Board of Directors
The Board of Directors oversees the activities, property, and affairs of the Junior League of Beaumont (JLB), providing strategic and forward-thinking leadership. The Board is responsible for setting and refining governance policies while ensuring that the JLB’s mission and vision are reflected throughout the organization. This includes policy oversight, financial stewardship, strategic planning, operational consistency, and community relations.
Sarah Wells
President
Bio
Sarah Wells, born and raised in Beaumont, Texas, joined the Junior League of San Diego while her husband was stationed in California with the United States Navy. Although she cherished her time in San Diego, she found there truly is no place like home. Returning to Beaumont allowed Sarah to reconnect with the Southeast Texas community she loves.
During her Fourteen active years in the Junior League, Sarah has held various roles, including contributing to the Beaumont Children’s Museum before it had walls, serving as a Provisional Mentor, participating in the CAF Grant Committee, and founding co-chair of Dancing with the Stars of Southeast Texas. She has served on the Junior League of Beaumont Board of Directors as Communications Director, Corresponding Secretary, and President-Elect. In 2020, she was recognized as the Junior League of Beaumont’s Active of the Year.
In addition to her service to the Junior League of Beaumont, Sarah volunteers with Nutrition and Services for Seniors, the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Legion, the Sallie Curtis PTA, and Scouts BSA. She has also served on the State of Texas Forest Trail Board of Directors. Sarah has been honored with the Southeast Texas 40 Under Forty award, the Beaumont Convention and Visitor Bureau’s 2019 Service Award and Leadership Southeast Texas.
Sarah holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance and History from Texas State University. She delights in celebrating special occasions through her business, Well Done by Sarah Wells. Her favorite way to end the day is sitting on the porch with her husband Seth, son Hank, and dog Gus.
Kate Broussard Thorne
President-Elect
Bio
A Beaumont native, Kate Broussard Thorne grew up watching her mother and Past President, Johnnie Broussard, serve as an active member and now as a sustainer of the Junior League of Beaumont. Her mom’s service inspired Kate to joined the Junior League in 2017. Since joining, Kate has served in leadership positions such as Planning Council Director, Bylaws Chair, Spinnings Editor, and Education and Training Chair, among others. She is currently honored to be serving as President-Elect.
Kate is an attorney at MehaffyWeber in the firm’s business practice group. Kate’s practice has a concentration in estate planning and probate law, elder law, corporate and real estate transactions. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M University and a Juris Doctorate from Baylor Law School.
Kate has maintained a lifelong commitment to community service and volunteerism. As an attorney, Kate volunteers through the Jefferson County Bar Association Pro Bono Program and Veteran’s Legal Clinic. In addition to JLB, Kate has served on various boards in the community including the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, Beaumont Chamber Foundation, Beaumont A&M Club, the Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association, the Michelle F. Mehaffy Inn of Court, the Saint Thomas More Society, and the Msgr. Kelly Catholic High School Alumni Board. She has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Texas Rising Star, by BestLawyers as One to Watch in Trusts and Estates and Real Estate, and by the Southeast Texas Young Professionals as a 40 Under 40 Honoree. Kate and her spouse, Wil, have two sons and enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Marissa Gordon
Treasurer
Bio
Marissa Gordon is a Chemist by day with over a decade of experience in industrial labs. She’s mastered the art of quality assurance, environmental testing, and ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. She currently works at Indorama Ventures in Port Neches, TX.
Marissa isn’t all about lab coats and science; she’s also a passionate volunteer. Since joining the Junior League of Beaumont in 2022, her role in the Dancing with the Stars committee, where she has served as a star liaison, business manager, and star reveal chair, showcases her leadership and organizational skills. Whether organizing fundraisers or volunteering in the community, Marissa loves making an impact in her community.
When she’s not working or volunteering, you’ll probably find Marissa at the gym, unwinding with her crochet projects or watching her nephews at a sporting event. Her sweet pup, Toby, is her sidekick. Whether in the lab or the community, Marissa brings passion, precision, and a lot of heart to everything she does!
Katherine Williams
Corresponding Secretary
Bio
Katherine Williams was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. She is a graduate of West Brook High School and received her bachelors degree from Sam Houston State University in Education. After graduation, Katherine went on to teach Special Education at Sallie Curtis Elementary in Beaumont. In 2019, Katherine was named Sallie Curtis Teacher of the Year. As much as she loved teaching, Katherine left the profession after 7 years to stay home with her children and began her journey of giving back to the community through volunteerism.
Katherine joined the Junior League in 2019 and has served as the Main Street Market co-chair, Main Street Market chair, Nominating and Placement Committee, Meeting Arrangements co-chair and Dancing with the Stars.
