Karyn Winters, who serves as Director of the Genesee County Business/Education Alliance (BEA) and Business Education Coordinator for Genesee Valley BOCES, was recently honored with the Leadership Award at the 2025 YWCA Women of Inspiration Awards. The recognition came as a surprise to Karyn, but it reaffirmed the deep impact of the work she has poured her heart into by building meaningful partnerships, opening doors for students, and helping young people envision bright, successful futures.
Throughout her career, Karyn has been a driving force behind programs that connect education with real-world opportunity. Her leadership is guided by collaboration, inclusivity, and a genuine belief in the power of community. One of her proudest accomplishments has been the creation and continued growth of GLOW with Your Hands, a hands-on regional workforce event that launched in 2019 and has since become a model for others across New York State.
Karyn’s approach to leadership has been shaped by the mentors she has had along the way and the lessons learned from working under thoughtful, mission-driven leaders. She is proud of the small but passionate BEA team that brings these programs to life and is deeply committed to fostering a supportive, empowering work environment that values creativity, shared vision, and purpose-driven growth.
In her day-to-day work, no two days are the same, and that’s exactly how she likes it. Whether it’s organizing job shadows, hosting business tours, coordinating summer camps, or leading career fairs, Karyn is always looking for new ways to connect students to the world of work. As a proud graduate of Pavilion Central School, she finds real purpose in giving back to the region that helped shape her. Helping local students discover what’s possible in their own backyard is both a privilege and a passion.
Her reach extends far beyond Genesee County. Initiatives like Camp Hard Hat, launched in partnership with GV BOCES, now operate in multiple regions and continue to inspire the next generation of skilled workers. Likewise, the success of GLOW with Your Hands has sparked similar efforts across the state, further cementing the GLOW region as a leader in youth workforce development.
Though Karyn initially set out to become a teacher, her path took an unexpected but meaningful turn through nonprofit work with Junior Achievement. That experience opened the door to a new passion in workforce development and ultimately led her to her current role, where she has thrived since 2017. She continues to work closely with GV BOCES to strengthen school-to-career connections across the region.
Karyn draws strength and inspiration from her late mother, whose resilience and dedication left a lifelong impression, and from her daughter Emma, who motivates her to lead with intention and integrity every day. She also serves as President of the Pavilion Alumni Hall of Fame Committee and looks forward to staying actively involved in the community she holds close to her heart.
One of her favorite life mottos, spotted on a sign in a restaurant, has become her guiding philosophy:
“Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don’t strive to make your presence noticed, make your absence felt.”
It’s a message Karyn lives by in both her work and her life, showing up each day with humility, vision, and the determination to make a difference.
Karyn Winters truly embodies what it means to lead with heart. Her impact is felt in classrooms, communities, and careers, and it will continue to ripple outward for years to come. Congratulations to Karyn on this well-deserved honor!
Photo Credit: E3 Communications