Board of Directors | Girl Scouts of Western Ohio

Victoria Nilles is currently serving a third term as Chair on the Board of Directors and as a National Council Delegate for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. Prior to being elected as Chair, she served as 1st Vice Chair and as Treasurer. She is an attorney and is an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Criminal Division of the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office in Dayton, Ohio. Prior to that she worked in the Dayton office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, where she concentrated her practice in the area of general commercial litigation. She has also practiced law in other large law firms in Ohio and Indiana, concentrating her litigation practice in the areas of product liability, intellectual property, unfair competition, and contract matters. 

Prior to entering private practice, Victoria served as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert L. Miller, Jr. in the United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana. In her first career, she was a Military Intelligence Officer in the United States Army, serving for ten years in various command and staff positions in the United States and Germany.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, and received her Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law, where she was the Executive Editor of the Washburn Law Journal and graduated magna cum laude. Victoria is married to Dr. J. Thomas Hardy, and they reside in Oakwood, Ohio. They have two grown children, Christopher and Cathryn.

Cassie B. Barlow, PhD is currently serving Girl Scouts of Western Ohio as 1st Vice Chair on the Board of Directors and as a National Council Delegate. She previously served as a Member-at-Large and a member of the Board Development Committee. She is the President of Strategic Ohio Council on Higher Education (SOCHE). SOCHE is focused on Workforce Development needs across Ohio. Dr. Barlow retired from the United States Air Force after 26 years of service as the 88th Air Base Wing and Installation Commander, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. She was in command of one of the largest air base wings in the Air Force with more than 5,000 Air Force military, civilian, and contractor employees. The base is home to more than 27,000 employees and is the largest single site employer in the state of Ohio.

Cassie was commissioned in the Air Force in 1988 as a distinguished graduate of Georgetown University, Washington D.C. Following graduation, Dr. Barlow attended Information Management Technical School at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. She has served in a variety of positions in the information management, behavioral science and personnel careers fields at squadron, Wing, direct reporting unit, major command, Air Force and combatant command levels. Dr. Barlow was selected by the Air Force Institute of Technology to attend Rice University to earn a doctorate in Organizational Psychology. After graduation, she served as a behavioral scientist at the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Air Force Academy. She was then selected to lead the analysis team for the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Developing Aerospace Leaders Program. Dr. Barlow commanded the 355th Mission Support Squadron at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, where her squadron garnered multiple Air Combat Command and Air Force level awards. She also commanded at the Group level as a Mission Support Group Commander at Royal Air Force Lakenheath.

Cassie was previously the Director of Manpower and Personnel of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Chapman University, a Doctor of Philosophy from Rice University, and two additional Master’s degrees. Cassie is a 2014 Women of Distinction from Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, was a Girl Scout leader and is a proud mother of a Gold Award Girl Scout. Cassie is an active community member serving on multiple boards around the Dayton Ohio Region.

Kimber Fender is currently serving Girl Scouts of Western Ohio as 2nd Vice Chair on the Board of Directors, and as a National Council Delegate. She has also previously served on the Board as Secretary and a Member-at-Large. She is also a member of the Olave Baden-Powell Society and is co-chair of the planning committee for the Society’s October 2022 meeting in Cincinnati. 

In 2018, Kimber (Kim) retired from the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County after serving as the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director of the Library since 1999. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Northern Kentucky University, an MLS degree from the University of Kentucky and a certificate in Foresight Studies from the University of Houston. She was awarded a graduate internship at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, and worked at the Boone County Public Library, the Campbell County Public Library, and ATE Management and Services Company, before beginning employment with Cincinnati’s Library in 1988.

She currently serves on the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Board, the United Way Public Policy Cabinet, the University of Cincinnati Library Dean’s Advisory Council, the CET Community Advisory Committee and the University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information Dean’s Advisory Board. She chaired the Ohio Library Council’s Government Relations Committee for more than 15 years. She is an elected member of the Campbell County Board of Education and a member of the Board of Directors of the Kentucky School Boards Association. She serves as the President of Modern Lutheran Women at St. John Lutheran Church in Melbourne, KY and is also Treasurer of the Cemetery Committee. She is a member of the Cincinnati Women’s Club. 

Kim is an alumna of Leadership Cincinnati. In 2017 she was named an Ohio Library Council’s (OLC) Librarian Hall of Fame and was previously named Librarian of the Year by OLC and was honored with the Council’s A. Chapman Parson Advocacy Award in 2017. Kim is a recipient of an Improving our Community Award from United Way of Greater Cincinnati, a Career Woman of Achievement award from the YWCA, a Woman of Distinction award from the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio and a Bridge Builder Award from the Cincinnati Hamilton County Community Action Agency. She received the University of Kentucky School of Library and Information Science Alumni Association Outstanding Alumna Award and was honored with a Professional Achievement Award from Northern Kentucky University.

Patrice Baughman Borders, J.D. is serving a third term as Secretary on the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, and previously served as a Member-at-Large. She is an executive coach, speaker, and facilitator. Her tools of choice are:  emotional intelligence (EI) and mindfulness. She empowers leaders to show up in shared work cultures in ways that support teaming, innovation, and belonging. 

She is the Founder and Principal of Prevention Strategies LLC. For over 20 years, she has combined her employment law and human capital practices to coach individuals and advise organizations on developing resonate leaders, collaborative teams, and inclusive workplace cultures. Patrice helps leaders and organizations evolve into better versions of themselves by guiding them through the inside work – growing in self-awareness – to lead more effectively with insight and compassion. She has delivered transformational training and leadership coaching to individuals and audiences across the world, including Fortune 100 corporations such as Johnson & Johnson, Accenture, Danaher, Procter & Gamble, Kroger, Nielsen, 84.51º and various law firms, non-profits, and academic entities.

Her personal mission is to amplify emotional intelligence (#amplifyEI) by sharing tools and strategies for leading with the 7 Cs of Emotional Intelligence™:  Center (be present), Comprehension (self/others), Connection, Communication, Collaboration, Conflict (resolution/management), and Culture (co-authoring shared cultures of belonging). Patrice is a Certified Search Inside Yourself Teacher (the leadership development program born at Google, based on mindfulness, emotional intelligence and contemporary neuroscience). She is also certified in the EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360 Emotional Intelligence assessment tools as well as other tools she uses to empower leaders to pause and intentionally build belonging. 

Patrice grew up in Girl Scouts and has, through the years, actively volunteered as a leader and as a Board member during the transition to Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. She and her husband, Keith, reside in Cincinnati and are the proud parents of two adult daughters:  Gold Award Girl Scout Candace and Gold Award Girl Scout and National Young Woman of Distinction (2014) Camille.

Jenny Michael is currently serving as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. She is the Senior Vice President of Advocacy at CareSource, a health insurance plan headquartered in Dayton, Ohio. Jenny is responsible for managing communication, branding, social media and external affairs in addition to leading corporate responsibility efforts and partnership strategies to support community relations. As a key advocacy team member, she builds collaborative working relationships with regulatory agencies, legislators and stakeholders to strengthen the company’s mission and positively impact the lives of two million members. She has more than 20 years of experience in marketing communication strategy and management and spent 11 years at The Berry Company prior to joining CareSource a decade ago. 

Outside of work, Jenny is active in the community and was elected to three terms as a member of the Valley View Board of Education, chaired the Dayton YWCA Women of Distinction Event, is a member of the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio Board, serves as a Montgomery County 4H Advisor and is the Lay Leader at her church. She has been recognized by the Dayton Business Journal as a 40 Under 40 winner, as a Woman of Distinction by Girl Scouts of Western Ohio and as the Heart of Leadership recipient at CareSource for her focus on mentorship and leadership. 

Jenny earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from The Ohio State University. She and her husband, Jason live on a farm in Farmersville, Ohio, where they are raising their two sons.

Maria Arcocha White is a Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. She is Founder and CEO of Inclusity. Throughout her career of 35 years, Maria has developed inclusion and diversity training and successfully trained thousands of executives, managers, and employees across a wide range of industries.

In 2013, she launched Inclusity to pursue an empathetic, inclusion-focused approach to diversity and inclusion work, believing that when we “lead with inclusion, diversity will follow.” Prior to Inclusity, Maria was executive vice president of Pope & Associates, a leading D&I training and consulting firm, and vice president of human resources for R. R. Donnelley Logistics. She began her career at Procter & Gamble, where she was the company’s first Hispanic sales and marketing manager.

Maria’s compassion extends to the community. In addition to years of volunteerism, she is currently a Rotary member and is proud to have served in an advisory capacity on the U.S. Senate Task Force on Hispanic Affairs.

Maria has an M.A. in counseling from Xavier University and a B.A. in communications from the University of Toledo. She holds a certification in PROSCI change management. She works out of the central Inclusity offices in Perrysburg, Ohio.

Sheri Bogardus currently serves as a Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. Sheri grew up in the Girl Scouts and is a former troop leader and cookie mom in Central New York and western Ohio. She is Vice President and Senior Commercial Digital Product Manager for Key Bank. She previously spent more than 20 years leading digital product development, management, and marketing efforts for Citibank, Studen Loan Funding, Sallie Mae, Campus Solutions, Higher One and Payce. Sheri holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Old Dominion. She and her husband Dave are avid hikers who live in Cincinnati, Ohio and are the parents of two former Girl Scouts who have grown into beautiful, amazing young women.

