Governance

Board of Directors

Girl Scouts of Connecticut's Board of Directors is designed to ensure that members of have a voice in the decision-influencing process of the council. To this end, the bylaws of GSOFCT permit the inclusion of four girl members .

If you are interested in joining the collected voice of the Board of Directors, please review the position description and complete the age-appropriate form below.

Adult Members - Please fill out the Board Candidate Form

MY2027 Girl Board Member Applications will open on November 9, 2026, and remain open until January 15, 2027.

Get Involved in Governance at Girl Scouts

Announcement of the 58th National Council Session toggle arrow

Announcement of the 58th National Council Session

The 58th National Council Session (NCS) will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, from July 20–22, 2026.

NCS is the business meeting where delegates from every council across the nation and from USA Girl Scouts Overseas meet to discuss, debate, and vote on issues important to the Girl Scout Movement and elect national leaders for the next triennium. It’s democracy in action, as girl delegates vote alongside adult delegates and have a direct voice in shaping the future of Girl Scouts.

Learn more about event details for the 58th NCS and Girl Scouts Unite Event HERE.

Calling rising high school juniors & seniors! Applications are available for GSOFCT Board Positions!

Girls are elected to a one-year term and are eligible to vote on all board resolutions that do not involve contractual obligations. The board meets five times per year, in-person or virtual, so you must have transportation to experience how large non-profit runs and also be the voice for thousands of girls served in Connecticut.

Apply today! Complete the 2026 Girl Board Application

Why be a girl board member? Check out the video below to hear from past girl board members about why they loved it!

GSUSA Blue Book of Basic Documents

Libro Azul de Documentos Basicos

Delegate Position and Responsibilities

GSOFCT Bylaws (amended April 21, 2021)

Council Proposal Process and Form

Strategic Learning

Service Unit Delegate/Alternate Election Form

Biennial/Annual Reports toggle arrow

2023-2024

2022-2023

2020-2021 | 2021-2022 toggle arrow

2019-2020

2024-2025

Officers of the Board of Directors

Elicia Pegues Spearman - CEO toggle arrow

Elicia holds Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University Law School and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political Science from Wellesley College. Over the course of her career, Elicia has served as a Human Resources and Legal Executive who has successfully managed dual-track C-Suite roles in the healthcare, manufacturing, defense, and higher education industries, most recently as General Counsel and Vice President, Human Resources at Quinnipiac University.

Elicia and her mother, Cheryl Pegues are both former Brownies and Elicia's daughter, Kaila Spearman is a former Girl Scout. Elicia believes strongly in the importance of providing young girls and teenagers with the opportunities to learn and grow. Exposure to different learning modules, activities and team building all coincide to build and boost confidence and varying skills. And Elicia’s experience with leadership training and development will be an asset to ensuring the mission of the Girl Scouts remains at the forefront of leading the team and volunteers.

Girl Scouts of Connecticut honored Mrs. Spearman for her leadership as a champion of girls and young women at the organization’s 2022 Annual Breakfast Badge Awards. When accepting this honor, she expressed “I’ve seen first-hand in my own mentees’ lives how much it means to give an encouraging word, challenge them to think bigger. I love being a champion for girls, helping them discover how big their goals could be. We should want to help the next generation do to better than we’ve done, think critically and innovatively solve the problems of today. I love seeing people succeed.”

Adrienne Parkmond, Esq. - Chair toggle arrow

Adrienne Parkmond, Esq. brings to Girl Scouts of Connecticut strong change management and grant writing skills. She is the Chief Operating Officer of The Workplace in Bridgeport, a $25 million non-profit agency responsible for job training, business development and human services for youths and adults, including services for veterans, older workers, and at-risk populations. Adrienne is past President of the Board of the CT Women’s Education and Legal Fund and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Villanova University and a Juris Doctor from Quinnipiac University School of Law. Adrienne resides in New Haven County.

Carol Quinn Toomey - 1st Vice President toggle arrow

Carol Quinn-Toomey oversees Accenture’s work delivering innovation and transformational change for public service organizations in Connecticut. She has been based in Accenture’s Hartford office for 36 years since graduating from UConn with a degree in Chemical Engineering, and she lives with her family in Portland, CT. As the Office Managing Director for Accenture’s Hartford office, she also serves on several community organizations and was recognized as one of the 2024 Top 25 Women in Business by the Hartford Business Journal. Her passions are contributing to a vibrant Connecticut and mentoring women and girls. Carol is engaged in organizations that are focused on developing Connecticut’s talent, promoting economic growth, building the leaders for tomorrow, and opening doors for girls and women.

