Staff Directory | Girl Scouts

Nancy Wright is the CEO of the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana and has a proven track record in leading cross-functional teams within diverse business environments, focusing on revenue results, developing new business and building brands.

As CEO, Nancy loves seeing Girl Scouts bringing their dreams to life as they change the world for the better. Through programs, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges.

In 2022, Nancy was included in iHeartMedia Chicago’s Women Who WIN Class of 2022 which celebrated dynamic women leaders who have made a significant impact in the community as a direct result of their exceptional leadership. In addition, Nancy was recognized by Chicago Business Journal as a “Women of Influence” honoree, as well as Authorities Magazine’s Social Impact Hero in 2021. Nancy currently serves on the Resilient Schools Certification Advisory Council with Lurie Children’s Hospital, is a member of the Woman’s Athletic Club of Chicago and a past Girl Scout leader and alumna.

Carl joined the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana in 2014 with a strong background in logistics, moving, inventory and management. As Vice President of Product Program, he supervises a team of six through both fall product and cookie programs. Carl’s strong work ethic has made him a favorite among both his team and Volunteers alike.  Volunteers don’t hesitate to call him for help with something as simple as some extra boxes of cookies they might need or as complicated as how to move 500 cases of cookies from one place to another without assistance. Family means everything to Carl and you will find him enjoying any spare time with his wife, son and 2 daughters.  
Coming soon
Jill oversees the team responsible for establishing and securing financial partnerships with corporations, foundations, government entities, United Way agencies, and individuals, all of whose contributions support the council’s programming and operations. As a former journalist with a commitment to causes that advance girls’ and women’s interests, Jill was naturally drawn to the Girl Scout mission. She joined Girl Scouts in 2007 as a manager in fund development in the Illinois Crossroads council, one of the seven councils that merged in 2008 to become GCNWI. She became the department head in 2017. Before joining Girl Scouts, Jill ran her own public relations consulting firm for 10 years after working as a reporter for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Jill earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Southern Illinois University.
Jean is responsible for overseeing finance, development and reporting against the council’s strategic plan, IT, data quality and insights, risk management, and process review and improvement initiatives. Prior to joining Girl Scouts in 2015, Jean worked in higher education and public accounting, with experience in risk management and consulting, internal audit, process review and improvement in public, private and non-profit organizations in variety of industries. A graduate of Illinois State University, she is a Certified Public Accountant. Involved in Girl Scouts throughout grade school, Jean later served as leader and in other volunteer roles for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop.
Coming soon
Julie oversees our community-based membership strategy, mission delivery experiences (program, community troops, adult development and training), and DEIA strategy for equity and inclusion, including our exciting work with the Girl Coalition of Indiana. As a news-editorial journalism graduate from the University of Illinois, Julie launched her career as a newspaper reporter and editor and quickly found her passion by shifting to non-profit public relations, marketing, and communications. She has advocated professionally on behalf of girls and women for 30 years, serving as a staff member for three Girl Scout councils. In addition to investing in the next generation of women leaders, Julie loves to garden and travel.
Anna oversees our Fund Development and Marketing teams. Her career has been focused on raising money for progressive causes, organizations, and leaders. As a fundraiser, she has solicited six and seven figure donations from corporate, individual, and foundation donors. She has managed development staff, boards of directors, and served as an officer and member of senior management. What Anna loves most about her nonprofit work is coaching staff to become confident leaders who make “good trouble” and create equitable communities. Anna earned her bachelor’s degree in American Studies at Scripps College and encourages high school girls to attend women’s colleges. Anna serves on the board of Friends of Burley and was a 2022 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow.

Patty joined the Council in 2012 and is now Chief of Staff. Patty and her team oversee all internal operations, including the Cookie Program, Retail, Camp Program, Property, Finance, Information Technology and Human Resources. Prior to the Girl Scouts, Patty held a variety of roles in for-profit industries, including financial services, higher education, chemical, and consumer products.

A Campfire Girl growing up, Patty's first direct involvement in the Girl Scouts was as volunteer for her daughter's Girl Scout troop, helping to carpool and sell cookies. The troop experience as a parent gave Patty direct insight into the positive impact Girl Scouts has on girls. Friday nights in the summer, you can find Patty at the beach in Evanston, sharing a pizza and glass of wine with her husband. When cooler weather sets in, Patty enjoys a good book with her dog sleeping at her feet. 

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