Christine M. Castellano is Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of The Andersons (NASDAQ:  ANDE), located in Maumee, Ohio. Founded in 1947, The Andersons is a diversified company rooted in agriculture that conducts business across North America in the grain, biofuels, plant nutrient and rail sectors. In 2021, The Andersons was ranked number 366 in the Fortune 500 list, with revenues in excess of $8 billion. In addition to serving as general counsel, Christine manages the human resources, environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) and corporate communications functions.

Prior to joining The Andersons, she served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer for Ingredion Incorporated, a NYSE listed Fortune 500 company. She additionally served as a non-executive director and member of the Audit Committee of Rafhan Maize Products Co. Ltd., a public company listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange.

Christine moved to the Toledo area in January 2020. She currently serves on the Board of the Toledo Lucas County Port Authority, and is a co-chair of the Business and Industry Committee of N.W. Ohio’s V Project (COVID-19 vaccination). She also serves on the legacy board of The John Marshall Law School in Chicago. She previously was a Trustee of the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (Chair of Grant Committee), a Trustee of the Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and a member of the Womens’ Board of the Chicago Zoological Society (Co-chair of Education and Outreach Committee). She is a member of The Economic Club of Chicago and The Chicago Network. In April 2019 Christine was certified as a diversity professional by the National Diversity Council.

Michelle Furlong is a Human Resources professional with a passion for helping people discover and develop their true potential.

Originally from Middletown, Ohio, Michelle worked in the Banking industry in New York and London before returning home in 2015 to pen her own small business, a boutique yoga studio. Currently, she is the Vice President of Human Resources, at HORAN, a Cincinnati-based insurance and financial services firm where she specializes in strategic human resources leadership and business partnership with an emphasis on performance management, talent development and employee engagement.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from The College of William & Mary and a Master’s Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from New York University.

Corinne Hemesath is a Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio and a member of the Investment Task Group. She began her career in corporate finance and management in the technology field and became a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley 20 years ago until her recent retirement. She concentrated on assisting women who were seeking financial guidance in income planning during retirement. She also worked in pre/post-divorce planning in addition to helping families and couples with their financial management needs. Along with her Series 7, 31, 66 and life, health, accident and variable insurance licenses, she has also earned the designations of CHARTERED RETIREMENT PLANNING COUNSELOR®, CERTIFIED DIVORCE FINANCIAL ANALYST® and SENIOR PORTFOLIO MANAGER. Corinne achieved the Five Star Wealth Manager Award by Cincinnati Magazine 2012-2019. She is fluent in Spanish and completed her MBA in Global Business Management after earning her BS degree in English.

Corinne was featured in the Women Financial Advisors Forum with Morgan Stanley in May 2010. She has served as Treasurer of the Northern Kentucky Collaborative Law Committee. Corinne was nominated for Cincinnati Women of the Year in 2004 and has been a season subscriber and supporter of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for over 30 years. She is a registered volunteer with the SIFMA foundation and has served as a judge the last nine years for the Investwrite National Essay Competition sponsored by McGraw Hill Financial. She has also volunteered at Brookdale Hospice in the memory care unit. Corinne enjoys equestrian activities, wine tasting, entertaining, and spending time with her family and friends.

Shannon Heroux is a motivated leader and industry expert with more than 25 years of success leading teams in the healthcare field.  She leverages that experience in her role as Medical Mutual’s Vice President of Sales for Western Ohio where she is responsible for leading a team of sales consultants who position and sell Medical Mutual's insurance and wellness products.

Prior to joining Medical Mutual, Ms. Heroux had a long tenure at Humana serving as Director of Sales.  Before taking on that role, she was Humana’s Wellness Leader for the Ohio market where she provided leadership and direction to her team of Consumer Experience Consultants as they promoted health and well-being to Humana clients and members.

In addition to holding a degree in business from Indiana Wesleyan University, Shannon has participated in a variety of leadership and training programs including the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber C-Change Leadership Program and Humana’s Women in Leadership Program.

Shannon is a passionate supporter of the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, the American Heart Association Heart Mini Marathon and Walk, the Ronald McDonald House, the Animal Adoption Foundation, the Children's Home of Cincinnati, and Talbert House.  She resides in Green Township with her husband Matt.

Theresa Hirschauer is currently serving as a Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio and is Chair of the Fund Development Task Group. She has also previously served an unexpired term as 2nd Vice Chair and as Member-at-Large. Theresa is Head of the Middle School at Cincinnati Country Day. She has been with Cincinnati Country Day for 32 years where she served as the Athletic Director for 20 years and MS Head for 10 years. In addition to administrative duties, Theresa has continued to teach math and coach multiple sports. Theresa was named the National Coach of the Year for High School Soccer after CCDS won back-to-back state titles in 2018 and 2019.

After graduating from Turpin High School, she went on to graduate from Brown University where she was a legendary soccer and softball player and was named to the Ivy League Hall of Fame. Theresa is also a member of numerous Athletic Halls of Fame that include Turpin High School, Buddy LaRosa’s High School Sports, and Greater Cincinnati Softball Association. She is a recipient of Cincinnati Country Day’s Lee Pattison Teaching Award; the Ohio Athletic Director of the Year; and the Coach of the Year – Local and State for Girls Soccer. Theresa is currently serving as Treasurer of the Southwest Ohio Athletic Directors Association and is the former President of the Miami Valley Conference. In addition, she is involved in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, as a team captain and a survivor. Theresa loves working and teaching young people especially young women to be leaders of the next generation.

Jaime Lanham is Vice President, Stock Plan Services with Fidelity Investments. When not at work, Jaime is busy carpooling 3 kids to their various activities. She is a proud mother of Hildi (17), Max (15) and Quinn (11). As a family, they love to create new memories through travel and frequently find joy visiting their lake house in South Haven where they enjoy skiing in the winter and lake life in the summers.

Jaime is involved in her community through her children’s schools and an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction. Her other hobbies include being a cheerleader on the sidelines of soccer fields, lacrosse, track and courtside for wrestling, volleyball and in the audience for chorus and musicals. She is a young widow who unfortunately lost her husband unexpectedly 3 years ago. She couldn’t have made it without her community at work and at home and has thrived due to her strong and supportive community that includes her friends, family and loyal neighbors. Because of this experience, she has learned to worry less about the small stuff and to live like you have no tomorrow. Jaime’s personal and professional priorities include diversity and inclusion, women’s leadership, community impact, and financial literacy.

Teanya Norwood-Ekweena is the Health Nurse Outcomes Manager, Social Determinants of Health for ProMedica. A dynamic nurse and health educator, Teanya has used her platform to build a health outreach program that engages young mothers, seniors and homeless individuals living in central city Toledo and is connecting them not just to information but to programs and tangible resources that can improve their health and well-being.

Since 2018, she has connected more than 400 mothers to resources to address disparities in infant and maternal health and mortality, including The Pathways Hub and Best Baby Zone; she has provided local safe sleep education and health fairs sponsored by leading infant care companies including Gerber; she leads a group of outreach workers that are connecting with families one-on-one in the UpTown neighborhood to connect to health services.

Teanya has gone above and beyond to work with homeless individuals through St. Paul's Community Center, connecting individuals with memberships to ToledoGo bikes to address transportation issues as well as health fairs and connections to workforce and personal financial services as they navigate the county Housing First Program.

Teanya is a role model because she has committed her career to educating girls and women, especially girls and women of color in low- and moderate-income communities, on how to live a healthy lifestyle. From maternal health, exercise, healthy eating, health advocacy, financial health, and the importance of education, Teanya is a leader in the movement for a healthy Toledo. She is the true definition of a superhero. She goes above and beyond her responsibilities to find furniture, clothing and supplies for families, to visit new mothers in the hospital when they have no family, to volunteer at the ProMedica Food Clinic to make sure families have appropriate and adequate food. She does all of this while raising her own family including two young children, being a role model that as women, we are strong and can do anything we set our mind to.

She is also a staple in her Ottawa Hills community. Volunteering her time with the elementary school, caring for neighbors experiencing health challenges and engaging a cohort of moms to donate items to those in need. Her determination, passion, grit and enthusiasm make her a role model to women and girls, showing you can achieve anything!

Teanya goes above and beyond in everything she does. Whether that is scouring community garage sales for household furniture or baby items and then donating them to those in need. To serving on community task forces to improve health disparities and patient experience in our community. To working with expectant mothers within the Toledo Public School system to connect them to resources, employment and support. Everything she does to improve the health and well-being of the Toledo community is done not because it's her job, but because it is her passion. She never hesitates to be of service when she can. She works diligently to stay up to date on the latest in healthcare and social determinants to ensure she is delivering the greatest and best care and connections to those in need. Her generosity knows no bounds. Whether it be time, talent or treasure, Teanya can always be counted on to lend a hand and lead the charge. Her compassion for strangers and friends alike is unlike any other and shows every day in her actions to care for others.

