Junior League of New Orleans hosts annual “Get on Board” training

Written By Alicia Vial

NEW ORLEANS – The Junior League of New Orleans (JLNO) will host its annual Get on Board training Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Get on Board is a single day workshop providing knowledge and skills to current board members, nonprofit staff or those wishing to serve on a nonprofit board. Since 2008, more than 700 individuals have participated in the training.

“Get on Board is a Junior League of New Orleans training program designed to strengthen community leadership by cultivating the skills of individuals who are active volunteers, interested in serving on nonprofit boards, or currently holding board leadership roles” said Michelle Clarke Payne, president of JLNO. “It is one of the many ways the Junior League of New Orleans serves our community through the effective action and leadership of trained and knowledgeable volunteers and board members.”

This year’s training will be at Junior League of New Orleans Headquarters located at 4319 Carondelet Street. Get on Board topics include strategic planning, effective leadership development and fundraising tips. Speaker presentations are augmented with interactive role-playing and information on how a board member’s responsibilities relate with other duties within a nonprofit organization.

Participants will hear from speakers and leaders including:

  • Michelle Clarke Payne, JLNO & United Way of Southeast

  • Nicole Learson, Professional Registered Parliamentarian

  • Kimberly Novod, Co-founder and Executive Director of Saul’s Light

  • Amy Corcoran, Corcoran & Bernard

  • Jennifer Bernard, Corcoran & Bernard

  • Lindsay Hendrix, Chief Impact Officer for Second Harvest

  • Jennifer Best, CEO of Eden Centers

  • William Stoudt, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together

  • Ronnie Slone, President of The Slone Group

Local nonprofit organizations looking for board members are invited to attend the networking happy hour from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and get acquainted with the Get on Board participants and share about the volunteer leadership and board service opportunities available in the metropolitan New Orleans region.

Tickets are $150 and available to purchase now. Scholarships also available.  

For more information about Get on Board or to register, visit our website or contact getonboard@jlno.org.

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About Junior League New Orleans
Junior League of New Orleans is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization committed to advancing women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training. More information on the organization can be found at www.jlno.org

 

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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