Veronika PeGee steps into historic leadership role
Veronika “Roni” PeGee has been named president of the Junior League of Daytona Beach, making her the first Black woman to lead the organization in its 90-year history. Her appointment marks a new chapter for the League and highlights its efforts to reflect the diversity of the community it serves.
PeGee joined the League in 2014. Over the years, she has become a powerful voice for service, leadership, and inclusion. Her rise to president comes with a deep sense of purpose—and personal triumph.
Leadership rooted in faith and resilience
PeGee’s journey is shaped by her faith and her fight to rebuild her life. She joined the Junior League as a single mother seeking support and connection.
“I knew I needed to surround myself with strong, purpose-driven women,” she said. “The League became a place where I could give back—and grow.” That journey included a major personal battle: surviving breast cancer.
From survivor to servant leader
Surviving cancer gave PeGee what she calls her “superpower faith.” She now leads with compassion and strength, shaped by hardship.
“Cancer didn’t break me. It deepened my compassion and gave me a renewed sense of purpose,” she shared. This sense of purpose now guides her vision for the Junior League and the larger Daytona Beach community.
A vision for mission, membership, and sustainability
As president, PeGee is focused on three main priorities: mission, membership, and sustainability. She wants to create programs that reflect the League’s values and impact more lives.
Her leadership goals include building stronger partnerships, encouraging diverse membership, and creating lasting community support.
New initiatives to empower local women
PeGee plans to launch several new initiatives during her term. These include scholarship and mentorship programs for young women, expanded leadership training for members, and support for women’s mental wellness.
Her vision is clear: empower women, build leaders, and invest in the future of the community. “We are cultivating leaders who will lift communities, break barriers, and leave a lasting impact,” she said.
Building bridges between the past and the future
PeGee says her role is more than a title—it’s about making space for others. “I see myself as a bridge between our history and our future,” she said.
When she joined, she sometimes wondered if she belonged. “The women didn’t look like me,” she recalled. “But I knew representation matters. Especially in an organization that wants to serve the whole community.”
A legacy of purpose and empowerment
PeGee hopes her time as president inspires lasting change. “I want to be remembered for creating space where every woman felt empowered to rise,” she said. “And for showing that no challenge is too great when purpose leads the way.”
The Junior League of Daytona Beach, founded in 1934, is part of a global network focused on building women leaders and creating strong communities through volunteer work and training.