Rhonda E. Reagh, PhD is the recently retired principal owner of Reagh and Associates, a firm she launched in 2011 after a 32 year career in leadership of Ohio child welfare agencies. As the owner and CEO of Reagh and Associates, Rhonda provided personal and executive coaching, consulting, and leadership development training. She was a well-respected resource for organizations and small businesses seeking help with problem-solving, skill development, team work and performance improvement. Rhonda was a Certified Daring Way™ and Dare to Lead™ Facilitator. Both embrace a highly experiential methodology based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. The method was developed to help men, women and adolescents learn how to show up, be seen and live braver personal and leadership lives. This work led Rhonda to facilitate numerous retreats on topics such as empathy, fear and courageous leadership, as well as facilitation using The Daring Way, Rising Strong and Dare to Lead curricula.

Rhonda is a 2014 WiBN Top 25 Women to Watch Honoree and a 2015 OSU College of Social Work Alumni Society Distinguished Career Award recipient. She lives on a mini-farm in West Milton, Ohio with her husband, Jerry, and their Labrador Retriever, Dickens.

Monique Sewell earned her Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Dayton. Upon graduation, she began her career in the Cincinnati office of Arthur Anderson & Co. and obtained her CPA license. She then became the controller of Benefit Designs, Inc., a national structured settlement brokerage firm with offices throughout the country.

Retiring as CFO, Monique became a financial consultant. She is currently serving in her third term as a Council Member for the Village of Indian Hill. She serves as the Chairman of the Finance and Audit Review Committees and Liaison for the Green Areas Advisory Committee. Additionally, she serves or has served on the Water Works, Public Works, Law and Grounds Committees.

As the mother of four young-adult children, she has served the Indian Hill Exempted Village School District PTO and Boosters over the past 22 years in various volunteer and leadership capacities. She is a member of the Superintendent's Steering Committee for the Facilities Review and Brave Future for Facilities Committee, responsible for a building-by-building improvement and construction plan which gained community funding in 2021. As a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts of the USA, Monique served as a leader for three troops. Eight of her Girl Scouts, including her three daughters, have earned the Gold Award and her son is an Eagle Scout. In the wider community, Monique has volunteered for the Ronald McDonald House and Josh Cares.

Rhonda Smith is a Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner, a Doctor of Naturopathy, and a Certified Life Coach. She is the Owner & CEO of both Renewed Health Care Services and Divine Core Transformation. Dr Rhonda has authored and published two books, “Stop the Storm Now, Rise and Walk into Your Divine Purpose!”, and “Recognizing the Love Trap. “She also is the author of Divine Core Transformation, Self-Love Breakthrough to a New you! Published by Covenant Books.

Rhonda serves as a member on the Board of Ohio Reentry Program for Ex-Offenders, she’s a volunteer at the Dayton Correctional Institution and is a member of the Dayton, Ohio chapter of The Links, Incorporated, board member of Women in Christian Leadership, and an honoree of the WBIN Powerful Women of Impact 2022

Dr. Rhonda’s passion is women’s health and enjoys helping restore women to wholeness. In her current practice, she coaches many women from abusive and toxic relationships. As such, she made the decision to go deeper and study the pathology of toxic relationships. This resulted in her training with renowned psychotherapist, Ross Rosenberg, who trained Rhonda on the Human Magnet Syndrome model, and made her the Ohio spokesperson to educate others on this emotionally crippling disorder. Upon understanding that pathology, Dr. Rhonda felt it was necessary to become a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and is credentialed in Behavioral Health specializing in addictions.   

Her motto is, “I don’t look like what I’ve been through, and I have GOD to thank for that!”

Karla Tankersley is Director of Omnichannel for Gap, Inc. In her role at Gap, she provides leadership and support to the innovation for Store of the Future, next generation solutions within the retail store to greatly enhancing the Customer experience. As a 20-year engineering professional using futuristic technologies and solutions, Karla sees firsthand the need to build diverse talent in STEM. She has always been a strong advocate for girls to be aware of STEM fields, available engineering majors and vast career opportunities. Karla has been a STEM outreach volunteer throughout her many years with the Society of Women Engineers, PBS Kids and Sally Ride Science Festivals.

As a girl, Karla’s experience as a Girl Scout instilled in her confidence to try new things and goal setting. As a mother of four children, her three daughters have all grown up within Girl Scouting. She has been a volunteer, cookie volunteer, Troop Leader and Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts. Throughout Karla’s career in engineering she has led digital transformations and innovations that shape the way customers experience brands, including Gap, Home Depot, and Kroger. Karla’s passion for engineering, teamwork and inclusiveness brings people together to aspire to vision and achieve results. As a volunteer for the Girl Scouts, Karla hopes to encourage and support girls to be confident in their abilities, learn new skills and have great experiences to last their lifetime. Karla has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Industrial Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and is pursuing her MBA from Quantic School of Business & Technology.

Pamela Viscione is serving Girl Scouts of Western Ohio as a Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors. She is retired from Procter & Gamble, where she was employed for over 33 years. Over that time she had lived in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Geneva Switzerland. Prior to retirement, her most recent role was Director, Quality Assurance, a position she had held since July, 2014.

Although Pamela’s path to NKU was non-traditional, her passion for life-long learning and personal and professional development led her to the ELOC Program. Her degree will further her passions for growing global leaders, helping others manage change and transition, and organizational design and development.

Her support team at home includes her husband, Peter Matthews, sons Frank and Malcom, grandson Giancarlo, and dog Cartel. Pamela is a woman of strong faith, and in her free time enjoys the beach and playing tennis.

Amy Walter is an executive leader in technology and strategic transformation. She has led global teams in Engineering, Technology Infrastructure, Global Integrations and Quality. Her leadership experience includes Technology Shared Services Delivery, Strategic Organizational and Digital Transformation and Enterprise Relationship Management. Amy is passionate about people leadership, team development and specifically champions early career mentorship. She is currently the SVP of Artificial Intelligence, Office of Agile and Digital Workforce.
Carole Campbell Williams is a Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, and a National Council Delegate. She is an advocate for the community. She serves as the First Lady of Mount St. Joseph University where her husband serves as the University’s president. On campus, Carole actively engages with students, faculty & staff, alumni, the Board of Trustees, and other University constituents by sponsoring, hosting and co-hosting various programs, including health and wellness programs, educational, and a variety of cultural and sporting events. She is a member of the Board of Directors at Bethany House Services, a family homeless shelter. She is a CPA and serves on the Board at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati, where she serves as the Board Treasurer, and on the Investment Committee of the Cincinnati Woman Club. Carole is active in the spouse programs of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities and the Conference of Independent Colleges and Universities. She and her husband reside in Cincinnati. They have two young-adult children, a son-in-law, and new grandson!

Vonda Willis is currently serving Girl Scouts of Western Ohio as a Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors. She is a graduate of Indian Hill High School (Cincinnati), the University of Cincinnati Graduate School, and the University of Dayton School of Law. As a Licensed Mental Health Therapist and Attorney who owns her own practice, she started on a much more traditional tract. After completing graduate school, she worked for Hamilton County Court’s Private Complaint Mediation Service as a Hearing Officer and Beech Acres Parenting Center as a Divorce Program Specialist and Mediator prior to attending Law School.

After graduating from Law School, she worked for the Oregon Department of Justice as an Honors Attorney before being recruited by the Corporate Law Firm of Schwabe Williams and Wyatt where she remained until 2000. While in the Pacific Northwest, she sat on the Columbia River Girl Scout Council Board for many years. After working in Washington DC Metro Area for more than 10 years, she returned home to Cincinnati to care for her aging mother while working as a Student Services Management Specialist for Cincinnati Public Schools before starting her own Collaborative Law Mediation, Parenting Coordination and Mental Health Counseling Practice in Montgomery, Ohio in 2015. In addition to maintaining her own private practice, in 2020, Vonda joined Xavier University as a member of the Faculty and Staff.

Aimée Sproles was appointed to the position of chief executive officer for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio in 2022. She previously supported Girl Scouts of San Jacinto as chief operating officer. 

During her 14-year tenure at Girl Scouts of San Jacinto, Aimée successfully managed membership, programming, product program, property management, and more. She excels in developing and executing long-range strategic plans, problem-solving, and building and maintaining relationships. Aimée is highly regarded across the Girl Scout Movement and participates in many national leadership roles.

Prior to Girl Scouts, Aimée worked for IBM Global Services and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Consulting. A Certified Public Accountant, she holds degrees from Trinity University in business administration and Russian. In 2021, she received a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida. 

Aimée is a Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts, a Juliette Gordon Low Society member, and has fond memories of her time as a Brownie and Junior Girl Scout in Texas, learning gardening, camping with her troop, and delivering cookies on her 10-speed bike!

Anna Newman is in the 10th grade at Oakwood High School and is a Senior Girl Scout with Troop 32317 in the Dayton region.  She earned her Bronze Award for creating a “Lumberjill” sports mascot to honor girls performing high school sports in Oakwood, Ohio, and promoting equity in sports.  Anna has also earned her Silver Award for designing, funding, and implementing a neighborhood sustainable garden in an underserved community in Dayton, Ohio, and is currently working on her Gold Award.