Elise Sinha - 2nd Vice President toggle arrow

Elise Sinha is a former Troop Leader and is currently a member of the Girl Scout Board of Directors’ Executive Committee and serves as the Board Development Chair. Professionally, Elise is the CEO of The Sinha Group, LLC, where she and her team coach busy women to lead with purpose and passion. She also consults with small businesses and non-profits in a variety of strategic and operational needs. She has a diverse corporate background with leadership and executive roles in healthcare, IT, and Operational Excellence. Elise holds her Master’s in Managed Care Systems from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and BS in Respiratory Care from the University of Hartford. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Connecticut, she is also a member of the United Way Women’s United Steering Council, a Board Member of the Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce, a Southern New England Project Management Institute Mentor, and an Apraxia Kids Team Coordinator. She lives in Wethersfield, CT, with her husband, son, and daughter.

Erica Evans-Gioffre - 3rd Vice President toggle arrow

Erica Evans-Gioffre recently retired from Hirtle Callaghan, where she served as Head of Client Engagement and a member of the firm's Management Committee. In this role, she led and executed firm-wide strategic initiatives, helping to ensure effective leadership and operational excellence across the organization. Prior to her impactful role at Hirtle Callaghan, Erica held several prominent positions at GE Asset Management, ING Investment Management, and Hartford Investment Management Company, among others, showcasing her extensive expertise in the investment field. Erica confidently leads the Girl Scouts of Connecticut Investment Committee, drawing on her impressive track record and over 25 years of experience in the investment and financial services industry. Her expertise empowers the committee to deliver exceptional results that drive growth and create effective strategic planning processes with a deep understanding of the Girl Scout mission and values. Erica holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Pennsylvania.

Dolores Ennico - Secretary toggle arrow

Dolores Ennico brings to Girl Scouts of Connecticut skills of a commercially focused Global C-Suite Executive with a record of helping deliver financial results and driving growth through development and delivery of pragmatic human capital strategies, initiatives and best practices. She has exhibited progressive leadership with extensive success in a variety of business functions (sales and marketing) and human capital (compensation, benefits, talent acquisition, employee relations, EEO and diversity) roles culminating in key role as Chief Human Resources Officer of Olin Corporation, a Fortune 500 company. Additionally, as Head of Olin Charitable Trust, she was responsible in building budget for Board approval and administering charitable giving for the corporation.

Dolores began her career as a Senior Research Associate at Olin’s New Haven research and development center rising through the ranks to Manager of the Microbiology Lab before transitioning to Manager, Employee Relations, Chemicals R&D where she supported the HR needs of a client group of 300 chemicals research professionals at a brand-new facility in Cheshire, CT.

Dolores serves on the Board of the University of New Haven—Board of Governors and Chair, Academic & Student Affairs Committee. As Chair of the largest committee and Member of the Executive Committee, she has led changes in curriculum and addressed broad student issues to attract high caliber students to the university. Dolores is also a member of the advisory council of the Sacred Heart Academy where she serves on the Building Committee and leads fundraising for high school alma mater. Past Board membership include Lewis & Clark Community College, Alton Hospital, St. Louis Business Health Coalition, United Way of St. Louis and Junior Achievement of Southwest Connecticut.

Dolores, who is known as Dee, is a graduate of the University of New Haven with an MBA in Marketing and an MS in Biochemistry/BS in Microbiology from Southern Connecticut State University. Delores resides in Fairfield County.

Erica Bacon - Treasurer toggle arrow

Erica Bacon brings to Girl Scouts strong accounting and financial skills as well as the perspective of a former Girl Scout and current troop leader. She is an Audit & Assurance (A&A) managing director at Deloitte & Touche LLP, with fifteen years of experience serving public and private clients within both Deloitte’s financial services and commercial practices. Erica specializes within the insurance and manufacturing industries. She has held a number of leadership positions throughout her career. These positions include participating in Deloitte’s exclusive Management Development Program for Deloitte’s A&A national office driving audit process transformation and national technical consultations for Deloitte’s insurance practice. She also currently serves as the Hartford office Diversity, Equity & Inclusion leader. She holds a MBA and BS in accounting from Bryant University. Erica resides in Hartford County.