Katherine and her husband, Mike, have two children — Hudson (5) and Sloane (4). In her spare time, she likes to head to the beach with family and friends, read, travel and enjoy a solo coffee and avo toast from Oz Café.
Lindsay Brake
Recording Secretary
Bio
Lindsay is originally from East Lansing, Michigan and credits the Junior League of Beaumont for helping her grow roots in Southeast Texas when she and her husband moved to the area in 2012. Since becoming an Active member in 2013 she has served in most areas of the league including Beaumont Children’s Museum, Project Research and Development, CAF Grants, The ONE committee, Empowering Youth member, Parenting with Pride Chair, Dancing with the Stars Business Manager, Provisional Mentor and previously served on the board as Recording Secretary. She has also been on the receiving side of the members generosity when the JLB helped gut her house, loaned her baby gear and helped do her laundry after she flooded in 2017 during Hurricane Harvey. Lindsay loves books, especially those with “found family” and is grateful the Junior League of Beaumont is hers.
Lindsay has a Bachelors in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and works for Solenis, a company that makes chemicals used in the pulp and paper industry. She can most often be found at Smurfit-WestRock in Evadale, TX but gets the opportunity to visit other area paper mills in SETX/SWLA as well. She loves solving problems in the fast paced industrial environment.
When not at a paper mill or volunteering with Junior League, she’s playing chauffeur and head cheerleader for her children Evelyn (10), and Julian (9) who each play multiple sports including baseball, softball, football, basketball and tennis. Lindsay also volunteers with the Symphony League of Beaumont, Stable Spirit, St. Anne’s Catholic School, West End Little League and Girl Scouts. When they can find time in the off season Lindsay and her family like to road trip and visit National Parks.
Bethany Longmire
Communications Council Director
Bio
Bethany Longmire, a proud Southeast Texas (SETX) native, brings expertise and leadership to her role as a Controller. With a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Information Technology from Macon State College Georgia, she excels in providing financial clarity and strategic guidance. Bethany is a trusted professional in her field and a Texas Notary Public.
Bethany joined the Junior League of Beaumont in 2019 and has made significant contributions, serving on the Service Squad Committee, as Co-Chair and Chair of the Abolish Committee, and as the Spinnings Editor. Her dedication was recognized in 2022 with the Outstanding Community Impact Award.
Honored as one of the “40 Under 40” by the Southeast Texas Young Professionals Organization, Bethany exemplifies commitment to personal and professional excellence. Outside of work, Bethany enjoys family life with her husband, Bryan, their two daughters, Evie and Mila, and their dogs, Luna and Ruby. She also enjoys cooking and actively volunteering in her community.
Amy Jerry
Community Council Director
Bio
Amy Jerry, born in Port Arthur, Texas, is a committed professional with a background in project coordination and financial management. For 23 years, she has served as a Project Controls Specialist at a local construction company, managing financials for a multimillion-dollar enterprise.
Since joining the Junior League of Beaumont in 2021, she has served as both chair and co-chair of the Healthy Behaviors committee, and she has actively contributed to other league committees focusing on meeting arrangements and future planning.
In her spare time, she runs her macaron bakery, The Honey Comb—a venture that reflects her commitment to quality and her love for baking. Amy treasures family moments as a devoted mother and a cherished Honey to three.
Mallory Cross
Membership Council Director
Bio
Mallory was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. She received her bachelor’s degree in public relations and her master’s degree in sports media and communication from Texas Tech University. After graduation, she moved back to her hometown of Beaumont, and started working for the City of Beaumont as the marketing and communication manager for the Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau for five years. Now, she works as the customer service manager for Iron Horse Services.
Mallory joined the Junior League of Beaumont in 2018, and has since served as a committee member on Spinnings, co-chair of Education and Training, co-chair of The ONE, chair of The ONE, Community Council Director, Nominating and Placement Co-Chair, and for the 2025-2026 year, Membership Council Director. She served on the Beaumont Farmers Market board as a liaison when working with the BFM in the inaugural year of The ONE.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, going to all of the Astros games she can attend, cheering on her Texas Tech Red Raiders, and enjoying an ice cold beer at her favorite local brewery, Buckstin Brewing Co.
Valerie Lewis
Planning Council Director
Bio
Valerie Lewis grew up in Beaumont and lived in France and multiple places in the United States (teaching junior high and high school!) before returning home to practice law. She currently is an attorney at Germer PLLC, where she specializes in litigation and appeals.
