Girl Scouts of Connecticut (GSOFCT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Elicia Pegues Spearman, Esq. of Cheshire as chief executive officer effective April 29, 2024. The accomplished attorney and human resources executive has shattered glass ceilings as a leader at some of the state’s top corporations. Outgoing CEO Diana Mahoney passed the torch to Pegues Spearman at the GSOFCT annual meeting on April 28, 2024.

Over the course of her career, Spearman has successfully managed C-Suite roles in many industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, defense, and higher education, most recently as the first dual General Counsel & Vice President of Human Resources for Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT.

Previously, Spearman was the first person of color hired to the Executive Team at General Dynamics Electric Boat where she served as the Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer. She has had a distinguished law career where she worked for state, federal and Fortune 500 corporate entities including Aetna, Hubbell, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

“Elicia’s experience with leadership training and development will be an asset to ensuring that the mission of the Girl Scouts remains at the forefront of leading the team and volunteers,” explains Diana Mahoney, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Connecticut (GSOFCT) since January 2021. “As a Brownie herself and mother to a former Girl Scout, Elicia is an exceptional role model who believes strongly in the importance of providing young girls and teenagers with the opportunities to learn and grow.”

In 2022, Girl Scouts of Connecticut honored Spearman as a champion of girls and young women at the organization’s Annual Breakfast Badge Awards. When accepting this honor, she expressed “I’ve seen firsthand in my own mentees’ lives how much it means to give an encouraging word and challenge them to think bigger. I love being a champion for girls, helping them discover how big their goals could be. We should want to help the next generation do better than we’ve done, think critically and innovatively solve the problems of today. I love seeing people succeed.”

Spearman mentors professionals and students and has dedicated a lifetime of community service to local and national organizations.

Mahoney notes “We are honored to have a leader that was raised in Connecticut and who has deep ties to several like-minded organizations in which she has or currently serves in leadership roles or as an active member, including the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated^® Board of Directors, The Links, Incorporated, Jack & Jill of America, and the Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church.”

Spearman was recognized as one of the “2019 Most Influential Women in Corporate America” by Savoy Magazine. Additionally, she has received numerous awards including 2024 Citizen of the Year Award from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. First District; and James W. Cooper Fellow designation with the Connecticut Bar Association.

Spearman holds Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University Law School and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political Science from Wellesley College.

“Girl Scouts is extremely fortunate to have this fearless female to guide the organization in the coming years,” says Mahoney. “It will be exciting to see new programs and initiatives unveiled under Elicia’s skillful leadership.”

Visit https://www.gsofct.org/ceocorner for more information.

About Girl Scouts of Connecticut

Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit www.gsofct.org.

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Girls Scouts of Connecticut announces the appointment of Elicia Pegues Spearman, Esq. as chief executive officer effective April 29, 2024. The GSOFCT alumnae from Cheshire has served as a Human Resources and Legal Executive who successfully managed C-Suite roles in the healthcare, manufacturing, defense, and higher education industries. Credit: Girl Scouts of Connecticut