Board of Directors

The Junior League of Cincinnati’s Board of Directors is responsible for the governing and monitoring of the JLC. The goal of the Board is to achieve successes for the JLC that are based on the mission and vision of the League.

 

President: Kelly Barber  

Kelly Barber is a Strategic Research Director at Waterson Garner and Marketing Director for Turn In Concepts.  Her career has focused around marketing optimization and insightful consumer research. A member of the Junior League since 2013, she served as Co-Chair of Leadership Development before taking on the role of VP of Membership, Chair of Nominating and most recently, Pipeline Development Chair.  Kelly earned her MBA at Xavier University in 2008 and her bachelors in Art History at the University of Cincinnati in 2005.

Outside of the League she served on the board of the Kennedy Heights Arts Center and as the volunteer Employee Resource Group lead for 84.51, her previous employer. Kelly resides in Pleasant Ridge with her husband, Tony, and their two dogs, Clifford and Clementine. She is an adventurous traveller, supporter of the local arts and culinary scene and a part-time CrossFit and Pilates instructor.

 

President Elect: Katie Dulle

Katie Dulle joined the Junior League of New York City in 2016 and transferred to the JLC in 2018 to connect with community-focused women driven to make an impact. She has held roles including Chair of Program Development, New Member Advisor, Vice Chair, and Chair of Nominating. Katie is dedicated to issues impacting women’s equity at home, in the workplace, and in the community.

Professionally, Katie leads Strategic Initiatives for North America Applications Operations and Business Services at Oracle, blending her sales and product expertise with her passion for organizational development and program management. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism in Strategic Communication from the University of Missouri and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Outside of the JLC, Katie volunteers with Everytown’s Moms Demand Action and was a 2024 YWCA Rising Star. She resides in Hyde Park with her husband, Brandon, their two young daughters, and their dog, Maeby. In her spare time, she enjoys pilates, needlepointing, and exploring Cincinnati cuisine. She prides herself on being the “magic-maker” for her girls’ special occasions, birthdays, and holidays.

 

Board Secretary: Sam Zehnder

Sam joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2017 looking for a way to make an impact within her community alongside strong like-minded women. Prior to joining the board as Secretary, she has served as the Marketing Chair, Vice President of Communications and the league’s first ever Executive Vice President. 

Sam works as the Marketing Automation Lead for Kroger Precision Marketing, the retail media business of Kroger, where she combines her love for CRM data and digital marketing to deliver meaningful marketing experiences to Kroger CPG and agency partners. Sam is a graduate of Xavier University and a certified Salesforce Administrator. 

Sam is originally from Danville, Kentucky but now considers Cincinnati ‘home’ where she resides in Northside with her husband and young daughter. Outside of the league, Sam enjoys reading, needlepoint, cooking,  traveling with her family and running their rental property business, Grande Dame Properties.

 

Legal Advisor: Sarah Houseman

Sarah Houseman is a Cincinnati attorney licensed in both Ohio and Kentucky. A Northern Kentucky native, Sarah is a graduate of the University of Kentucky where she received both her undergraduate and legal degrees. She currently practices at the law firm of Barron, Peck, Bennie & Schlemmer, located in Oakley. Her practice is focused primarily in the areas of general civil and commercial litigation, small businesses advising, contract drafting and review, and estate planning and litigation.

Sarah joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2016 in order to engage with other professional, like-minded women and become more active in the community that she calls home. In addition to her legal practice, Sarah stays active by playing golf, sand volleyball, and spending time with her rescue dog, Sawyer. She is an avid sports fan and loves to travel – even spending an entire summer in Cape Town, South Africa where she interned at the Black Sash National Headquarters. Outside of Junior League, Sarah serves on the board of directors for the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky and is a member of the Charities Guild of Northern Kentucky.

