A group of female entrepreneurs from Hampton Roads gathered in a room at Virginia Wesleyan College on June 8 for a celebratory luncheon — more than 20 Girl Scouts were recognized as Cookie Entrepreneur Officers, or CEOs, for selling more than 1,000 boxes of cookies each during the 2013 Girl Scout cookie program.

They were invited to a special luncheon with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast CEO Tracy Keller, where they received special business cards and briefcases, shared cookie-selling tips with one another and gave their input about how to improve the cookie program for next year.

Suffolk resident and Girl Scout Brownie Claire Askew sold just over 1,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies this year, and has already set a goal to sell at least 1,500 boxes next year.

Askew and her troop used proceeds from this year’s Girl Scout cookie program to go roller skating and attend the Council’s jamboree, Girl Scout Paloozoo, at the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk, which took place June 2.

Girl Scout Cadette Kristen Boone, also a Suffolk resident, sold more than 1,200 boxes of Girl Scout cookies and aims to sell at least 2,000 boxes next year. Her troop is still deciding what to do with the proceeds that they earned from the cookie program this year.

Through the program, girls learn skills that will last them a lifetime, such as goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.