2025-2026 Leadership

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: Katie Dulle

Katie Dulle joined the Junior League of New York City in 2016 and transferred to the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2018, seeking to build relationships with community-driven women. Her leadership within the League has included serving as Chair of Program Development, New Member Advisor and Nominating leadership—each role reflecting her dedication to advancing women’s equity and developing women to do a world of good in their communities.

Professionally, Katie leads Strategic Initiatives for North America at Oracle. She leverages her background in sales and product strategy to drive cross-functional programs that support operational excellence. Her work is grounded in a passion for organizational development and a belief in the power of intentional planning to shape high-performing teams.

Katie 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 Boulder. Beyond her professional and League commitments, she was recognized as a 2024 YWCA Rising Star and is a graduate of the Leadership Council for Nonprofits’ Board Orientation and Leadership Development (BOLD 20) program.

She lives in Hyde Park with her husband, Brandon, their three children, and their dog, Maeby. She prides herself on being a champion for the Fair Play method, an avid needlepointer, an exceptional organizer, and the “magic-maker” for her family’s special occasions.

President-Elect: Rebecca Bryson

Rebecca Bryson joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2015, seeking to connect with likeminded women who want to make an impact in the community. Prior to her current role as President Elect, Rebecca served on the Tour of Kitchens committee, Vice Chair and Chair of Program Acceleration, Nominating committee, Chair of Advocacy and Education and VP Community Impact.

With more than 10 years of experience in commercial real estate, Rebecca works as a Commercial Credit Officer at PNC Bank, 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 new adventures with her family, spending time with friends, needlepointing, and cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats.

Board Secretary: Sam Zehnder

Sam Zehnder joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2017, seeking a meaningful way to make an impact in her community alongside strong, like-minded women. Before stepping into her current role as Board Secretary, she served as Marketing Chair, Vice President of Communications, and the League’s first-ever Executive Vice President.

Professionally, Sam leads Marketing Automation & Operations at Loan Pronto, where she blends her passion for CRM data and digital marketing to create a seamless mortgage experience for homebuyers nationwide. She is a graduate of Xavier University and a certified Salesforce Administrator.

Originally from Danville, Kentucky, Sam now calls Cincinnati home. She lives in Northside with her husband and daughter. Outside of the League, she enjoys reading, needlepoint, cooking, traveling with her family, and managing 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: Erica Burns

Strategic Planning Director: Erica Bock

Erica Bock is a Cincinnati-based film and media producer who leads creative projects across the country and internationally. In addition to her work in film, she specializes in development and fundraising for nonprofit organizations. She serves on several nonprofit boards, including the Junior League of Cincinnati, where she is the Director of Strategic Planning. Erica is passionate about using storytelling, strategic thinking, and community engagement to drive meaningful impact. She also teaches film and media studies at multiple universities and holds an MFA in Screenwriting and Playwriting. She is currently completing her MBA at the University of Cincinnati.

Outside of her professional work, Erica is an avid skier, passionate traveler, and lover of new restaurants and great wine.

Past President: Kelly Barber  

Kelly Barber is a Client Director at Radius Insights 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, Pipeline Development Chair and President from 2024-2025.  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.

Presidential Advisor: JJ Wales

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 serves as the Chief Experience Officer at United Way of Greater Cincinnati, where she leads business operations, marketing, and human resources to create a positive and effective experience for both employees and community partners. With nearly two decades of experience across the private and nonprofit sectors, Meredith brings a strong focus on innovation, collaboration, and community impact to her work. Throughout her career, Meredith has led strategic marketing and operational initiatives for well-known global brands as well as local and regional organizations, always with an eye toward improving outcomes and building meaningful connections. Her ability to align strategy with mission has made her a trusted leader across industries—from consumer goods to nonprofit engagement.

A passionate volunteer and civic leader, Meredith has been an active member of the Junior League for over 16 years. A fourth-generation Junior Leaguer, she began her service in Atlanta in 2008 and is currently serving her sixth, non-consecutive term on the Junior League of Cincinnati (JLC) Board of Directors. She was honored to lead the organization as President during its historic Centennial year and later served as Presidential Advisor. Meredith has held numerous leadership roles within the JLC, including President-Elect, Vice President of Communications, Vice President of Membership, and member of the Nominating Committee. She also chaired key fundraising events such as CinSation and helped create the Tour of Kitchens through her work on the Cookbook Committee.

During her time as a transfer member with the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Meredith chaired the Research & Development Committee, leading the successful launch of a new fundraiser, Brunched, and briefly served as Vice President of Fund Development before returning to Cincinnati.

