Girl Scouts of Colorado President and CEO Stephanie A. Foote announced in December her plans to retire at the end of May 2020. Stephanie has been the President and CEO of Girl Scouts of Colorado since May 1, 2012, and, from 2007 to 2012, she served as Chair of the GSCO Board of Directors.
“I’m so proud of the work we do at Girl Scouts and the impact our program has on girls, the volunteers who guide them, and the communities that benefit from their leadership and service,” Stephanie said. “In my years with this organization, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many amazing girls and dedicated volunteers. I’ve literally watched girls become leaders and witnessed their power when they work together to make the world a better place. I’m confident in our future. We’ve been preparing girls to lead for more than 100 years and that work will go on long after my retirement.”
Stephanie models business leadership for Girl Scouts. She helped to establish an Endowment Fund at Rose Community Foundation to maximize the return on this organization’s investments and support the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. In 2015, she established the Stephanie A. Foote Leadership Prize, which is awarded annually to a Girl Scout who has completed her Gold Award in the current year and whose project is selected by an independent panel as an exceptional example of impact through leadership.
Prior to working with Girl Scouts of Colorado, Stephanie served as an elected member of Denver City Council, worked as Chief of Staff to Mayor Wellington Webb, was the first woman in Denver to serve as Deputy Mayor and the first woman to serve as Manager of Public Works.
Her background in government and her business connections helped Stephanie guide Girl Scouts of Colorado to become one of the most respected non-profits in Colorado and a top-performing Girl Scout council. Stephanie’s ability to navigate regional nuances in mission delivery, fundraising, and local leadership has been instrumental in Girl Scouts of Colorado’s continued success.
Under her leadership, Girl Scouts of Colorado invested in technology, downsized office space to more efficiently use resources, elevated programming for older Girl Scouts, reversed the trend of membership decline, expanded Outreach programs to bring Girl Scouting to girls who need it most, and is in the best fiscal shape the organization has seen since the 2007 national council realignment.
Girl Scouts of Colorado Chairperson of the Board Rae Ann Dougherty said Stephanie has positioned the council well for the future.
“Girl Scouts of Colorado is extremely fortunate to have benefited from Stephanie’s leadership, experience, and expertise over the past 13 years,” she said. “She has done great things for us and positioned the council to provide the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to an ever-growing number of girls in Colorado.”
Stephanie is responsible for oversight of $28 million in assets, including several camps and lodges, leased office space across the state and a retail shop. In partnership with her executive leadership team, she manages an annual operating budget of more than $12 million and statewide staff of more than 100 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees who support more than 22,000 girls and 10,000 adult members and volunteers in 56 counties in Colorado.
The GSCO Board of Directors has retained Evergreen Executive Source LLC of New Jersey to conduct a nationwide search for a CEO. Evergreen is an executive search firm that specializes in recruiting services for Girl Scout councils.
Board member Shannon Sisler is leading the Executive Search Committee, which will conduct the search process. Shannon is the Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for Crocs, where she is responsible for human resources globally. Prior to joining Crocs, she held Human Resources leadership roles with Davita, Janus Capital, and Western Union.
Shannon said the Board’s primary goal is to ensure a smooth transition by hiring the best CEO to lead Girl Scouts of Colorado into the future.
“It’s business as usual at Girl Scouts of Colorado right now, as staff and volunteers focus on delivering the best Girl Scout Leadership Experience possible,” Shannon said.
The CEO search process will likely take several months.
“We want this to be as transparent a process as it can be,” Shannon said. “Regular updates will be given and stakeholder input will be included in the process.”
If you know anyone who would be a great fit for Girl Scouts of Colorado, please share the job posting.
Anyone with questions about the process, should reach out to Board Chair Rae Ann Dougherty at raeannd@rrstrategies.com.