Diana Ahlquist
Kimberly Barton
Nancy Blayney
Maribeth Burrows
Chelsea Driscoll
Justine Fiscus
Jessica Gallant
Allison Harvey
Karsyn Heller
Lillian Hoy
Regan Lavallee
Sarah Lehn
Jasmine McCain
Margaret McGowan
Greta Morris
Hannah Pearson
Jodi Riddell
Sarah Starkey
Kaley Todd
Courtney Tompkins
Tricia Weathers
Catherine Bogacz
Monika Donahue
Stevie Gerken
Molly Junge Hoskins
Stephanie Kidd
Shannon Lang
Danielle Robinson
Whitney Sandusky
Jamie Schneider
Samantha Solomon
Alison Strobel
Hunter Taylor
Ann Wheeler
Board & Management
Leslie Mayo, Board
Sandi Bruns, Management
Michelle Pernicek, Management
Lauren Hellman, Finance
Kiley Freeman, DEIB
Community Impact
Jess Winter, Advocacy
Maggie McGlade, Done-in-a-Day
Tiffany Ward, Kitchen Connections
Fundraising
Victoria Halgren, Council
Linda Chloupek, Bargain Bash
Kim Simon, Bargain Bash
Jessica Covi, FUNd
Kareen Hickman, Donor Engagement
Membership
Jeanne Solarno, Council
Megan Horn, New Member
Lauren Fischer, Placement
Morgan Boler, Training
2015 10 years
Emily Barr
Catherine Bogacz
Alexandra Fredrichs
Jillian Humphries Rahe
Stephanie Kidd
Cameron Kroll
Brooke Longenecker
Andrea Padilla-Rosas
Michelle Pernicek
Kayla Raimondo
Allison Schorr Zach
Kayla Shafer
Katharine Sylvia-Root
Lea Thomas
Mary Trecek
2005 20 years
Mary Finnegan
Kjirsten Finnegan
Anne Medlock
Wendy Moore
2000 25 years
Courtney Dunbar
Terri Eischeid
Debbie Hart
Kara Kelley
Jan McKenzie
Andrea Willman
Jennifer Zatechka
1995 30 years
Renee Black
Anne Jetter
Mary Johnson
Vanessa Roach 1985 40 years
Catherine Arnold
Dawn Buchanan
Mary Helen Cockle
Elizabeth Murphy
Jessica Pate
Cathy Rush
1975 50 years
Barbara Call
Merry Ann Coe
Jodeen Fletcher
Marcia Jones
Emily Kozlik
Gerry Masimore
Susan McWhorter
Vicki Walker 1965 60 years
Katherine Fitzgerald-Grandsaert
Judith Haecker
Barbara Haggart
Carolyn Hansen
Mariana Myers
Martha Weiss
Sarah McGowan, who was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, is a seasoned community leader, dedicated volunteer, and accomplished legal professional with a long-standing commitment to service across the Omaha metro area.
Sarah began her legal career as a Deputy Lancaster County Attorney, where she prosecuted a wide range of misdemeanor and felony cases She went on to serve as a Deputy Saunders County Attorney, and later as a Deputy Douglas County Attorney, where she focused on general felonies as well as Motions for Post Conviction Relief She holds a degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in English from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and earned her law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law.
Sarah joined the Junior League of Omaha as a provisional member in 2003 Her time in the League includes several memorable roles, including three years on the American Girl Committee, including serving as Chair, and leadership of the Cookbook Committee, while also serving as a member-at-large on the Board of Directors She was named a Woman to Watch Award winner in 2007, served as President-Elect, and served as Junior League President during the 2010–2011 league year. In 2015, she returned as a Board Advisor. The League’s focus on leadership and training left a lasting impact on Sarah, inspiring her to expand her service throughout the community.
She was a founding member and two-term President of the NorthStar Guild and has also served as President of the Completely KIDS and the Fontenelle Forest guilds She served on the board of directors of Memories for Kids and the Omaha Performing Arts Presenters Board. She was a member of the Women’s Ball Committee and co-chaired numerous events including Kicks for a Cure, Completely KIDS’ Big Red Tailgate, Outward Bound Climb Higher luncheon, and co-created and co-chaired the Durham Museum’s Home for the Holidays luncheon and holiday market Additionally, she helped launch the Millard Public Schools Foundation Women’s Giving Circle as part of its inaugural committee, building a new platform for philanthropic engagement.
Sarah and Chris have two sons: Luke, a first-year law student at UNL, and Jackson, a second-year law student at UNL, who is married to Ali, a Neuro ICU nurse at UNMC. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, playing tennis, winning at board games, relaxing at the lake, and hanging out with her golden retrievers.
Mary Frances Fitzgerald Root was born in Omaha and graduated from Duchesne Academy and St Mary-of-the-Woods College in Terre Haute, Indiana She earned a BS in Business in 1957. While in college, Fran met her husband, Emmet, a student at Notre Dame University Fran was a Princess in the Ak-Sar-Ben Ball and married that same year.
She became a member of the Junior League of Omaha in 1959, serving as chairman of many committees, including Public Relations, Admissions, and Nominating. Fran remained a member until 1975 At that time, members were required to stay active until the age of 40. One fond memory Fran cherished was her three-hour shifts at the JLO Jumble Shop, which were mandatory for all members. She enjoyed getting to know other members as well as regular customers. After her shifts, she often stopped at Olson Meat Mart and
the
Benson Bakery across the street to plan dinner. By then, Fran had four growing sons - Mike, Terry, Tim, and Dan - to feed, along with her husband, Emmet.
Fran also served on the Archbishop Bergan Hospital Auxiliary Board and the Advisory Board She was President of the Duchesne Alumnae Board and co-chaired events like Creighton Prep’s BASH and Duchesne’s Congé. Additionally, she was a member of the Ak-Sar-Ben Women’s Ball Committee and the Symphony Debutante Ball Committee
In 1980, Fran co-founded ICAN (The Institute for Career Advancement) with her neighbor, Gail Browning. They modeled ICAN on the JLO’s all-volunteer committee format Today, 45 years later, ICAN hosts the Annual Women’s Conference, attended by 3,500 women. Fran remained actively involved with ICAN until 2002.
Simultaneously, Fran continued her volunteer work, chairing a Symphony Showhouse Patron Party and serving on the boards of Goodwill, the Christ Child Society, and the YMCA. She held roles as Fundraising Chair, Long-Range Planning Chair, and President of the Ballet Board Highlights of her time with the Ballet Board included organizing the Holiday Marr event and bringing in Breznikoff to perform.
Fran served on the Archdiocese of Omaha Board for eight years and the Boys Town Board for 12 years. During this time, she was also a member of the AMI St. Joseph Center for Mental Health Board. She concluded her years of volunteer service as the first female member elected to the Omaha Country Club Board Golf was a significant part of Fran’s life, and she achieved eight holes-in-one over the years! She and Emmet enjoyed many happy years golfing in Arizona.
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GMM + League Year kick-off
Tuesday, September 9 | Zenia Omaha
savor the night
Friday, October 24 | Zenia Omaha
holiday social
Tuesday, December 9 | Omaha Press Club
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The Junior League of Omaha is a 501(c)(3) organization of women whose mission is to advance women's leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.
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