Members at Large

Sheryl Battles toggle arrow

Sheryl Battles is an award-winning C-suite and enterprise communications advisor, orator, and workforce strategist. She currently provides strategic communication counsel, training, and speaking services for corporations, non-profits, and professional and civic organizations, and guest lectures at academic institutions. Sheryl is also the producer and director of a documentary on the Civil Rights Movement, which is nearing completion. Her corporate career included a long tenure at Pitney Bowes Inc., where she held a variety of global leadership positions, including executive communications and speech writing for 3 CEOs, media relations, investor/financial communications, crisis and reputation management, thought leadership, employee engagement, and inclusion. For her body of work, she received the company’s highest individual accolade – the Walter Wheeler Award.

Sheryl is a graduate of Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA, with a degree in Human Biology.

A sampling of Sheryl’s national and regional honors and “top” list notations includes:

• National D. Parke Gibson Award – Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

• 100 Most Influential Blacks in the State of CT - NAACP

• National McGannon Award -- National Urban League

• Top 50 Women Leaders of Connecticut (2024 & 2023)

• Top 25 Outstanding Leadership & Impact Award -- Diversity MBA Media

• Top Influential Women in Corporate America -- Savoy Magazine (2 times)

Sheryl’s Board service includes Board of Trustees, Greenwich Hospital, a member of the Yale New Haven Health System; Board of Directors and Treasurer, Commission on Public Relations Education; Co-Chair, DEI Committee, Arthur Page Society (Page); Reputation Advisory Board, Zeno Group; and Elon University School of Communications National Advisory Board.

Yasmin Blackburn, Esq. toggle arrow

Yasmin Blackburn, Esq. is a Senior Associate and Director of HR at Kidambi & Associates, P.C. in Trumbull, Connecticut, a boutique-business immigration law firm where she specializes in bringing multinational and executive managers, engineers, doctors, and professional athletes and coaches to the United States. She is also the President of the Foundation for Educational Opportunities, Inc. (FEO), a non-profit foundation focused on strengthening and supporting the community by fostering an increased heightened interest in academics and social issues while, promoting higher education and instilling a desire to succeed in and contribute to the Greater Hartford community. Yasmin has been appointed to serve as the Vice Chair for the American Immigration Lawyer's Association, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and serves as a Corporator for The Milford Bank. She is a mom, a life-long Girl Scout, and a fierce advocate for the people she serves both on the job and in the community. Since 2010, Yasmin has run a thriving multi-level Girl Scout troop in Bridgeport, CT and she has served as a Gold Award mentor since 2013. In 2016, Yasmin was nominated to serve on the Board Development Committee for Girl Scouts of Connecticut and has joyfully held that role ever since. Yasmin is an active and proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Links, Inc. She has earned her J.D. at Temple University Beasley School of Law and also holds a bachelor’s and masters from Iowa State University.

Wendy Carroll toggle arrow

Wendy Carroll brings to Girl Scouts of Connecticut an extensive background in transformational project leadership, investment management, and financial services. She is a Senior Investment Management and Mutual Funds leader with strong project management, compliance, risk management, investment management, and diversity network expertise. Wendy is a recognized financial services leader with over 27 years of experience, focused on investment management operations and support. She is currently the Senior Vice President-CIM U.S. Fund Product Manager at Citi. Prior to her work at Citi, Wendy held senior level positions at several financial institutes. Wendy holds a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Methods/Finance/Information Systems from Babson College. Wendy resides in Fairfield County.

Dr. Monette Ferguson toggle arrow

Dr. Monette Ferguson is the Executive Director of the Alliance for Community Empowerment and the founder and CEO of Community Change Solutions. With over 20 years at the forefront of early childhood education and community action in Bridgeport, Dr. Ferguson combines her extensive experience with her strategic planning and professional leadership skills to drive meaningful change. Having been on the receiving end of some of the services she now provides, she is a staunch advocate for the power of analysis, effort, and collaboration in making a positive impact. To Dr. Ferguson, impact is everything. She is dedicated to pushing for progress, fighting crucial battles for those in need, and achieving results wherever she goes. Monette resides in New Haven County

Carin Gendell toggle arrow

Carin Gendell is a business-savvy consultant and facilitator with a 25-year track record of helping senior and mid-level managers improve organizational results through the development of leadership skills and team collaboration practices. Her business acumen developed through 15 years of line-management experience at a Fortune 500 consumer products company makes her a uniquely skilled partner for managers seeking to improve organizational results through performance management and change initiatives.

