League Leadership
Meet the 2023-2024 Junior League of Topeka Leadership
Photo Credit: Lisa Schwartz Dinkel
2023-2024
Board of Directors
President
Laura Harrison
President@jltopeka.org
Laura Harrison is the President of the Junior League of Topeka. She joined the Junior League of Topeka in 2019. She started as a committee member on the Fund Development Committee. From there she moved on to Executive Secretary and then VP of Nominating. Most recently she served as President-Elect.
Laura has her Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, and is currently a second-grade teacher in a local school district. She served on her school’s leadership team for 7 years and has ran many clubs after school for students to participate in.
Laura and her husband, Rob, have been married 10 years. They have four children and enjoy spending time together. They currently coach their son’s soccer team. When they aren’t busy running to activities they enjoy hiking, kayaking and swimming. Laura can often be found reading a book by the lake and watching the kids play!
Treasurer
Rockell Otero
Treasurer@jltopeka.org
Rockell joined Junior League of Topeka in 2019 with enthusiasm and passion to give back to the community, grow professionally, and make new friendships. Rockell served on the Funding Development Council before her Treasurer position and has participated in several different projects and volunteer opportunities within the league such as writing for the Capital Impact Magazine, LBDI, baking for CASA, and serving on the DEI committee.
Rockell has her MBA and serves as the Financial Controller for Prairie Band, LLC, the economic development company of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, overseeing 9 subsidiaries and growing! Rockell also serves as the board CFO and Secretary for Mill Creek, LLC and a Project Manager for Prairie Band Health Services. Rockell has served as VP of Finance for the Friends University National Association of Women with MBA’s, is a 2020 graduate of Leadership Greater Topeka (best and most resilient class ever!), and volunteers for the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, Shawnee County Parks and Rec, and Topeka Soccer Club and more recently, Rockell has joined Topeka Mosaic Partnership as a co-coach.
Last but certainly not least, Rockell enjoys spending time with her crazy and busy family, Jerald and their four kids, Julian, Sasmo, Ttigs, and Wenbi. In her spare time, Rockell’s hobbies include golf, live music, hiking, baking, and gardening.
Executive Secretary
Jill Gary
Jill Gary joined the Junior League of Topeka in 2017 and is currently serving as the Executive Secretary. Jill previously served a few years on the Leadership Development and Funding Development Councils and then two years as the Obligations and Recognitions Chair on the Leadership Development Council.
Jill received a Master of Accountancy degree with a Minor in Leadership from Kansas State University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and worked at a public accounting firm for five years before moving to private accounting at Wolf Construction, Inc., where she currently serves as the Financial Manager.
Jill and her husband have three children. They served as the 2017 Annual Fund Co-Chairs for their children’s school. Jill also Co-Chaired the 2021 and the 2022 Annual Celebration Auction at their school. In her free time, she enjoys getting to spend additional time with her children by volunteering in their lunchroom, driving for field trips, and volunteering for special events. Jill also loves traveling and spending time outside with her family whether it be at the pool, the lake, the beach, or their yard.
Executive Vice President
Renae Carsten
EVP@jltopeka.org
Renae is originally from Hutchinson, KS and has moved around several cities in Kansas before settling in Topeka 12 years ago. She is a Nurse Practitioner at Stormont Vail and received her Master’s Degree from Washburn University. Renae has been in healthcare for over 16 years. After Renae’s husband and her officially decided to stay in Topeka and raise their three young kids here, she has become more involved and taken a greater interest in our community.
Renae joined the Junior League of Topeka in 2017, where she has served on multiple councils and held various positions, most recently as the Provisional Member Coordinator. In 2020 Renae developed the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Taskforce, also serving at its first Chair. Additionally, she was named Active Member MVP.
Outside of Junior League, Renae serves as a Troop leader for her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. She is also currently a member of Topeka United’s Mosaic Partner Pairs. She is passionate about adventure and time spent outdoors such as hiking, gardening, sports, and travelling. Renae also enjoys reading, photography, and relaxing with her husband to watch whatever our current favorite TV show is.
Vice President, Nominating
Sarah Carnahan
Nominating@jltopeka.org
Director of Sustainer Relations
Laine Hash
DSR@jltopeka.org
Laine Hash was born and raised in Topeka, Kansas. She graduated from Kansas State University in 2005 with the Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Mass Communications – her emphasis was Public Relations and she minored in Business. Laine has been a Realtor in the Topeka Community for over 12 years. Laine has served on the Sunflower Association of Realtors board and on our Multiple Listing Service board. She enjoys helping the association to protect property owners’ rights. Laine was awarded the 2019 Distinguished Associate of the Year Award for her professionalism, service to the Board and service to the community.
Laine began her League service in 2010. She was the Director of Membership Development and then later served on the Board as the VP of Membership. She now serves on the Board as the Director of Sustainer Relations and enjoys connecting past and present League members together for social and philanthropic activities. Laine and her husband have two children that attend public schools in the Topeka area. In her free time, Laine runs kids to their activities and enjoys spending time with family and friends at the lake.
Sustaining Advisor to the President
Marsha Sheahan
Bio to come!
Director, Community Impact
Sarah Dietz
CommunityImpact@jltopeka.org
Sarah moved to Topeka in 2013 to attend law school and made the decision to stay and be a part of the community. She is grateful to Junior League for the opportunity to network in the community, and form long-lasting relationships. Her work with Junior League has given her the confidence to serve on the board of the Topeka Symphony League. After graduating from Washburn University School of law in 2016, she started practicing law as Assistant Attorney General at the Kansas Attorney General’s Office. In her downtime, she can be found hiking, reading, or playing video games.
Director, Fund Development
Kemper Tell
FundingDevelopment@jltopeka.org
Kemper joined Junior League of Topeka in 2022 when she relocated to Kansas for her career and she is currently the Director of Fund Development. A native of Oklahoma, she has over a decade of experience working in associations, non-profits, and political strategy and is currently the Executive Director for the Kansas Association of Osteopathic Medicine. She has a Master of Science degree from George Mason University (Fairfax, VA) and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Malta (Malta, EU). Both degrees are focused on conflict resolution and were earned while living in the tiny EU Mediterranean country of Malta. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, trying new wines, and reading.
Director, Membership Experience
Jessica Iverson