2026
Welcome to the 2026 Mary Dean Brewer Women of Distinction 6:00pm Silent Auction and Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge 6:30pm—Welcome Kaylen Snapp, Committee Chair Diane Flanagan, CEO Courtney Cavatoni, Board Chair Dinner 2026 Mary Dean Brewer Women of Distinction Award Recipient Presentations Tonya Brown, WPDE Newschannel 15 8:15pm Silent Auction Closes Closing Diane Flanagan Auction Check-out
This event made possible by our sponsors: Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsors McLeod Health Lighthouse Behavioral Health Hospital
Pearl Sponsors Carolina Bank Chick-fil-A of Florence Coca-Cola Consolidated—Bishopville Duke Energy First Reliance Bank The Ford & Ford Group Anne Liebergall Representative Jason Luck Clifford C. McBride
This event made possible by our sponsors: Daisy Sponsors Jane Brandt Courtney Cavatoni Martech Research One Source Integrative Medicine Pepsi Cola of Florence, Inc. Thank you to the following individuals, who generously made monetary or in-kind donations: Connie Carey-Wood GSESC Board of Directors Panos & Debbie Kalaritis Silent Auction Donors Special thanks to the Girl Scouts and volunteers who shared their culinary talents for the Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge: Girl Scout Troop 423 – Darlington Girl Scout Troop 1004 – Cheraw Girl Scout Troop 1655 – Timmonsville
Celebrating 28 Years of the Mary Dean Brewer Women of Distinction Awards Mary Dean Brewer was known for being active in both her professional and community endeavors. Dr. Mary Dean Brewer served as Vice President of Communications and Development for McLeod Health. She was the founding chair of the Women of Achievement Awards and she referred to the value of her early experiences as a Girl Scout and how they contributed to her leadership skills and self-confidence. In honor of Dr. Brewer’s memory, the annual awards she founded 28 years ago in 1998 are now known as the Mary Dean Brewer Women of Distinction Awards. These awards recognize outstanding women and their achievements and help show girls that they, too, can be the leaders of the future. Proceeds from tonight’s event will help fund the Mary Dean Brewer Scholarship for graduating Girl Scouts.
About Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina serves more than 2,500 young women and 1,900 adults in a 21-county area including Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg and Williamsburg counties. Girl Scouts is the premier leadership organization for girls, giving them the tools, experiences, and confidence to lead in their own lives and in the world. Through hands-on programming in outdoor adventure, entrepreneurship, STEM, and community service, Girl Scouts learn by doing — earning badges, running their own cookie businesses, and taking on service projects that make a real difference close to home and beyond. Girl Scouting is where girls build courage, confidence, and character, forming lifelong friendships and skills that carry them well into adulthood. Today, generations of Girl Scout alumnae — from small business owners to astronauts to U.S. Supreme Court justices — trace their leadership roots back to a troop meeting, a campfire, or a cookie booth. To learn more about Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina, visit www.girlscoutsesc.org @girlscoutsesc
@girlscoutsesc
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience & Pillars The Girl Scout Leadership Experience is instrumental in shaping the future workforce and the next generation of leaders. Through dynamic and comprehensive programming, Girl Scouts equips young girls with the skills, confidence, and resilience they need to thrive in today’s ever-evolving business landscape. By fostering creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability, the Girl Scout Leadership Experience develops individuals who are not only capable but also innovative and socially conscious leaders. Investing in this experience means investing in a diverse, empowered talent pool that will drive progress and innovation across all industries. At the core of this development are the Four Girl Scout Pillars—foundational principles that guide the organization’s commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and essential life skills among its members. These pillars shape the experiences and opportunities available to girls nationwide.
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience & Pillars Outdoors Inspiring girls to love nature and seek adventure.
STEM Giving girls the know-how to invent the future.
Entrepreneurship Preparing girls with business smarts to take on the wold.
Like Skills Setting girls up with the skills they need to thrive.
Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina 2026-27 Board of Directors Board Chair—Courtney Cavatoni 1st Vice Chair—Dr. Shakitha Barner 2nd Vice Chair—Dustin LaPorte 3rd Vice Chair— Amanda M. Cole Secretary — Jane Pelletier Treasurer— Teresa Mason Members-at-Large Cathi Devine Dr. Valerie Frazier Nichole Gibson Anne W. Liebergall Elizabeth Marlowe Lesli McGee Jennifer L. Meador Cathy Nixon-Heibel Nancy T. Sulek Dana P. Zamrik Diane Flanagan, Chief Executive Officer
2026 Mary Dean Brewer Women of Distinction Event Committee Kaylen Snapp, Committee Chair Ruby Gibbs, Community Volunteer Nichole Gibson, Welvista Jeannette Glenn, formerly McLeod Health Lauren Griggs, Duke Energy Anne Liebergall, GSESC Board of Directors Elizabeth Marlowe, The Period Project Cliff McBride, Lake City Housing Authority Davis Sawyer, McLeod Health Kaylen Snapp, Genesis Healthcare Gina Waller, Lighthouse Behavioral Health Hospital
Tonya Brown Emcee Tonya Brown is a General Assignment Reporter at WPDE NewsChannel 15. She attended Morris College and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. A native of Bennettsville, she grew up watching NewsChannel 15. She remembers almost all the past reporters and anchors. She became inspired to become a journalist after a television reporter spoke to her seventh-grade class. She has been reporting stories out of the Pee Dee for 30 years. Tonya has covered hurricanes, tornados and a major ice storm. Aside from her professional duties, she actively engages with community groups and churches, offering support and guidance to youth. Her commitment to empowering the next generation underscores her belief in the transformative power of storytelling and community involvement. Tonya lives in the Pee Dee with her husband and looks forward to continuing to tell the stories of the Pee Dee.
Kyra Kyra Hollowell Hollowell Morris Morris Kyra Hollowell Morris was a Girl Scout before she became a trailblazer in financial planning, learning early lessons in leadership, service, and self-reliance that would shape her career. In 1983, she accomplished something few women in finance had achieved before her: she founded her own firm. Morris Financial Concepts, established in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, marked the start of a career defined by expertise and advocacy. Three years later, she earned her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, becoming one of the first CFP® professionals in the country at a time when women were rare in the field. Even today, they represent only one-fourth of CFP® professionals nationwide. Kyra played a foundational role in shaping the profession itself. She helped found the CFP Board of Standards in 1985, work that gave financial planning the credibility it carries today.
Kyra Hollowell Kyra Hollowell Morris Morris That same year, she co-founded the SC Society for the Institute of Certified Financial Planners, later serving on its national board from 1993 to 1997. From 2000 to 2004, she served on the governing board for the CFP Board of Standards and represented the United States on the international team that established financial planning as a global ISO standard. Her contributions have earned national recognition: Worth Magazine, Mutual Fund Magazine, and Bloomberg Wealth Management have named her one of the nation's top financial planners six times. She has appeared on the cover of Dow Jones Investment Advisor, been recognized as a "Mover and Shaker" by Financial Planning Magazine, and presented her expertise at conferences worldwide. Locally, Kyra has led with equal dedication, chairing the Charleston Downtown Rotary in 2009, serving as Associate Governor through 2013, and chairing the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce in 2022. Above all, Kyra values the women she has mentored, including young mothers who brought their babies to work during that critical first year, learning the profession without sacrificing family. Her career stands as a living example of professional, personal, and physical balance, rooted in the values she first learned as a Girl Scout.
Kyndra J. Kyndra J. Johnson Johnson Kyndra Johnson embodies a quiet kind of strength, one that shows up not in headlines, but in the lives it touches one at a time. Kyndra's commitment to service began early. As a Junior Girl Scout in Troop #147, she learned that helping others is not simply an occasional act, but a way of life. That lesson became a guiding principle, shaping her path as a social worker, mentor, and advocate. Today, Kyndra serves as the Lead Social Worker for Clarendon County School District, where she shows up daily for children who need someone in their corner. A graduate of the University of South Carolina with both a Bachelor of Science and a master's degree in social work, she is licensed in both Georgia and South Carolina. These credentials speak to her expertise, though it is her compassion that truly defines her work.
Kyndra J. Kyndra J. Johnson Johnson Kyndra does more than advocate for children. She fights for them, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met, often going far beyond what her role requires. As a Guardian ad Litem, she extends that same dedication into the courtroom, standing up for children who need an unwavering ally. She has mentored countless teens and young women, many of whom credit her as the reason they believed they could overcome their own obstacles. Through her example of steady resilience and grace under pressure, she has shown what it means to break barriers rather than be broken by them. Kyndra leads with kindness, intelligence, and a vision for a better future, one that began, in many ways, with a young girl in a Girl Scout uniform who first learned that giving back changes everything. Honoring Kyndra Johnson is not only a celebration of her achievements. It is an invitation for the next generation of women to follow the path she has paved.
