The Girl Effect USA

Tamara Woodbury is the CEO of the Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, Inc. Prior to joining the council in 1993, she held a variety of leadership positions, serving social sector organizations serving girls and women in Phoenix, Washington, D.C., Salt Lake City, and San Francisco.

Her accomplishments include innovative programs for girls, several of which have become national models. Girl Scouts Beyond Bars and Just Us Programs, brings Girl Scouting to girls whose mothers are incarcerated and girls who are involved in, or at risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system; Camp CEO, is a camping experience to inspire and prepare girls for future business ownership and leadership, and the Border Initiative, serves girls and families in communities along the Mexico border.

Recently, Tamara has led an integrated leadership initiative to bring new depth and possibilities to preparing girls for leadership. Current programs are designed not only girls, but also for adults who serve girls. Programs include: the Oxford Leadership Program (Self Managing Leadership), Coming Into Your Own, and the Elder Wisdom Presence. The potential of these initiatives is immediate for Arizona and is rapidly expanding throughout the United States.

Tamara is a Virginia G. Piper Fellow and a member of the national training team for the Peter F. Drucker Foundation/Leader to Leader Institute. She is a mentor/facilitator for the University of Pittsburgh’s Hesselbein Global Academy for Student Leadership and Civic Engagement and an active member of the Society of Organizational Learning (SoL).

Tamara has served on numerous national and community-based committees and boards related to Girl Scouting, human services and nonprofit management. Some of her current and most recent involvements include: the Governor’s Task Force for Improving Outcomes for Incarcerated Women and Their Children for the State of Arizona, the President’s Community Council at Arizona State University, the Phoenix Youth and Education Commission for the City of Phoenix, Arizona Town Hall, and Arizona Trail Association Advisory Council.

In 2007, Tamara was honored with the Athena Award by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. Arizona State University, Office of Student Life recognized Tamara as one of 18 women making History Today. Under her leadership, Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council was recognized by the U. S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau as an innovative, family-friendly workplace. Soroptimist International, Camelback Chapter, honored Tamara with the Women Helping Women Award.

Tamara holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. A dedicated lifelong learner, her on-going education includes completion of management and leadership course work at Harvard Business School, Smith College, Yale University, Leader-to-Leader Institute, Society of Organizational Learning, and Oxford Leadership Academy.

Courtney is an Arizona native and a graduate of Arizona State University’s Barrett Honors College where she received her degree in Nonprofit Leadership & Management. Courtney was the founder and executive director of youth Re:Action Corps, a nonprofit organization launched in her senior year at Arizona State University on a $1,000 seed grant with a mission to educate, empower, and invest in young people to change the world. In 2008, upon the merger between Youth Re:Action Corps and New Global Citizens (formerly Youth Philanthropy Worldwide), Courtney assumed the role of chief executive officer for New Global Citizens.

In 2008, Courtney was named by bizAZ as one of “35 Entrepreneurs under 35″ and in 2007 was named one of “20 Woman to Change Arizona by 2020″ by Arizona Woman magazine and the Arizona Republic. In 2006, Courtney was profiled in the Arizona Republic as one of Arizona’s most intriguing chief executives, highlighted as one of the six to watch. Additionally, she was honored by the Phoenix Business Journal’s Power Book as a “Power Generation Up-and-Coming Leader.” In 2005, Courtney was honored as a Hon Kachina Honoree and in 2002 was named Woman of the Year by the Diocese of Phoenix.

For the last four years, Carolina Grimaldo has served as program coordinator for the Just Us Programs with the Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council in Phoenix, AZ. Prior to working for Girl Scouts, Ms. Grimaldo actively volunteered with the organization for three years while pursuing her undergraduate degree. Her true affilitation with the organization began when she was a Girl Scout Brownie. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology from Arizona State University. Ms. Grimaldo has presented at local, statewide and national conferences and symposiums and has served as a keynote speaker. Ms.Grimaldo is passoniate about working with young women who are court involved.