As it continues to grow rapidly in membership and influence, REACH Women’s Network has hired Megan Hoyt as its first executive director. Megan brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofits, fundraising and career development to the new role.
An acronym for Recognize, Encourage, Advance, Connect Her, REACH is a local nonprofit with the mission of advancing economic development and promoting gender equity in the workplace. Membership has doubled to 274 in the last year, representing a diverse range of ages, ethnicities and professions. In addition to its very popular annual spring conference, REACH offers year round programming that impacts thousands of working women in the community.
“As a longtime Winston-Salem resident and passionate advocate for women, I am thrilled to be joining this movement to elevate working women in our community,” Hoyt said. “There is an incredible opportunity to build on the strong foundation of what has already been accomplished by this mostly volunteer-led organization. REACH is moving this important mission forward. I hope even more women, companies and allies will join us.”
Julia Townsend, REACH founder and co-president, said, “REACH has accomplished a great deal as a volunteer-led organization with only one part time coordinator and a strong board of directors, advisors and membership. Now, we are ready to take our momentum to the next level with the leadership of a dedicated executive director. In Megan, we saw the perfect skill set and enthusiasm for carrying on and expanding our work in helping REACH members strengthen their skills, connections and impact in their individual workplaces.”
In addition to the annual conference, REACH’s programming includes a leadership and mentoring program with Salem College that pairs REACH women mentors with Salem students; the Pink Couch panel discussion series; and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) training.
“One of the things that attracted me to this position, in addition to the commitment and dedication of its board of directors, was the warmth of the membership,” Hoyt said. “Every person I talked with had a story about something important they had learned or someone new they had connected with through being part of REACH. I was on a call the other day with someone who said, ‘I go to a lot of conferences in my industry, but no one sends me to conferences where I just talk to women about being in leadership and what that means, and the nuances and challenges of that dynamic.’ I’m so thankful that we have the opportunity to provide that space as a community asset.”
In 2023, REACH released the Community Survey of Women in the Workplace that surveyed 700 working women in the community about their workplace experiences. The study found that a supportive workplace culture, advancement opportunities and health insurance that includes mental health coverage were as important as a competitive salary in influencing whether a respondent chose to remain or leave her current job.
One of REACH’s key areas of focus in the next year will center on another finding from the survey – respondents indicated that a lack of access to childcare was the number one reason why they felt they did not advance in the workforce.
“Given our mission to support the economic development and gender equity of women in the workplace, our board of directors determined that the short supply of affordable childcare in the community is an important area of focus,” Hoyt said. “This issue disproportionately affects women, both within the workforce and as providers in the childcare industry.”
REACH is working toward finding solutions to the issue with several community partners, including The Pre-K Priority, Greater Winston-Salem, Inc, Imprints Cares and Leadership Winston-Salem. The organizations have come together to create a three-part conversation series, the second being a REACH Pink Couch panel discussion in January.
After selling out for four consecutive years at Wake Forest Biotech Place, the 2025 REACH Conference will be held in a larger venue at the Benton Convention Center, where it can welcome up to 600 guests. This year’s conference, which will feature panel discussions and lectures on topics as diverse as leadership lessons, self care, DEI and how women can advocate for themselves in the workplace, will take place on April 23rd. Registration will open to the community on February 24, 2025. Additional information is available at reachwomensnetwork.org.