Sarah A. Sarah A. Ford Ford From a young Brownie in Orangeburg to a champion for victims' rights across South Carolina, Sarah Ford has spent her life turning early ideals into lasting action. As a Brownie, Sarah learned the values that would define her future: service to others, courage, and the belief that one person can make a meaningful difference. Even at a young age, she held high aspirations for success and a genuine commitment to improving the lives of those around her, reflecting the very spirit the Girl Scouts work to instill in every young girl who joins their ranks. After completing high school in Orangeburg, Sarah attended Columbia College, where her leadership emerged early. She served as class president for multiple years and graduated in 2004. Rather than proceeding directly into her career, she took a gap year to teach students in Charlotte through Teach for America, carrying forward that Brownie ideal of service into the classroom.
Sarah A. Sarah A. Ford Ford In 2007, she completed her studies at Charleston Law School, where she served on the Moot Court Board and as President of Women in Law. A former prosecutor, Sarah built her career fighting for the rights of women and children. Since 2017, she has served as Legal Director at the SC Victim Assistance Network, where she leads a team of attorneys and advocates delivering legal services to crime victims across South Carolina. Her work has earned recognition including South Carolina's 20 Under 40 honor, the SC Young Bar Lawyers Star of the Quarter award, and membership on the SC Bar House of Delegates from 2016 to 2018. Her advocacy has been featured on CNN, Court TV, and TMZ. Sarah's commitment to service extends well beyond her career and throughout her home community. She is Past President of the Junior Service League of Orangeburg and supports the Cinderella Project, helping ensure local girls have gowns for prom. She also advocates for women in the legal field through the SC Women Lawyers Association, and dedicates her time to promoting community health and wellbeing through the Orangeburg Calhoun Free Medical Clinic. Her service extends internationally as well, through her work with the Catch the Vision Haiti mission team and her ongoing support of Toys for Tots each holiday season.
Dr. Deborah Dr. Deborah L. Hopla L. Hopla
Dr. Deborah Hopla, DNP, is a distinguished role model for women in her field. As a former Girl Scout Cadet, she learned early lessons in leadership, service, and perseverance, values that would carry her from modest beginnings to the highest honors in her profession. Deborah's career has been marked by continual growth. She pursued advanced education in nursing and, for the past 13 years, has trained nurses to provide excellent healthcare to underserved communities in rural South Carolina. She achieved the highest degree and distinction available in her field as a Nurse Practitioner and demonstrated her commitment to women's advancement as former Director of the MSN/FNP and DNP programs at Francis Marion University, where she also taught the Women's Health course for graduatelevel nurse practitioners.
Dr. Deborah Dr. Deborah L. L. Hopla Hopla With the same wit, creativity, and enthusiasm that once earned her badges as a Cadet, Deborah continues to serve as a national speaker on women's health, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and pain management. She exhibits leadership, teamwork, integrity, and dedication in both her personal and professional life, leading projects for her church women's group and the Coalition for Access to Healthcare, and advocating on her own time for nurse practitioner autonomy at the state and national levels. Today, Deborah continues to work as a direct medical provider at Hope Health, bringing care to the poorest and most medically isolated regions of the state. Her life's work, preparing others to push through boundaries regardless of where they started, echoes the very promise she made as a young Girl Scout: to make the world a better place. She also honors her profession's legacy as an active member of the Nurse Honor Guard in Florence, SC, serving fellow nurses even in loss. Dr. Deborah Hopla stands as a true example of a successful female role model and a deserving Woman of Distinction.
Dr. Carlanna Dr. Carlanna L. Hendrick L. Hendrick
Dr. Carlanna Hendrick has spent 60 years teaching college and gifted high school students, leaving an indelible mark on generations of young minds. Her passion for American History and deep knowledge of the nation's past were conveyed to her students with enthusiasm. She built strong relationships with her students, which inspired their engagement and responsiveness to her teaching. Beyond the classroom, Dr. Hendrick coached co-ed tennis, led the Youth in Government program, and chaperoned trips to Europe with her students. Her professional commitment has been exemplary, extending into memberships in the Southern Historical Association and the South Carolina Historical Association, where her work has been published in their journals. She frequently gives talks to professional and social groups as well.