Anna is active at her school as a member of the Junior Varsity Football Cheerleading Squad, plays the violin in the Concert Orchestra, a member of the Bowling Club, Change for Water Club, and Pups for People Club, and served as a Delegate for the Ohio Model United Nations Convention in Columbus, Ohio.  She is a member of the Queen City Figure Skating Club and is working on completing tests to become a gold medalist skater in the United States Figure Skating Association.  Anna is also a member of the Presbyterian Youth Council and Knox Choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church, and recently went on a concert tour/mission trip to Scotland with the church.

Sydney Ramsey is in the 11th grade at Archbishop Carroll High School and is an Ambassador Girl Scout with Troop 32513 in the Dayton region.  She has earned her Bronze Award, Silver Award, and her Gold Award.  

She has used her Girl Scout experience to benefit her community through her Gold Award Project Scam Protectors.  In this project, she designed and distributed educational materials designed to educate her community on the dangers of scams, and what resources already existed within the community.  She also designed materials in Spanish in order to bridge the language gap.  Her materials are currently in use by the Huber Heights Police Department, Vandalia Police Department, and the Greene County Prosecutor’s office. 

Sydney has also been a Theater Camp Counselor with the Vandalia Youth Theater and Archbishop Carroll High School; a part of the Music Ministry with St. Christopher Church; and Dayton Live Student Ambassador.

Maria Arcocha White is a Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.  She is Founder and CEO of Inclusity.  Throughout her career of 35 years, Maria has developed inclusion and diversity training and successfully trained thousands of executives, managers, and employees across a wide range of industries. 

In 2013, she launched Inclusity to pursue an empathetic, inclusion-focused approach to diversity and inclusion work, believing that when we “lead with inclusion, diversity will follow.”  Prior to Inclusity, Maria was executive vice president of Pope & Associates, a leading D&I training and consulting firm, and vice president of human resources for R. R. Donnelley Logistics.  She began her career at Procter & Gamble, where she was the company’s first Hispanic sales and marketing manager.

Maria’s compassion extends to the community.  In addition to years of volunteerism, she is currently a Rotary member and is proud to have served in an advisory capacity on the U.S. Senate Task Force on Hispanic Affairs.

Maria has an M.A. in counseling from Xavier University and a B.A. in communications from the University of Toledo.  She holds a certification in PROSCI change management.  She works out of the central Inclusity offices in Perrysburg, Ohio.

is a Worksite Developer in Sinclair Community College’s Work-based Learning Office.  In this role she helps connect students and employers through internships, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities.  As a first-generation college graduate, she has a personal passion for helping students understand where their postsecondary education can lead them. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from Wittenberg University where she graduated in 2008. She immediately moved to Dayton for a job in radio sales, which she was not good at, and completely fell in love with the city and the folks who call it home! 

Jocelin is a member (and current President) of Junior League of Dayton. She’s also involved in Generation Dayton (where she served as the 2021 chair), Equitas Health (where she served as the 2020 Associate Board Chair), Wittenberg Dayton Alumni Committee, Ohio Cooperative Education Association Board Member, and Dayton Area Logistics Association committee member. She’s also a 2022 graduate of Leadership Dayton and a 2019 recipient of the Dayton Business Journal’s ’40 Under 40’. 

Jocelin and her husband Nick (a Dayton native) have been married for 9 years and have a 10 year old daughter Sophia and 2 year old son Miles.  Sophia keeps her busy with soccer, basketball, and Girl Scouts but in Jocelin’s free time she enjoys cooking & baking, reading, live music & theatre, and any opportunity to explore the greater Dayton community. 

Carlina Figueroa is the Director of Recruitment for Northwestern Mutual -Dayton, Ohio.  A native of Virginia, Carlina has called Dayton home for the last 6 years.  Her background in Human Resources has given her the opportunity to work with organizations on developing new recruitment strategies, implementing internship and leadership programs, as well as identifying new ways to engage employees.  Carlina received her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Christopher Newport University, her Master’s Degree in Human Resource Development from The George Washington University and also holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification.  

Carlina is very active and committed to serving the Dayton community and was named to the Dayton Business Journal 40 Under 40 class of 2022. She is actively involved in a number of community organization and serves in numerous leadership roles including serving on the Artemis Board; VP Elect Financial Development for the Junior League of Dayton; past Chair for Generation Dayton; and serves as Member at Large for the Ohio Cooperative Education Association (OCEA).  When not busy around town, you can find Carlina spending her spare time with husband William and their 1 year old son, Parker.  

Denise Gifford is the Team Leader of The Gifford Team Real Estate Team at KW Advisors. Denise, her daughter, Kyra, and boyfriend, Jason, reside in West Chester, OH. “I was a figure skating coach for 18 years and owned a competitive skating program before moving into real estate. Being a coach, a business owner, and a professional athlete have honed my skills in marketing, communication, and attention to every detail. My competitive nature is also a huge asset when it comes to negotiating for my clients. These attributes, along with my loyalty to my clients, are how I have risen to the top 1% of agents in the Cincinnati area.”

Denise brings proven success, unmatched work ethic and excellent customer service to every listing and every client. She believes that to get it done, you have to make it fun, and to make it fun, you have to get it done! Denise lives and breathes this tagline by bringing a unique marketing perspective to every listing, and staying busy, yet relaxed, in even the most stressful situation. She makes selling homes look easy, because to her, it isn’t about selling, it’s about coaching and reaching the best possible outcome for her clients. Denise doesn’t just coach figure skating, she’ll coach you through your next real estate transaction, be that selling or buying.

Denise’s Awards and Achievements include;  Marketing Degree from Miami University ’92; single mother of 2 Girls; Licensed Realtor since 2011 with over 700 Real Estate Sales; OAR Presidents Award 2012-2022; Circle of Excellence 2012-2022; over 30 million in sales in 2021 & 2022; visionary behind Owls Landing – An Adult Lifestyle Community in Oxford, Ohio with building of 86 homes to begin in 2023; running a charity for Divorced Women since 2014 (close to 300 meetings); leads a strong group of agents who care about and advocate for their clients; owned one of the 10 largest Learn to Ice Skate programs in the US 2000-2005; worked with over 100 competitive figure skating kids and adults.

Denise is an Oxford native, with two Miami University professors for parents, and a Marketing degree from the same university, and a colorful history of figure skating in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Olympics and 18 years of coaching and running her own local skating program which was awarded top 10 in the nation.  She plays tennis and would like to learn pickleball and golf.  When she isn’t selling the best priced homes in the area or coaching other agents, Denise is spending time with her family in Oxford, summer home in Saugatuck, MI or at her boyfriend’s family farm in Camden, Ohio.

Dawnetta Hayes is a middle school English teacher at the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Originally from Sylvania, Ohio, she moved south to attend the University of Cincinnati where she earned a B.A. in History, a B.S. in Elementary Education, an M.Ed. in Educational Administration, and an Ed.D. in Urban Educational Leadership. Additionally, she is a licensed Montessori educator and a 21-year veteran for Cincinnati Public Schools. 

Dr. Hayes’ childhood years as a Girl Scout served as the foundation for her work in education.  In addition to serving in multiple leadership capacities within her school and district, she also loves exposing her students to the great outdoors.  In 2007, she became one of four educators selected to develop a new Montessori high school for her district.  Through this experience she created theme-based curricula and enriching outdoor field studies centered on the importance of global stewardship and embracing the cultural diversity within our earth; twenty-one camping trips to the Little Miami River valley, seven marine biology expeditions to Pigeon Key island in Florida with students, as well as numerous field studies around the city reflects her commitment to making sure urban youth have access to inquiry-based learning opportunities in their natural world.  

Her leadership, passion, and commitment in education have been noted within her school, district, city, and nation.  She’s been named Rising Star by the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati and voted a Leader for the Future by the Reaching for the Stars program.  In 2015 she became an honored recipient of the National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, a prestigious award given to teachers who demonstrate excellence in geographic literacy in the classroom.  She was selected to serve on the Ohio Department of Education state testing committee and is a graduate of both the University of Cincinnati's Alpaugh Scholars Leadership Program and the Administrators Development Academy (ADA).  She has presented at both district and national conventions.  She regularly serves on district-wide committees and mentors her students through their high school, college, and adulthood.  She is truly a force in the field and is looking forward to working with the Girl Scouts organization. 

Shannon Heroux is a motivated leader and industry expert with more than 25 years of success leading teams in the healthcare field.  She leverages that experience in her role as Medical Mutual’s Vice President of Sales for Western Ohio where she is responsible for leading a team of sales consultants who position and sell Medical Mutual's insurance and wellness products.

Prior to joining Medical Mutual, Ms. Heroux had a long tenure at Humana serving as Director of Sales.  Before taking on that role, she was Humana’s Wellness Leader for the Ohio market where she provided leadership and direction to her team of Consumer Experience Consultants as they promoted health and well-being to Humana clients and members.

In addition to holding a degree in business from Indiana Wesleyan University, Shannon has participated in a variety of leadership and training programs including the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber C-Change Leadership Program and Humana’s Women in Leadership Program.

Shannon is a passionate supporter of the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, the American Heart Association Heart Mini Marathon and Walk, the Ronald McDonald House, the Animal Adoption Foundation, the Children's Home of Cincinnati, and Talbert House.  She resides in Green Township with her husband Matt.

