Experience: Kathy Cloninger is chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), the premier leadership development organization for girls. She is a recognized expert on, and advocate for, girls' and women's issues. A recognized leader in the not for profit sector, she serves as chair of the National Collaboration for Youth, as secretary of the board of directors of the National Assembly of Human Services, on the national boards of American Humanics and the National Council for Research on Women, and on advisory boards for America's Promise and the Independent Sector. She also serves on the executive committee of Leadership 18. She was named to the NPT Power and Influence Top 50 by the Nonprofit Times in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Her 25 years in Girl Scouting include service as CEO of Girl Scout councils in Tennessee, Texas and Colorado. Cloninger holds an MS in counseling and business management from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M;University).