Raleigh | June 21, 2016: The Junior League of Raleigh (“JLR”) announced today that 17 members will join its Board of Directors and Management Council under a new leadership structure in 2016­2017. League members voted to approve a new system of governance in 2015 with the goal of forming separate leadership structures for both strategic long term goals of the League, and current procedures and affairs as membership numbers continue to grow. The Board of Directors will oversee strategic planning, community relationship building and foundation development. The Management Council, which will operate very similarly to the previous Board, will be responsible for the day-­to-­day operations of the League.

Remaining on the board is Rebecca S. Ayers, PhD., an Apex resident and Manager for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management in Raleigh. Ayers will serve a one-year term as board President after having served as President-elect in 2015. Also remaining on the board is Marisa Bryant, who will serve as President-elect. She formerly worked in nonprofit fundraising. Now leading the League’s new Management Council as Executive Vice President is Jennifer Reel, the Director of Talent Acquisition and Development for Clarkston Consulting.

New members replace those whose terms expired this year. New and changing board members include:

• Holly Robertson, Secretary. Robertson has been a League member since 2013 and is a Project Leader at Duke University.  She formerly worked at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research.
• Lucy Austin, Treasurer. Austin has been active in the League since 2010. A Deputy Special Council with the North Carolina Industrial Commission, Austin is active in the North Carolina Bar Association and Wake County Bar Association and serves on the board of the Badger-­Iredell Foundation.
• Nichole Allen, Nominating Capitan. Allen joined the JLR in 2013. Before leading the Nominating Committee, she served as a member. She has also led the Leadership Support committee for JLR as a Co­-captain.
• Allison Crumpler, Member-­at-­Large. Crumpler joined the League in 2007 and most recently served as a Co-­captain for JLR’s largest fundraiser, A Shopping SPREE! She is a Speech Pathologist and works as Director of Clinical Services for Raleigh Therapy Services Inc.
• Danielle Shuirman, At-­Large Director. Serving for one year in this role, Shuirman joined the JLR in 2005 and has been active in the League’s community programming. She has also served on the state board for Learning Ally. Shuirman works as the Special Event Coordinator for United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County.
• Jamie Martin, At­-Large Director. Martin will serve two years as an At-­Large Director. A member since 2007, she designed the Young Entrepreneur Program for the League’s signature event, A Shopping SPREE!. Martin currently works as the Assistant Director of College Counseling at St. David’s School in Raleigh.
• Ronda Bazley Moore, At­-Large Director. Bazley Moore joined the JLR in 2007 and has been active in roles impacting the community such as previously serving as SAFEchild Captain. She will remain an At-­Large Director for two years. Bazley Moore works as a Leadership and Development Consultant for Deloitte.
• Gail Reid-Vestal, At­-Large Director. Reid-Vestal has been a member of the Junior League of Raleigh since 2002 and will serve as At-­Large Director for a three year term. She has served JLR previously in many roles, including leading efforts to grow the Julia Jones Daniels Center for Community Leadership as the CCL Building Captain in 2011­2012. Reid-Vestal works as Community Manager for the American Cancer Society.
• Virginia Parker, At-­Large Director. For 30 years, Parker has faithfully served JLR. As a past president, she continues to bring her knowledge and expertise to the League by serving on the Board. She will serve on the board for three years as an At­-Large Director. She works as SVP/Marketing Manager for Bank of America.

Serving on the new Management Council are:

• Liz Riley­Young, Executive Vice President­Elect. Riley-­Young has been a JLR member for eight years and has served on several software industry boards as well as on the board of a local charter school in Raleigh. She currently serves as Principal Engagement Manager in Professional Services at SAS.
• Amber Frasketi, Communications & Strategies Vice President. A member since 2009, Frasketi brings her expertise to the League’s communications efforts after serving as the Public Relations Co­-captain and as a member of Government and Public Affairs Committee in previous years. She works at Quintiles as a Director of Global Marketing.
• Kelly Brown, Community Vice President. Brown has served the League as a member since 2008.  Most often, she has leant her time and talents to serving youth at the Brentwood Boys & Girls Club, most recently as Co-­captain. Brown works as a Shareholder for Young Moore and Henderson, P.A.
• Sarah White, Funding Vice President. White has been a member since 2005, serving in leadership roles including Captain of JLR’s Annual Fund committee and A Shopping SPREE! She works as a Certified Paralegal for Ragsdale Liggett PLLC.
• Randi Ligon, Membership Vice President. A member since 2010, Ligon has served JLR in helping train and help League members on the Membership Development committee. Most recently, she was Captain of Backpack Buddies, JLR’s partnership with Interfaith Food Shuttle to feed Wake County children in need. Ligon works at Apex Tool Group as a Senior Marketing Manager.
• DeSheila Spann, Training Vice President. Spann has served the League since 2005, serving in roles as varied as the Inaugural Ball committee and a Co-captain of the Training Committee.  She is a Director of Strategy for Harte Hanks.
• Emy Hanson, Treasurer Elect. A member since 2012, Hanson has used her talents to help Wake County children through the Kids on the Block program as Captain for three years. JLR members recognized Hanson’s efforts by awarding her the annual Guardian Award in 2015.
• Martha Namie, Nominating Assistant. Namie has been a member of JLR since 2006. She has served in several leadership roles including Co­-captain for Arrangements, Transfer Committee, and Boys & Girls Club. Namie is a Field Sales Executive, Education & Optimization for Allscripts Healthcare Solutions.

“The women who have volunteered to serve on this year’s Board of Directors and Membership Council are charting new waters for the future of the Junior League of Raleigh. They bring with them a wealth of professional expertise and passion for impacting the community. We have an exciting year of events including our key, nonpartisan fundraiser, the Inaugural Ball for North Carolina’s newly elected Governor,” said JLR President Rebecca S. Ayers, PhD. “We are proud to welcome these leaders and we’re confident they will have a great impact on our community.”

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About the Junior League of Raleigh

The Junior League of Raleigh is the local chapter of the Association of Junior Leagues International, an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. The Junior League reaches out to women of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in, and commitment to, volunteerism. Now in its 87th year, the Junior League of Raleigh boasts nearly 1,600 women supporting community organizations around Wake County.