Bill Schretter served Girl Scouts of Western Ohio as a Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors for three terms. He has been in the financial services industry since 1998 with a variety of firms and roles that have utilized his skills in financial planning, equity trading, income tax preparation, and securities industry compliance. He is the owner of Life-Legacy Services, a full service fee-only concierge firm.

He received his undergraduate degree from Miami University and his MBA from the University of Cincinnati. For the financial planning profession, he currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Financial Planning Association of Southwestern Ohio and has been a CFP Board Ambassador™. He regularly volunteers with local charities, government agencies, Atrium Foundation, Junior Achievement and the AARP in assisting with public financial literacy programs throughout Southwestern Ohio. He has been quoted in the Dayton Daily News, CNBC, and Bloomberg. He has also served as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Cincinnati, Wright State University, Kaplan, and Hondros College teaching professional courses. He is currently on the Leadership Board for the Wright State LIFT2 Symposium.  

In service to his kids, Bill was the committee chairman for Boy Scout Troop 186 in Lebanon, Ohio, past president of the Lebanon Space Camp Committee, a current Trustee of the J24 Public Charity Trust, and is a Board Member of the Never The Less, Inc. He has been happily married for over 20 years and has 2 teenage kids, both involved in scouting.

Vicki Blanco is currently serving Girl Scouts of Western Ohio as a National Council Delegate.  She has been a Girl Scout for over 30 years and is a lifetime member.  Vicki graduated from Harrison College with a degree in Business and is employed with Citizens Security Life Insurance Company/360care, a health management firm.  

Vicki served as a leader for her daughter’s troop for 12 years and has been a member of her service unit team for 23 years.  She has attended the last two national council sessions as a delegate for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.  She is currently a service unit chair in the north region, and has held the roles of troop leader, learning facilitator, service unit recruiter, service unit event planner, service unit cookie chair, communications chair, and outdoor trainer throughout her tenure.

Nationally, Vicki participated in the GSUSA development/focus group for the new online training program.  She administers a Facebook networking group for service unit chairs through the United States, with a membership of over 1,900 service unit lead volunteers.  Her leadership in this active group enables volunteers to share best practices and new ideas for service unit management.  Vicki has also participated in several regional and council-wide projects, including new volunteer support resource development, volunteer appreciation committees and fall enrichment.  She was also instrumental in the resurgence of the Adult Conference, which now reaches over 150 adult volunteers annually.  Vicki is currently a GSWO trainer, has served as a mentor to new service unit chairs and assisted with Train-the-Trainer events.  Currently in her 13th year as a service unit chair, she led her service team to earning the President’s Award in 2013.

Vicki has received the Outstanding Volunteer, Volunteer of Excellence, Service Unit Outstanding Leader, Service Team Star, Service Unit President’s Award, Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, Thanks Badge and Thanks Badge II.  Girl Scouting has had a strong impact on Vicki’s life as both a girl and adult.  She believes it is a privilege to give back and hopefully help foster that same impact for both girls and volunteers within the Girl Scout organization.

Nancy Dawes has a long Girl Scout history, having served two terms as Chair of the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, two terms as Board Chair of Great Rivers Council, National Council Delegate since 2002, troop leader (12 years), service unit manager and lifetime member.  Her Girl Scout volunteer contributions have been recognized with Thanks Badge I (2006) and Thanks Badge II (2012) and as a Cincinnati Woman of Distinction (2018).  Outside of Girl Scouts, Nancy is a recognized Serial Innovator from Procter & Gamble, being the first female engineer inducted into the prestigious Victor Mills Society and first woman recipient of the Benjamin Lamme Meritorious Achievement Medal (2021) awarded by the Ohio State University College of Engineering.  Leveraging her innovation experience at P&G, Nancy provides training to help companies improve their innovation capability.  She is the volunteer co-chair for GSWO Camp Program Improvement and volunteers with the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University (Distinguished Alumnus 2012) and is a founding member of BEWEL (Buckeye Engineering Women in Executive Leadership). 
Maggie Denlinger is a ninth grader who participates in Speech and Debate and Model United Nations.  Additionally, she volunteers with the Washington-Centerville Public Library as a member of the Teen Advisory Board, the Centerville-Washington Park District, and in Centerville City Schools’ libraries.  Maggie enjoys reading, baking, and playing recreational volleyball.  As a Girl Scout, Maggie has earned multiple Journey Summits, the Silver Torch Award, and the Cadette and Senior Community Service Bars.  Aside from earning her Bronze Award and Silver Award, her highlight thus far in Girl Scouting was meeting Mae Jemison at The Sky’s the Limit in 2019.  Maggie intends to pursue the Girl Scout Gold Award, with her focus on improving sensory accessibility in the community.  Maggie has been a Girl Scout since Kindergarten (which was also the 100th year of Girl Scouting!) and has enjoyed earning many badges and participating in product sales.  In serving on the national delegation, Maggie hopes to make a positive impact on the future of the organization.
Diana Duckro is in the 9th grade at Bellbrook High School.  Some things that she likes to do is play lacrosse and play the piano.  Diana has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten and has earned her Bronze Award and Silver Award, and is now working towards her Gold Award.  Girl Scouting means opportunity to Diana.  She has had the opportunity to participate in activities she otherwise would not have been able to enjoy like camping, caving, zip lining, kayaking, tubing, rock climbing and archery.  She also has had the opportunity to learn new skills while working on journeys and badges, as well as the opportunity to volunteer and participate in community service projects.  She looks forward to being a part of the delegation and having an impact on the future of Girl Scouts.

Kari Eggleston, also known to some as Big Foot, has been involved with Girl Scouts of Western Ohio since she was in 1st grade.  She has been a camp staffer, and ultimately an adult volunteer.  She is a troop leader of an ambassador troop and an outdoor facilitator.  Kari also participated in the 2020 virtual National Council Session as a National Council Delegate.

Kari is a Firefighter/EMT-Advanced with the Butler Township Fire Department.  She has been with the fire department since she was 15.  She started out as an Explorer until she was old enough to officially be hired.  She is also a full-time clinic nurse in a large elementary school clinic.

Kari has two children that are in high school and college.  When she is not working, you can find her at one of her favorite Girl Scout camps.  

Kimber Fender is currently serving Girl Scouts of Western Ohio as 2nd Vice Chair on the Board of Directors, and as a National Council Delegate.  She has also previously served on the Board as Secretary and a Member-at-Large.  She is also a member of the Olave Baden-Powell Society and is co-chair of the planning committee for the Society’s October 2022 meeting in Cincinnati.  

In 2018, Kimber (Kim) retired from the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County after serving as the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director of the Library since 1999.  She received a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Northern Kentucky University, an MLS degree from the University of Kentucky and a certificate in Foresight Studies from the University of Houston.  She was awarded a graduate internship at the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, and worked at the Boone County Public Library, the Campbell County Public Library, and ATE Management and Services Company, before beginning employment with Cincinnati’s Library in 1988. 

She currently serves on the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati Board, the United Way Public Policy Cabinet, the University of Cincinnati Library Dean’s Advisory Council, the CET Community Advisory Committee and the University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information Dean’s Advisory Board.  She chaired the Ohio Library Council’s Government Relations Committee for more than 15 years.  She is an elected member of the Campbell County Board of Education and a member of the Board of Directors of the Kentucky School Boards Association.  She serves as the President of Modern Lutheran Women at St. John Lutheran Church in Melbourne, KY and is also Treasurer of the Cemetery Committee.  She is a member of the Cincinnati Women’s Club.  

Kim is an alumna of Leadership Cincinnati.  In 2017 she was named an Ohio Library Council’s (OLC) Librarian Hall of Fame and was previously named Librarian of the Year by OLC and was honored with the Council’s A. Chapman Parson Advocacy Award in 2017.  Kim is a recipient of an Improving our Community Award from United Way of Greater Cincinnati, a Career Woman of Achievement award from the YWCA, a Woman of Distinction award from the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio and a Bridge Builder Award from the Cincinnati Hamilton County Community Action Agency.  She received the University of Kentucky School of Library and Information Science Alumni Association Outstanding Alumna Award and was honored with a Professional Achievement Award from Northern Kentucky University. 

She became a lifetime member of Girl Scouts in 2015, after being a member for more than 25 years, first as a girl and later as an adult member in her daughter’s troop.  She is a member of the Juliette Gordon Low Society and has been the leader of Troop 7007 in Northern Kentucky for over five years.

Erin Horsley is the Senior Director of Membership Support for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, and is currently serving as a National Council Delegate.  In her 22 year tenure with Girl Scouts she has held several positions focusing on membership growth, volunteer support, service unit support, and community development.  In each position Erin has worked closely with volunteers and staff to ensure processes and resources are provided and implemented within service units to ensure volunteers are prepared and supported to deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience with girls.  

Erin served two years as a Mission Delivery coach for GSUSA and currently serves as a troop support thought partner with the national organization.  In addition to her roles within Girl Scouts, Erin is active in her community as a PTA board member for both of her children’s schools and the President of the Forest Hills Council, a district wide PTA/PTO organization.   