Dr. Carlanna Dr. Carlanna L. L. Hendrick Hendrick Earning a PhD at a time when few women did, Dr. Hendrick established herself as a role model early in her career, often recognized as such by her own employers. Teaching at Columbia College further cemented her standing as a role model for young women, demonstrating that a woman could hold a PhD while also being married, employed, and raising two sons. Her service to South Carolina has been extraordinary. A recipient of the Order of the Palmetto, the state's highest civilian honor, she has served on the National Archives Advisory Board, as Chairman of the SC State Library Board, Vice Chairman of the SC State Arts Commission, Vice Chairman of the Governor's Task Force on the Arts, and on the SC Humanities Commission Board and Florence County Accommodations Tax Advisory Board, among numerous other funds and clubs. Dr. Hendrick taught Sunday School and sang in the choir at her Methodist church for most of her adult life. Even in retirement, she remains active, serving as secretary of the Friends of the Library Board and with the McLeod Angels, continuing to embody gracious, engaged aging.
We Salute 28 Years of Women of Distinction Emily Abedin Bessie Abraham Karen Acosta Dr. Carol Adams Kathi Addison Jennet Robinson Alterman Dena Altman Leigh Ammons-Meese Laren Anderson Carol Antman True Applegate Dr. Beryl Bachus-Keith Elizabeth F. Bailey Mildred Baker Patricia Balaza Cheryl Banks Nella Gray Barkley Dr. Lisa Baron Kathy Baxley Joyce Beasley Lori Beatty Robin Berlinsky Dr. Connie Best Joan Bilheimer Ann Binnarr Jean L. Blackman Tamalyn Blackman Barbara Blain-Olds Dr. Laurie A. Boeding Barbara Bond Lorene Bradley Jill Bramblett Jane Brandt Christy M. Branham Amy E. Brauner Sandra W. Bridgers Lt. Colonel Nell Britton Schaefer Barbara E. Brooks Alma Brough
Dr. Gwendolyn Brown H. Jean Brown Lillian J. Brunson Amanda S. Bruorton Barbara Bunch Aurelia Burgess Archie Burkel Quinetta M. Buterbaugh Sally Calhoun, Esq. Patricia Capers Marie Carter-Youmans Trisha Caulder Pat Chapman Angela T. Clark Gilda Cobb-Hunter Costa Cockfield Vereen Huguenin Coen Sandra Conradi Libby Cooper Belinda D. Copeland Dawn Corley Marian Crawford Catherine Cross Dr. Jan Salas Crowe Dianne Crowley Ann Darby Parker Andrea Dickey Barbara Denton Judy R. Dubno Gloria Dudley Bonnie Dumas Laura DuRant Nicole Echols Pat Estep Vanetta Etheredge Pam Everitt Rona Ewart Kay Farmer Madonna N. Farray Esther Ferguson
Eileen Fleming-Patonay Allyson Floyd Dr. Shirley K. Gamble Patressa Gardner Stiney Gardner Ruby Gibbs Lynn Anne Gillen Jeannette Glenn Libby Godbold Marquetta Goodwine Grace Grady Vera Graham Ladell C. Grice Marsha Griffin June Griggs Billie Hardee Jenny S. Hardee Nikki Hardin Lynn N. Harrelson Brenda Harrison Deborah Harwell Jean Hawks Beverly Hazelwood Patsy Hendley Patricia Henegan Heather Holbrook Lynn Hoover Hannah Horne Jenny Horne Nicole B. Huckabee Martha Hunn Debbie Hyler Judi Inabinet Donna Isgett Christine Jackson Mary Jeffries Millicent Jordan Martha Jordan Fields Deborah Kalaritis Margaret (Peggy) Kamp
We Salute 28 Years of Women of Distinction
Joanna Katz Clara A. Keithler Linda Ketner Harriet Keyserling Dorothy King Arianne King-Comer Reba Bryce Kinon Dr. Lesley Kirby Lou Kirchen Amy Kosar Dr. Rainey Knight Ann Kulze Blanche Turner Lawless Lisa Leask Sue Leon Ann M. Lewis Karen Lewis Jill Lewis Carol Linville Melonea Locklair Lorren R. Lucas Johnnie Luehrs Nancy Mace Mary Ann Mack Barbara Mains Dorothy Mauney Lucille McCown Myrtle McDaniel Lesli McGee Madeleine McGee Julia McLaurin Dell McManus Elisabeth McNiel Darnell Byrd McPherson Peggy McQuown-Gramling Ruth Metzger Cindy Moon Judith Moore Frances Morant Shirley Morrell Valerie Morris
Susan Morrision, Ph.D Ellen Moryl Marie Murphy Murray S. Neale Denny Neilson Donna Nettles Weesie Newton Pamela Niesslein Marjorie Nolen Rita O'Neale Christine Osborne Sonia Pagan Rose Mary Parham Harriet Parker Julie Parker Natalie Parker-Bluestein Patricia S. Parr Susan Pearlstine-Foster Stacy L. Pearsall Dr. Jeri Parris Perkins Theresa Prioleau Mary Loretta Ramsay Dr. Carolyn Reed Carol Rice Jennifer Richard Renee Rivers Katharine Robinson Tracy Robinson-Hughes Janice Rozier Lois Ruggiero Linda Russell Karen T. Ryan Willie Saleeby Helen Saleeby Patricia Scoles Lucille Scott Rita Scott Lois Scott Marie Segars Frances P. Segars-Andrews Darcy Shankland