Beyond her Junior League involvement, Meredith has supported several nonprofit organizations in leadership roles, including Josh Cares, the National MS Society (Ohio Valley and West Virginia chapters), and the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Cincinnati.

Recognized with the JLC Rising Star Award, Meredith is known for her collaborative spirit, creative insight, and deep commitment to service. She holds a B.A. in Public Relations with a concentration in Marketing from Auburn University. Originally from Atlanta, 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: 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. Sarah joined the Junior League in 2021 and has served on the finance and leadership development committees. Most recently, she held the position of DEIB Vice Chair. 

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.

Nominating Chair: Erika Lundstedt

Erika Lundstedt joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2018 as a way to meet new people, volunteer more regularly, and gain new skills. She has served on the Advocacy and Education (including a chair position), CanDo, Program Acceleration, and Member Curriculum committees. She is grateful for the leadership and advocacy opportunities she has had throughout her league career. 

Erika works as an Account Supervisory Consultant at Fidelity Investments. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree from the University of Dayton. 

Erika volunteers with the Indiana University Alumni Association and has served as an Alumni Student Recruiter and a board member of the Greater Cincinnati chapter. She is also a lover of outdoor spaces and is a member of the Women’s Committee of the Cincinnati Parks Foundation. 

A native of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Erika currently lives in Mount Washington. Outside of work and volunteering, you will likely find her thrift shopping, exploring a local trail, or perusing the shelves of local bookstores.

 

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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.

 

Executive Vice President Elect: Katie Ziegler

Katie Ziegler is a dynamic advocate for women’s leadership and community advancement. Since joining the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2020, she has led transformative initiatives and currently serves as Executive Vice President-Elect. Her past roles include Vice President of Communications and Content Committee Chair, where she amplified the League’s voice and impact.

Professionally, Katie brings over a decade of experience in strategic marketing and communications expertise. She is a Senior Brokerage Specialist at Cushman & Wakefield and founder of KDZ Creative, a woman-owned marketing firm. Katie’s commitment to service extends far beyond her professional life. She serves on the Board and Executive Committee of the Forest Hills Foundation for Education, mentors young women through EmpowHer & Move, and co-chairs its sponsorship committee—demonstrating her deep investment in the next generation of female leaders. At Cushman & Wakefield, she furthers inclusion and advocacy as the Corporate Liaison Chair for the PACT National Employee Resource Group.

A proud Cincinnati native, Katie earned her BBA in Marketing and Real Estate from the University of Cincinnati. Her leadership and impact have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Young Professional of the Year, the Cincinnati Business Courier’s 2024 Forty Under 40, and the Junior League of Cincinnati’s prestigious Jeanne Boyce Morrison Presidential Award in 2024.

Katie lives in Anderson Township with her husband and three children. Whether she’s running through area neighborhoods, exploring the city with her family, or building community connections, Katie leads with purpose, passion, and a vision for a more empowered future for all women.

VP Communications: Elizabeth Desrosiers 

Elizabeth Desrosiers has been a dedicated member of the Junior League of Cincinnati since 2017, bringing her passions for community building and leadership development to the League. Originally from Iowa, Elizabeth joined the JLC shortly after relocating to Cincinnati, seeking both meaningful connections and opportunities to give back and plant roots locally.

In addition to serving as the VP of Communications, Elizabeth has been involved with various Junior League committees including Leadership Development, Curriculum Development, Nominating and Membership Engagement.

Professionally, Elizabeth is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Cincinnati Open, one of the largest professional tennis tournaments in the world. Her career spans the sports, technology, tourism and media sectors, with prior roles at U.S. Digital Response, Visit Cincy, Yahoo! Sports, and Southern Illinois University Athletics.

Beyond her professional and League commitments, Elizabeth is deeply involved in the broader community. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau, is President of the Cincinnati chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and volunteers as a FOCCUS mentor for engaged couples through St. Mary Church in Hyde Park.

Elizabeth lives in Madeira with her husband and two children. She enjoys cooking, baking, hosting, reading, watching sports, spending time with friends and family and discovering new experiences throughout Cincinnati.

VP Community Impact: Liz Mason

Liz Mason joined the Junior League in 2021, drawn to its mission that closely aligns with her passion for giving back to the community. A Loveland native, Liz graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and a minor in Marketing. She now resides in Norwood.

