Inforum and Women in Leadership Mid-Michigan Merge

DETROIT and SAGINAW, Mich., July 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Inforum and Women in Leadership Mid-Michigan announce the merger of their membership organizations, expanding Inforum into the Great Lakes Bay Region.

Celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year, Inforum is the leading professional organization focused on creating strategic connections and accelerating careers for women throughout Michigan and the Midwest. Its membership includes thousands of women across industries from Fortune 500 corporations to small and mid-sized businesses, government, education and media.

Formed in 2004, Women in Leadership Mid-Michigan (WILMM) promotes and develops professional women in the Great Lakes Bay Region through networking, relationship-building, education and training seminars, and collaboration with other regional organizations.

WILMM will become Inforum's Great Lakes Bay Region, joining Inforum's Southeast Michigan, Mid-Michigan, West Michigan, and Southwest Michigan regions. The two organizations will celebrate the merger at a luncheon to be held Aug. 10 at Horizon's Conference Center in Saginaw.

"Inforum is proud to join forces with Women in Leadership Mid-Michigan and its dynamic network of talented and accomplished women," said Terry Barclay, president and CEO of Inforum and Inforum Center for Leadership. "Together we can bring more resources to the Great Lakes Bay Region in our mission to help women lead and succeed and strengthen the business environment."

"Our vision to become the premier women's leadership organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region has become a reality," said Kathleen McGraw, president of Women in Leadership Mi-Michigan. "Joining forces with Inforum allows us to increase our effectiveness in serving professional women, thus making a significant positive impact on the economic growth of our region."

Inforum provides a variety of ways for members statewide to make strategic connections, including affinity groups that bring together professionals around common interests, industry/practice groups such as AutomotiveNEXT and HealthcareNEXT, and networking events featuring high-profile speakers.

Inforum Center for Leadership is the educational and research arm of Inforum. It provides leadership development programs that serve a broad range of professional women at different stages of their careers – from emerging leaders, to high-potential executives, entrepreneurs, and corporate board leaders. Inforum Center for Leadership also conducts and publishes original research, including the biennial Michigan Women's Leadership Index.

Aug. 10 Celebration
Inforum and WILMM will host a luncheon event to celebrate the history of WILMM and introduce Inforum to the members of the new Great Lakes Bay Region.  

Event Details
Date: Aug. 10
Time:  12 - 1:30 p.m.
Location:  Horizon's Conference Center, 6200 State St., Saginaw
Cost: $15 for Inforum and WILMM members; nonmembers $20
Registration: Register for the event at www.wilmm.org 

About Inforum
Inforum is the leading professional organization focused on creating strategic connections and accelerating careers for women throughout Michigan and the Midwest. Inforum serves a broad range of professional women at different stages of their careers – from emerging leaders, to high-potential executives, entrepreneurs, and corporate board leaders. Inforum has offices in Detroit and Grand Rapids with operations in Kalamazoo, Lansing and the Great Lakes Bay Region. For more information, visit www.inforummichigan.org or call 877.633.3500.

About Women in Leadership Mid-Michigan
Women in Leadership Mid-Michigan is an organization of successful women leaders committed to promoting and developing the potential of women and improving the communities of the Great Lakes Bay Region through networking, relationship-building, education and training seminars and collaboration with other regional organizations. Its vision is to be the premier women's leadership organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region by creating dynamic women leaders in economic growth and the ultimate leader-to-leader network.

SOURCE Inforum