[ By KAITIE FOLEY ]
WICHITA, Kan. — When Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland CEO Liz Workman casually asked Greteman Group President and Creative Director Sonia Greteman if she’d consider providing a testimonial video to say what Girl Scouting has meant to her, Greteman answered yes, equally casually. And the months went by.
Six months later, Sonia decided it was time to step up and deliver. She dashed off a script and solicited Greteman Group producer Barry Owens to shoot and pull the video together. The resulting two-minute testimonial provides a glimpse of Greteman you don’t usually see.
“Sonia’s known for her strong, professional leadership and cosmopolitan style,” says Workman. “Pitching a tent and singing by a fire are not activities you easily associate with her. Which makes the video that much more powerful. Sonia shows how Girl Scout experiences molded her into a powerhouse woman.”
Greteman talks about how vividly her Brownie, then Girl Scout, memories have stayed with her. Taking her first big trip. Exploring the Kansas State Capitol and having her life changed forever when she saw its John Steuart Curry murals, her first monumental pieces of real art. Learning synchronized swimming and the teamwork it takes to create big, crowd-pleasing effects.
“I’ve always been a motivated girl, and I particularly liked the concept of badges,” Greteman says. “With Girl Scouts, you learn something new and you get a reward. I liked getting things done and sewing the proof on my sash.”
Girl Scouts taught Greteman valuable early lessons in business. She discovered she had a knack for sales, knocking on doors, smiling big and convincing others that those cookies were not simply delicious; they were her ticket to summer camp.
“Girl Scouts works,” says Greteman. “It helped me build friendships, learn how to set and achieve goals, and opened my eyes to my own strengths. I believe in the benefits of the girl-led and girl-friendly environment Girl Scouts provides, ensuring the creation of a safe, inspiring space for girls of all ethnicities and economic backgrounds to learn and thrive.”
Workman agrees. “Girl Scouts’ century-long experience of serving girls and its ongoing innovations to stay fresh and relevant make it the world’s best girl leadership organization.”
If you want to volunteer or enroll in Girl Scouts, visit https://www.kansasgirlscouts.
Sonia Greteman on Girl Scouts from Greteman Group on Vimeo.