BOARD

Home : About Us : BOARD

Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida’s Board of Directors consists of community volunteers who have been elected by the Council’s Delegate body. The board establishes policies to ensure the integrity of the organization.

The Board Development Committee is elected by the Delegate Body to prepare and present a single slate of nominees to be considered for election to the Board of Directors, Board Development Committee and every three years, as National Council Delegates and Alternates.

The Delegate Body consists of adult volunteers and members 14 – 17 years old elected in their service units who serve as voting members at the Council’s Annual Meeting. The Delegate Body also elects the Board of Directors and Board Development Committee, in addition to approving Council By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation.

Board of Directors
Members at Large
Board Development Committee

Board of Directors

Officers

Chair – Henrietta Gurri McBee

FPL Director Project Development

St. Lucie Wind

Henrietta is an active community volunteer in the Palm Beach County area. She is active with St. Peter Catholic Church, where she teaches religious education and is a member of the Parish Council. She is a recent graduate of Leadership of Palm Beach County’s Class of 2009. She is also a member of the FPL Community Volunteer Corp Board having led several FPL employee volunteer efforts at the River Center, Friends of Jupiter Beach, and Habitat for Humanity. Each year she represents FPL as a United Way Ambassador. Henrietta has served since 2004 on the local Girl Scouts Board of Directors, where she served as Secretary of the Board of Directors, as well as Chair of the Finance Committee for GSPGC.

Henrietta has three daughters and a son. Her daughters Lillian, Julia and Marie are active girl scouts in Jupiter. Lillian earned her Gold Award in May. Her son Alec volunteers at Jupiter Medical Center and is a Community Emergency Response Team responder. Previously, Henrietta volunteered in Girl Scouting as Troop Leader, Asst. Troop Leader, Cookie mom, earning Water Watching and other Girl Scout certifications.

2nd Vice Chair – Aimee Cernicharo
Attorney – Human Rights Institute of St. Thomas University
Ms. Cernicharo, a resident of Palm Beach County, is an attorney with the Human Rights Institute of St. Thomas University. She is also the founding member of the Young Leaders Circle of the United Way.
Ms. Cernicharo is the mother of two daughters involved in the Girl Scouts. She served as a Board Member-at-Large for the Legacy Girl Scouts of Palm Glades Council.

Secretary – Brenda LaVar

Broward County Human Services – Dept. Elderly/Veterans Services
Dr. La Var, a resident of Coral Springs, is currently affiliated with the Broward County Human Services Department Elderly and Veterans Services / Family Success Administration Division.
Dr. La Var received her Doctorate degree in Psychology from the University of Texas.
Dr. LaVar currently serves on the local Healthcare for the Homeless Board, as Co-President of NAMI Broward County, and is a member of the board of Governors of the Broward County Commission on Substance Abuse.
Dr. La Var served on the Board of Directors of the legacy Girl Scouts of Broward County Council as well as the HR Committee and had Chaired the Nominating Committee. In 2004, she worked on the Diversity Plan for the Council Performance Assessment.

Treasurer – Lorna Brown-Burton

Owner – Law Office of Lorna Brown-Burton
Ms. Brown-Burton, a resident of Coral Springs, is the owner of the Law Offices of Lorna Brown-Burton. Prior to her law firm, she worked as the Senior Associate Attorney for the Worker’s Compensation Division of Miller, Kagan, Rodriguez & Silver, P.A. for approximately four years.
Ms. Brown-Burton earned her Degree of Juris Doctor in Law from Nova Southeastern University.
Ms. Brown-Burton is currently affiliated with the Florida Bar Grievance Committee ; Broward Lawyers Care; Enterpise Coral Springs,Inc.(Board member), and the Coral Springs Economic Development Foundation (Board member).

Members at Large

Jennifer Chiarenza

Jennifer, a resident of Palm Beach Gardens, is a HR professional with a focus on leadership training, professional development and skills training. Previous positions include Director of HR at Johnson-Davis, Inc., and Manager of HR Administration at Cruzan International.

Jennifer is the Sponsorship Chair of HRPBC, is an English and reading tutor at WyzAnt and is a religious education teacher at St. Ignatius Loyola Cathedral. She is a member of ASTD, National Organization for Professional Women and SMA South Florida. Jennifer moved from New York City to Florida in 1996 and now lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her husband and one daughter.

Lee N. Feinberg, Esq.

Attorney
Lee is a partner with Brandt & Feinberg, Attorneys at Law in Stuart, FL. Mr. Feinberg graduated from the Shepard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University in 1992 and also graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. While practicing in the 17th Judicial Circuit, Mr. Feinberg served as a Guardian Ad Litem both privately and for the 17th Judicial Circuit as a Supreme Court Certified Guardian Ad Litem, certified to provide focused representation and advocacy for children in civil division, family law proceedings. Mr. Feinberg primarily practices in the area of Family Law. He is the father of 2 daughters, 12 and 6, the oldest of whom was a Brownie. He lives and practices in Stuart.