 

Treasurer: Allison Smith

Allison Smith works as a Director of Contract Strategy in the Strategic Customer Group at Johnson & Johnson.  She is responsible for go to market contract strategies and effectiveness for Ethicon Inc.  She graduated from Miami University in 2009 with a BA in accountancy.

Allison joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2015 and has served the organization through a variety of roles including Chair and Vice Chair of Leadership Development and on the Program Acceleration committee.

As a Cincinnati native, Allison has a long history of volunteerism in the Cincinnati community with a passion around ensuring everyone feels welcome in the city.  She resides in Terrace Park with her husband, Ian, their daughters, Eliza and Campbell and two border collies, Mic and Ryn. In her spare time outside of work and family, Allison enjoys sheep herding with her dogs, traveling and taking advantage of the Cincinnati culinary scene.

 

Strategic Planning Director: Erica Bock

Erica Bock is a film and media producer. She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in English and Digital Media from the University of Cincinnati and a Master of Fine Arts from Point Park University. Since joining the Junior League in 2021, she has served as the Chair of the Content Committee.

She serves on the Boards of Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, where she leads the annual Artswave Campaign, and the Friends of Music Hall, where she serves on the Tours, Talks, and Education Committee and the American Cancer Society’s event planning committee. She is also a professor of film and media studies at the University of Cincinnati, where she is pursuing an MBA.

In her free time, she enjoys skiing, pilates, exploring new restaurants, and traveling, always seeking new experiences and adventures.

 

Past President: René Robers

René Robers joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2011, seeking opportunities to serve the community and to connect with other women who share a passion for progress. She has held various leadership roles across 4 of the 6 Councils, including Vice Chair & Chair of Online, tasked with launching our new websites, New Member Advisor, Nominating, Recording Secretary on the EMT and has also sat on the Program Development committee selecting our past two programs, Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank and Family Nurturing Center in a president-appointed role serving as Operations Liaison, and mostly recently as President-Elect and President in 2023 – 2024. This year she is serving as Immediate Past President on the Board, also as an Ex-Officio member of the Endowment Committee, and is looking forward to experiencing JLC membership as a Sustainer. 

With more than 12 years of CPG marketing experience, René currently shares her professional time and talent with Heineken USA as a Senior Marketing Manager. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Cincinnati, with a minor in Journalism and a certificate in Public Relations in 2008. René is a voracious reader, loves to host and entertain, and actively supports women’s causes, including NextUp Cincinnati and Dress for Cincinnati, and is the Board Chair of Heineken’s Women’s Leadership Forum. René was recognized by the Cincinnati Business Courier as a 2021 Forty Under 40 honoree and received Path to Purchase Institute’s Women of Excellence Mentorship award in 2023. 

She is a Cincinnati native and lives in Hyde Park with her husband Matt, their daughter, Mari-Kate (Marion Katherine) and Westie, Findlay.

 

Presidential Advisor: Kate Fortlage

Kate joined the Junior League of Dayton in 2000 and transferred to the JLC in 2006 when she relocated after graduate school to start her brand management career. She has served on every JL Council and has been a leader on all Councils but one (New Member Vice Chair and Chair, Social Vice Chair and Chair, Nominating Committee Vice Chair and Chair, Board Secretary, President Elect, President and Past President). She has 11 years of JLC Board experience. She recently became a Sustainer of the JLC.

She is a Director of Marketing at Bon Secours Mercy Health. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Keep Cincinnati Beautiful.

Outside of her profession and volunteer work, Kate enjoys traveling internationally, scuba diving, boating, and trying new restaurants (you can find her on Yelp frequently) or recipes at home.

 

At-Large Member: Sarah G. Clark

After to moving to Cincinnati in 2006 from Lexington, Kentucky, Sarah Clark has been an active member of the Cincinnati Community.  She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky and her Masters of Business Administration from Xavier University.  Sarah currently works as a Senior Finance Manager in Business Development at Johnson & Johnson, where she has been for 12 years.  She shares her home with her husband Harrison and their French Bulldog, Olive.

