The mission of this federation shall be to achieve equity for all women in the workplace and to empower all women through advocacy, education and information.
513-520-9955
Leaders in Advocacy
Be The Best You Can Be!
Alice Paul, Susan B. Anthony, Lilly Ledbetter and you!
The mission of this federation shall be to achieve equity for all women in the workplace and to empower all women through advocacy, education and information.
Get in touch today
Advocate, Education, Inform
Be part of a non partisan group that gets things done! Use your voice to learn and inform others to enable all of us to grow!
A phone call away
Monthly Meetings near you!
Contact Dawn Trammell @513-520-9955
or fred459@zoomtown.com
LICENSED SIGNTURE PROGRAMS
GREATER CINCINNATI BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL WOMEN
Individual Development
ID provides training and practice opportunities in public speaking, general communications, and job performance skills.
The program introduces participants to the mission and vision of Business and Professional Women (BPW).
Advocacy is something that we take very seriously, and our team is working each and every day to make a positive impact.
With our organization’s mission always in mind, we strive to find new strategies for dealing with this challenge. Contact us to learn more about our commitment to this cause.
The ID program teaches you to SPEAK UP
and STAND OUT for what matters!
YOUNG CAREERIST PROGRAM
Put your best foot forward and compete at our State Conference this year!
Contact: Ursula Bess for more information- ursulabess@yahoo.com
President Bess with 2020 winner!
University of Cincinnati student Chelsea Ker now is an engineer in California!
Young Careerist
Young Careerist
Candidates must be 21 years of age and not over 35 by May 31st of 2026.
Candidates must also have been employed for at least 1 year in a full time job or a student full time. Candidates must believe in the BPW OHIO Legislative Platform.
To learn more about this opportunity please contact the YC Chair at YC@ohiobpw.org
Not just for women!
Men are eligible also. It adds a degree of sophistication to your resume! At BPW OHIO, we are dedicated to stepping up our efforts in addressing this issue. Support is by no means an easy feat, but through cooperation and community empowerment we believe we can facilitate progress in this area.
We are always striving to make a difference, and invite you to learn more and lend your support.
Tribute to Pauline
Past President
Cincinnati BPW.
Below: Memory of
Dee Shaffer
OUR RICH HISTORY
Our history is vast and tied closely to the suffragette movement to gain the right to vote for women.
Making a Difference
Cincinnati Business & Professional Women was established in 1917. We are proud of the dramatic strides Greater Cincinnati working women have made since then. Today, women have greater influence than ever before in their business and professional communities. GCBPW is working to foster the continued growth and development of opportunities for working women. We've come a long way, but there is still much work to be done. please join us in making a difference for the working women of today and tomorrow.
LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
OHIO
PREAMBLE: The Alice Paul Equal Rights Amendment shall stand first, foremost and above all other items which may appear on the Legislative Platform of this Federation until equal rights for women and men become guaranteed in the United States Constitution.
THE ALICE PAUL EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT: Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
CIVIL RIGHTS: Actively work to pass legislation, which will ensure equal rights and remedies for women in all phases of their lives, including support of affirmative action programs; and eliminate all forms of harassment against individuals, and strengthen and improve voting registration, access and fair representation.
ECONOMIC EQUITY: Actively work to support equal educational opportunities; equal treatment for women in all areas of employment, including adequate retirement benefits, improved programs for women re-entering the workforce, and implementation of equal pay for work of comparable worth. Support legislation that promotes these goals.
DEPENDENT CARE: Actively work to strengthen and improve funding for enrichment programs, physical facilities and affordable quality dependent care of all ages regardless of limitations and abilities.
VICTIM RIGHTS: Actively work to strengthen and enforce legal protection for all individuals who are victims of violent acts including domestic and/or sexual violence (including coercive control); human trafficking; promote violence prevention programs; support services and facilities for survivors of this violence and the funding thereof; and support legislation that provides compensatory and punitive damage awards to victims.