Carin has provided leadership and management development training to a widely diverse group of clients, including NASA APPEL (Academy of Program& Project Engineering Leadership), Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Department of Homeland Security, Freddie Mac, Citibank, American Express, Deloitte, DuPont, Cable & Wireless, and Wawa food markets. Her areas of expertise include leading teams, performance management, collaboration and problem-solving, supervisory skills, conflict resolution, change management, communication, customer service, and process improvement.

Ms. Gendell holds an MBA degree from The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, in addition to a B.S. in Journalism. She is a certified facilitator of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Carin is currently retired and lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, and serves as a member of the Board Development Committee for Girl Scouts of Connecticut. Previously, Carin lived in Northern Virginia for 23 years, where she was actively involved with the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital, serving on the Women’s Advisory Board as well as the Major Gifts and Gold Award Scholarship Committees.

Cynthia Goldstein toggle arrow

Cynthia Goldstein is a managing director and head of U.S. Financial Institutions Corporate Banking at Bank of America. Prior to joining Bank of America in 2013, she was a managing director, Financial Institutions Group, Corporate Banking at JP Morgan, where she spent the bulk of her 30-year career. Her career in finance began with First Chicago, now part of JP Morgan. Over the course of 24 years with the firm, she played a variety of roles leveraging her in-depth knowledge of the insurance industry to provide clients in that sector with strategic advice and solutions to help manage risk and best meet their needs. From her experience, Cynthia has seen and learned the importance of having diverse populations to ensure the best outcomes for clients and our customers. Helping girls and young women develop the tools and find the resources to succeed regardless of what paths they follow she finds very important. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in finance and from DePaul University with an MBA in Finance. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst and was a former Trooper Leader.

Brittney Goodman toggle arrow

Brittney Goodman is a Senior Event Director who excels at creating world-class events and hospitality programs to drive customer and brand affinity. She believes that events truly create lasting memories and relationships with customers and appeal to them on a Human 2 Human level, thus giving us an advantage over our competition.

Brittney has worked in the Sports & Entertainment Industry for the past 20 years. In her previous role as Senior Vice President of Octagon Global Hospitality, Brittney managed worldwide programming across tentpole events such as The Super Bowl, Rugby World Cup, Olympics, GRAMMY Awards, The British Open, UEFA Champions League, The Master’s, Roland Garros, and Australian Open.

In her current role as Senior Director of Events & Hospitality at DraftKings, Brittney is working to redefine the DraftKings events, hospitality, and gifting strategy to deliver the Ultimate Host experience. With experience working with clients from across various sectors, including Financial Services, Airlines, Beverage Companies, Shipping, Sports Betting, and Consumer Goods, Brittney has experience building event strategies unique to each brand, furthering their positioning to win across sponsorship and loyalty.

Brittney holds a master’s degree in Business Media Communications from Fordham University with an undergraduate specialization in Marketing. When she is not planning events, she can be found spending time with her daughter, traveling with friends and family, and planning their next trip to Disney World.

Elizabeth Judd toggle arrow

Elizabeth Judd is President of Konover Commercial Corporation and is responsible for overseeing a portfolio of over 4 million square feet of commercial real estate. Ms. Judd has also been appointed receiver by State and Federal courts for numerous commercial real estate properties in the State of Connecticut and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She is the past chairman of the Real Estate Finance Association, past president of REFA’s Hartford Chapter, past president and committee chair of CREW CT(Commercial Real Estate Women – Connecticut), and past board member and committee chair of CREW Network. Ms. Judd was an inaugural winner of the Women of FIRE (Finance, Insurance and Real Estate), a prestigious award presented by The Commercial Record to women who have achieved excellence and made a difference in these traditionally male-dominated fields.

