JERSEY SHORE – Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore announces former interim CEO Heather Coburn as the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the leadership development organization for girls.
Heather leads a dedicated and passionate team of more than 35 full time staff, 20+ board members and countless volunteers and supporters, as they work to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.
Since joining Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore in 2016, Ms. Coburn has served in a number of roles including the Chief Operations Officer. As COO, she led GSJS staff through new initiatives in response to the pandemic, cultivated the Box of Love Challenge during the ‘cookie crisis of 2020’ and supported her team through two COVID-free day camp summers.
Starting her career at Girl Scouts as Director of the Office of the CEO in 2016, she was fortunate to serve under two past Chief Executive Officers while managing the GSJS Property Department, increasing staff satisfaction, and supporting Board of Directors functions.
Under Heather’s leadership as interim CEO, the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore saw tremendous growth in membership, increased donor support and, developed impactful programing that was delivered to girls across Monmouth and Ocean county, regardless of their ability to pay.
Heather helped secure a $500,000 covid relief grant from Monmouth County to cover expenses incurred by council to support programs and leadership experiences. Ms. Coburn is a champion for the Girl Scout movement and the Jersey Shore council which serves more than 11,000 girl and adult members (girls in K-12) from Monmouth and Ocean counties with the resources to become tomorrow’s leaders.
“Since joining the organization, Heather has made tremendous and invaluable contributions to GSJS, and we look forward to working with her to continue to enhance and expand opportunities for girls through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Heather’s strategic leadership, vision for GSJS, and depth of knowledge pertaining to all things Girl Scouts makes her the ideal candidate for this role. We are confident that Heather will lead GSJS to new heights,” said Teri O’Connor, GSJS Board Chair.
Heather is thrilled to take on the next stage of growth for GSJS with the expansion of Camp Sacajawea to include an Outdoor Garden and STEM Lab, the continued beautification of Camp Amity Acres and the implementation of a mentorship program for older Girl Scouts.
As she takes on the new role, Heather’s primary focus will be on bringing the Girl Scout experience to every girl by allowing girls to have a safe space where they can feel free to be themselves, find a friend who becomes a sister for life, or learns a new passion or skill that helps in making the world a better place.
“Every girl should have access to our programs and services and have the ability to see what Girl Scouts is all about. I want to live in a world where girls and women are empowered and encouraged to take chances and reach their goals. As a leader of this amazing organization and as a mom of a Girl Scout Brownie, I feel a tremendous responsibility to positively impact the lives of our girls and young women. I’m inspired every day by our movement of 2.6 million girl and adult members.”
Ms. Coburn is a graduate of University of Delaware. She lives in Brick Township with her very own Brownie Girl Scout, Casey.