Since 2014, Liz has worked at U.S. Bank and recently stepped into a new role as an RCA Professional, working with external vendors. She is actively involved in three volunteer groups within the bank, including: The Development Network, where she has served as an event coordinator, treasurer, and currently as the communications board officer. She is slated to become secretary next year. Proud to Serve, a business resource group where Liz serves as the Connect Board Lead, fostering local employee engagement and a sense of belonging through networking opportunities. Lastly, the Employee Enrichment Experience Team, where she contributes monthly articles to support departmental culture and morale.

Liz has held leadership roles within the Junior League, including Chair and Vice Chair of Community and Outreach (CandO) and Chair of Leadership Development. Beyond her professional and League commitments, she serves on the event board for the Junior Achievement OKI Ladies Sporting Clays & Wine Tasting event and is an Emerging Leader with the Cincinnati Parks Foundation.

In her free time, Liz enjoys attending sporting events, walking her dog Bandit, going to concerts, exploring local bars, hitting the driving range, volunteering, caring for her plants, needlepointing, planning her next vacation, playing pickleball, and picking up new crafts.

VP Finance: Lauren Krebs

Lauren Krebs joined the Junior League in 2019. She has been a committee member on the Program Acceleration, Program Development, and Finance Committees prior to taking on the leadership role of VP of Finance. Lauren earned her bachelor’s degree in Accounting and International Business with a minor in Finance from Xavier University in 2017. Post college she worked as an external auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers where she obtained her CPA. She currently works at Givaudan Flavors as a Senior Pricing Analyst and also coaches CrossFit at CrossFit Cincinnati.

Lauren currently lives in Walnut Hills with her two cats, Cotton and Patches. Outside of work and the Junior League, Lauren plays underwater hockey (yes, it is a real sport), volunteers with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati, performs traditional German dances with the Donauschwaben Schuhplattlers, cheers on Xavier basketball, and enjoys traveling.

VP Fund Development: Emma Lipscomb

Emma Lipscomb joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2022 to connect with driven, community-minded women and contribute meaningfully to the Cincinnati area while championing women’s leadership.  By fall 2023, she stepped into a leadership role as Chair of the Donor Relations Committee.  In 2024, she embraced a new challenge as Chair of the Spring Fundraiser Committee, guiding a dedicated team in launching a keynote-style event. Emma currently serves as Vice President of Fund Development.

A Cincinnati native, Emma graduated from Lakota East High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.  She is currently pursuing her MBA at the University of Cincinnati.

Professionally, Emma works as an engineer at Pfizer, where she contributes to breakthroughs that change patients’ lives.

Outside of work, Emma takes pleasure in gardening, reading, sewing, cooking, and spending time with her Boston Terrier, Oliver.  She also enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Brant, her sister, Cora, and the inspiring women of the Junior League of Cincinnati.

VP Membership: Katie Arendt

Katie Arendt earned her bachelor’s degree in organizational communication and political science from the University of Toledo in 2017. She currently works as a paralegal for Barron, Peck, Bennie, and Schlemmer in Oakley. Katie resides in Over the Rhine with her husband, Dan, their four rescue cats, and their newest addition: a baby boy arriving in August 2025! She loves cheering on her favorite sports teams, FC Cincinnati and the Buffalo Bills, reading, 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. She has had the opportunity to participate in several trainings through the Junior League, including the AJLI Growth Strategy Boot Camp with other membership-focused leaders from Junior Leagues around the world, the JLC Board Bank program, CODE Day, and the AJLI Organizational Development Training. She was recognized with the Excellence in Training Award at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

Outside of the Junior League, Katie is a member of the Cancer Support Community Emerging Leaders Board, the Cincinnati Area League of Women Voters and the Cincinnati chapter of the University of Toledo Alumni Association.

VP Training & Development: Emily Thobe

Emily Thobe joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2014 seeking connection to other civic-minded professional women in the region. Her league experience includes service on varying committees including RefugeeConnect, Nominating, CANDO, Advocacy and Education, Program Development, and Program Acceleration as well as Chairing Major Gifts, serving as a New Member Advisor, and serving as a delegate to the Junior League of Ohio’s State Public Affairs Committee. She was the liaison to Family Nurturing Center through their league partnership selection process.

Professionally, Emily leads a team of fifteen biomedical field service engineers for Danaher’s Leica Biosystems, supporting pathology laboratory installations and contract service maintenance for clinical and research spaces from Michigan to the D.C. area as Regional Field Service Manager. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and International Business from the University of Dayton and an MBA from Xavier University.

