Our History

Network of Enterprising Women (N.E.W.) was started in 1988 by Shirley Wagner and Debbie Johnston, two professional businesswomen seeking to build a women’s networking group meeting on a monthly basis.  These two women, joined by several others, met in a small local restaurant.  Eventually, the group expanded and the meeting location moved to a larger restaurant.  Along the way, N.E.W. became a nonprofit organization, with a board of directors, which hosts many events outside the monthly networking luncheon.

The main goal of N.E.W. is to assist and encourage women who desire to become established in business, and to promote and foster the exchange of knowledge and understanding of methods for success in establishing and maintaining a business. 

We are unique from other networking groups by being a richly philanthropic organization.  All proceeds from Monthly Auctions and Donations are to benefit our High School Scholarship Fund.  This fund allows us to grant yearly scholarships to High School Senior girls in the Richmond and surrounding area to pursue continuing education.