Girl Scouts honor Varissa McMickens Blair as a Woman of Distinction

The Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ, Inc. (GSCSNJ) have named five outstanding female leaders as Women of Distinction for 2016. The women receiving awards are leaders in their fields, innovators of unique programs and services, and are role models and mentors to tomorrow’s generation. All of the honorees demonstrate that studying, hard work, and dreaming big are the keys for women and girls to succeed at achieving their goals. GSCSNJ’s annual Women of Distinction event is a celebration of women who exemplify excellence and accomplishment. GSCSNJ will host an award breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Philadelphia – Cherry Hill, on Thursday, March 17th from 8:30 – 10:30 AM.

The 2016 Women of Distinction Award Event honors Varissa McMickens Blair, Executive Director of the Roebling Museum - a small, up-and-coming, history, heritage, STEAM museum in New Jersey. During her tenure, she has been responsible for day-to-day operations, expanding and developing programs, managing and growing the museum’s volunteer corps, and increasing the museum’s fundraising, visitorship, social media, and online presence.

Previously, Blair has worked as an independent arts education consultant, served as founding Director of Greater Philadelphia’s ArtsRising initiative, worked as Executive Director of the DC Collaborative in Washington, D.C., and developed regional replication program sites across the nation as Assistant Director of the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts.

Blair is a seasoned nonprofit and arts education professional with more than 20 years of experience. She has lead successful programming and volunteer efforts along much of the east coast. Blair thrives in nonprofit management and creative approaches to education. She is a strategic planner, a creative thinker, and a dynamic leader, with extensive experience in working with boards of directors and steering committees to help organizations better understand the role, purpose, and impact of successful programming. She also excels at community engagement, having used her unique combination of skills to reach and impact thousands of youth, educators, parents, schools, organizations, businesses, and communities across the country.

The Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ is proud to honor Blair as a 2016 Woman of Distinction, as she is a female leader and role model to future generations, as well as a Girl Scout Alumna! Ginny Marino, the CEO of Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ, states, “Varissa McMickens Blair graduated from high school a Girl Scout, completed her Gold Award, and has continued a life and career in the public service. Through her collaborative leadership, Varissa has made significant change in her community. We are so pleased to recognize her as a Woman of Distinction.” Blair credits Girl Scouting for many of her learned skills, “Girl Scouting transformed my life, and in combination with my faith and some other important influences and experiences, shaped me into a strong, confident, professional woman. My career has taken me to places and provided me with opportunities I might never have imagined possible if I had not been involved in Girl Scouts. But, because I was a Girl Scout, I believed then, as I do now, that anything is possible!”

In addition to her professional life, Blair and her husband, Yarrie, are the proud parents of their two children, Ella-Grace and Geordan; and one stepdaughter, Danelle. They currently reside in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

About Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ, Inc.

Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ (GSCSNJ) is the premier organization serving 19,000 girls in over nine counties. GSCSNJ will shape leaders for tomorrow by empowering girls to take on bold challenges, discover their own passions and strengths, act with character, and engage fully in fun, relevant experiences that encourage friendships and build life-long skills. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ, call (800) 582-7692 or visit www.gscsnj.org. You can also connect with GSCSNJ on Twitter @GSCSNJ or Facebook.com/GSCSNJ!