Outside of commercial real estate, Ms. Judd has been an active interviewer of high school seniors who have applied to Georgetown University since 1987. She is on the Steering Committee of Middlesex Health’s Women’s Wellness Fund, which advocates for, educates about and funds priority health projects in the communities served by Middlesex Health, and is the Town of Chester representative on the Region 4 Grounds and Buildings Maintenance and Oversight Committee. She has also served on the Induction Committee for the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame. She earned her undergraduate degree at Georgetown University, received her Real Property Administrator (RPA) designation from BOMI, and holds real estate broker licenses in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

Marie Kulesza toggle arrow

Marie Kulesza was an active non-board member of the GSOFCT Board Development Committee for a number of years, ensuring strong candidates for the Board are screened, interviewed, and presented to the Board for selection. This year she played a lead role in the interview process for Girl Board Members. Marie is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Accounting at Central Connecticut State University. Her teaching areas are in financial accounting, financial reporting theory, and auditing. She holds a BS in Accounting from Central Connecticut State University and a MS in Public Accounting from University of Hartford. She is a member of the CTCPA Advisory Board, American Institute of CPAs, Institute of Management Accountants, and Community Accounting Services. Marie resides in Hartford County.

Montana Passero toggle arrow

Montana Passero, MPA, PMP, is a dynamic healthcare leader known for adaptive problem-solving and strategic acumen. With over a decade of experience in strategy and business development, Montana currently serves as the System Executive Director at Yale New Haven Health's Office of Strategy Management. Montana is responsible for developing & executing the System Strategic Growth plan, comprised of geographic and service expansion.

Montana’s ability to navigate complex challenges and deliver innovative solutions has resulted in the success of several high-impact projects that she has led, including the integration planning of a $600M system, the acquisition of a 23-site urgent care company, and the redesign of Home Health. Known for her leadership, Montana has become a trusted advisor to the organization’s executive team.

She earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health and Master’s of Public Administration (Healthcare) from Rutgers University.

Jessica Rich toggle arrow

Jessica Rich is co-CEO of The Walker Group, a Farmington, Connecticut-based IT services and digital marketing firm where she has grown through technical, operational, and executive roles over more than two decades. She oversees marketing, finance, sales, and operations, with a focus on culture, accountability, and long-term sustainability. In 2023, she helped lead the company’s transition to a Perpetual Purpose Trust ownership model, making it the first in the state to adopt this structure and formally embed purpose and stakeholder responsibility into its governance.

Jessica is especially passionate about supporting nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, helping them use technology and digital strategy to operate more effectively and securely. She brings experience in strategic planning, financial oversight, and organizational development, along with a strong belief that business can and should strengthen the communities it serves.

Dr. Judith Riggs toggle arrow

Dr. Judith Riggs is a dedicated leader and volunteer with over 30 years of experience in service to humanity, business, and academia. She currently serves as the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees for the Purchase College Foundation and is involved in various committees, including the Executive, Finance, Board Governance, and Investment Committees. Dr. Riggs is also affiliated with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, the International Leadership Association (ILA), Lions Clubs International, and the First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich. Judith has represented the U.S. internationally as an Ambassador for Peace, participating in key events in China, Israel, and South Korea focused on fostering global peace and leadership. She holds degrees from Sarah Lawrence College, Mercy University, and St. John Fisher University and is a professor in an MBA program, where she prepares the next generation of global leaders.

Esperanza Teasdale toggle arrow

Esperanza Teasdale is an award-winning marketing executive with extensive experience in the consumer-packaged goods industry. A long-time executive at PepsiCo, she is known for integrating creativity, human-centric insights, and data-driven analytics to develop growth strategies and product roadmaps. As a bilingual Spanish/English speaker, she excels in multicultural markets and collaboration. Recently, Esperanza served as Vice President and General Manager (2019 - 2024) for the PepsiCo Hispanic Business Unit, where she led growth strategies for a $2 billion U.S. Hispanic beverage portfolio, driving consumer engagement and commercial sales. Prior to this, as Senior Director of Shopper Marketing (2012 - 2019), she transformed a $2 billion customer portfolio, including brands like Pepsi, Gatorade, and Doritos. Before joining PepsiCo in 2003, Esperanza was accepted to the Leadership Development Program at Unilever Bestfoods in New Jersey where she served as an Engineer, Sales Leader, and Marketing Leader. Esperanza has an MBA from the University of Connecticut and a BS in Industrial Engineering from Rutgers University. She is also a 200-hour Certified Yoga Instructor who has enjoyed teaching as time allows. Esperanza resides in Fairfield County.

