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Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is comprised of a diverse group of volunteers who are community leaders and professionals. They ensure that the Girl Scout mission is carried out in our council region. Board members are selected for their commitment to improving the lives of girls, volunteer and nonprofit experience, ability to make financial contributions to Girl Scouts, and knowledge of the community. Board members can serve up to two three-year terms. Learn more
Elected by delegates from the council membership, the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia establishes policy, approves budgets, sets direction for the council and monitors progress.
Officers
Chair
Ellen Marie Hess, Chesterfield
Ellen Marie Hess served as the interim CEO of Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia from December 2024 to May 2025, stepping away from her duties as Chair of the Board of Directors to lead the Council through its transition to hire a new CEO in June 2025. Ellen Marie is the retired Commissioner for the Virginia Employment Commission. She was previously appointed Deputy Commissioner at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) by Governor McAuliffe. She has more than 25 years of experience in policy and regulatory functions in state government. Prior to DMV, she was the Director of Labor and Employment Law at the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry and a Staff Attorney with the Virginia Department of Taxation. She received a Bachelor’s degree with Honors from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond. Other affiliations include Virginia State Bar, National Association of State Workforce Agencies, Virginia Information Technology Agency’s Consumer Advisory Council, and Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Previous board service includes Virginia Credit Union, READ Center, National Association of Workforce Agencies, and GSCV Board. Ellen Marie is a Girl Scout alum and was a member of Girl Scout troops on military bases in the U.S. and in Europe.
Vice Chair
Dr. Paula Young, Henrico
Dr. Paula Young is the Chief Medical Director, Community Health, and Vice President Medical Affairs, Richmond Community Hospital, Bon Secours Richmond Market. She received her medical degree from University of Virginia School of Medicine and her Masters in Health Care Ethics from Creighton University. She completed her Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship at Emory University, her Clinical Ethics Fellowship at Bon Secours Healthcare System, and her Pediatric Internship and Residency at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering degree is from Tulane University. Dr. Young is a Fellow of the American Board of Pediatrics and has published research. She is a member of Rho Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Vice President of The Society, Inc Richmond Chapter. She is a Girl Scout alum and has great memories of Girl Scout programming.
Treasurer
Rebecca Snavely,
Hanover
Rebecca Snavely is a retired Certified Public Accountant. She retired from Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, where as Director of Accounting from 2006-2019 she oversaw all areas of accounting operations. Prior management positions include Director of Finance with Williams Mullen.
Rebecca previously practiced public accounting with a focus on tax following a brief career as an educator with the Richmond Community Action Program. She has an AB in History from The College of William & Mary and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University. Rebecca is a Girl Scout alum and served as a troop leader when her daughters were Girl Scouts.
Secretary
Linda Tissiere, Henrico
Linda Tissiere is the retired Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Richmond. A former mentor for Partnership for the Future, she is a graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond, class of 2016.
Her board and committee service includes Smart Beginnings Greater Richmond, Children's Museum of Richmond, Henrico Education Foundation, and The Tomorrow Fund (Rhode Island). Formerly, she was the Vice President, Stakeholder Engagement & Integrated Communications for Luck Companies; Director of Corporate Communications for Luck Stone Corporation; Co-Founder, Foreign Language Department, Spanish Teacher, Coach at Little Falls Middle School in New York; and a Freelance Public Relations Consultant/Writer in Rhode Island and New York. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University Bloomington and a Master of Arts in Journalism from Ohio State University. She is a Girl Scout alum and former troop leader.
Chief
Executive Officer
Megan O’Neill, Henrico
Megan O’Neill began her tenure as the Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia on June 1, 2025. Megan is a seasoned nonprofit leader with more than 30 years of experience, including 27 years with the YMCA of Greater Richmond, where she most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. She has the proven ability to drive mission-focused impact, operational excellence, and long-term sustainability across large, multi-site organizations.
A champion for equity, inclusion, and youth development, Megan brings a deep commitment to empowering young people—values that perfectly align with the Girl Scout mission. She has led major fundraising initiatives, including securing the largest individual gift in YMCA history and raising $700K in just two months for facility expansion. Her expertise in volunteer engagement, governance, and team building mirrors the structure and needs of GSCV, positioning her to lead with strength and vision.
Megan’s enthusiasm for camp life and passion for creating inclusive, empowering environments make her an exciting and inspiring leader for this next chapter and to move GSCV boldly into the future.
Members at Large
Virginia "Tinker" Brace, Fredericksburg
Capital One
David Camden, Midlothian
retired banking executive, Wells Fargo, Truist Bank
Elissa Ecker, Henrico
human resource executive, Manorhouse Senior Living
Pascal Fernandez, Richmond
founder and principal of PaF Strategy + Insights, LLC
Erin Israel, Henrico
senior vice president, strategy & marketing, Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.
Angela C. Jones, Richmond
manager, audit at Ernst & Young
Lauren Zaller Moore, Richmond
president and CEO at Children's Hospital Foundation
Dr. Jan Nelson, Richmond
executive coach, global HR practitioner, and graduate level professor at University of Richmond
Kesha Oates, Hanover
Vice President of Individual & Small Group at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Xavier Richardson, Spotsylvania
senior vice president and chief development officer for Mary Washington Healthcare and president of Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital Foundations
Sarah Sladek, Midlothian
founder and CEO of XYZ University & Membership University
James H. Taylor, Henrico
chief financial officer, retired from Hamilton Beach Brands
Kelly Woody, Henrico
Girl Board Members
Emma A., Spotsylvania
Minnah K., Midlothian
Governance Publications
The updated edition of our Blue Book of Basic Documents contains important information and source documents, including the Constitution of Girl Scouts of the United States of America, bylaws, policies, credentials criteria and standards for councils and our Congressional Charter.
A 990 Form, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, for Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia is filed annually.
Bylaws of Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia
These are the current bylaws of Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
