Girl Scouts of Wisconsin – Badgerland announces the retirement of
Chief Executive Officer Marci Henderson in spring 2023.
During her tenure at Badgerland, Marci launched transformative initiatives to reach more girls with vibrant programming and impactful outdoor experiences. Board of Directors Chair Jeni Hallatt said, “Marci has led Badgerland with vision, passion, and purpose and truly has made the world a better place through her leadership. An essential tenet of Girl Scouting is to leave a place better than you found it and I am delighted to share that Marci is leaving Badgerland well-positioned for a bright future.”
The Board of Directors will hire the council’s next chief executive. The board has engaged Finding Great People, an executive search firm, to lead a nationwide search. The company has conducted similar successful searches for other Girl Scout councils within the past twelve months. The process to hire a new CEO is expected to last several months with a new executive at the helm soon. Marci has agreed to stay with Badgerland, as needed through May, to ensure a smooth transition in leadership.
Under Marci’s leadership, Badgerland Girl Scouts implemented significant technology upgrades, invested in Girl Scout camp improvements, and executed a long-range property strategy to right-size the council’s resources. Marci led the effort to establish a centrally-located headquarters where all Badgerland Girl Scouts are invited to learn, grow, and explore. Marci leaves a legacy of financial stewardship, growing the council’s money reserves and ensuring stability for the future.
Marci has been a familiar face to Girl Scouts around Badgerland. Summer campers frequently joined her around the campfire at Camp Brandenburg and Camp Ehawee. Marci’s commitment to getting more girls outside was mirrored in her transformation of the Badgerland camp program that is now focused on skill-building, badge-earning, and Girl Scout-themed experiences.
Mentoring girls to become leaders has been another focal point for Marci and led to the development of the Badgerland Youth Leadership Council (YLC). Comprised of 15 teenage Girl Scouts, the YLC met with the CEO bi-monthly to tackle big issues impacting girls and empowering them to have courageous conversations of differing opinions. “One of the many blessings of this organization, is how it provides a place to constantly learn from others and in doing so, become more compassionate and kinder to everyone. That’s how we make the world a better place and that’s what we’re doing at Girl Scouts every single day,” said Marci. “To all the thousands of girls, volunteers, and parents I’ve had the honor to connect with, I extend a sincere thank you. You are the heart of this organization and it has been a deep privilege to be part of your Girl Scout journey.”