Kara Straun toggle arrow

Kara Straun currently serves as the Director of Program & Evaluation at the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Kara has been with the Foundation for over ten years, working to evaluate the impact of the Foundation’s grantmaking and providing management and strategic insight on several programmatic endeavors. She also serves as the lead staff person for the Foundation’s Community Fund for Women & Girls, and for her it has been a privilege and honor to work on such initiatives as the Girls of Color Mentoring Network and the Pathways to Economic Security for Women grantmaking programs which largely benefit women and girls of color. She truly loves what she does and views it as the culmination of a variety of professional and personal experiences rooted in public health, community development, and social justice. Prior to working in her current role, Kara gained experience in the affordable housing and community development sectors. Kara received her Master of Public Health degree from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health with a concentration in Sociomedical Sciences, Urbanism, and Community Health and has remained committed to work that uplifts vulnerable communities through intentional, collective action. Born and raised in New Jersey, Kara has embraced New Haven and has proudly called it home for over a decade, residing in the city with her husband and two young boys.

Girl Members

Vidya Dryvakumar toggle arrow

Vidya Dryvakumar attends Greenwich High School and is passionate about ensuring that other girls can benefit from Girl Scouting, to also make the world a better place. She has earned her Girl Scout Bronze Award and is currently a Senior in Troop 50301. Additionally, Vidya has founded and now coaches the Debate Club at Eastern Middle School, where she takes students to competitions and teaches them to become better debaters. She is a talented musician who, along with her various extracurricular activities, has found her voice through Girl Scouts and aims to make a difference in her community and within the organization.

Sydney Guest toggle arrow

Sydney Guest attends Jonathan Law in Milford, CT, and is a Senior in Troop 38323. She has served on the CEO Advisory Board, as a Service Unit Delegate, and is currently a National Delegate for 2025-2028, representing the council in Washington, D.C., in July 2026. Sydney takes pride in turning ideas into action and enjoys taking roles that amplify the voices of other Girl Scouts. Her experience in discussion has motivated her to bring a youth perspective that is informed, thoughtful, and grounded in Girl Scout experience. Sydney has earned her Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award and has been a part of the 1000+ pkg Cookie Seller Club for the last five years, and was the #2 Cookie Seller in CT for 2024 and 2025.

Amelia Nandikesan toggle arrow

Amelia Nandikesan attends Stamford High School and is a skilled public speaker and presenter who has earned her Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Awards. She is a Senior in Troop 08550 and is skilled in advocating for others and providing feedback. Amelia currently serves as her Service Unit Delegate and is a Girl Scout National Delegate for 2025-2028, representing the council in Washington, D.C in July 2026. Even when the odds are stacked against her or others, she rolls up her sleeves and works collaboratively to ensure success and preparation for anything she sets her mind to. Amelia is an experienced debater, student reporter for Stamford Public Schools, and co-captain and founder of several clubs, and enjoys tennis and playing the violin.

Isabella Pilch toggle arrow

Isabella Pilch attends Canterbury School in New Milford, CT, and is an Ambassador in Troop 40297. She has served on the CEO Advisory Board, as a service Unit Delegate, and has earned her Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award. Isabella’s inclusive nature allows anyone to feel comfortable around her. She has the talent in conversation mediation and ensuring that everyone feels valued, supported, and safe to share their ideas. Isabella is a camp counselor at Clatter Valley Day Camp in New Milford, staying calm and collected while taking control of situations, caring for younger Girl Scouts, and leading them to calmer solutions in the summer heat.

Board Development Committee

Elise Sinha toggle arrow

Elise Sinha Elise is a Junior Girl Scout Troop Leader in Wethersfield for Troop 10276. She has a strong commitment to Girl Scouting not only as a troop leader, but as an active member of the GSOFCT Board of Directors and GSOFCT Board Development Committee. Professionally, Elise is the Senior Director for Operational Excellence at Hartford Healthcare. In this role she advances the organization’s operating model with Lean, Project Management and Change Management expertise. Her extensive healthcare leadership experience includes Project Management, Organizational Development, Electronic Health Record/ Clinical Information Technology, and Respiratory Care. Elise holds her Master’s in Managed Care Systems from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and BS in Respiratory Care from the University of Hartford. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for GS of CT, she is also a member of the United Way Women’s United Steering Council, is a Southern New England Project Management Institute Mentor, and is an Apraxia Kids Team Coordinator. She lives in Wethersfield, CT with her husband, son and daughter. Elise resides in Hartford County.