Shannon Meadows is the Community Development Director in Springfield, Ohio.  She manages daily operations of the department, including oversight of Housing and Urban Development entitlement programming.  Shannon oversees and coordinates Planning, Zoning and Code Enforcement; Building Regulations; Federal Programs; Neighborhood Planning and Inclusion; Fair Housing; Minority Business Development; and Community Reinvestment for the city. 

The Community Development Department works daily to ensure that services and programs are available to all members of the City.  By maintaining a socially conscious focus combined with talents of varied experts in the department, Shannon and her team carry out the Community Development mission to progress forward, strengthening the community and raising cultural awareness.  Shannon has extensive experience in coordinating housing investments and redeveloping former industrial facilities with complex site contamination and development concerns.  Shannon has worked with local and state elected officials as well as federal agencies to share brownfield redevelopment policy throughout the nation.

Shannon recently completed a nine year tour as an executive board member of the United Way of Clark, Champaign, and Madison Counties and is also the Shawnee Oakwind Service Unit Chair for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.  She leads Girl Scout Troop 35017 and serves as the Service Unit Camporee Chair for Shawnee Oakwind.  She is married to Jared Meadows.  Together, they have two children, Sophia and Isaac.  As a family, they enjoy camping, participating in high adventure outdoor activities and soccer.

Sophia Meadows is Cadette Girl Scout from Springfield, Ohio.  She has been a member of Troop 35017 for nine years.  Sophia currently attends Roosevelt Middle School and will attend Springfield High School in the fall of 2022.  She finds herself at home when in the outdoors and says she discovered who she was supposed to be, and how to feel her best, when she began attending Girl Scout camp.  Sophia is a Bronze Award and Silver Award Girl Scout.  She is also a Program Assistant and has earned her Silver Torch and Service to Girl Scouting Awards.  Sophia loves to assist at Camp Whip Poor Will as a Canoeing PA, and finds herself assisting at various camps throughout the central region from spring through fall each year.

Outside of Girl Scouts, Sophia is also an avid soccer player.  She has been in the Springfield Middle School co-ed soccer team starting keeper and led the kicking special teams.  She also plays in the National Trails Parks and Recreation District League, as well as serves as an assistant coach for a kindergarten and first grade team.  Sophia is a member of First Baptist Church of Springfield and is an active leader in the youth group.  Recently, Sophia led the youth group service and outreach – providing emergency homeless shelter logistics assistance for the Community Crisis Response Team in Springfield.

Sophia enjoys her busy life alongside her brother, Isaac, and her mom and dad.  When not busy with school and organization activities, Sophia loves to read non-fiction and fantasy books.  She is currently lobbying her troop leader to start a sister troop for younger girls in the Springfield community.  She is committed to advocating for a continued focus on outdoor activities and education in Girl Scouts, and will use her lived experiences to continue to ensure inclusive experiences for Girl Scouts with spectrum disorders and difficulties.

Clare Newman is originally from Cincinnati and has lived in Oakwood, Ohio for 11 years.  She is a 9th grader at Oakwood High School where she is on the honor roll, plays on the JV Field Hockey team and participates in Ohio Model United Nations.  Clare is active with Field Hockey Life in Cincinnati and participates in Youth Fellowship at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton.  She also plays the viola for the concert orchestra at Oakwood High School and sings with the Knox Choir at Westminster.

Clare and her triplet sisters have been members of Girl Scouts since they were in kindergarten.  They have been Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, and are now Seniors.  They have enjoyed their experiences with Girl Scout Troop 32317 and have earned both the Bronze Award and Silver Award.  She and her sisters have been inspired by their leader, Tiffany Gaskin, who is a Gold Award Girl Scout and Clare personally looks forward to working on her Gold Award.

When she is not in school, she enjoys figure skating, sailing, traveling, cooking, sewing and crocheting, as well as spending time with family and friends.  In the summer, Clare does volunteer work with Kynett United Methodist Church in Beach Haven, NJ and Mordecai Land Trust whose mission is to protect, preserve, maintain and restore Mordecai Island’s shoreline, habitats and species, and to create public awareness of the island through education and scientific research.

Clare’s work experience includes babysitting during the school year and working at Mr. Tee’s, a mini golf and arcade on Long Beach Island in New Jersey.

Victoria Nilles is currently serving a third term as Chair on the Board of Directors and as a National Council Delegate for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.  Prior to being elected as Chair, she served as 1st Vice Chair and as Treasurer. She is an attorney and is an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Criminal Division of the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office in Dayton, Ohio.  Prior to that she worked in the Dayton office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, where she concentrated her practice in the area of general commercial litigation.  She has also practiced law in other large law firms in Ohio and Indiana, concentrating her litigation practice in the areas of product liability, intellectual property, unfair competition, and contract matters.   

Prior to entering private practice, Victoria served as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert L. Miller, Jr. in the United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana.  In her first career, she was a Military Intelligence Officer in the United States Army, serving for ten years in various command and staff positions in the United States and Germany.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York and received her Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law, where she was the Executive Editor of the Washburn Law Journal and graduated magna cum laude.  Victoria is married to Dr. J. Thomas Hardy and they reside in Oakwood, Ohio.  They have two grown children, Christopher and Cathryn. 

Susan Osborn has been with Girl Scouts of Western Ohio for 32 years and currently is the Chief Operating Officer.  She is also a National Council Delegate (2017-2020 and 2020-2022).  As COO, she is responsible for providing leadership to the council operations to achieve long and short term, council mission delivery goals, especially providing more girls and volunteers with great Girl Scout experiences.  Susan has a BS in Biology and strives to share her love of science with girls.  She is an advocate for inclusion, including as a volunteer for the Autism Society of Greater Cincinnati.  Susan is also involved in her community, where she is a member of College Hill Investment Collaborative, LLC (CHIC), a group of six women who are committed to financial and personal investment in their urban community business district.   

Jenny Rippy is a native Cincinnatian and proud Lifetime member.  She comes from a family of Girl Scouts and leaders, and her two daughters are also Lifetime members.  Jenny has been a troop leader for 18 years and held various other volunteer positions during that time.  Her favorite memories of Girl Scouts are camping and box-oven cooking when she was a girl.  She takes her current CSA troop camping whenever possible, in order to pass on that fondness and build new camp traditions.

Jenny is continually excited by the opportunities Girl Scouting offers.  Even as an adult, she loves the chance to meet new people, learn new things, share skills, and spend the night in cool places – in her adult time as a volunteer, she and her troops have spent the night at 24 different places she’d never otherwise have gone for an overnight.  She is consistently impressed by the dedication, talent, creativity, skills, and kindness of other Girl Scouts she meets.

Outside of Girl Scouts, Jenny is a claim specialist with Great American Insurance.  She holds a BA in history and a paralegal certificate.  She’s currently working toward her CPCU designation.  In her free time she’s recently taken up gardening – maybe subliminally she is seeking a green thumb to go with her Girl Scout green blood.

Sophia Shenk is a sophomore at Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio.  She has been a Girl Scout since Kindergarten and has earned her Bronze Award and Silver Award.  She plans to start her Gold Award this summer.  Sophia’s favorite part of Girl Scouts is camping with her friends.  Outside of Girl Scouting she enjoys being an Alter Scholar, a Castle Player (theatre), a member of the Lanceretts (drill team), and working to end hunger in her community.  She also enjoys singing and playing with her cats.

Aimée Sproles provides the overall leadership, strategic direction, and vision for the development and achievement of the organization’s mission. She is responsible for planning and executing the long-range goals and for the organization’s effectiveness, financial stability, and growth to achieve those goals.

Prior to joining Girl Scouts of Western Ohio in December 2022, she was the Chief Operating Officer for the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, where she was responsible for the operational oversight and management in a 26-county area in southeast Texas. 

During her 14-year tenure at Girl Scouts of San Jacinto, Aimée successfully managed membership, programming, product program, property management, and more. She excels in developing and executing long-range strategic plans, problem-solving, and building and maintaining relationships. Aimée is highly regarded across the Girl Scout Movement and participates in many national leadership roles. She is a Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts, a member of the Juliette Gordon Low Society, and a National Council Delegate for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.

Prior to Girl Scouts, Aimée worked for IBM Global Services and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Consulting. A Certified Public Accountant, she holds degrees from Trinity University in business administration and Russian. In 2021, she received a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida. 

Rhonda Starghill is a native New Yorker, having grown up in White Plains, NY.  She is a self-professed ‘data nerd’ with a BS in Mathematical Sciences from University of North Carolina (Go Heels!)  She also appreciates smart business choices and clever marketing, honing her business skills with an MBA from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!).  Professionally, Rhonda spent 12 years in Brand Management, working on some of her favorite brands at General Mills and Procter & Gamble before transitioning to the non-profit sector as the Director of Membership and Outreach for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.  Rhonda left GSWO for the adventure of a lifetime – she and her family lived in China for 3 years and loved every minute.  During this time, Rhonda served as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and Council of Advisors member for Girl Scouts Overseas.  Once her China adventure came to an end, Rhonda returned to the Girl Scout movement as a staff member where she currently serves as the Chief Development and Marketing Officer at Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. 

Rhonda and her husband, Rob, have two busy children, Rachel and Robby and live in Montgomery, Ohio. 

