offer a forum where business women can exchange resources and new ideas, make new contacts, and open new lines of communication.

PWWS is open to all professional women in the community and meets monthly to network and learn from speakers selected to complement the goals of the organization.

PWWS History

In the summer of 1990, a small group of professional women in Winston-Salem spearheaded by Janice Kerley and Karen Bunch met to formulate a plan for an organization geared toward female professionals in the Winston-Salem area.

Others involved in that process were Marge Becker, Nancy Ellison, Jeryn Freeman, Leslie Martin, Liz Martin, Pat McPhail, Nancy Merschon, Christina Skeeters and Judy Vassar.

The first formal meeting was held on November 14, 1990, at the Piedmont Club.

Although intentions were good, the organization had a difficult formulation period. Many meetings were held by that dedicated group of women to discuss and revise areas which were not working and enhance areas which were.

The original intent was to be a local chapter affiliate of the National Association of Female Executives (NAFE). However, charter members quickly learned that affiliation with NAFE was not important and made membership optional.

Since that fall day in 1990, PWWS has had significant growth primarily due to the hard work of its members in recruitment and maintaining the high standards of monthly meeting programs.

PWWS has been led by the following presidents:

1991		Janice Kerley
1992		Pat McPhail
1993		Jeryn Freeman
1994		Milrie Lentz
1995		Barbara Chew (2 months) Milrie Lentz completed term
1996 1997		C.J. Taylor C.J. Taylor
1998		Judy McAllister
1999		Marsha Smunt
2000		Hilary Kosloske
2001		Judi Lawson Wallace
2002		Cathy Seaver
2003		Amy Gardner
2004		Patti Fisher
2005		Rachel Morrow
2006		Jennifer Schiller
2007		Elizabeth Baird Barnette

PWWS P.O. Box 30116 Winston-Salem, NC 27130