A resident of West Chester Township, Emily serves as Board Chair of Junior Achievement of Butler and Warren County, VP Membership of the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area, and as Co-Chair of Endorsements for the Matriots PAC, a non-partisan organization supporting female political candidates across the state of Ohio. She’s an active member of the Cincinnatus Association, Impact 100, Woman’s City Club, and the Women’s Committee of the Cincinnati Parks Foundation. She is a graduate of the Cincinnati Chamber’s C-Change Program, West Chester Liberty Chamber’s Leadership 21 Program, Artswave’s Boardway Bound, Greater Cincinnati Foundation’s Appointed Civic Leadership Academy, School Board School, and the YWCA’s Rising Stars Equity Leadership Program. She has continued to stay engaged with the YWCA and has chaired their Mamie Earl Sells Scholarship Program since 2023. She is a passionate advocate for women’s success through all phases of life regardless of socio-economic background.

Nominating Vice Chair: Madalyn Vershay

Madalyn Vershay joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2018. She has served as a member of the Membership Engagement and Archive Committees and has been a New Member Advisor for several years. Madalyn earned her bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and her master’s degree in Engineering Management from Johns Hopkins University in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

Originally from Buffalo, NY, Madalyn moved to Cincinnati in 2015 when she joined GE Aerospace. Since then, she has worked in Commercial Engines Engineering. During her time at GE Aerospace, she earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio State University in 2018. She is currently a Systems Engineer focused on durability product improvements.

Madalyn resides in Milford with her husband. Outside of work and her involvement with the Junior League, she enjoys golfing, needlepointing, and exploring Cincinnati.

DEI&B Vice Chair: Diavione Williams-Pregel

Diavione Williams-Pregel serves as the Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) for the Junior League of Cincinnati. In this role, she helps lead strategic initiatives that foster a more inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment for all members. She is passionate about building spaces where people of all backgrounds feel seen, valued, and empowered to lead.

Professionally, Diavione brings experience across the nonprofit, education, and finance sectors. She currently serves as Director of Finance and Administration at a Montessori academy and is a board member of a maternal health nonprofit based in Detroit. Diavione has also led equity-focused research for nonprofits and worked in education policy and corporate finance. Her commitment to social impact and systemic change informs her leadership in DEIB.

Diavione holds deep personal and professional dedication to community building, lifelong learning, and advancing justice through collaboration. She is honored to support the League’s efforts to reflect the diverse communities it serves.

VP Sustainer Council: Emily Headley 

Emily Headley joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 2013. She was transitioning between a career in sales and marketing with Black and Decker to becoming a stay at home Mom and wanted an outlet to connect with other adults as well as volunteer in the community. She never imagined how much she would learn about various non-profit organizations in Cincinnati and was thrilled with the opportunities, training and friendship that came along with being a Junior League member. 

Her two boys (Ward, Jr and Sam) are now in school full time at St Ursula Villa and she feels fortunate to be able to use and grow what she learned in the Junior League to continue supporting her community. She volunteers with her children’s school by leading the Cub Scout program and encourages children to enjoy the outdoors, camping, building and serving others. Forming a Digital Wellness group within the school parent community is another way she supports children and uses the leadership skills developed in her career and Junior League experience. Emily also serves the Cincinnati Parks Foundation by helping to oversee volunteer and logistic efforts for the annual Hats Off Luncheon. 

When she’s not volunteering, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, skiing and cheering on the Bengals. She was thrilled to be asked to serve as Co-Vice President of Sustainers.

VP Sustainer Council:  Lauren Thaman

Lauren joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 1992.  She quickly learned that she wanted to focus her energy on women and children and found the Junior League.   Lauren recognizes that joining the League is one of the five best decisions she’s ever made.

Lauren’s passion during her time as an active member was project work.  She served as the Program Development Chair the year the JLC adopted Mindpeace as the signature project.  In 2002 Lauren had the honor of serving as the JLC President.  Outside the League, Lauren is most proud of being a Founding Board Member of Mindpeace and the Sophia Foundation for Children’s Safety. 

Lauren retired from P&G in 2022 after 36 years as a recognized leader in Innovation  Communications.  Since that time Lauren has done some consulting and has trained to become a Pilates instructor.  She teaches Pilates at Club Pilates and loves it when she sees familiar JLC faces in her class.  She is very excited to be serving on the Sustainer Council and working closely with Emily.

Lauren has three grown children:  Victoria (31), who is a Senior Engineer with Cisco Systems, as well as a member of the Junior League of Raleigh and Chair of the Food Bank committee; Jack (26), who teaches freshman English and Literature at Moeller High School; and Bebe (25), who is n Education reporter with the Cincinnati Enquirer.