The Board of Directors of Girl Scouts Louisiana East consists of a diverse group of community leaders and professionals. They ensure that the Girl Scout mission is carried out in southeast Louisiana. Board members are selected for their commitment to improving the lives of girls as well as their leadership, volunteer and nonprofit experience, ability to make financial contributions to Girl Scouts, professional and educational background, and knowledge of the community. They are chosen by the Board Development Committee and elected by the voting members of the Council. Board members can serve up to two, three-year terms.

The role of the Board of Directors is one of governance. Their responsibilities include strategic planning, fund development, appointment of the Executive Director, financial oversight, and interaction with the community. Questions, comments, or referrals for Board of Directors or Board Development Committee can be directed to the Office of the Chief Executive Officer.

Brett Bonin, Board Chair

Brett Bonin is a lifelong New Orleans resident and a highly respected member of the legal profession. He is a graduate of Jesuit High School, Loyola University (Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, with a minor in History) and Loyola Law School (Juris Doctorate), Bonin has also completed training at the New Orleans Police Academy, including obtaining a special diploma for handling the mentally ill and crisis situations.

In keeping with his deep commitment to public service, Bonin has served in a broad range of capacities and organizations. Since 2020, he has served with the Louisiana Department of Justice as the Assistant Attorney General for the Louisiana State Racing Commission. From 2016 to 2019, he served as an Attorney for the Louisiana State Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. He served with the Orleans Parish Civil Sheriff’s Office as aReserve Officer for eight years and with the New Orleans Police Department for nine years as a Crisis Team member handling situations involving the mentally ill or suicidal.

As a member in good standing of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Bonin has been a member of the Practice Assistance and Improvement Committee since 2002 and has taught law office management to new admittees since 2003.

Bonin has also served as an elected member of the Orleans Parish School Board. As a member of the Louisiana School Board Association, he has served in many positions, including Vice-President and President-Elect. His interest in education led him to accept a Board of Directors appointment for NOCCA, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, where he served as Vice-President.

Bonin’s accomplishments and honors are many, including election as Chief Justice of the Loyola Law School Honor Board, service on the Loyola University Dean’s Student Council Advisory Council, membership in Phi Delta Phi, international legal fraternity, Phi Alpha Theta, international honor society in History, and Pershing Rifles Honor Society, a national military fraternity.

In keeping with his dedication to community service, Bonin serves as a GSLE Board Officer and participates in Board Nominating and Development Committee processes where he may actively contribute to the Board’s goal of fulfilling the Girl Scout mission.

Dr. Rebecca Pennington , CFRE, Chief Executive Offier

Before accepting the position of Girl Scouts Louisiana East CEO, Rebecca Pennington served as the Senior Director of Walk MS for the South Central Region of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, where she also served as Vice President of Walk MS and Emerging Events and Vice-President of Development for its Louisiana office. She has a consistent record of increasing revenue while serving in senior fund raising positions, with extensive experience in all areas of fundraising and public relations, particularly capital campaigns, the cultivation and solicitation of major gifts, annual and planned giving, and brand management.

Prior to joining the MS Society, Dr. Pennington worked in higher education for more than 22 years, managing capital campaigns for Nicholls State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, and Nunez Community College, as well as implementing and coordinating institutional and athletic brand images for Nicholls State. She has taught master’s level public relations classes as an adjunct professor at Southeastern and mass communications classes as an associate professor at Nicholls State.

She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts from Nicholls State University, a Master of Journalism from Louisiana State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations and minor in Higher Education Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. She holds the designation of Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and has also served on numerous not-for-profit boards of directors.

Dr. Pennington is a native Louisianan and is married to Royce Pennington. She has two daughters, Taylor and Ashley and two stepchildren, Kyle and Kaitlin, as was well as six grandsons.