Glenna Stricklett has been a Girl Scout since 1959.  She has attended several National Council meetings as a visitor, alternate delegate, and national council delegate.  Her participation in Girl Scouts over the years includes being a leader for all age levels to being a Conference Assistant at the 1984 WAGGGS World Conference.  She currently serves on the Gold Award Committee, Mill Creek Service Unit Service Team, chair of the local Green Hat Society Chapter, National Secretary for the Green Hat Society, and many other short-term Girl Scout activities.  

Glenna is a recent retiree of Great Parks of Hamilton Council as the Training Coordinator.  She also volunteers for Great Parks, Hoxworth Blood Center, Cincinnati Arts Association/Arnoff Center and Music Hall, Heritage Village and is secretary of the Golf View Civic Association.  In addition, she swims on the Powel Crosley Masters Team and enjoys all types of crafting after having worked for Michaels for 21 years.  Her daughters, Rebecca and Melissa, were also Girl Scouts. 

Jody Wainscott is currently serving as Co-Chair of the EMPOWER HER Comprehensive Campaign for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.  She has also served as Chair, 1st Vice Chair, and Treasurer of the Board of Directors as well as Chair of the Investment Task Group, a National Council Delegate, and as a member of other task groups.  Prior to the merger in 2008, Jody had served as Chair of the Nominating Committee, Treasurer of the Board of Directors, and as a Member-at-Large of the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts – Great Rivers Council.  Her preparation for service, teamwork, and leadership included experiences as a Brownie, Junior, and Cadette Girl Scout and inspired her to become a charter member of the Juliette Gordon Low Society.  

Jody is retired from The Cincinnati Insurance Companies.  Her career involved many leadership roles and responsibilities with the last position held as Vice President and Director of Target Markets Product Development.  She is a former Trustee of the Cincinnati Better Business Bureau, Inc., is a past member of Prevent Blindness Ohio’s Board of Directors, and a past Chair of its Southwest Ohio Chapter Executive Council.  Jody is a past member of the Board of Directors of the American Nuclear Insurers and the Advisory Council for the United States Aircraft Insurance Group.  She is a past director and board member of the Greater Cincinnati Women’s Network and Leading Women (a Greater Cincinnati non-profit association) and in 1995, she was a Leading Women honoree.  Jody also served as a member of the Network Alignment Team for Girl Scouts of the USA.

Cassie B. Barlow, PhD is currently serving Girl Scouts of Western Ohio as 1st Vice Chair on the Board of Directors and as a National Council Delegate.  She previously served as a Member-at-Large and a member of the Board Development Committee.  She is the President of Strategic Ohio Council on Higher Education (SOCHE).  SOCHE is focused on Workforce Development needs across Ohio.  Dr. Barlow retired from the United States Air Force after 26 years of service as the 88th Air Base Wing and Installation Commander, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. She was in command of one of the largest air base wings in the Air Force with more than 5,000 Air Force military, civilian, and contractor employees. The base is home to more than 27,000 employees and is the largest single site employer in the state of Ohio. 

Cassie was commissioned in the Air Force in 1988 as a distinguished graduate of Georgetown University, Washington D.C.  Following graduation, Dr. Barlow attended Information Management Technical School at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi.  She has served in a variety of positions in the information management, behavioral science and personnel careers fields at squadron, Wing, direct reporting unit, major command, Air Force and combatant command levels.  Dr. Barlow was selected by the Air Force Institute of Technology to attend Rice University to earn a doctorate in Organizational Psychology.  After graduation, she served as a behavioral scientist at the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Air Force Academy.  She was then selected to lead the analysis team for the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Developing Aerospace Leaders Program.  Dr. Barlow commanded the 355th Mission Support Squadron at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, where her squadron garnered multiple Air Combat Command and Air Force level awards.  She also commanded at the Group level as a Mission Support Group Commander at Royal Air Force Lakenheath.

Cassie was previously the Director of Manpower and Personnel of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.  She has a Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Chapman University, a Doctor of Philosophy from Rice University, and two additional Master’s degrees.  Cassie is a 2014 Women of Distinction from Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, was a Girl Scout leader and is a proud mother of a Gold Award Girl Scout.  Cassie is an active community member serving on multiple boards around the Dayton Ohio Region.

Barbara Bonifas retired as CEO of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio after 24 years (20 of those with Girl Scouts – Great Rivers Council).  Her career spanned over 40 years, 35 as a CEO.  She also worked in St. Paul, Minnesota; Owensboro, Kentucky; Louisville, Kentucky; Zanesville, Ohio; and Lima, Ohio. She is a Certified Girl Scout CEO, a lifetime member of Girl Scouts, and a member of the Olave Baden-Powell Society.  Barbara holds a degree in Social Work from The Ohio State University.

Barbara is currently serving as a National Volunteer Partner with Girl Scouts of the USA, a member of the World Foundation Committee WAGGGS USA, and is Past Chair of the Archdiocese Committee for Catholic Girl Scouting for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.  She also served on WAGGGS Governance Committee from 2015-2017.

Barbara has always been involved with the community and has received numerous recognitions and awards, which include:  Leadership of Excellence Award from the Leadership Council of Human Services Executives; Woman of Distinction from Girl Scouts of Western Ohio; Extraordinary Woman of Faith from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati; William A. Mitchell/Pearl S. Gantz Award for Community Impact Leadership from the United Way of Greater Cincinnati; Career Woman of Achievement from the YWCA; Leading Women honoree; National Conference of Christians and Jews Award for Outstanding Community Service in Promoting Human Relations; and Dada Rafiki Award from The Eye of the Artists Foundation, which honors positive women in our community.

In addition to her Girl Scout and community work, Barbara is very involved with her church, St. Margaret of York Catholic Church, where she currently serves as Co-Sacristan, Eucharistic Minister, and Mass Coordinator.  She also served as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee and was a Religious Education Teacher.

Laura Diltz is mostly known in Girl Scouts of Western Ohio as “Nermal”.  She has been involved in Girl Scouting here in Ohio since 1974 as a 1st grader.  She started off as a Brownie Girl Scout in a troop and eventually progressed on to working at resident camp at Camp Whip Poor Will through college.  She has been active as a Troop Leader for 12 years.  You can also find Laura volunteering at numerous council activities that include the CSA Leadership Conference, Camp Adventure Weekend, Troop Camp training, Council and Service Unit Day Camps, and summer resident camp at Camp Whip Poor Will.  She also served as an Alternate National Council Delegate in 2020 during the virtual National Council Session.

Laura serves her community as a US Postal Service Rural Mail Carrier in Tipp City, Ohio.  She serves as a District Vice President for the Ohio Rural Letter Carriers Association.  Since high school, she has played the trombone as a member of the Tipp Community Band, where she is also their music librarian. 

She is passionate about sharing her experience in Girl Scouting with other young ladies and adults alike.  She enjoys giving back to them the benefits and learning experience that she has been given through Girl Scouting in Western Ohio.  Being able to be an Alternate National Council Delegate for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio will help her serve the greater good of the members of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.  Some of Laura’s favorite memories from Girl Scouting include:  traveling with her own troop in high school, taking her Cadette Girl Scouts to bridge to Senior Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia, and watching the young campers that she has worked with over the years grow up to be amazing ladies making the world a better place.

A couple of fun facts about Laura is that her favorite unit at Camp Whip Poor Will is Sassafras and her favorite Muppets character is Animal.

Amanda Downey is from Dayton and currently resides in St. Mary’s.  She is married to Matthew Downey and have two amazing daughters.  She is currently the Service Unit Treasurer for GSWO Service Unit 238.  Mentoring and creating growth is a piece of her core.  She believes that showing examples of leadership and what leadership is are extremely important to our future, and that teaching Girl Scouts that community involvement and volunteering will make a substantial impact on our future.  

Amanda currently works for First Financial Bank as a Financial Center Manager, and is an active member of her community.  She not only volunteers for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, but is involved with Auglaize County Council of Aging, New Creations Learning Center, Rockford Chamber of Commerce, St. Mary’s Area Resource Team, and the local schools.  Being a role model for the younger generation is her goal in life, with two young girls, showing them pride and strong female leadership is what she strives for.

Sarah Goede is proud to share her insights from 8 years as a girl member, 7 years as a staff member for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, and 7 years as a troop leader and service unit volunteer, in an effort to advance the Girl Scout movement.

Sarah has served on other boards and as a delegate and alternate there as well.  She currently works as an Implementation and Marketing Specialist for a small software company.

Tami Lott was a member of the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois Council when she was growing up.  She has fond memories of earning badges, attending summer camps and leading younger girls.  Her one regret is that she did not stay in Girl Scouts and was unaware of the full potential that Girl Scouting could bring to her life.  For this reason, Tami jumped at the opportunity to start leading her daughter’s troop from its formation in kindergarten.  After 13 years together, her troop still has 5 original members and has traveled to Savannah, New York City, and is busy working on details for a graduation trip this summer.  Her oldest daughter, Kaitlyn, has served on the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio Board of Directors.  In 2018, Tami started the circle all over again with a second group of girls and her youngest daughter.  Together, the sisters have teamed up to spread the excitement of Girl Scouting. 

