OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Meredith Garofalo

Girl Scout, Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM), and Space and Science Journalist

Meredith is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and a science/space correspondent. She was the 2021 Chair for the AMS Station Scientist Committee, which focuses on raising greater awareness and outreach when it comes to science education for viewers. Meredith is a proud Girl Scout alum from Northeast Ohio and has dedicated countless hours to supporting Girl Scout troops from regions across the country through fundraisers, motivational talks, and writing inspiring blogs for both local and national online publications.

Meredith’s 15 years in the broadcast business includes a wide variety of experience across the US stemming from her internship at WGN-TV in Chicago. Before she worked for News 12 in New York, Meredith worked at local television stations in Ohio, South Dakota, Florida, and California and nationally with WeatherNation She’s been live out in the field during tropical storms, wildfires, snowstorms, and the aftermath from tornadoes. Meredith is also an accomplished reporter, producing weather and science stories. This includes rocket launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral, in-depth special reports and features on NOAA’s GOES-R and JPSS satellite series, and coverage on some of NASA’s biggest accomplishments over the past five years. She’s interviewed some of the top scientists and leaders of the space and science community, being selected as the only meteorologist to travel with the GOES-West satellite from Colorado to Florida in 2017 on the C-5M Super Galaxy and for a one-on-one interview with the director of the National Weather Service on his retirement after 50 years. Her personal and professional work has been recognized numerous times over the last decade most notably with the inaugural Valparaiso University Alumni Association First Decade Achievement Award in 2018, a Fair Media Council Folio Award for “Breaking News,” two Press Club of Long Island awards, and Long Island Business News

“40 Under 40” in 2022. She also was named one of the “Top 100” in Aviation and Aerospace to Follow on LinkedIn in 2022. Meredith frequents as a panel moderator at the Space Symposium and Satellite Conference, a judge for the Space Foundation’s Space Technology Hall of Fame, and moderator for Foundation for the Future. Meredith spends countless hours doing school, career, and motivational talks and podcasts to help encourage women pursuing STEM careers and inspire our future generations. She moderates panels, serves as emcee for events, and conducts interviews to further storytelling on space and science topics. She is a huge advocate for supporting mental health initiatives as well as programs that focus on preventing child abuse and neglect and supporting adults who suffered from childhood abuse.

Meredith is an accomplished singer and actor, most recognized for performing the national anthem at a Denver Broncos game in 2018, the Cleveland Guardians in 2021, and Brooklyn Cyclones in 2022. She was invited as a guest performer for the New York Islanders in 2022.

Gold Award Girl Scouts Change the World

Gold Award Girl Scouts are changemakers. They have changed the world, changed their lives, and earned the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting.

To earn the Gold Award, a Girl Scout identifies an issue in their community, drafts a plan to address a root cause, and leads a team of volunteers to implement it. When the project is complete, the Gold Award Girl Scout and their team have made a sustainable impact on the world that continues to last beyond their involvement.

It’s a huge accomplishment that also impacts the Gold Award Girl Scout as a person. How they see the world—and how the world sees them—is forever changed. It’s also a credential that will be with them for the rest of their life; having the Girl Scout Gold Award on a high school transcript or résumé can make a Girl Scout stand out when it comes to college admissions, scholarship applications, internships, and job interviews.

Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Inc.

Board of Directors

2023-2024

Officers

Andrea Elder-Howell, Esq. President and Chief Volunteer Officer

Melanie Sinesi Executive Vice President

Allison Bishop White Vice President

Tonia Bottoms, Esq. Vice President

John Zhao Vice President

Leah Watson Treasurer

Julie Strachan Haiber, Esq. Secretary

Randell M. Bynum Chief Executive Officer

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

Lisa Arning

Natalie Borneo

Kevin Boston-Hill

Danielle D’Ambrosio

Holly Esteves

Vikki Ernst-Chang

Susan Ganz

Gabby Gibbs

Adrian Goodwin

Belinda Hill

Steven Lindo

Susan MacDonald

Mike Mannix

Patricia Mercer

Lasherelle Morgan

Melanie Pavlidis

Dr. Jean Peden Christodoulou

Madison Spanodemos

Anne Marie Spensieri-Fidis

Lauren Summa

Denise Voda

Pawel Zagaja