Tina Hatcher

Tina founded 3i Advertising / Public Relations in 2008 after 20 years at leading south Florida advertising agencies. Her work over the years has received Addy awards for creative, campaign conception and Best of Show.
Tina attended Florida State University where she majored in Communications and minored in Public Relations. Tina is involved with the FAU Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) and Autism Speaks.
Tina lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her husband Tom and one daughter Donelle, a member of the Girl Scouts of SE Florida.

Christopher Herron

Chris Herron is Manager of Project Development at Florida Power & Light, the largest investor-owned electric utility in Florida. In this capacity, he is responsible for leading multi-disciplinary fossil and renewable generation teams through complex technical, legal, environmental, and commercial project development and the regulatory, permitting, licensing and statutory approval process.

Chris has almost twenty years experience in project development, corporate development, M&A, and client management in environments ranging from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups in the energy, water, manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and telecommunications industries.

Catherine Lambert

Catherine is a financial adviser with Merrill Lynch in Vero Beach. Her area of expertise includes financial planning and asset management. She attended Lake Forest College in Illinois and also attended classes at Harvard Business School and Boston Security Analysts Society. She holds NASD series 7, 63 and 65 professional licenses in Life, Health and Annuities. Catherine, whose interests include tennis, theatre and the arts and reading, resides in Vero Beach with her much loved Pug, Chopper Louise.

PJ Layng

Pamela “PJ” Layng is 2010 Managing Director for the Palm Beach International Film Festival and the Director of the Florida office of ZurickDavis. “PJ” has extensive experience recruiting physicians and physician leaders. She has created and implemented physician recruitment and retention programs in major Healthcare systems nationwide. “PJ” earned a BA in Speech Communication and did Masters work in the field of Non-profit management and organizational Development at George Washington University.

“PJ” is a member of the National Association of Sales and Marketing Executives, National Association of Female Executives, National Association of Physician Recruiters, and is a founding member of the New England Women’s Foundation. She resides in Lake Worth.

Andrea Levenson

President – Strategic HR
Ms. Levenson, a resident of Parkland, is President of Strategic HR. Over the course of her career she has held senior management and executive positions in companies including Ryder, Office Depot, Macy’s , Abrahamn Straus and Levitt Corporation. She is a Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts.
Ms. Levenson is a member of numerous professional and community organizations including the Society of Human Resouces Management and HRABC. She is a member of Leadership Broward (Class XXIV).
Ms. Levenson served as Chair of the Nominating Committee of the legacy Girl Scouts of Broward County Council and as a Member –at- Large. She also Chairs the Camp Telogia revitalization Project Committee.

Harriet Mack
Harriet currently works as a Business Banker, VP with Bank United working in North Broward and Southern Palm Beach County. She attended Broward Community College with courses in advertising, marketing, economics and business law. She is a former Girl Scout and a supporter of children’s issues. She is a member of CIREBA (Commercial Industrial Real Estate Brokers Association) and the ABWA. Harriet lives in Davie, FL and her passion is golfing.

Lillian Ocasio

Lillian is the Area Manager for Ablest Staffing Services / Select Staffing in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Primary responsibilities include: Hiring, training, coaching and developing a staff of “A” players to handle recruiting, customer service and sales responsibilities.

Lillian has received the following community memberships / awards: long standing member of Plantation Business & Professional Women’s Club; nominated as “Woman of the Year” for the Plantation BPW Chapter; received the Keys to the City and recognized with other Women of the Year in Plantation by the Mayor; Ambassador of the Plantation Chamber of Commerce; received “Notable Networker” award for BNI networking group in Cypress Creek

Lillian has an AS in Business Administration from BCC in Davie, FL and is a Certified Staffing Professional.

Ashley Foster Pinnock
Principle Attorney – FPL Energy
Ms. Pinnock , a resident of Palm Beach County, is an attorney for Florida Power and Light working on environmental issues, managing air regulatory compliance and, facilitates the development of power plants and transmission lines.
She served on the Board of Directors of the legacy Girl Scouts of Palm Glades.

Virginia Spencer

General Manager – Illustrated Properties
Ms. Spencer , a resident of Palm Beach Gardens, is the General Manager of Illustrated Properties Real Estate.
Ms. Spencer is a member of the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches , was a former Girl Scout leader, and has been active in a variety of community and professional organizations. She is a member of Leadership Palm Beach County(Class of 1997). And she is the founding member of the Nellie Smith Home for Girls.
Ms. Spencer served on the Board of Directors of the legacy Girl Scouts of Palm Glades Council , Chaired the Fund Development Committee and was an active member of the Alumni Brunch and Silent Auction Committee.

Maria Ferrante Wilson
Maria is a Human Resources business partner who understands current and future trends, leading to the selection, development and retention of key talent who drive innovation and enhance market competitiveness. Her previous experience includes providing strategic human resource consulting/coaching and expertise to senior management and line leadership across the Product Development and Service sectors.

