In 1993, Francine Read founded VOICES, INC. creating the VOICES Lecture Series in Portland, Oregon, a multi-evening series filled with insight, inspiration and intelligent talk. Over the years the series has featured the world’s most interesting women and many of the hottest women speakers on the circuit today.

It is not a woman’s issues forum but a series that addresses a wonderful array of issues as seen from women’s perspectives. Both women and men are welcome to participate. Speakers say the audiences are the best; warm, educated and eager to participate — a great group of women and men. 

VOICES is at the historic First Congregational Church in Portland, Oregon. The Church holds about 900 people.  It is a very intimate environment, which contributes greatly to the quality of the program. The intimate setting of the Church fosters the audience to participate directly with the remarkable women. VOICES enjoys a loyal subscriber base with a majority of the audience returning annually.

While the core business of VOICES, Inc. is to produce the VOICES Lecture Series, a portion of the company is dedicated to brokering women speakers through the website GreatWomenspeakers.com, specializing in women speakers, trainers, consultants and celebrities. Launched in July, 2000, it is ranked #2 on Googlefor the search “women speakers.”

In 2011, VOICES launched an eight-month professional development program called the VOICES Leadership Forum for Emerging Women Leaders designed to strengthen and support the next generation of leaders.

Francine Read was selected by The Portland Business Journal as one of its Women in Business Orchid Award recipients for 2010!

In 2007, Francine Read was named "One of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Town" by the NW Women's Journal.