Sarah joined the League in 2010 and since then has held a wide range of leadership roles:  Nominating Committee Member, Leadership Development Chair, Recording Secretary.  She has also served on Ad Hoc committees, including Points & Obligations and Membership Retention. Outside of the League, Sarah has served as the Chair of the United Way Emerging Leaders, Pones Board Member, YMCA Board Intern, and has volunteered with many other organizations. Outside of her volunteer and board work, Sarah loves to travel, try new restaurants, and explore the city of Cincinnati.

 

At-Large Member: Danya Karram, CFP®

Danya started her journey as a community volunteer after the birth of her first child and that journey still continues. One of her first stops was joining the JLC which exposed her to the many volunteer opportunities in our area.

Danya has served the Cincinnati community as a board member of the Immigrant and Refugee Law Center, Cincinnati YWCA, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Red Cross, The Economic Center of University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Ballet, BRIDGES for a Just Community.  She has been active in many other organizations in the Cincinnati area, including Junior League of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Art Museum as a docent, Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation, Alzheimer Association, EquaSion and Festival of Faiths to name a few.

Danya is a co-founder and President of Brilliant Advice, a financial planning and wealth management firm. Her professional career includes working in accounting, finance, strategic planning, marketing and senior management.

Danya has coached women on how to manage their finances as they face life changes. She has given lectures and workshops on personal finance, women in business and on how to foster diverse working environments.

For her charitable work, she was chosen as one of The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Women of the Year. She has been recognized by the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission and numerous community organizations.

Danya holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Kentucky.  She has received certification as an E-Commerce Manager and as a Financial Divorce Specialist and is a Certified Financial Planner™.

 

At-Large Member: Meredith Comin

Meredith is the Marketing & Strategic Partnerships Director for BD Studio Collection, a portfolio of interior design studios and individual brands that support the commercial interior design industry. Meredith is part of the leadership team that manages three design studios as well as a procurement agency. Prior to BD Studio Collection, Meredith spent 18 years in the advertising industry, most recently as a Vice President of Client Strategy at Empower, specializing in a variety of media, creative and advertising practices.

Before rejoining the JLC Board for a sixth, non-consecutive term, she was honored to serve as President during the JLC’s historic 100th year as well as Presidential Advisor to Past President Kate Fortlage. Meredith also served the JLC as President-Elect, a member of the Nominating Committee, Co-Chair of the Spring Fundraiser CinSation, Chair of the Cookbook Committee, in which she and the committee were responsible for the creation of the JLC’s fall fundraiser, Tour of Kitchens, VP of Communications and VP of Membership. Always up for life’s adventures, she spent time as a transfer member of the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach (VA) where she served as Chair of the Research & Development Committee and along with the committee cultivated and successfully launched the JLNVB’s fundraiser, Brunched. She was elected to the Board of Directors as VP of Fund Development before relocating back to Cincinnati.

Outside of her JLC experience, she has been a part of non-profit leadership committees with several other organizations including Josh Cares, the National MS Society Ohio Valley and West Virginia chapters, and Alzheimer’s Association Greater Cincinnati chapter.

A fourth-generation Junior Leaguer, she has been active in the organization since joining the JL of Atlanta in 2008. She has been recognized with the Rising Star Award for her work and dedication to the JLC. After growing up in Atlanta, GA, she received her B.A. in Public Relations with a concentration in Marketing from Auburn University. She now calls Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood home.

 

At-Large Member: Saralou Durham

Saralou Durham has her undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati and her master’s from Indiana University. She has worked as a teacher and a school librarian. After

her children were born, she took the opportunity to change careers. For over 15 years, she worked as an Interior Designer. Following that, she became a Realtor and spent 30 years helping families find their dream homes. During that time, she was a Circle of Excellence member 29 times.