Joining the Junior League of Beaumont proved to be such a treat, as she met so many like-minded women and learned the skills she needed to serve on other area non-profit boards, including the Jefferson County Young Lawyers Association, the Michelle Mehaffy Inn of Court, and the Foundation for Southeast Texas. Valerie has held many positions in the Junior League of Beaumont, including service positions, fundraising positions, and Board positions. She is excited to serve the League as Planning Council Chair for the 2025-2026 year, and geek out about all things JLB.
Outside of work and volunteering, Valerie loves spending time with her husband Zach and beautiful daughter, Josephine!
Cheri Dickerson
Past-President
Bio
Originally from Idaho, Cheri Dickerson joined the Junior League of Beaumont in 2016 after moving to Southeast Texas. Eager to get involved, Cheri went straight into community projects, serving on both Empowering Youth, where she was awarded Outstanding Community Project Member, and Healthy Behaviors, serving as co-chair and chair. Other roles include Community Council director, Main Street Market committee (underwriting chair), Nominating and Placement, President-Elect and President. She is continuing to serve the Junior League of Beaumont as Past-President.
As a registered dietitian, Cheri has worked in dialysis, in-patient care, and mental health. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Arizona in Nutritional Sciences and a Master of Science degree from Texas Tech University. Cheri currently utilizes her degree by coaxing her kids to eat healthy foods and substitute teaching at Hardin-Jefferson schools, including a semester of culinary arts.
Cheri and her husband, Jason, have five children: Sam (22) attends the United States Military Academy at West Point, and Ava (20) attends the University of Arizona, Jake (17), Audrey (14), and Jude (11) all attend Hardin-Jefferson. When she’s not with the JLB, you can find her watching all the Hawk sports cheering for her kids or cheering for everyone else’s kids from the athletic booster club’s concession stand, an active member of the HJABC. In addition to volunteering, Cheri is an avid reader, loves to cook and talk about food, travel, scuba diving, and plants.
Kara Hawthorn
Sustaining Advisor
Bio
Kara Hawthorn is currently serving as the Sustaining Advisor to the Board of Directors of the Junior League of Beaumont. She previously led the League as President during the 2016–2017 term.
2026 - 2027 Junior League of Beaumont
Chairs and Co-Chairs
Board of Directors
Kate Thorne
President
Valerie Lewis
President-Elect
Marissa Gordon
Treasurer
Amy Jerry
Treasurer-Elect
Erin Godina
Corresponding Secretary
Brandi Lopez
Recording Secretary
Brandi Verdine
Community Council Director
Ashton Smith
Communications Council Director
LaSan Gilder
Membership Council Director
Brooke Morrow
Planning Council Director
Nominating and Placement
LaSan Gilder
Chair
Mattie Beaver
Co-Chair
Membership Development
Allie Kelley
Chair
Danielle Spencer
Co-Chair
Meeting Arrangements
Lauren Hallmark
Chair
Melissa McHaney
Co-Chair
Spinnings
Juliana Smith
Chair
Caitlyn Clubb
Co-Chair
Sustainer Liaison
Meagan Collins
Sustainer Liaison
Member Essentials
Daisy Reyna
Chair
Alisha Williams
Co-Chair
Redbook
Emily Amedee
Chair
Shelby Kelly
Co-Chair
Social Media
Belinda George
Chair
Jessica Magee
Co-Chair
Ways and Means
Nadine Ona Daigle
Chair
Lindsey Sorrell
Co-Chair
Fund Development
Christina Lokey
Chair
Paige Browne
Co-Chair
Main Street Market
LaTesha Hunter
Chair
Amanda Yarbrough
Co-Chair
Dancing with the Stars
Betsy Henslee
Chair
Brooke Carroll
Co-Chair
Lagniappe
Laurel Rugg
Chair
Courtney Boullion
Co-Chair
Abolish
Baylee Romero
Chair
Maddie Brown
Co-Chair
Empowering Youth
Michelle Domingue
Chair
Britney White
Co-Chair
Healthy Behaviors
Tiffany Shelton
Chair
Cristina Sifuentes-Ayala
Co-Chair
Service Squad
Meg Brown
Chair
Antonetta Robertson
Co-Chair
Cheryl Tripplett
Co-Chair
PRD/CAF
Alá Abbott
Chair
Ashley Carter
Co-Chair
Education and Training
Mariana Jantz
Chair
Krista Hunter
Co-Chair
Belonging and Connection
Erin Codina
Chair
Courtney White
Chair
Lindsey Sorrell
Co-Chair
Phelicia Williams
Co-Chair
Headquarters
Brooke Morrow
Chair
Ashley Willis
Co-Chair
Finance Self Placement
Kellsey Fairchild
Position