Maria has a BS in Consumer Economics from Ohio State University, is a certified Toastmaster, a senior professional in Human Resources and a Certified Facilitator (DiSC and Myers Briggs). Maria has the following professional affiliations: Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM); Human Resource Association of Broward County (HRABC); Member, Professional Development Committee, HRABC, 2010; United Way of Broward County, Loaned Executive

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE (2010-2011)

Janet Beets

Human Resources Director – Uniweld Products
Ms. Beets, a resident of Fort Lauderdale ,.is the Human Resources Director of Uniweld Products,Inc., and has been since 2001.
Ms. Beets earned her degree in Business Accounting at Fort Lauderdale College(FAU). She earned her Certificates from the Human Resources Certification Institute, and Kaufman Institute.
She is currently affiliated with SHRM , Human Resources Association of Broward County, and South Florida Employment Management Association. She was the honoree of the South Florida Business Journal ‘s “Excellence in Human Resources” in 2005 and 2006. The South Florida Business Journal also honored Ms. Beets for her 2006 Career Achievement.

Katerina M.
Katerina is a 10th grade student at American Heritage High School in Wellington. She has been a Girl Scout since the age of 7; has participated in a focus group held at Camp Welaka; attended a Girl Scout Leadership Conference at the Macy Center in New York; has participated in the recruitment event for the Pluto Service Unit; has received the Girl Scout Bronze Award for a recycling project and the Girl Scout Silver Award for a project with the Kids Cancer Foundation and installed a library in the pediatric ward of Palms West Hospital. At school, she is the only female member of the debate team and has participated in debate tournaments at Harvard, Emory, Yale and Wake Forest, to name a few.

Shaina F.
Shaina is a 10th grade student at Lincoln Park Academy and has been a Girl Scout for almost 10 years. She is a foreign exchange student abroad with Rotary Inc.’s Youth Exchange. She has earned the Silver Award and is working on obtaining her Gold Award. She was chosen to be an alternate Council Delegate for the National Convention in Indianapolis in 2009. In the past, she has assisted at Camp Creepy and volunteered at the ARC. She also participates every year with her troop in the Cancer Relay in Martin & St. Lucie County.

Board Development Committee

Janet Beets

Human Resources Director – Uniweld Products

Diane Brito
Diane is the manager of Realty Associates in Ft. Lauderdale. She has a BS and MBA from the University of Hawaii. She currently is a board member of US Martial Arts, based in Los Angeles and is a certified martial arts instructor.

As a successful business owner in Palm Beach County for five years, she continues her 18 years of corporate sales, high end customer service and team leadership by representing the eastern region as a Regional Sales Manager for Advantage Staffing Services; a global staffing corporation with a local presence in Ft Lauderdale.

Joan Greenberg

Joan Greenberg is the Regional Director for Manpower, NA. She began her career in the staffing industry in New York with Olsten Staffing Services in 1984 where she held positions as Sales Representative, Branch Manager and Area Manager.

Joan relocated to Florida and began working at Manpower in 2000 as a Regional Director where she currently oversees Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. Joan majored in English and Elementary Education at Hunter College in New York. She has volunteered at United Way in Boynton Beach and in Ft. Lauderdale. She lives in Boca Raton with her husband Al and has 2 daughters who live in Denver and Memphis.

Christopher Herron

Manager of Project Development -Florida Power & Light
Mr. Herron is Manager of Project Development at Florida Power & Light, the largest investor-owned electric utility in Florida, one of the largest and fastest-growing electric utilities in the United States, and is the nation’s leading utility in customer energy efficiency programs.
In this capacity, he is responsible for leading multi-disciplinary fossil and renewable generation teams through complex technical, legal, environmental, and commercial project development and the regulatory, permitting, licensing and statutory approval process.
Chris was graduated from Dartmouth College with a bachelor degree in History and earned an M.B.A. from Southern Methodist University’s Cox Business School.

Emma J. Wynn Sampson
Emma Sampson – Retiree of the City of Oakland Park Florida, gained experience in local government operations through service in the City Manager’s Office, Fire Department, Human Resources, Community Development and Municipal Service Departments.

Emma has a Bachelors Degree in Business from Nova Southeastern University and a Masters from the University Phoenix in Organizational Management.

She moved to south Florida from Rochester, New York over twenty years ago and now resides in Deerfield Beach. Emma has two sons and one daughter.

Shirley Schaff

Shirley Schaff is the Recruiting Manager at Recruiting Hound, Inc. Previous to this position, she had owned a national financial brokerage beginning at age 24 for just over a decade. In her current role, Shirley works closely with small and large corporations nationwide. Her primary duties include: reviewing employment and recruiting deficiencies, recommending and designing suggestions improving a company’s budget, recruiting and staying informed on any changes throughout communities and industries affecting quality employment. When not working, Shirley is involved in volunteering, attending school, advisory boards and active leadership within local Republican clubs and politics. She is passionate about being active in our local atmosphere.

Terry Wyder
Terri has her JD from Suffolk University and her LLM in taxation from Boston University. Prior to moving to Florida Terri worked for Bose Corporation and Ernst and Young.

Terri is a certified family court mediator in the state of Florida and currently works for the state of Florida conducting family mediations for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit.

Terri had the unique opportunity to study business at Kansai Gaidai in Osaka, Japan and International Law at Tokyo University in Tokyo, Japan.