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: Katie May

Katie May works as an initiative leader for the baby care division of Procter and Gamble. In her work she helps draft and deliver the strategic vision of innovation od Pampers. Through her P&G career she has held various roles, including Pampers wipes senior supply network leader and supply chain manager on P&G’s Dollar General account. She has also led multiple P&G United Way campaigns. She studied industrial engineering at Penn State and pursued a minor in leadership development.

Katie has held various leadership assignments in Leagues in Cincinnati, Wilmington, and Nashville since joining JL in 2015. Some of the most notable were the Advocacy and Education Chair of the JLC, Nominating Chair, and Kitchen Tour Vice Chair of the JLW. Katie’s favorite League experience was leading a task force to complete a community landscape assessment to identify the JLW’s new focus area, period equity, and creating their signature project, Stand Up. Period. from the ground up.

Katie grew up in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and has lived all over with her husband, Sam and their dog, Bella. They now love living in the Hyde Park community of Cincinnati. In her free time, Katie enjoys riding her Peloton, watching reality tv, drinking craft beer, and wine tasting.  She is even a certified Sommelier III!

Past President: 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). She has 7+ years of JLC Board experience.

Kate also serves on the Board of Directors for Keep Cincinnati Beautiful. She is a member of NextUp (formerly Network of Executive Women) and the American Marketing Association.

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.

Presidential Advisor: Danielle Deja

Danielle has been a member of the Junior League of Cincinnati since 2008. Prior to serving as Presidential Advisor, she has had the privilege of serving in various leadership roles, including the position of VP of Community Impact and leading our New Members. Additionally, she has served on a number of committees including Nominating, Refugee Connect, and CinSation before ultimately becoming a Sustainer. She was previously recognized with the Excellence in Training Award. It’s been an incredible journey of making positive changes in our community alongside other members of the league.

Professionally, Danielle is a Senior Vice President of Client Service and Operations at Fidelity Investments. She has been with Fidelity since 2001, right after graduating from the University of Dayton where she received a B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. In her position, she is responsible for the day-to-day recordkeeping and administration of equity compensation plans for over 700 corporate clients and leads a global team of more than 300 associates.

On a personal note, Danielle is married and the proud parent of three amazing boys and resides in the village of Mariemont.

At-Large Member: Sarah C. 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 Master’s of Business Administration from Xavier University.  Sarah currently works as a Finance Manager at Ethicon, part of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies, where she has been for 7 years.  She shares her home with her husband Harrison and their French Bulldog, Belle.

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 Emerging Market Director for BD Studio Collection, a collection 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, a Cincinnati-headquartered agency specializing in a variety of media, creative and advertising practices.

Before serving on the JLC Board for a sixth, non-consecutive term, she was honored to serve as Presidential Advisor to Immediate Past President Kate Fortlage, as well as President during the JLC’s historic 100th year. 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.

At-Large Member: Megan Stacey

Megan Stacey is a Cincinnati native with a passion for giving back to the community. She graduated from Miami University in 2005 and earned her master’s degree from Xavier University in 2009. Megan helps families buy and sell homes as a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty as team lead of The Megan Stacey Group.

She resides in East Hyde Park with her husband (Drew), daughter (Emory), son (Ford) and two dogs (Murphy & Briggs). When not working or spending time with her family, Megan enjoys several hobbies including her fashion blog, Polka Dots & Pleats, paddle tennis and mentoring other entrepreneurs.

After joining the JLC in 2009, Megan has served in various leadership roles including VP Membership, Co-Chair of The Centennial Campaign, New Member Advisor, Chair of Membership Outreach & Events, and Chair of Major Gifts. She has also served on Ad Hoc Committees, including New Member Curriculum (from her years as a teacher and assistant principal) and Points & Obligations.

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 and have more flexible time.  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. Afterwards, she chaired the Family Education Center program. 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.

For 6 years, Saralou was on the Headquarters search committee until we purchased Columbia Center. She signed our mortgage for the building on her last day as President of the JLC.  Over the years, she has served on numerous Project Development committees. Recently, she was Vice President of Sustainer Council, serving for the second time.

Saralou has been on the Board of Directors for Easterseals, Family Education Center, Playhouse in the Park, and the University of Cincinnati Alumni Association.  For UC, 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.  She was the recipient of the University of Cincinnati’s Distinguished Service Award.

