Jan Langbein & Karen White Bios
Jan Langbein
For more than 30 years, Jan Edgar Langbein has been an activist in efforts to end violence against women. Currently, as CEO of Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support, Ms. Langbein oversees Genesis’ internal and external operations as well as funding and community education.
Recognized as a National Expert on the dynamics and effects of domestic violence, Ms. Langbein conducts training, keynote, and workshop programs for numerous local, state, and national conferences, social and civic organizations, and corporations. Ms. Langbein provides expert testimony in court cases and trains law enforcement and prosecutorial professionals to enhance their efforts to end violence against women. In partnership with the Dallas Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ms. Langbein co
founded the annual International Conference on Crimes Against Women with advanced practices of investigation and prosecution bringing together law enforcement, advocates, prosecutors, and forensic health professionals.
Under Ms. Langbein’s leadership, Genesis has grown from a seven-room emergency shelter to a full-service response for victims of domestic violence. Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support provides a continuum of care which includes expanded shelter services, transitional housing, day care, an on-site school, access to civil legal representation, jobs readiness programming, ESL education, advocacy, and counseling at their residential and nonresidential facilities. Genesis is unique as one of the few victim services programs in the country that accomplishes sustainability without government funding. Since its inception, Genesis has not only developed services of excellence but also innovative programs and funding sources. The organization and success of this model program has been shared statewide to other NGOs.
In 2009, Ms. Langbein concluded a Presidential Appointment as Senior Policy Advisor to the Director of the United States Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). As Senior Policy Advisor, Ms. Langbein served as chief strategist of OVW. On behalf of the Director, she guided and evaluated program and administrative processes and worked to implement standards and protocols for internal and external operations. She supported the ongoing efforts within OVW for policy issues regarding the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act.
Her extensive professional affiliations include board, advisory, and committee positions with the Texas Council on Family Violence, Family Violence Prevention Council, Dallas County Family Violence Task Force, Family Violence Coalition, Dallas Mayor’s Task Force on Domestic Violence, Greater Dallas Injury Prevention Center, and the North Texas Food Bank. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her leadership and community service including the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, Mosaic Family Services Champion of Human Rights Award, the Mary Harriman Community Leadership Award, Maura Award, Woman of Distinction Award, Women’s Advocacy Award, Southern Methodist University’s Profiles in Leadership Award, George Washington Honoree Medal, Peacemakers’ Dallas Peace Patron Award, the Dallas Bar Association Liberty Bell Award, and the George W. Bush Institute Trailblazer Citation.
Ms. Langbein has been qualified for expert testimony in Dallas, Collin, Tarrant, and Ellis Counties for civil, criminal misdemeanor and felony proceedings, and has provided expert testimony in immigration cases as well as courts martial at Ft. Hood and Lackland Air Force Base.
Karen White
Currently serving as the President & CEO of Texas Women’s Foundation, Karen is a dynamic, mission-driven and results-oriented leader, Karen has spent the past 20 years leading nonprofit organizations focused on the needs of women and children. With an extensive background in marketing and communications, Karen began her nonprofit career in cause-related marketing with Susan G. Komen where she ultimately served as the Managing Director of Sports and Sponsorships with responsibility for Komen’s Race for the Cure® and 3-Day for the Cure® signature events.
Building on her experience in connecting big brands with life-saving missions, Karen served as the Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where she doubled the impact of the St. Jude Thanks & Giving Campaign® and expanded the organization’s partnerships with corporate partners and premier sports leagues including the NFL and PGA.
A University of Georgia graduate and member of Tri Delta sorority, Karen returned “home” in 2014 to serve as Tri Delta’s Chief Executive Officer. During her tenure, Karen increased engagement among the organization’s 250,000 collegiate and alumnae members worldwide with a focus on personal and professional development, and diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging. She also helped create a culture of philanthropy among Tri Delta’s members. In 2024, Tri Delta will celebrate 25 years of partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and will top $100 million in funds raised for the mission.
Additionally, Karen helped grow the impact of Tri Delta’s Foundation, more than doubling its assets under management in support of scholarships, educational grants and needs-based assistance for Tri Delta’s members along with grants to enhance the organization’s educational programs. She also led the significant growth of the Tri Delta’s housing arm through strategic capital investments and acquisitions.
As the single mother of three young adults, Mary Patrick (29), Will (25) and Tee (23), Karen’s passion for women and children runs deeply. To her core she believes that strong women, indeed create a better world. When she’s not advocating for Texas women and girls, she enjoys playing pickleball, practicing Pilates or walking her rescue dog, Murdock.
show notes
Gail Davis is joined by Jan Langbein (CEO of Genesis Women’s Shelter) and Karen White (President & CEO of Texas Women’s Foundation) share powerful stories and hard-earned lessons from years of leading mission-driven organizations—and hosting events that truly move people to act.
Dallas nonprofit leaders Jan Langbein and Karen Hughes White discuss the intricacies of planning successful events for nonprofits and explore the importance of selecting impactful speakers along, the challenges faced in event planning, and the significance of VIP engagement. The conversation highlights the need for strategic planning, managing relationships with sponsors, and what it takes to ensure successful outcomes.
Key topics in this episode include:
Jan Langbein and Karen White's background and experience in planning events in the nonprofit sector.
Event planning for nonprofits requires strategic thinking and creativity.
The choice of speakers can significantly impact the success of an event.
VIP engagement is crucial for fundraising and donor relations.
Managing expectations with sponsors is essential for event success.
Challenges for nonprofit events - and how GDA can help.
The stakes are high in securing speakers for nonprofit events.
Community impact is at the heart of nonprofit work.
Visit gdaspeakers.com to learn more about bringing a keynote speaker to your next event!
