“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
-Helen Keller
Katherine Lagarde Bernard serves as the Secretary to the Board of Directors of the Junior League of New Orleans. In this position, she manages the official record of the League year, including meeting agendas and minutes, functions as Parliamentarian at Board, Joint Council, and General Membership meetings, and provides guidance on and ensures adherence to the organization's governance documents, which include Bylaws, Standing Rules, Policies, and Procedures. Katherine's attention to detail, strong organizational skills, patience, and objectivity give her the capacity to be the Chair of the Standards Committee. She works with other members and staff to maintain membership information and address member requirements. Katherine hopes to continue JLNO's meaningful work and help it evolve with new projects, fundraisers and members. She followed in her mother's footsteps by joining the League, and she hopes her daughter will do the same and understand the importance of giving back to the community.
In her more than 10 years in JLNO, Katherine has served in leadership roles in nearly every aspect of JLNO. She has held positions on the Business, Community, Membership and Planning and Development Councils. She loves that JLNO brings together women of all different backgrounds to achieve one goal. She has particularly enjoyed serving twice on the Nominating Committee, the selection process for JLNO's leaders. This nominating committee creates an outstanding leadership team and was truly an amazing experience. Knocking on doors and surprising these women late at night and asking them to be leaders was particularly fun and created some of her most memorable League experiences. She has learned the importance of organization, efficiency, effective action and how JLNO through organized volunteerism makes lasting impact in our community.
Katherine has worked in the family business, Lagarde’s Kitchen & Bath, with her father, Jimmy Lagarde, since 2006. They specialize in design, consultation and custom cabinetry for the home. Besides volunteering at her children's' schools, she was an advisor for the Rho Chapter of Chi Omega at Tulane University and have served on the Louisiana Children's Museum Chairish the Children and Kids Zoo to Do committees. Originally from New Orleans, Katherine attended Academy of the Sacred Heart for 15 years and graduated from Tulane University. She enjoys reading, cooking, and baking (chocolate chip cookies are her specialty). She also enjoys exercising and traveling with her family. Katherine lives in Old Metairie with her husband Wogan, who is a Partner at Chaffe McCall, LLP, and their three children George (9), Konrad (6) and Kate (4). When she was 16, Katherine met Wogan at a Jesuit High School football game and they began dating soon thereafter. They have grown up together, which she says has been really fun.
She gains inspiration from her parents who raised four children, one of which with Downs Syndrome. They were strong believers of inclusion and fought hard to have Katherine's little sister mainstreamed in a regular school environment, which was rare at that time. It was an uphill battle, but they succeeded and paved the way for other families to do the same. This was truly inspiring to Katherine and has taught her the importance of perseverance, standing up for what she believes, and helping others, especially those who cannot always help themselves.