Board of Directors

Meet the 2022-2023 Junior League League Leadership

Photo Credit: Lisa Schwartz Dinkel

2022-2023
Board of Directors

President
Amber Carlson
President@jltopeka.org

Amber Carlson is the President of the Junior League of Topeka. She joined the Junior League of Topeka in 2015, upon returning to our community after an eighteen-year hiatus. She was the 2015-2016 New Member MVP and helped develop and formulate the plans for our magazine, Capital Impact, of which she served as the first editor for the inaugural edition. She briefly served on our board as VP of Communications in 2017. She then helped behind the scenes as a member-at-large and served on the Leadership Council as our Obligations and Recognitions Chair. Amber was our 2020-2021 VP of Funding Development where she led the council to successfully diversify our fundraising efforts during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. She was the 2020-2021 Active Member MVP. Most recently she served as President-Elect.

After attending the University of Kansas, Amber made her way into the advertising world as an Account Executive and then as the owner of a small advertising, public relations, and marketing agency in Kansas City. She then gained experience in publishing as Advertising Director, Acting Publisher, and Associate Publisher of an alternative newsweekly in Augusta, GA. Amber and her husband have been married for twenty-five years, have six children, one son-in-law, and one grandson. They started the “Dr. Kristopher and Amber Carlson Family” donor advised fund at the Topeka Community Foundation in 2015 to pay it forward into the community that they raise their family in, and to encourage others to join in philanthropic giving. Amber is the VP of Operations for Mid America Health, PA.

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
Secretary@jltopeka.org

BIO COMING SOON

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 it’s 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
Laura Harrison
Nominating@jltopeka.org

Laura Harrison joined the Junior League of Topeka in 2019 and is currently serving as the Vice President of Nominating. She has also served as the Executive Secretary and a member on the Funding Development Committee. She has participated in the Little Black Dress Initiative.

Laura has her Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and is a second-grade teacher at Auburn Elementary. She has served on her school’s Leadership team for 6 years and enjoys being involved in after-school activities to work with students.

Laura has four children: Jackson, Grace, Brooklyn, and Gabriel. They keep her busy and active. They enjoy hiking, kayaking, swimming and playing games together. When she isn’t with her family, she is most likely found reading a book down at the lake.