Saralou joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 1981. Her passion has always been project work.  During her New Member year, she chaired the Child and Humanities Project at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. She was involved in the Children Having Children Conference and then chaired a program for teens to write and perform radio ads encouraging pregnancy prevention.  She was Vice President of Projects and has served on numerous Project Development committees.

For 6 years, Saralou was on the Headquarters search committee until we purchased Columbia Center. She signed our mortgage for the building in 1988 on her last day as President of the JLC.  Recently, she was Vice President of Sustainer Council, serving for the second time and is currently in her second term on the JLC Board of Directors.

Saralou has been on the Board of Directors for Easter Seals and Playhouse in the Park. She served as Board President of the Family Education Center and the Cincinnati Woman’s Club Foundation. At present, she is Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Cincinnati Woman’s Club.

At the University of Cincinnati, she served as President of the College of Education Alumni Association and edited the Cincinnati for Kids book as well as the Rainbow of Recipes cookbook. She was President of the entire Alumni Association from 1994-96 and received the University of Cincinnati’s Distinguished Service Award.

Currently, Saralou brings her love of reading to the Academy of World Languages by volunteering weekly in the classroom and providing children with books of their own. She also participates in their Adopt-a-Class program. 

Saralou has been married to her husband David for 56 years.They have 3 children and 5 fabulous grandchildren.  She wishes those three grandchildren in California would move to Cincinnati (they can bring their parents, too)!

 

At Large Member: Dionn Tron

Dionn’s Junior League career began in Cincinnati, where she quickly became involved in both committees and projects. Next, she moved to South Bend, IN and joined the Junior League there. A promotion took her to New Jersey and she joined the Junior League of Montclair-Newark. After a decade she moved to Hartford, CT, and yes there was a Junior League there! And then she went sustaining. One last career move brought her back to Cincinnati and she reaffiliated as a sustainer. What her moves should tell you is that the Junior League is a wonderful way to meet people and get involved in a new community instantly.

In each of these Leagues she served on or chaired committees including marketing, strategic planning, communications, and training; projects including Kids Helping Kids, the Homeless Shelter Coalition, Power to Read, as well as development of three cookbooks, including Cincinnati’s RiverFeast, her personal favorite.

Upon Dionn’s return to Cincinnati, she learned that Sustainership does not mean no meetings. She was recruited to be the Sustainer Advisor for the Marketing/Communications VP and did that for three different VPs.  Since a goal of JLC was to more actively involve our sustainers, Saralou Durham and Dionn became the Sustainer VPs and worked to engage more sustainers to share their expertise with the actives.  In this role, the Sustainer VP was added to the Executive Management Team (EMT). Dionn served on the Board for two years as Presidential Advisor to both Meredith Comin and Sarah Reiger.

Dionn’s career was in marketing and strategic communications at companies including Procter & Gamble, Bayer (Agfa), Pratt and Whitney (UTC) and Miami University. Except for P&G, she served as the VP and chief communications and marketing officer and helped each of these three rebrand their organizations to unite the various business units.

Along the way Dionn was fortunate to serve on various community boards including Big Brother and Sisters, Kids Helping Kids, TheaterWorks, United Way, the Homeless Shelter Coalition. She currently serves as the chapter advisor for her sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi, at Miami University, as well as serving on the AOII Foundation Board.

Dionn is looking forward to joining the Board and helping the JLC achieve new heights!

 

At Large Member: Tara Mosley

Tara J. Mosley holds a Bachelor of Science from Wilberforce University and an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. Currently working for The Wine Group as a Senior Insights Manger, Tara has had a long career in the consumer goods industry. Her previous organizations have included The Kroger Company where she led merchandising for the Small Format division, focused on launching new store formats & partnerships nationwide, and strategic planning & trade/brand marketing roles at Spectrum Brands and Procter & Gamble. Tara has prided herself on using her understanding of consumer behaviors and brand innovation and equity to create effective marketing and merchandising plans to benefit some of the nation’s top brands and retailers.

