Junior League of Sacramento

We are pleased to introduce the 2010-2011 Junior League of Sacramento Board of Directors.  This dedicated group of women provides leadership and planning for the organization.  

The Board meets monthly throughout the year, providing governance and management oversight to the League. Members are selected through a Nominating Committee.  Each member's term runs from June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011. 

Board members act as trustees and stewards on behalf of our members, including the financial management of the League.  They are also responsible for the strategic direction of the organization.

Each member of the Board brings inspiration and talent to the JLS.  Scroll down to read information on each board member.

JLS Board of Directors 2010-2011. 
Not pictured, Mary Rotelli, Fundraising VP.

To learn more about JLS President Gina Ketcher,
please click here.  

  Amy Wister, President-Elect

 Amy is serving her fourth term on the JLS Board of Directors, and she credits the League for giving her friendships, a sense of community involvement, leadership training and life lessons. She has also served in multiple leadership roles as a member of the 20-30 Club of Greater Sacramento, the Metro Chamber Inspire Giving Board and the Tri Delta alumni chapter. Amy has an MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina and an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the College of Charleston, South Carolina. Having worked for Intel Corporation and Milgard Manufacturing, Amy is now the Founder and CEO of a national network of personal shoppers, The Stylist Online, LLC. Amy and her husband Jason live in El Dorado Hills.

Valerie Dichiara, Administrative Vice-President

Valerie joined the JLS in 2006 to become more involved in the Sacramento community.  Her JLS career quickly took a turn toward advocacy and served three years on the State Public Affairs Committee (SPAC).  For two of those years she served as the Junior and Senior Delegate for SPAC with the Junior Leagues of California.  Valerie has a degree in Political Science from Cedarville College in Cedarville, OH.  She is a Partner with the political consulting firm Revolvis Consulting.  Valerie and her husband Duane live in Sacramento with their children, Ella and Wills.  They spend their time figuring out how to remodel their 100 year old Curtis Park home. 

  Sommer Carter, Communications Vice-President

 Sommer Carter is serving her second term on the JLS Board of Directors. She has been heavily involved in various JLS fundraising committees, philanthropic events and community partnerships. Sommer joined Junior League to get more involved with dynamic women in the region. She knew the League’s dedication and hard work would accomplish amazing things in Sacramento. Sommer also sits on the Board of Directors for Angels for Hearts, a local nonprofit dedicated to assisting pediatric heart patients. On this board, Sommer serves as the organization’s public relations and marketing representative. Sommer holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Chico. Shortly after college, Sommer started her career as a physical education teacher. She has since moved into the sales arena where she has been successful for the past ten years. Sommer is currently working for Ferrari Color, a local digital printing company. She looks forward to facing new challenges and achieving her goals both in life and in Junior League.

 Lora Kaiser, Community Programs Vice-President

 Lora joined the Junior League of Sacramento in 2002. Her role is to oversee the Junior League's community program activities. During her 7 years with the League, she has led in all areas, from fundraising to membership, but her passion is being directly involved in the community programs the Junior League of Sacramento supports. In 2003-2004, she was chosen as 1st Year Active of the Year for her role in the Junior League's primary fundraiser at the time, the Designer Showcase House. Lora has a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Califonia, Davis and currently runs her own landscape design firm in Folsom. She lives in Folsom with her husband, Herman, and their son Davis.

Stephanie Matulich, Finance Development Vice-President

 Stephanie joined the League in 2006, and has worked on many different committees, including Member Outreach and Recruiting, Hospitality,Outreach Sacramento and served on the Board last year as Parliamentarian. Prior to joining the JLS, Stephanie was very involved in the 20-30 Club of Greater Sacramento, where she held many positions, including co-chair of the annual crab feed. This year, Stephanie is serving as Finance Development Vice President, where she is responsible for Annual Fund, Corporate Sponsorships and Grant Writing.   Stephanie graduated from CSU Chico with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Environmental Science. Currently she is a clinical sales consultant in the medical industry. She lives in Sacramento with her boyfriend Mark and their brood of cats and dogs.

 Mary Rotelli, Fundraising Vice-President

Mary has been a member of the Junior League of Sacramento since 2003, and is currently serving her fourth term on the JLS Board of Directors. Her role is to oversee our event-based fundraising, including Wine & Dine 'til Nine, Crab Feed, Family Fun Fest and the JLS Celebrate cookbook. Mary works at Teichert Inc., a construction and materials company founded in 1887. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, and is a Senior Fellow with the American Leadership Forum. In addition to volunteering with JLS, her free-time activities include sitting on the advisory board of the Sacramento Children’s Museum and the Program Committee of the Family Business Center. Mary, her husband Tom, and their two sons live in Carmichael.