Currently, Saralou brings her love of reading to the Academy of World Languages by volunteering in the classroom and providing children in that room with books of their own.  She is currently President of the Cincinnati Women’s Club Foundation and Vice-chair of their Interior Design committee.

Saralou has been married to her husband David for 53 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!

DEIB Chair: Deanna Hillard

Deanna holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Northern Kentucky University (2019) and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Cincinnati (2012). Currently, she works as a Program Officer at Interact for Health. As Program Officer, Deanna supports the efforts to improve access to care for children via the 38 school-based health centers currently operating in the region and to develop additional opportunities to improve children’s health and reduce health disparities.

Before her time at Interact for Health, she worked at the National MS Society, most recently serving as Senior Manager, Volunteer Engagement. In that position, she oversaw a team of five responsible for coordinating more than 100 events annually and engaging 7,000 volunteers. Before joining the National MS Society, Deanna worked in community outreach with the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio and as an AmeriCorps Fellow.

Deanna joined the JLC in 2018 and has served on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee and as the vice chair and chair of the Leadership Development committee. Deanna is also a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and serves on the board for Impact 100. In 2022, Deanna was recognized as a YWCA Rising Star.

Nominating Chair: Byrd Bergeron 

Byrd Bergeron has been an enthusiastic member of the League since 2016. Most of her time is spent on the entrepreneurial path as she runs a local travel agency with a team of 28 Advisors. Travel has always been her love language and she believes deeply in the company’s motto that everyone should “Collect Great Stories!”

Byrd has served on several committees in the League, but her favorite experiences have been on the ad-hoc committees focused on the strategic direction of the League. She has also participated in Board Bank and attributes her ability to serve on the board for St. Joseph’s Orphanage directly to that experience.

In her free time, Byrd focuses on making memories with her husband and daughter. They love outdoor adventures and Byrd is consistently trying to convince her prissy daughter that a little dirt on her is a good thing!

Executive Management Team

Executive Vice President: Erinn R.M. Carlson

Erinn R. M. Carlson joined the Junior League in 2013 in Norfolk – Virginia Beach, transferred to Dayton in 2017, later Riverside, CA in 2019,  and has recently joined us here in Cincinnati. She has held leadership positions in her past Leagues, including roles as VP Membership, At-Large Director, Fundraising Manager, and chaired several committees and fund development events. Her passion for Junior League is rooted in her belief in the Junior League mission and organization after witnessing its profound ability to help communities and transform its members into leaders, mentors, and change makers. Erinn is excited to continue this work in Cincinnati.

Erinn grew up in a Chicago suburb and attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign where she studied Communications and Cinema Studies. Her husband’s career moved them cross-country several times and with that she had several career changes. Erinn’s favorite among these roles was serving as the Executive Assistant in a boutique headhunting firm where each day was different with something new to learn. She is on the hunt for her next calling or adventure.

Mainstays in Erinn’s life, besides Junior League, are volunteerism and animal rescue work. She has fostered, transported, fundraised, networked, and assisted in rescue wherever she has lived since 2015. (A Junior League friend got her involved!) Her dream is to start a nonprofit of her own to assist rescues with medical bills. Additionally, she has two rescue dogs of her own and when Erinn’s time isn’t being spent on canines, she enjoys cooking, gardening, needlepointing, music, and entertaining. Erinn also loves to hunt for antiques and vintage treasures.

Executive Vice President Elect: Emily Haun 

Emily joined the JLC in 2011, looking for meaningful connections in a new city after moving to Cincinnati in 2010. Through more than a decade of diverse committee work across multiple Councils, she discovered a passion for the operational innerworkings of the JLC. Her previous leadership roles include Chair of Online, Membership Satisfaction, and General Meeting Planning. When the opportunity arose to serve our membership in the role of Executive Vice President Elect, Emily knew it was time to lean in and say yes!

A native South Carolinian, Emily graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Public Relations. She recently started a new career as a business and technology consultant for SEI, Inc. Emily and her husband Tom (a native Cincinnatian) have been married for 11 years. They have two kids: Auburn and Cashion, and three enormous cats: Snap, Crackle, and Pop. Working out at SPENGA has become a big part of Emily’s life, and she’s the cookie manager for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop. Her family spends each summer boating on Lake Cumberland, and she enjoys cooking and playing piano.

Recording Secretary: Megan Busam

Marty is a 39 year member of the Junior League of Cincinnati who has served the League and our community in multiple ways.