Tami is a graduate of Purdue University with a BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management.  After many years in the restaurant, hotel, and sales and catering industry, she chose to stay home and raise her family.  Little did she know, leading a Girl Scout troop is a full time job!  In 2016, Tami started her own crafting and culinary business and spends her free time sewing for local troops.  In 2018, she began working at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy’s Upper Elementary School.  

As a mom and a leader, Tami sees the challenges that are facing our young women today.  It is imperative that they have positive, strong and accepting role models that will listen, guide and stand up for them.  It takes a village to raise a child and Tami accepts every girl in her troop as a member of her family.  Her standards and expectations are high, but her love knows no bounds.  It is Tami’s goal to guide and build her girls into young women of courage, confidence and character that will make this world a better place.

Tami currently resides in Cincinnati with her husband, Ambassador and Brownie Girl Scouts, and two Boy Scouts. 

Siobhan Louis is the owner of The Siobhan Louis Group of real estate professionals.  She specializes in helping clients sell and buy properties in the Butler, Hamilton, and Warren Counties of Southwest Ohio.  Siobhan is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, where she holds the At Home With Diversity designation.  She is also a member of the Greater Cincinnati Realtist Association, the Women’s Council of SOAR, the Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors® , and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, just to name a few.

As an avid world traveler, Siobhan had the benefit of living and working abroad a number of years.  As she continues to inspire and build girls of courage, confidence, and character, she is grateful for this prior experience.  Siobhan’s group provided regional sponsorship for “The Sky is the Limit” program in Dayton in 2019, focusing on girls in S.T.E.M.

Siobhan stays active in the local community, and has contributed her time and fundraising efforts to numerous charitable organizations, including United Way, REALTORS® with Heart, the Cincinnati Regional Economic Development Initiative, and Girls on the Run (Cincinnati).  Furthermore, Siobhan is Girl Scout Troop 43013 co-founder and serving in current volunteer capacities for that troop and new Girl Scout Troop 4346 with her Girl Scout household participants.  She is a member of the Kings Mills Elementary Parent Teacher Organization.  In addition, Siobhan is involved in varying roles in her local church with her husband, including leading a diverse small group for married couples with kids.  As a health and fitness enthusiast, Siobhan completed four half marathons since 2019.  Last, but not least, Siobhan is an author, publishing her first book in 2020.

Her formal education includes a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Maryland, and Master of Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma.  Siobhan has trained with the United States Army as a Paratrooper, and she is a former Aviator of the United States Air Force who earned an Air Medal from combat and numerous other honors during her service.

Shannon McDaniel is a 9th grader at Fairfield High School.  Shannon says that Girl Scouts has taught her so much about how to be a member of the community.  It taught her the necessary skills to become a National Junior Honor Society member and an associate in Tri-M (musical honors society), as well as giving her the strength to lead teams to victory in her role as dance captain on Fairfield Show Choirs’ Pure Elegance and in her position as president of her school’s TSA engineering team.  Shannon is determined to work hard and make the world a better place as a National Council Delegate and girl member of the board. 

Marisa McLeod is a married mom of four who resides in Waterville, Ohio.  She is a graduate of Belmont University, where she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, and Eastern Michigan University holding a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications.  She worked in finance for 13 years post graduation until leaving the workforce to be a stay at home parent and focus on writing.  She is a contributing writer for TODAY Parents, Tiny Beans, Her View From Home and maintains her own blog How Many Monkeys are Jumping on the Bed?  Her work as also been featured on Finding Cooper’s Voice and published in We Have It Totally Under Control:  A Pandemic Essay Collection.

Marisa serves as the president of the Waterville Parents’ Association and holds several committee chair positions within the organization.  She serves as the secretary of the Anthony Wayne PTA as well.  Marisa is also a current member of the Management Team working with the Anthony Wayne Local School District to develop their next strategic plan and she volunteers as a tutor at her children’s primary school.

Additionally, Marisa serves as the Nominations Committee Chair for the Calvin M. Woodward High School Hall of Fame Association and acts as a liaison between the committee and the Hall of Fame Inductees.

Marisa’s journey with Girl Scouts began in her own Brownie troop in first grade.  She stayed active through junior high and even participated in a local Wider Opportunity program held at the University of Toledo and Cedar Point.  Marisa served in the past as a Troop Leader and Cookie Mom for her daughter’s troop until it disbanded.  She is currently a Troop Assistance with both of her daughters’ troops – 10143 and 10005.  She enjoys getting to share the love of scouting with them.

Alexandria Schindler is currently an 8th grader at Nightingale Montessori and is member of Girl Scout Troop 33216.  She has earned her Bronze Award and is currently working on her Silver Award by working with the city and zoning to make the street that her school’s new building is on into a mile long school zone.  Alex has done so much with Girl Scouts and says there are many more adventures to come, all of this has shaped her as a person by making her more daring and ready to try anything.  In addition to Girl Scouts, Alex participates in Cheer and Tumbling.

Michelle VanHuss is a troop leader of her daughter’s Junior Girl Scout Troop in Centerville, Ohio (started as Daisy Girl Scouts), where she has also held positions on the service unit team.  She was a girl member of Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida herself for 13 years, earning the Gold Award and Silver Award.  As an adult, Michelle has become a Lifetime Member, served as a National Advisory Task Group member for GSUSA, traveled to Sangam, been a council employee and summer camp assistant director, as well as many years of volunteering in multiple capacities in the Dayton, Ohio and Miami, Florida areas.

Michelle holds a Master of Public Administration from Wright State University and is a Nonprofit Leadership Alliance Certified Nonprofit Professional.  She has a background in program and event management as well as arts administration working as a touring agent for a national performing arts company.  She has served on several committees for state and local granting organizations as well as participating in arts advocacy events in Columbus, Ohio and Washington, D.C.  She currently serves as a member of the Centerville Arts Commission in Centerville.

Michelle lives with her two Girl Scouts, husband and Rottweiler, Ryker, and currently works for Wright State University, as a Student Services Coordinator in Career Services.  She looks forward to bringing all her experiences in Girl Scouting with her to the role of Alternate National Council Delegate.

Mariette Wade is the CEO of Mariette Lynn Wade Consulting, a pastor, mentor, certified life coach and pageant queen.  Transformational, influential, and empowering describe the servant leader Dr. Mariette Wade, hc., strives to be daily.  She was born and raised in Elkton, KY

With a goal to enhance lives and inspire change through education and training, Mariette is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. where she has held many leadership positions.  From 2012-2016, she served as the Southern Ohio, Kentucky and Southern Indiana Area Coordinator.  In this role, she was actively involved in training and developing undergraduate and alumnae membership and participating in various community service initiatives. In her local chapter, she served as the president, vice president, historian, and community service and national projects chair.  Additionally, Mariette is a certified trainer for HIV/AIDS Awareness and has volunteered her time as a youth mentor for the YMCA.

Mariette also is a member of Top Ladies of Distinction, Impact 100, Greater Cincinnati Rotary Club 17 and Girl Scouts of the USA.  In Rotary Club 17 she serves as a co-chair for the greeting and the Interact committees.  As a member of Girl Scouts of the USA, she serves as the Fall Product and Cookie Manger for Service Unit 486.  In this role she supports the efforts of each individual troop to implement yearly programming.  She is also a Class 25 graduate of the Greater Cincinnati Urban Leader Program.

Expanding her influence into the world of pageantry, she is the 2021 American Beauties Plus Outstanding Queen, former 2019-2020 Mrs. American Beauties Plus, and former 2019 Mrs. Ohio American Beauties Plus.  Though her pageantry platform, she advocates for awareness of Alzheimer's/Dementia in the African American Community by facilitating a monthly family caregiver support group for the Greater Cincinnati Alzheimer’s Association.  Realizing her influence extends beyond the crown, she founded the Queendom Mindset Podcast, where she teaches and encourages women transform their mindset to reign in every area of their lives.

As an educator, Mariette served as the former Executive Director of an early childhood education center where she directed the day-to-day operations of the center by working closely with the board of directors to implement strategic directives.  She managed corporate sponsorships to build and leverage relationships and create partnerships with community stakeholders.  Additionally, she facilitates leadership workshops for early childhood leaders through 4c For Children, a childcare resource and referral agency.

There has always been a greater calling on Mariette’s life.  She began working for the Lord at an early age at Mt. Zion CME Church and in December 2013, Mariette formally accepted her calling to preach. On February 28, 2015, she became a licensed minister through the Fellowship of the Remnant Ministry.  In September 2015, God blessed Mariette and her husband, Frank to open the doors of First Response Community Church in Fairfield, OH.  Since their doors have been opened, they have found opportunities to enrich the community through their weekly nursing home outreach at Parkside Nursing Home and Maple Knolls Nursing home.

Mariette currently resides with her husband, Frank in Hamilton, Ohio.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Murray State University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and an honorary doctorate in Life Coaching from the LADC Institute and three honor Ph.Ds in Business Administration, Organizational Management and Christian Life Coaching with a concentration in Transformational Leadership. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Christian Counseling from North Central Theological Seminary.  In her spare time, she loves reading, watching WWE wrestling and spending time with her family and friends.