Policy Board 2025-2026

Karen Burchell – President

Karen joined the Junior League of Evanston-North Shore in 2007 and led Marketing and PR for her New Member class project, Kids in the Kitchen High Five Health Fair, held in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lake County, IL and Oak Terrace Elementary School in Highwood, IL. She was also Co-Chair of the American Girl Fashion Show Fundraiser, as well as Placement and Transfer Chair. Karen has also served on the Nominating and Placement committee during various years and was also the Personnel Director for multiple years. She has also served as Member at Large and Membership Director on Policy Board. Karen was awarded the Founder’s Award in 2020 for her leadership in promoting the League’s COVID-19 efforts as PR & Marketing Chair and as a member of the COVID-19 Task Force. She also received the Founder’s Award in 2022 for her work as PR & Marketing Chair. Karen has served as the League’s PR & Marketing Chair from 2018-2026. Her professional background is in Advertising and Marketing, as well as Social Media Marketing and Digital Engagement. Karen was also highly involved as a member of the Ad Hoc Community Grants committee, where she helped to analyze, select, award, and promote the League’s efforts in awarding grants to local nonprofit organizations that were especially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She also serves on the Thrift House Board of Directors and is grateful and honored to be serving as President for the 2025-26 League Year.

Stephanie Spindler – President-Elect

Stephanie is a dedicated sales and strategy executive and community leader with over 25 years of experience. She is a long-time member of the Junior League and first joined the Junior League of Chicago where she served in numerous roles including Vice President of Education and Training. As her career took her to new cities, Stephanie was an active member of the Junior League of Phoenix, the Junior League of Johnson & Wyandotte Counties (Kansas), and the Junior League of Kansas City (Missouri). She joined the Junior League of Evanston-North Shore in 2022 and served as the Social Chair and most recently as the Community Impact Director. Outside of the League, Stephanie is the Director of Incident & Emergency Management at Grainger where her work focuses on building customer sales strategies and solutions to help communities prepare, respond, and recover from all hazards.

Libby Graham – Bylaws Parliamentarian

Nicole Downie – Community Director

Nicole transferred into the Junior League of Evanston-North Shore in 2020. Currently, Nicole is serving as Community Director. Previously, she chaired the Scholarships & Grants committee, Thrift House committee, served as an At-Large member on Policy Board, and sat on the Centennial Gala committee. Prior to the JLE-NS, Nicole was a member of the Junior League in New York City and Columbus. Over the years, Nicole has held a number of roles within the organization. She has been Executive VP for the NYJL’s largest fundraiser, raising over $600K in critical funds for community partners; and Co-Chair of Affiliation, where she focused on improving membership engagement and retention. She completed the Nonprofit Board Clearinghouse course in 2015 and subsequently sat on the Leadership Development task force from 2018-19 and Managing Board from 2019-2020. Nicole grew up in Wilmette, but now resides in Glencoe with her husband, daughter, and two cats. Outside of the League, she enjoys baking, gardening, coaching her daughter’s soccer team, volunteering with the PTO, and the occasional trash TV binge.

Allie Paus – Finance Director

Allie joined the Junior League of Evanston-North Shore in 2015. Born and raised in the Evanston, she wanted to find a way to give back to the vibrant North Shore community, while sharing her leadership expertise with volunteer leaders. During her New Member year, she served as Co-Chair of the Baby Steps project, and has also held the role of New Member Co-Chair.  Allie served as the JLE-NS President for the 2018-19 League Year.  Outside of the League, Allie serves as the President, North Chicago Area and President at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. She enjoys cooking and loves spending time outdoors with her family. Allie resides in Evanston with her husband and children.

Nicole Bogdanovich – Membership Director

Nicole Bogdanovich is a long-time member of The Junior league of Evanston-North Shore; joining in 1998 while still in college. Nicole has held many Management and Policy Board roles, including Cookbook Chair, Scholarships and Grants Chair, Nominating and Placement Chair, Recording Secretary, Membership Director and Community Director. She is also a Past President. For her work as Nominating and Placement Chair in 2014, Nicole was awarded The Founder’s Award. Outside of the League, Nicole is a family medicine physician. She resides in Wilmette. In her spare time, Nicole likes to travel, explore Chicago, cook from scratch, and has recently taken up embroidery.

Lisa Stadler – Member at Large

Dina Mead – Nominating & Placement Chair

Dina is a long time member of the Junior League. She first joined the Junior League of Westchester-on-Hudson, NY in 1985. There, she was Membership Development Chair and Provisional Trainer followed by Nominating/Placement Chair. In 1991, Dina moved to Southern California and transferred into the Junior League of Orange County. There, she was the Provisional Trainer for a class of 150 New Members, followed by the American Girl Fashion Show Chair. In 2005, Dina moved to Wilmette and transferred into the Junior League of Evanston-North Shore. At the JLE-NS, Dina has Co-Chaired the Admissions Committee, Chaired the Nominating Committee, served as Dues Treasurer, Member-at-Large and Thrift House Chair. Her crowning achievement was to serve as President for the Junior League of Evanston-North Shore in 2013-14. These days, Dina remains an active member of JLE-NS from out of state. She currently lives in Corona del Mar, California and is the Nominating & Placement Chair.

Shauna Myers – Nominating & Placement Chair-Elect

Leynette Kuniej – Personnel Director

Anna Pappas – Sustainer Director

Rebecca Garces – Executive Director of the Thrift House Board of Directors

Rebecca Garces is a Past President (2005-06) of the Junior League of Evanston-North Shore and held the position of Executive Director of the Thrift House Board of Directors from 2015 to 2019.  In 1996, she joined the League to spend time with another working mom, since they were only finding time to keep in touch by phone. Since being in the League, she enjoyed working on numerous Holiday Parties for over 700 abused and neglected children in Cook County, Save the Abandoned Babies Campaign, Girls on the Run partnership, and chairing – and being a part of the Cookbook Committee, publishing “It’s a Shore Thing” in 2006. She has enjoyed these and other leadership and active member roles over the decades. Outside of the League, Rebecca is Head Portfolio Compliance at an asset management firm in Chicago. She enjoys reading, music, and entertaining. Rebecca resides in Wilmette with her husband and small dog, Elly, and loves when her two boys visit.

TBD – Recording Secretary