Nancy Stebbins, Membership Vice-President

Nancy joined the Junior League in 2003 after moving from the San Francisco Bay Area.  She credits the League with providing a rewarding connection to the community and unparalleled leadership training opportunities.  Over the last seven years she has served on a wide variety of committees often double placing on more than one at a time.  Nancy has served five direct years on the Membership Council in roles such as Nominating Chair, Nominating Committee, New Member Advisor and Transfer Committee.  Her experience also includes committee or co-chair roles on Community Stars, Community Partnerships, Fund Development and Program Funding and Development.  In 2009, Nancy was awarded JLS Active of the Year.  This year Nancy is serving as Membership Vice President overseeing the membership and growth of more than 250 members.  Nancy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications & Journalism with an emphasis in Advertising from San Jose State University.  After serving as a marketing professional at some of the leading Bay Area Fortune 500 companies she created her own independent marketing and public relations consultantancy.  Nancy and her husband Dan live in El Dorado Hills.  

 Michelle Alves, Parliamentarian

 Michelle joined the League to try to integrate herself into the Sacramento community.  She credits the League for making her 7 years in Sacramento more enjoyable.  Similarly, the volunteer opportunities opened her eyes to the needs of the community.  Michelle has spent her time in the League on the Impact Sac committee and most recently served as co-chair of Kids in the Kitchen.  Michelle has a Psychology degree from the University of San Diego and a law degree from McGeorge School of Law.  She works for a company writing and negotiating contracts.  Michelle lives in West Sacramento with her husband and new son.

 Jocelyn Mitchelmore, Recording Secretary

 Jocelyn Mitchelmore is the Board of Directors' Recording Secretary.  She joined the league in 2004 intent on giving back to those less fortunate, with a focus on children.  Over the past six years Jocelyn has contributed the majority of her time to membership committees, most recently as the Membership Advisors and Placement chair.  Jocelyn values the friendships she has made and the leadership experience she has obtained during her time with the JLS.  Jocelyn has 13 years of experience in education.  She spent five years teaching fourth and fifth grade at the Napa Valley Language Academy. Currently she works as a Project G.L.A.D (Guided Language Acquisition Design) educational consultant. The Project is based through the Orange County Department of Education.  The strategies and model promote English language acquisition, academic achievement, and cross-cultural skills. Most of her work takes her throughout Northern California.   
Jocelyn has a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Washington State University.  Jocelyn resides in Elk Grove with her husband Peter and daughters Lauren and Payton.

Cheryll Cochrane, Sustainer Vice-President

Cheryll Cochrane has been active in the Sacramento community for over thirty years.  She taught language arts for twenty-five years to middle and high school students and was a middle school administrator before retiring in 2002.  Community service was always a focus in her work with her students during her years at Sacramento Country Day School. As a teacher, her student led project, Small Change for the Big Quake, after a devastating earthquake in India, attracted the attention of UNICEF, which featured it in one of their promotion videos. As a middle school principal she planned many service learning projects, including a Community Service Day, where every student in the middle school was involved for a school day in various community service projects.

Her earliest involvement in the community was with The Sacramento Cerebral Palsy Guild, where among other activities she co-chaired the first infant car seat loaner program in Northern California after state law in the early 1980’s made child restraints mandatory for children riding in automobiles. Later, she served on the Sacred Heart School Board, The Old Eagle Theater Board, the Family Service Agency Board and the National Charity League Board. 

Cheryll joined The Junior League of Sacramento in 1983, and during her seven years as an active member served in many capacities, including Ways and Means/Special Events Chair and Membership Vice President. She was the head writer for the first edition of Celebrate! , the cookbook produced by JLS in 1991 and was involved in the reprinting of the book in 2007. She served two terms as Sustainer Vice President after her Active membership. She credits The Junior League of Sacramento with training her in many aspects of community service, especially board development and fundraising. She has used this training to provide consulting services with other nonprofit organizations over the years, such as Shriners Hospital for Children, where she worked for four years, and Friends for Survival, a not-for-profit group that provides services for survivors of suicide.

Eight years ago Cheryll returned to an earlier passion and focused on her efforts on United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Greater Sacramento. The Sacramento affiliate of this national organization has been a fixture in Sacramento for over sixty years, with a strong profile serving the needs of children and adults with disabilities. In the years she has been involved with UCP she has seen it has grow from a six million dollar a year budget to ten million dollars a year. She served a two-year term as Chairman of the Board in 2008-2009. During her term as Chair, the organization grew to include a foundation board, purchased a building to provide a permanent home for its administrative offices and in partnership with CSUS opened a new model after-school program for older children with autism .

Cheryll has been married to attorney Mike Cochrane for forty years, and they raised their family in the East Sacramento area of the community. These days, as time permits, she likes to spend time in San Diego, where her daughter, Amanda, and son-in-law Eric reside. Her interests center around art, writing and reading.