Carin Gendell (Chair) toggle arrow

Michelle Jones Tinti (non-board member) toggle arrow

Michelle Jones Tinti is the Head of Middle School at Whitby School in Greenwich, CT, where she leads with a focus on building a strong, connected community, developing student leadership, and creating meaningful, engaging learning experiences for adolescents. She brings deep experience in instructional coaching, curriculum development, and equity work, with a consistent emphasis on helping both students and teachers grow.

Before joining Whitby, Michelle served as Assistant Head of Middle School at University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, where she led school-wide curriculum initiatives, coached faculty, and developed social-emotional and advisory programs. Her career also includes leadership and teaching roles in charter and international schools across New York, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil, where she designed programs that supported both academic excellence and student well-being.

Michelle holds a master’s degree in Teaching and Curriculum Development and has completed advanced training in Instructional Coaching and Educational Leadership. She is particularly interested in strengthening middle school identity, fostering inclusive communities, and helping students see themselves as capable, connected members of a larger world.

Dr. Shuana Tucker Sims toggle arrow

Dr. Shuana Tucker Sims is an accomplished educator and advocate for equity in education. As the Chief Talent Officer for the Connecticut State Department of Education, she leads initiatives to promote excellence and inclusivity among educators. With over 25 years of experience, she has worked at the U.S. Department of Education, various Connecticut school districts, and the University of Connecticut. Her passion for education and commitment to shaping diverse and equitable learning environments is further demonstrated through her leadership in several civic organizations. Shuana holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy from the University of Illinois, a Master of Public Administration from Louisiana State University, and a Bachelor of Science from Xavier University of Louisiana. She is also the National Vice President of The Links, Incorporated, a Life Member & Silver Star of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, a Life Member and Associate of Jack & Jill of America, and a member of the New Haven Chapter of Girl Friends, Incorporated. Her community leadership has been recognized by organizations such as Phi Delta Kappa International, Xavier University, CT State NAACP, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated. Living by the motto, “To Those Whom Much is Given…Much is Expected,” Shuana tirelessly works to inspire and empower others. In her personal life, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her husband, John Sims, and son, Evan Battiste, who lives in Washington, DC. Her legacy of service and commitment to education continues to impact communities locally and nationally. Shuana resides in New Haven County.

Dr. Judith Riggs toggle arrow

Judith has represented the U.S. internationally as an Ambassador for Peace, participating in key events in China, Israel, and South Korea focused on fostering global peace and leadership. She holds degrees from Sarah Lawrence College, Mercy University, and St. John Fisher University and is a professor in an MBA program, where she prepares the next generation of global leaders.

Frances Wu Nobay toggle arrow

Frances Wu Nobay is dedicated to making the world a better place. For the past decade, she has served as the co-troop leader of Girl Scout Troop #50303, which includes members from the Daisy to Cadette levels. Additionally, for the past seven years, Frances has also served as co-Service Unit Manager for Greenwich Girl Scouts, supporting 30 troops across town. Frances has co-organized numerous town-wide events, including the sold-out Girls Math Festival, outdoor Camporee adventures, Women in Government workshops, Broadway trips, and more. Beyond her commitment to Girl Scouts, Frances is a long-standing and active PTA volunteer at both the school and town levels, collaborating with administration to support youth education. Professionally, Frances leads MetLife across 43 global markets, driving digital strategy and execution. She has also led marketing transformations at TIAA and has managed high-profile campaigns globally at McCann and Ogilvy. In all her pursuits, Frances brings boundless energy, inspiring vision, and a collaborative spirit. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and lives in Greenwich with her three children.

Board Member EMERITUS

Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz toggle arrow

Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, was sworn in on January 9, 2019 as Connecticut’s 109th Lieutenant Governor. Previously as Secretary of the State, she helped thousands of businesses grow, registered thousands of voters, cut bureaucratic red tape, honored veterans, and fought to keep elections fair. Lt. Governor Bysiewics’ first political office was serving as a state representative in the Connecticut General Assembly, representing the towns of Middletown, Middlefield, and Durham for three successive terms starting in 1992 until 1998. Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz graduated from Middletown High School, Yale University and Duke Law School. She is the author of Ella: A Biography of Ella Grasso, Connecticut’s 83rd governor.