On Saturday, May 9, a group of the youngest entrepreneurs in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina gathered in the boardroom at TowneBank near the Virginia Beach oceanfront to be recognized as Cookie Entrepreneur Officers, or CEOs, for each selling at least 1,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies during the 2015 Girl Scout Cookie Program. This year, 84 local Girl Scouts were recognized at the luncheon, which was hosted by Tracy Keller, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast.

At the luncheon, each Girl Scout was recognized for her achievement and received a CEO briefcase and personalized business cards to get her started for next year’s cookie program. The girls also received the rewards that they earned during the cookie sale, which included credit to attend Girl Scout camp this summer. Keller asked each girl to share their top-selling strategy, and girls talked about going door-to-door in their neighborhood with cookies in tow and making sure to say thank you to each cookie customer. Girls also had the opportunity to give their input about what rewards should be available for the 2016 cookie program.

“We are so proud of your accomplishments this cookie season,” Keller told the girls. “You are a bright and determined group of young women who have already learned about goal setting, running a business and other important leadership skills.”

The luncheon was sponsored by TowneBank, which recognizes the important financial literacy skills that girls develop through participation in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Barbara Tierney, retired senior vice president and commercial credit manager at TowneBank and board member for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, attended the luncheon to congratulate the girls on their hard work. Angie Hoen, Brittney Hasty, Tara Wolicki and Bruce Bangley of TowneBank also attended the luncheon and had the opportunity to talk with the young entrepreneurs.

The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the nation’s leading financial literacy and entrepreneurial program for girls. 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.