383: Executive Women of Lake Norman - with Joanie Baker and Kellie Grutko

March 6, 2026·26 min·2 clips

Joni Baker explains how Executive Women of Lake Norman balances exclusive categories with flexible membership to foster diverse industries.

1. The Best of LKN podcast features Joanie Baker and Kelly Grutko discussing Executive Women of Lake Norman, a professional women's networking organization in the Lake Norman, North Carolina area. 2. Joanie Baker is president of Executive Women of Lake Norman and owner of Lakeside Living LKN, a community publications and marketing firm serving Cornelius and Mooresville; Kelly Grutko is the group's director of communications and founder of Purposeful Pivot, a coaching practice for midlife women navigating corporate burnout. 3. The episode's core question is what Executive Women of Lake Norman offers that standard leads-based networking groups do not, and why that distinction matters for women professionals and entrepreneurs. 4. The organization was founded in 2009 by two women, including Dana Jordan from Lake Norman Woman Magazine and Denise Williams from U.S. Bank, who wanted a group focused on education and support rather than referral generation. 5. The founders recruited a board of seven by personal reference, assigning specific roles: secretary, treasurer, vice president, past president, president, director of communications, and director of programs. 6. Early meetings were held at the Michael Waltrap building, then Alton's (now Peninsula Prime), and eventually the Randy Marion room at the chamber, where meetings continued through COVID. 7. Membership peaked at nearly 60 before COVID, dropped to roughly 20 active members during the pandemic recovery period, and has since rebuilt to approximately 33 members. 8. The group uses a three-seats-per-category structure rather than single-seat exclusivity, which Joanie says prevents any one industry from dominating while keeping the membership mix diverse. 9. New categories, such as commercial realty, have been created when members with specific niches did not fit existing categories, making the seat system flexible rather than rigid. 10. Members meet twice monthly: a social on the second Wednesday and an educational luncheon on the fourth Wednesday, with luncheons typically featuring a guest speaker on topics selected via member survey. 11. Recent luncheon topics have included personal branding at Sabi in Davidson and a session on women's health, supplements, and menopause. 12. Kelly Grutko joined after attending a social in the summer prior to the recording, described the group as welcoming rather than transactional, and was appointed director of communications within a few months of joining. 13. Kelly's Purposeful Pivot coaching practice, which helps midlife women transition out of corporate roles, was approximately nine months old at the time of recording. 14. Kelly recounts a direct skill swap with a fellow member: she received QuickBooks and bookkeeping training from a member who runs a bookkeeping practice, and in return provided marketing coaching to that member. 15. Joanie notes her own magazine photographer is a group member she met through the organization and now works with regularly, illustrating how professional relationships formed in the group extend beyond formal meetings. 16. Realtor Maureen Roberge is cited as a long-term member whose business has grown over the years, with the group contributing to her visibility in both commercial and residential real estate in the Lake Norman area. 17. The episode is conducted as a conversational interview; host Jeff shares his own networking experiences throughout, which creates an informal, peer-level tone rather than a promotional pitch. 18. The energy is warm and anecdote-driven, with both guests affirming each other's points and the host adding personal context, resulting in a low-pressure feel consistent with how the guests describe the group itself. 19. Women entrepreneurs and professionals in the Lake Norman area curious about supportive, education-focused networking will find this useful. 20. Listeners outside the Lake Norman region or those seeking tactical business-growth frameworks rather than community-building content will find limited actionable value.

As heard by us

A member-focused networking conversation that blends community, mentoring, and practical learning.

Joni Baker and Kelly Grutko present Executive Women of Lake Norman as a networking group that leans on practical support, not just introductions and handshakes.

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Why you'd press play

A friendlier take on networking for women who want a more supportive professional circle.

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