“Marcia is poised to step in as our organization’s leader and make an immediate impact,” said Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont Board Chair Anne Watkins. “Her enthusiasm, vision and experience are exactly what Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont needs to achieve our mission of building even more girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world, as well as central and western North Carolina, a better place.”

Cole was selected following a national search conducted by Evergreen Executive Source, LLC. She brings a wealth of leadership experience and expertise to her new post. Most recently, she served as Director of Development and Community Relations at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, where she directed and managed the development and community relations programs in an 18-county operation. During her tenure, she created a new 2,000,000 pound food drive campaign that added 85 new food sponsors and generated more than 100,000 additional pounds of food. She also developed and implemented the agency’s 2009 emergency food plan, generating $450,000 in new contributions and more than 50,000 pounds of food.

 Prior to that, she was the President of Sherwood Consulting, where she provided consultation services for area non-profit organizations. She served as the executive director of the Northwest North Carolina chapter for the American Red Cross from 1994 to 2006, when she implemented a staff reorganization and successfully increased the annual fundraising membership mailings by 155% and United Way support for a 23.7% increase. In addition, she was a Vice President of the United Way of Forsyth County, where she directed the annual United Way Campaign for 16 years. In 2006, the Campaign achieved a record of 17.4 million dollars.

Excited about her role in the new organization, Cole 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 Girl Scout Mission.

 “The Girl Scouts are a top-notch organization and this is an unbelievable opportunity to make a difference on so many levels,” Cole said. “I am honored and thrilled to be joining this great organization. Girl Scouting has been a part of my family history for 75 years, and I am excited to get started working with everyone.”

 Cole’s daughter, Whitney, earned her Girl Scout Gold Award from the Tarheel Triad Girl Scout Council several years ago.  Marcia also served on the Council Performance Assessment and CEO Search Committee for Tarheel Triad Girl Scout Council. 

 Cole will officially begin her position as CEO on October 4, 2010. The CEO position had been vacant since mid-January 2010. In October 2009, Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont became the new council for Girl Scouting in central and western North Carolina, uniting four legacy councils.

In addition to holding a baccalaureate degree in sociology from Wake Forest University, Cole earned her master’s degree in community education from Appalachian State University.

 Cole was the recipient of the 2009 United Way Women’s Council Administrative Volunteer of the Year award, and in 2003 was selected as the North Carolina Chapter Manager of the Year by the American Red Cross.  In 2009, under her leadership Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina won the United Way Spirit of North Carolina award for running the most successful non-profit United Way Campaign in the state.

 A native of New Jersey, Cole is a former Girl Scout volunteer and resides in Winston-Salem with her husband, Rick. They have three children – David, Megan and Whitney – and two grandchildren – Anthony and Adrianna.