BPW is an innovative organization of working women that provides leadership opportunities for personal and professional growth along with opportunities to create change in your workplace and community.
Our Members
Our diverse group is made up of seasoned and young professionals and includes business owners, executive directors and entrepreneurs. You’ll find our members at Health Care, Jackson College, Baker College, JSO, and Lloyd Ganton Retirement Centers. Members are active leaders in the community and can be found supporting dozens of Jackson’s fine nonprofit organizations.
BPW Members participate in Equal Pay Day and the Salvation Army Red Kettle Drive. We provide scholarships to support professional growth and development for women and contribute to the BPW Cancer Fund.
Our local organization is part of one of the largest working women’s organizations, the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation headquartered in Washington, D.C., BPW Michigan and National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs.
Leadership: Current Officers (June-May)
Robin Vafiadis, President | Mary Kay Beauty Consultant
Janet Wolfinger, Vice President | Retired
Lori Masters, Treasurer | Retired
Angela Machnik, Secretary | Corporate Events Consultant
Committee Service
Members support the work of BPW through committee service. Committees include: programming, publicity, legislative, finance.
Networking
We meet the first and third Monday from noon to 1:15 PM at the Cascades Manor with a business and program meeting featuring various speakers on topics of interest to our members. Information about upcoming programs are included on our Facebook page. Like us! It’s the best way to stay in touch and informed. We are also on Instagram@JacksonMIBPW and LinkedIn
May 5 – Business Meeting/Networking – Installation of Officers for 25-26 year
May 19 – Child Care Network with ED Annette Sobocinski
June 2 – Business Meeting/Networking
June 16 – Benefits of Sleeping by Rachel M. Nichols, NP from Henry Ford Health
June 30 – 5th Monday – Fun Day – Visiting the Ye Old Carriage Shop
NO Meetings in July or August
August 18 – Annual Picnic at Judi Ganton’s Home – Bring a dish to pass (No Noon Meeting)
No Sept. 1st meeting – Happy Labor Day
Sept. 15 – Music Therapy with Jamie Lawrence, Owner of Harmony Garden Music Therapy Services
Sept. 29 – BPW FUN Day
Oct. 6 – Business Meeting/Networking
Oct. 20 – Putting Your House in Order – Amy R. Tripp, Chaldean & Tripp
Nov. 3 – Business Meeting/Networking
Nov. 17 – How to Personalize Your Career – Alexis Gilbert, Vice President of Global Brand & Communications, Dawn Foods
Dec. 8 – BPW Holiday Party
Dec. 29 – BPW FUN Day
We are members of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce.
Learn more about membership on the Join page.
History of Leadership
Jackson BPW won the 2024 Michigan BPW Membership Award and the Anna Howard Shaw Award for Excellence in Programming.
We celebrated our chapter’s 100th Anniversary+2 in September 2022. That’s quite a milestone.
Jackson BPW won the 2016 Michigan BPW Membership Award and the Anna Howard Shaw Award for Excellence in Programming.