HEALTH: Actively work to strengthen and enforce legal protection for full access to all health care services including mental health, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), reproductive choice, funding for research into and protection for women’s health care and educational programs concerning women’s health issues. Actively promote access to mental and physical health care services.
POLICY ITEMS: Actively work for the election of and appointment to policy-making positions those who support the BPW Legislative Platform.
Approved May 2025
Our Scholarships and Grant Program
$500.00 Grant
Donations to Non-Profit / Low Income Subsidized Senior Housing Facilities
Ohio Business & Professional Women’s Retirement Foundation will continue to award up to three $500 grants across the state to support a non-profit, low income / subsidized senior housing facility. This grant is for a facility that provides documentation that the entity is operating under a 501c3 and they are a government facility and/or non-profit low income/subsidized housing for seniors, this is not necessarily a nursing home. Information will be sent to each local and region president. Each local may submit a request; up to three locals will be chosen to receive the grant. Application for a grant is accepted anytime until the deadline, April 15, 2025.
Application Forms for Grants available at: bpwohio.org
STNA Scholarships
We are wanting to encourage those interested in a healthcare career as a State Tested Nursing Assistant to pursue their goals by making available funds in this field. The Ohio Business & Professional Women’s Retirement Foundation believes in helping women. Through this scholarship, the foundation feels that this is a way of keeping the tradition of “women helping women”. For more information see the state website below or call one of us at GCBPW.
Application Forms for Scholarships available at: bpwohio.org
$500 Nursing Scholarship
The Ohio Business & Professional Women’s Retirement Foundation will grant a $500.00 scholarship to a woman pursuing a nursing degree in any accredited school, or nursing program. A scholarship recipient will be selected by a committee after the April 15, 2025 deadline to submit applications. The recipient and all other applicants will be notified with a letter. The Nursing Scholarship Grant winner will be announced at the BPW OHIO annual conference. The purpose of our scholarship is to provide financial support to those interested in a career in nursing. Our policies governing the awarding of scholarships apply equally for all women. All information provided is kept confidential within the bounds of the review process. Applications must be completed in their entirety and accompany all required paperwork.
Application Forms for Scholarships available at: bpwohio.org
Equal Pay Day
This is the day every year in which a woman must work to equal what a man made the previous year! The current rate for a full time woman's pay is 82 cents per the dollar that her male equivalent makes. The gender pay gap is a persistent reminder of the inequality of our society. It is not a fixed date because of the fluctuation of earnings data. The financial impact on women affects every aspect of their lives. Policies and Practices in business and industry have been attacked recently and must be restored.
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WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
OCTOBER EVERY YEAR
National Business Women's History Month is celebrated every October recognizing achievements in small business.
CONFERENCE 2026
May 15 to May 17th 2026 Bowling Green University Bowling Green, Ohio
Three days of fellowship, memories, great food, seminars and fun!
BPW/Ohio has two awards that celebrate women who have shown through their actions how to help others become their best selves personally, professionally, and politically. Learn more at bpwohio.org
EVENT PAGE NEWS
October 20, 2025 Individual Development
Training Session at Forest Park Library
Call 513-520-9955
Gallery
Past Events
Chartered Since 1917!
Presidents of Cincinnati Business and Professional Women's Club
Ursula Bess 2016-2026
Pauline Strayhorne 2008-2016
Dawn Trammell 2005-2008
JoAnn Marksberry 1998-2000, 1980-1981
Pauline Strayhorne 1995-2002
PSPs - Past State Presidents
of
The Ohio Federation of
Business & Professional Women
Year, Past State President, Local
2024-25, Amelia Taggart, Ohio Valley
2023-24, Stephanie Bridwell, Zanesville
2022-23, Elizabeth Herrell, Coshocton
2021-22, Karen McCready, Ashland
2020-21, Paulette Knazek, Zanesville
2019-20, Diana Gibbens, Lancaster
2018-19, Carolyn Hrinda, Ashland
2017-18, Linda Wiegand, Licking County, Columbus
2016-17, Mary Ann Dutro, Zanesville
2015-16, Leona Phillips, Vermilion
