Fort Worth Charity · 501(c)(3) Organization
Powerful Purses
16th Anniversary Luncheon
Date
April 1, 2026
Venue
The Fort Worth Club
Check In
10:30 AM
Our Purpose
For sixteen years, we have brought together trailblazing women and men from across the commercial real estate and business communities to invest in the next generation.
Our annual luncheon is a one-of-a-kind experience — featuring groundbreaking women, inspiring conversation, and meaningful philanthropy — all under one roof.
Net proceeds directly benefit qualified birth mothers of the Gladney Center of Fort Worth and YWLA graduates.
Your sponsorship College-level academic scholarships awarded to qualified young women pursuing higher education. Cynthia R. Bailey Dress for Success equips our scholars with professional attire, mentoring, networking, and the tools of success for their career journeys.
A Conversation You Won't Want to Miss
SENIOR COUNSEL FOR TECHNOLOGY AT MAXIMUS
Melanie’s a seasoned attorney with extensive public and private sector experience advising senior leaders on the legal, regulatory, and ethical dimensions of technology. At Maximus, she provides strategic guidance to
C-suite executives on legal, cyber security, and compliance risks associated with the company’s use of AI to drive innovation and digital transformation.
Before Maximus, Melanie served more than a decade in the U.S. Dept of Defense Office of General Counsel, culminating in a Pentagon assignment where she supported the Dept’s national security and intelligence
operations. At DoD, she deployed 6-months to Kabul, Afghanistan, where she provided legal oversight to all active intelligence operations in country, and critical counsel to senior military leaders in support of U.S. and Coalition missions.
Melanie’s experience extends to the White House Office of the National Cyber Director, serving as Special Counsel for Compliance and built the organization’s inaugural compliance framework. Melanie holds a Juris Doctor from GWU Law School and a BA in Political Science and Spanish from TCU.
with Celebrity Interviewer
Deborah Ferguson
Anchor · NBC 5 TODAY · Dallas/Fort Worth
An award-winning journalist and recognized leader in DFW television news, Deborah Ferguson brings her signature warmth and incisive wit to the conversation. She has served as Powerful Purses’ featured interviewer since 2014.
