Baltimore -- On Thursday, April 26, 2012, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland celebrated six Baltimore business women—Harriet Dopkin, President, The Classic Catering People; Marianne Fishler, President, Foundry Wealth Advisors, LLC; Jeanette Glose Partlow, President, Maryland Chemical Company; Ava Lias-Booker, Baltimore Office Managing Partner, McGuire Woods; Bonnie Phipps, President & CEO, St. Agnes Health Care; and, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Mayor, Baltimore City—for their professional and civic contributions to central Maryland at their annual Distinguished Women’s Awards reception.  The event was held at the Baltimore Country Club in Roland Park and drew over 400 friends, supporters and well-wishers.  Each of the esteemed business women were partnered with a high school aged Girl Scout who shadowed them for a day at their workplace gaining first-hand experience on how professional women conduct business, interact with their peers and juggle a myriad of duties.

Harriet Dopkin spent a day with Girl Scout Mercedez Evans at her office as well as at a gala the company was catering. Ms. Dopkin told the audience she was struck by Mercedez' curiosity and drive to learn new things. "Ask questions wherever you go, because not knowing is okay and gaining understanding is fantastic," Dopkin told Mercedez, the other Girl Scouts and the huge audience gathered to celebrate the best in women's leadership. Mercedez shared experiences from her shadow day and told the audience, “Mrs. Dopkin taught me more than just the catering business; I learned lesson that will help me now and the rest of my life. After my two days with her, I am proud to say that I have found a role model in Mrs. Dopkin.”

This year Girl Scouts celebrates its 100^th anniversary. Hundreds of women like Mrs. Dopkin and the other Distinguished Women honorees have helped to continue the tradition of empowering girls to reach their potential and become successful women who make a difference in their communities and the world. Proceeds from the Distinguished Women’s Award reception support leadership development programs Girl Scouts of Central Maryland provides to their 27,000 girl members in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties.  To invest in Girl Scouts or for more information visit: gscm.org.