Inforum gives women new opportunity to network and more

For Inforum, the mission goes beyond networking. It's about forming alliances. 

 

The group for professional women has more than 1,800 members in Michigan and Southwest Michigan is the region into which the group most recently expanded.

 

"With Southwest Michigan joining we truly became a statewide organization," says Judith Welch, an Inforum vice president with responsibilities to oversee Southwest Michigan, West Michigan and Mid-Michigan.

 

So far there are about 100 women who have participated in Inforum local events. The group sponsors four premiere events each year and regularly meets in smaller gatherings for breakfast, lunch, dinner or gatherings for wine lovers.

 

The group began as the Women's Economic Club in 1962, in an era when women were not allowed into the Detroit Economic Club. Once the Economic Club opened to women the organizers realized that although name no longer fit, the need for the organization still existed.

 

The organization rebranded as Inforum and went on to lengthen the reach of the organization by taking it statewide, without altering its mission to help women learn and succeed in business.

 

Welch says the organization's smaller affinity groups where strong connections can be made, and large events that can draw in the 100s and important information can be exchanged, makes Inforum attractive to women looking for either kind of opportunity. For example, in a recent meeting recognizing successful women in Southwest Michigan, members got to sit at tables with the honorees and talk to them, rather than simply watching them march across a stage and accept an award, Welch says.

 

For more information and to find out about upcoming events, visit their website or call 269.585.5585.