The Women’s Employment Network (WEN) announces the retirement of one of its most influential leaders, Lynnette Williams, Vice President of Programs & Services, effective March 31, 2026. This milestone marks 35 years of transformative leadership and service to the WEN organization.

Since joining WEN in 1990, during its early program expansion, Lynnette has been a driving force behind the organization’s mission and impact. Her leadership helped shape the programs that define WEN today — empowering women to build confidence, strengthen employment skills, achieve financial stability, and create brighter futures for themselves and their families.

“Lynnette Williams is synonymous with the heart of WEN,” said Sherry Turner, President of WEN. “Her compassion, her commitment, and her steady leadership have transformed lives of every woman who walked through our doors. She leaves behind a legacy of hope, healing, and opportunity that will continue to impact Kansas City women for generations.”

During her tenure, Lynnette led the development and evolution of WEN’s core services, including career development, job readiness training, financial education, and holistic support programs. Her vision ensured WEN’s programs remained innovative, responsive, and grounded in the real needs of women navigating barriers to employment.

“WEN has been more than a workplace,” said Lynnette, “it has been a community and a calling. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the extraordinary resilience of women who are rebuilding their lives and stepping into their power. I am grateful for every partner, board member, volunteer, staff member, participant who has been part of this journey. While I am retiring, my belief in WEN’s mission remains steadfast.”

Throughout her career, Lynnette has been recognized for her many accomplishments in assisting women entering or getting back to the workforce. Recognition for her work has come from the U.S. Department of Labor and several area nonprofits, including the Kauffman Foundation. Her dedication to WEN and the women in the metro garnered her the 2016 Beth K. Smith Award.

In 2021, in honor of 30 years of dedicated service to WEN and her impact on the lives of thousands of clients, WEN created the Lynnette Williams Scholarship Fund. This scholarship fund will support WEN clients and their children as they further their education and professional development.

As WEN looks to the future, Lynnette’s leadership and programmatic vision will continue to guide the organization’s work. The systems she helped build, the standards she set, and the values she championed are embedded in WEN’s approach to serving women across Kansas City. Her impact will endure through the thousands of women whose lives have been strengthened and through a mission that remains as vital today as it was when she first began.