Tara joined JLC in 2012 and has had the pleasure of serving across several councils, ad hoc committees, signature partnerships, program development cycles in addition to sitting on the Board and Executive Management Team.

As a Cincinnati native, Tara is very involved in her community and works with several organizations within the region. She has served as a speaker, mentor, and job coach with Dress for Success Cincinnati’s Professional Women’s Group and is a current Portaluca board member. She has previously served as a mentor with Public Allies’ mentoring program, and is a member of NEW (Network of Executive Women).

 

DEI&B Chair: Dr. Endia J. Crabtree

Dr. Endia (Santee) Crabtree is a Principal Scientist, Clinical Risk Evaluation at Boston Scientific Corp. Her expertise entails the evaluation of the clinical benefit, risk, and performance profiles of minimally invasive surgical technologies throughout their lifecycle. She is also a Board Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) and a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP). She joined Junior League Cincinnati in 2023.

Dr. Crabtree has been actively involved in various organizations and committees. She is Board Trustee, Industry At-Large at The Ohio Academy of Science, Membership Committee Member of The Cincinnatus Association, Boston Scientific’s Employee Resource Groups and STEM programs, and is an active Member of MedtechWOMEN and MedTech Color.

Her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is evident through her current and past involvement in DEI-focused committees with organizations such as the American College of Epidemiology, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Paleontological Society, the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and the American Medical Writers Association. 

In addition to her professional achievements, Dr. Crabtree is the First Black Woman Board Member at the Cincinnati Dry Dredgers: An Association of Amateur Geologists and Fossil Collectors. She has a permanent invertebrate fossil exhibit called “Ancient Worlds Hiding in Plain Sight” at the Cincinnati Museum Center’s Museum of Natural History & Science, which she shares with the Dry Dredgers.

She holds a Ph.D. in Public Health Education with a cognate in Epidemiology from the University of Cincinnati, an M.L.A. from The Johns Hopkins University, an M.S. in Public Health Education, and a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Michigan-Flint. Her training also includes two cancer survivorship postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center (formerly the University of Cincinnati Cancer Institute) and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. 

She attributes her upbringing in Flint, Michigan, for shaping her gratitude and values. She spending her free time with her amazing and supportive husband, and adorable bearded dragon.

 

Nominating Chair: Meg Anacker 

Meg joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2018 looking to make new connections, friends, and to get involved within the community. Coming from the Chicago land area, I found joining the League as a great way to make new friendships and to learn more about Cincinnati. I have been involved with the Membership Engagement Committee; I then moved into the leadership positions of Vice Chair in 2021 and Chair in 2022 for the Membership Engagement Committee. After holding those two leadership roles, I then took on the role of Nominating Vice Chair in 2023. Before moving to the Cincinnati area, I graduated from the University of Dayton with a BA in Communications: Public Relations. 

I worked in IT supporting Procter & Gamble with British Telecom, Hewlett Packard, and DXC Technology for over a decade. Now, I spend my days in the Anderson area with my husband Matt, our two children, Evie and Henry, and our English Cream Golden Retriever, Yeti. Between school drop off, pickup, and all the extra activities for the kiddos, I make time to jump on the Peloton Bike daily. I find cooking and baking to be relaxing and a fun way to try new foods. With that passion for cooking, Matt and I enjoy trying any new restaurant in Cincinnati and have started to also introduce the kiddos to these fun new spots as well. 

 

Executive Management Team

The Junior League of Cincinnati’s Executive Management Team is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and management of the JLC to ensure the achievement of the purposes of the JLC based on the mission and vision.

 

VP Communications: Elizabeth Desrosiers 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VP Community Impact: Rebecca Bryson

Rebecca Bryson joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2015, seeking to connect with likeminded women who enjoy community service and socializing. Prior to her current role as VP Community Impact, Rebecca has served on the Tour of Kitchens committee, Program Acceleration committee (as Chair and Vice Chair), Nominating, and Chair of Advocacy and Education. 