Holding true to a favorite quote: “Find something you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life,” Marty has had the opportunity to pursue a “career in volunteerism” spanning more than 47 years of non-profit service, fundraising and special events…”work” she has loved… “work” that has proven to be a very satisfying and rewarding “career” choice!

Her most common position on many non-profit Boards has been in the realm of fundraising. She has chaired fundraisers for numerous organizations including: JLC Festival of Trees, JLC Capital Campaign for Columbia Center, JLC 90th Anniversary Gala; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Kinderklaus Markt; Dress for Success “Women On The Move” Luncheon; Playhouse in the Park’s “Abracadabra” and two terms as Chair of PIP’s “Leading Ladies”; both of WCET’s major fundraisers, the “Action Auction” and “Live on CET”; three time Co-Chair of the Cincinnati Parks Foundation “Hats Off “Luncheon; “Friends of CCM” 40th Anniversary Gala of the Musical Theatre Department; and most recently, Co-Chaired a 3 year effort to raise over $535,000 for the Beta Rho Chapter House of KKG at UC.

Other non-profit positions have included: The Executive Board and Presidency of The Cincinnati Woman’s Club; Founding Co-Chair of the University of Cincinnati’s Bicentennial in 2019; Co-Chair of City Hospitality for the 2015 MLB All-Star Game; Airport Hospitality Co-Chair for the 2012 World Choir Games; and as a “Tri-Chair” of the JLC Team to manage and plan the 2020 Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) Annual Conference to be in Cincinnati in the spring of 2020. Recent League positions have been as Chair of Sustainer Pop-Ups and Advisor to the Fund Development Council; she is currently in her second year as Co-VP of Sustainer Council.

Marty has been married to Tom Humes for 50 years and lives in East Walnut Hills. (FUN FACT: Tom was the UC mascot, “The Bearcat” when he was a senior. Claims it was the best job he ever had!) They have two adult children: daughter, Jamie, and son, Scott, who with wife Kristin, recently gifted the Humes their first precious grandchild, Scarlett Alexis Humes. Marty grew up in Fort Thomas, Ky., holds a BS from Purdue University and a Master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati where she taught for several years in the College of Education and DAAP’s Fashion Design Program. She enjoys her continuing membership in The Cincinnati Woman’s Club where she recently organized her 7th members’ trip, this time to Washington, DC for the 2022 Cherry Blossom Festival and is currently the Co-Chair of the 2023 Holiday Decorations for the CWC Clubhouse. An avid follower of the stock market, Marty has been investing since 1998 and enjoys learning about corporate America and financial markets.

Marty has been named a “2008 Cincinnati Enquirer Women of the Year”, and is a recipient of: The Playhouse in the Park’s “2006 Inspiring Arts Volunteer”, “2008 Charles W. Vaughan Award from WCET (PBS)”, “2018 VENUE Magazine Woman of Influence”, “2019 University of Cincinnati Panhellenic Alumna of the Year”, the Junior League Cookie Nowland Award winner as the JLC’s  “2021 Sustainer of the Year”, and most recently, nominated for the “2023 Volunteer of the Year” sponsored by the Association of Professional Fundraisers.

VP Sustainer Council: Kathryn Harsh 

Kathryn Harsh joined the Junior League of Cincinnati in 1990. Her experience includes CandO and large fundraisers like “For the Birds.” She chaired the 1995-96 Provisional Class of over 100 women, and served on the Nominating Committee. Kathryn also held numerous out of League placements including the Children’s Theatre Board and The Cincinnati Ballet. While a trustee at the Cincinnati Ballet, she started their major fundraiser, Club B. More recently as a Sustainer, she co-chaired the JLC’s Centennial Gala in 2020. Her mother Patricia Stahl is a Sustainer and joined the league in 1961. She is involved with the Garden Club and supported the Gala in 2020. Her daughter Mary Frances Harsh is currently a second year active and Vice Chair of Membership Recruitment.

Kathryn has also served the community on the Board of Trustees for the Summit Country Day School developing their Parent Ambassador Program and chairing the Summit Parents Association and started the Summit Country Day School’s Fashion Show fundraiser, which she chaired for many years. She currently serves on the Board of Governor’s at the Cincinnati Country Club, chairing the Entertainment Committee, and sits on the Advisory Council for Integrative Health at UC, where she chaired their fundraiser last year.