The leaders who started—and support—it all.

In 1986, Mary Jo Pulte gathered a group of 30 Michigan women to discuss philanthropy and the imbalance in donations to women’s programs. At that time, only 3% of philanthropic dollars went to programs for women and girls in the United States.

Empowered to change that statistic, the women founded Michigan Women Forward, formerly known as Michigan Women’s Foundation: the only public, statewide foundation devoted to the economic and personal well-being of Michigan women and girls.

MWF is a certified community development financial institution (CDFI) whose mission is to expand economic opportunity for women and entrepreneurs of color, empower the next generation, and celebrate and honor the accomplishments of Michigan women.

Each year, thousands of individuals, families, corporations and foundations generously donate both time and money to support MWF’s programs that provide opportunity for Michigan women to succeed.

View our 2021 Impact Report
View our 2020 Impact Report
View our 2019 Impact Report

Michigan Women Forward Team

Detroit Office

Kenneth Anene, Loan Portfolio Manager, 313.771.3513

Allyson Boyle, Chief Financial Officer, 313.771.3523

Carolyn Cassin, President & CEO, 313.771.3512

Kelly Daniels, Accountant

Alexis Dishman, Chief Lending Officer, 313.771.3524

Andrea Davis, Accountant, 313.771.3519

Tanesia Greer, Neighborhood Resource and Intake Coordinator, 313.771.3514

Ben Jirik, Loan Officer, 313.771.3522

Jennifer Moon, Loan Officer, 313.962.1920

R ashelle Paggeot, Marketing and Communication Coordinator

Ann Parnis, Executive Assistant | Office Manager, 313.771.3516

Laura Tomassi-Miller, Loan Officer, 313.356.2915

Mayra Villareal-Martinez, Technical Assistance Business Consultant, 313.771.3517

Carmen Szurpicki, Development Director, 313.771.3520

Grand Rapids Office

Natalie Hall, Chief Development and Program Officer, 616.649.2322

Ana Jose, Director of Business Development, 616.903.4196

Elly Drain, Program Reporting & Events Manager, 616.765.4515

Port Huron Office

Maggie Toole, Business Development Officer, 810.941.4030

Michigan Women Forward Board of Trustees

OFFICERS

Chair: Stephanie Naito, Meijer

Vice Chair: Reigne Beauboeuf, HNTB Corporation

Treasurer: Mary Beth Kuderik, Kuderik & Associates CPAs

Secretary: Dawn Tylkowski, Huntington National Bank

President & CEO: Carolyn Cassin, Michigan Women Forward

TRUSTEES

Teresa A. Bingman, Law Offices of Teresa A. Bingman

Stephanie Burnley, Devon Industrial Group, LLC

Denise Christy, Immediate Past Chair

Sarah Earley

Jessica Hayes-Stallings, Skinphorea Facial Bar

Julie Hollinshead, Hollinshead Advisory Services

Alyse Martinelli, Jack Entertainment

Nancy Moody

Kimle Nailer, Nail-Rite Construction, Inc.

Denise Quarles

Eleanor Walker, Henry Ford Health Systems

Lauren Youngdahl Snyder, Consumers Energy