Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey has named lifetime Girl Scout member Susan M. Brooks its new Chief Executive Officer. Brooks was selected following a national search conducted by Evergreen Executive Source, LLC. She will begin her new position on Monday, July 28 in preparation for the October 1 launch of the new organization that will serve nearly 27,000 girls and 11,000 adult volunteers. The new organization will merge three local councils - Girl Scout Council of Greater Essex and Hudson Counties, Girl Scouts of Rolling Hills Council and Girl Scouts of Washington Rock Council - and will serve girls in seven counties spanning the state from east to west in Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, Union and Warren. The new council will have the potential to serve 30% of the state's population of girls ages 5-17.

Brooks brings a wealth of leadership experience and expertise to her new post. Most recently, she worked with Motorola as Director of Customer Advocacy, Training, and Technical Publications. Her previous experience includes executive roles within AT&T in sales, marketing, quality, customer care, training, contract negotiations, major project implementations and Profit & Loss accountabilities. She began her career with Michigan Bell in Detroit, with several General Motors' divisions as her customers.

Excited about her role in the new organization, Brooks eagerly anticipates working with girls, volunteers, the board of directors, donors and staff. She is committed to advancing the Girl Scout Movement and promoting the mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. "The Girl Scouts are a top-notch organization and this is an unbelievable opportunity to make a difference on so many levels."

In addition to holding baccalaureate degrees in English, Advertising and Communications from Michigan State University, Brooks earned her Master's degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix and also completed the prestigious Duke University Fuqua School of Business Advanced Management Program. The daughter of a career Air Force family, Brooks considers volunteerism and service an important part of her life. She serves on the USO World Board of Governors and as a USO Foundation Director, and she was Co-Site Lead for Motorola's Women's Business Council (Horsham Chapter). Long-time New Jersey residents, Brooks and her husband are the parents of 19-year-old twins, a son and daughter, who just completed their freshman years of college.

The merger that will result in the formation of Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey is part of the national realignment plan led by Girl Scouts of the USA. The national organization will consolidate more than 300 councils across the nation into 109 high-capacity councils. The process aims to revitalize Girl Scouting as the nation's premier leadership development program for girls. The 96-year-old organization is focused on providing a consistent Girl Scout experience for girls and is revamping its program and volunteerism models, organizational and governance structure, funding and national branding to remain compelling and contemporary.

Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey will have regional service centers in Montclair, North Branch and Westfield, with satellite offices in Jersey City, Kearny and Newark. Ensuring that all members have quality services, professional staff members and appropriate resources available in close proximity is key to improving services for girls and adult volunteers.