With more than 10 years of experience in commercial real estate, Rebecca works as a Commercial Credit Officer at PNC, helping to manage risk for a multi-billion dollar portfolio of commercial real estate loans. Rebecca is proud to be a founding member and prior Co-Chair of PNC Real Estate’s Diversity and Inclusion Council and has previously served as VP of the Cincinnati/Northern KY Young Professionals Group. 

Rebecca was a 2015 YWCA Rising Star and graduate of the Rising Star Leadership Program, a member of C-Change Class 19, and received the 40 Under 40 Award in 2024.  Rebecca lives in Northern Kentucky with her husband, Josh, her two children, Bennett and Charlie, and her beloved dog Lucy. In her free time, Rebecca enjoys spending time with friends, needlepointing, and cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats.

 

VP Finance: Lauren Krebs

VP Fund Development: Christina Yardley

Katie Arendt earned her bachelor’s degree in organizational communication and political science from the University of Toledo in 2017. She recently started a new career in the legal field and currently works as a paralegal for Barron, Peck, Bennie, and Schlemmer in Oakley. Katie resides in Over the Rhine with her husband, Dan, and their four rescue cats. She loves cheering on her favorite sports teams, FC Cincinnati and the Buffalo Bills, attending the theater, visiting local parks, and supporting new restaurants, breweries, and other small businesses in the downtown area. 

Katie joined the JLC in 2021 after moving to Cincinnati the previous year from her hometown of Cleveland. Since joining, she has served in several leadership roles including Membership Recruitment Vice Chair, Membership Recruitment Chair, and a New Member Advisor. In the 2023-2024 League year, she participated in the AJLI Growth Strategy Boot Camp with other membership-focused leaders from Junior Leagues around the world and the JLC Board Bank program, both of which inspired her to get further involved in both the JLC and greater Cincinnati community. 

Outside of the Junior League, Katie has been involved in the Cincinnati Parks Emerging Leaders Program and is currently a member of the Cancer Support Community Emerging Leaders Board, the Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank Events Committee, the Junior Achievement Ladies Sporting Clay Classic Committee, and the Cincinnati chapter of the University of Toledo Alumni Association.

 

VP Training & Development: Megan Busam

Megan Busam earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Indiana University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati. She currently works as a Guardian ad Litem Attorney for Hamilton County, advocating for the best interests of children involved in the child welfare system.

Megan joined the JLC in 2013 and has since served on the Cinsation, Tour of Kitchens, New Members, Nominating, and General Meeting Planning Committees. She has also held several leadership roles including New Members Advisor, New Members Co-Vice Chair and Co-Chair, General Meeting Planning Chair, and most recently, Vice President of Training and Development and Recording Secretary on the Executive Management Team.

Outside of the League, Megan previously served as member and Co-Chair of the Cincinnati Parks Foundation’s Emerging Leaders and is a member of the Women’s Committee of Cincinnati Parks. She also volunteers as the Operations and Risk Prevention Advisor for the Gamma Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta.

 

Nominating Vice Chair: Erika Lundstedt

 

DEI&B Vice Chair: Sarah Clark

Sarah Clark is Vice President of Financial & Market Risk, Enterprise Risk Management at the Federal Home Loan Bank Cincinnati where she has worked since 2007. She is an alumna of Transylvania University where she earned a dual BA in Mathematics and Economics. She moved to Cincinnati in 2006 to attend the University of Cincinnati, earning an MS in Finance. She joined Junior League Cincinnati in 2021 and has served on the finance and leadership development committees. Sarah has been honored and excited to work in the organization to serve the Cincinnati area, find opportunities for personal and professional development for herself and others, and to build a robust sense of community among such fantastic strong women.

Outside of professional life and volunteerism, Sarah is a lifelong learner, and mother of two. She enjoys yoga, strength training, and travel – especially to locations with mountains, warm climates, or new cultural experiences.

 

VP Sustainer Council: Kathryn Harsh