Joyce Shaw Fannie Leonard Simmons Carla Simon-Angus Marva Smalls Dr. Sue Sommer-Kresse Nina Sossamon-Pogue Sarah Spruill Deborah Summey Mary Sutton Jumana Swindler Melynda Taylor Meredith Taylor Ida Taylor Dorothy Tedder Smith Ruth Thomas Jane Lucas Thornhill Kelly Thorvalson Ellen Tiller Bass Ruth Tillman Olive Timberlake Denese Tyler Dr. Jane Upshaw N. Harlana Vaughan Margaret Wannamaker Amber Watson-DeLuke Jill Watts Judy Watts Linda H. Weatherford Dr. Clemmie Webber Dr. Frances Welch Dorothy White Mary Whyte Libby Wiersema Barbara Williams Geneva Williams Mary Williams Octavia Williams-Blake Marguerite Willis Ruth Ann Wilson Doris Winstead Cheryll Woods-Flowers
We Salute 28 Years of Women of Distinction
Liz Young Lynn Young Tomi Youngblood Barbara Zia Geraldyne Zimmerman Anita Zucker
Cliff McBride
Proud Supporter of 28 years of Mary Dean Brewer Women of Distinction
In Honor Of
Jane Brandt Debbie Stephens Jeannine Carbo Zandra Neighoff With admiration for the strength, grace, and generosity of spirit these women share with the world.
Presented with gratitude by
Panos & Debi Kalaritis Proudly supporting
Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina
Silent Auction General Rules Everyone attending and assigned a bid number is eligible to participate in the Silent Auction. Silent Auction bidding begins at 6:00 p.m. Full payment is required at the event. Payment can be made with cash, check, VISA, MasterCard or Discover only. All certificate items for goods and/or services must be negotiated with the donor for redemption within the time limit specified or within one year of the auction. It is suggested that the bidder contact the donor within 30 days to make appropriate arrangements for redemption. Please read carefully the description and/or restriction information on each bid form and within this booklet. Every reasonable effort has been made to describe items accurately; however, all items are offered “as is” and “where is.” Auction items are not being sold by the donor. No cash refunds will be made by Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina. By the purchase, the buyer waives any claims against Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina, the Board of Directors, the event committee, and/or the donor of the property or service. Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina, the Board of Directors, the event committee, and the donor are not responsible for any personal injuries or damages to or from the property or services sold. Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina makes no express or implied warranties or representations of any kind or nature with respect to the property or services and in no event shall it be responsible for the correctness of description, or deemed to have made any representation or assumption of liability. Donors and/or purchasers of auction items or services should consult their own tax advisors regarding any questions concerning tax deductibility. Silent Auction bidding begins at 6 p.m. At the close of the auction, all bidder sheets will be collected. No additional bids will be accepted. All of the Silent Auction items are displayed with an accompanying bid sheet. Enter your bidder number and name on the line with your bid. Bids must conform to the minimum bid and any increment requirements. At the close of the Silent Auction, the highest bidder recorded according to increment requirements becomes the purchaser of the item. Guaranteed Purchase bids must be submitted at time of bid to event staff. Because of the detail work that must be accomplished following the Silent Auction, checkout will not begin until after the close of the Mary Dean Brewer Women of Distinction program. All general rules apply. There is a minimum bid on all Silent Auction items. If the minimum bid is not met, Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina will retain the item for use at another event.
SILENT AUCTION BID NUMBER
Thank you for supporting Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina. Funds raised through the Mary Dean Brewer Women of Distinction event support programs to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.
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