Gorman Credits Girl Scouts for her Moves Up the Ladder

Jackie Gorman-Johnson, executive director of San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside, credits her leadership skills and business acumen to the Girl Scouts, growing up as a “military brat,” and mentors who taught her service is the price paid for living on Earth.

“I am the leader that I am because of being a Girl Scout,” Gorman-Johnson, 53, said. “They taught me I could do anything.”

This year, as the Girl Scouts of the United States of America celebrates its 100th anniversary, she is the chairwoman of the Council of Southwest Texas' celebration program, along with her job on the leadership team at the nonprofit organization, which helps small businesses grow.

She rises at 4 a.m., a testament to the organizational skills she learned as a Scout, on track for a 12-hour day.

An hour later, she's jogging on the elliptical machine, or, as she calls it, the “instrument of torture.” By 8:30, she's in her office at SAGE, overseeing initiatives including the Store-Front Grant program, which offers funding to improve facades and matches grants up to $20,000.

A self-described geek, she always keeps her pink-sleeved iPad and iPhone within reach, equipped with apps that allow her to attend to business on the run. After she's synchronized her schedule with her administrative assistant, Tara Jones, she's off to meetings, where she is at ease working with city leaders, community advocates and neighborhood residents.

The Girl Scouts was the place the only girl and oldest of three children could “fit in immediately” as her father, Army Capt. Clifford Gorman Sr., was transferred to new duty assignments.

Her mother, Pat Gorman, who died in January, played a pivotal role in her life. She always pushed her and never said no.

“My mother always said do your best, tell the truth, and never do anything she wouldn't want to read about in the newspaper,” she said.

When she's working with Scouts, she greets girls by giving out her personal patch, which features her favorite colors, pink and green, a tiara and the words, “Girl Scouts Sparkle!”

The SAGE director is an inspiration to the teen girls and volunteers she works with, said Rose Gonzalez Perez, interim CEO of the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas.

“With Jackie's leadership, I'm expecting 2012 to be an epic year for the Council of Southwest Texas,” Perez said. “She's what Girl Scouts is about, and that's what we want for every girl in our council.”

Gorman-Johnson's credibility helps strengthen the organization and vice versa, which makes for a good match, said Leo Gomez, SAGE board chairman.

“She's brought a focused stability to the organization based on a history of experience from being from the area,” Gomez said. “I'm thrilled we have her.”

Gorman-Johnson said “step out on faith” is her motto as she gives back to the community. That includes being an example that women of color can do all things for all people, she said.

“It's important for kids to understand that people of color, particularly women, can be and are leaders,” she said. “There is more to us than what you see on TV. It's hard to imagine the possibilities if you don't know the possibilities exist.”

vtdavis@express-news.net

Source:  mysanantonio.com by Vincent Davis

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