Closing Out the Year at JLC’s 103rd Annual Meeting

By: Katie Ziegler

The Junior League of Cincinnati’s 103rd Annual Meeting took place at the Columbia Center on Tuesday, May 16th. The Membership Engagement Committee, chaired by Meg Anacker and Samantha Markle, planned a wonderful event with a summer cookout theme.

The evening began with a Year in Review video created by president, Kate Fortlage, (which can be viewed using the QR code if you missed it), followed by an induction of new Active members and celebration of member service milestones.

Each year the Junior League of Cincinnati bestows seven major awards to people and organizations that uphold the ideals and values of the JLC.

We would like to congratulate this year’s award winners:

• Community Impact Award: Rebecca Bryson

• Rising Star Award: Jessica Burnett

• Excellence in Training Award: Mary Taliaferro

• Shanon Marks New Member Award: Rachel Romer

This year, we included an additional award category:

• JLC Man of the Year: Casey Kohake

• Jeanne Boyce Morrison President’s Award: Katey Baron and Yashna Patel

• Transformational Team Award: Member Curriculum Committee

• Cookie Nowland Sustainer Award: Judy Dalambakis

The night continued with an induction of our new Sustaining members: Melissa Barclay, Sadie Bonifas, Erica Burns, Katie Foster, Kylie Hartman, Mary Ann Jentz McDufford, Erin Lee, Catherine Lentz, Anne Miller and Megan Stacey.

The night included a sweet farewell to our outgoing President, Kate Fortlage, who will continue on the board next year as Immediate Past President. We also welcomed our incoming President, René Robers, whose term began on June 1, 2023.

We would also like to recognize our outgoing 2022-2023 Board and EMT leaders:

• Tara Mosley, Immediate Past President

• Katie Dulle, Nominating Chair

• Shelley Poffenberger, Board Member at Large

• J.J. Wales, Board Member at Large

• Sam Zehnder, Executive Vice President

Incoming 2023-2024 Board and EMT Leaders:

• Kelly Barber, President-Elect

• Byrd Bergeron, Nominating Chair

• Meredith Comin, Board Member at Large

• Danielle Deja, Board Member at Large

• Dionn Tronn, Board Member at Large

• Meg Anacker, Nominating Vice Chair

• Emily Uebel, Recording Secretary

• Leslie Touassi, VP of Community Impact

• Jacklyn Olinger, VP of Fund Development

• Jamie Humes, VP of Sustainer Council

• Jennifer Lindeman, Vice Chair of DEIB

• Katey Baron, VP of Fund Development

• Rebecca Bryson, VP of Community Impact

• Brittany Gruber, VP of Training & Development

• Kathryn Harsh, VP of Sustainer Council

• Emily Haun, Executive Vice President-Elect

• Jenny Mauch, Vice Chair of DEI&B

Thank you to all of these incredible women for their years of service in these outgoing positions as well as our leaders coming into new positions! We look forward to watching you succeed in your roles.

A full list of leadership positions for the 2023-2024 League year can be found on our members homepage under Leadership List.