Chartered on July 30, 1996, with just 44 women, the Lakeland Downtown Chapter currently has more than 100 members and is considered the largest ABWA Chapter in the country. Our members are involved in achieving their career goals through personal and professional development, as well as networking their businesses. Members also raise funds for scholarships through the Stephen Bufton Memorial Educational Foundation, offering opportunities for women to earn college degrees, retrain for the workplace or take continuing education courses through a robust national online community called the APEX Campus. Our chapter is also proud to have achieved the coveted Level One Best Practices Award from our national organization each year. We truly are creating a better place for Lakeland and Polk County women (and a few good men) to learn and grow both personally and professionally. We welcome guests at all of our meetings and look forward to seeing you soon!