Board of Directors

Chelsea Hillman, Davenport
Chelsea is the Managing Director, Professional Programs at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business. In this role, she leads the Student Experience team in supporting over 2,300 part-time, working professional graduate students. Prior to working at the University of Iowa, Chelsea spent 10+ years in various marketing roles in large corporate and small business settings. Chelsea earned her BBA in Marketing & Management, MBA, and Leadership certificate from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business.

She is passionate about building community and has previously held leadership volunteer positions for Iowa Women Lead Change (fka The Women’s Connection), The PR Network of the Quad Cities, Young Professionals of the Quad Cities (fka The Network: Young Professionals of the Quad Cities), the American Heart Association Go Red for Women, and various other non-profit organizations.

Chelsea is a third generation Girl Scout who spent her girl years in Muscatine, IA, was a former troop leader in Geneseo, IL, and is a current Lifetime Member, National Delegate (56th National Council Session), Board Member, and volunteer. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, fishing, reading, crocheting, and playing board games with her family and friends.

Tracy Schwind, Davenport
Tracy Schwind is Senior Vice President, Chief Experience Officer at Northwest Bank & Trust Company. In addition to the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, Tracy currently serves on the board of the Figge Art Museum and is a Lead(h)er Mentor. Tracy enjoys volunteering in the community including having served on the boards of the Davenport Public Library, Common Chord, Davenport Schools Foundation and Women Lead Change Quad Cities Women Connect. Tracy is a Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts and has loved every step of being part of Girl Scouts along the way.

Laura L. (Divot) Ekizian

Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Laura ‘Divot’ Ekizian came to the Quad Cities to attend St. Ambrose University. Upon graduating with a degree in Mass Communications, she became the head coach of the SAU Women’s Golf Team, a position she held for 10 years. While serving as Women’s Golf Coach, Divot worked for the University as the Director of Alumni and Parent Relations and earned her Master’s in Business Administration.

In 2000, she accepted a position with Quad City Bank & Trust and began her banking career as a Private Banking Officer focused on building strong relationships with her clients. She now serves as President and Chief Relationship Officer, overseeing the private banking, consumer and residential lending, retail and marketing departments.

Divot is an active advocate for the Quad City community, serving as a member of the board of directors for Quad City Arts, Girls Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, Quad City Health Initiative, Davenport Country Club and Community Bankers of Iowa. She is a past board member of the John Deere Classic and served as the volunteer Chair in 2014.

Andrew Abbott, Waterloo, Iowa
Andrew Carl Abbott is the President of Abbott Law Office, P.C., as well as a Judicial Magistrate for Black Hawk County – District 1B. As a Magistrate, he regularly deals with attorneys hailing from all over the State of Iowa and, most times, handling pro se individuals that are seeking justice through the legal system or need direction with regards to how to resolve their situations. Andrew is also an emergency contact for mental health and substance-related disorder 48 hour holds in Black Hawk County. He has experienced a wide range of areas of legal practice, focusing on general practice. Most recently, his focus has been on both the civil and criminal aspects of law, with more of an emphasis on family law and juvenile law.  He continues to maintain a contract with the State Public Defender’s Office to provide services for those in need.

He is active in the community as a member of the housing corporation, board member of the African American Historical and Cultural Museum, and member of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Tim Conlon, Dubuque, Iowa
Timothy J. Conlon is the President and CEO of Conlon Construction Co., a 117-year-old-company founded by his grandfather in 1903. Tim has 50 years of experience in all aspects of the construction industry. Over the years, Tim has served on over 20 boards and committees and has supported capital or annual fundraising campaigns for eight important Dubuque community institutions.  He has also been involved with the Advisory Boards for the NICC Community College, Dubuque Community School District, and University of Northern Iowa Construction Management Program.

In 2016, Tim was the recipient of the Master Builders of Iowa (MBI) Build Iowa Award, which recognizes a general contractor’s skill, responsibility, and integrity in performance both in construction and in their community. He is actively involved with the MBI and has served as its President. In 2008, Tim was voted by the Tri-State Business Times as the second most influential person in their Top Ten Most Influential People in the Tri-States. Tim received the Dubuque Jaycee’s Gil Chavenelle Award in 2001 for exceptional leadership, contribution, and service to the Dubuque Community.

Beth Nickel – Burlington, IA

Beth is the mother of two young girls, both of whom participate in Girl Scouts. Professionally, she is the Sales and Marketing Director for Southeastern Community College, Center for Business (CBIZ). Beth enjoys building relationships with clients in the business and industry sectors throughout Southeast Iowa. Prior to joining Southeastern Community College she spent nine years leading the Greater Burlington Convention & Visitors Bureau as there Executive Director. Beth is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa. Beth has been involved with many organizations including the Greater Burlington Young Professionals, Burlington Steamboat Days, Flint River Trails Committee, Divine Mercy Parish Commission, Eastern Iowa Tourism Association, and Travel Federation of Iowa. Currently she sits on the Burlington Riverfront Entertainment Board of Directors, Burlington Y Board of Directors, and serves as program director for the Mississippi Valley Human Resource Association.

Dr. Rachel Savage – Moline, IL
Dr. Rachel Savage has 25 years of experience in the field of education in Iowa, Illinois, and Arizona. She has served as Superintendent, High School Administrator, K-8 Principal, 6-8 Principal, and a High School Spanish teacher. She has also served as Adjunct Professor for the University of Dubuque and Northeast Iowa Community College. Her doctorate is in K-12 Organizational Leadership. She also has an MA in Curriculum and Instruction, and another in Educational Administration.

Her husband, Dr. Eric Savage is a Professor for the University of Dubuque, in the Department of Aviation. He is also a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Aviation and Flight for Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Her daughter Gabby, is a junior at Northern Arizona University, in Flagstaff, pursuing a degree in Hotel-Restaurant Management. Her son, RJ, is a freshman at the University of Iowa. He is studying industrial engineering and is also a private pilot working on his flight credentials at Jet Air in Iowa City. The family dog, Pilot, is an English Springer Spaniel and everyone’s best friend. 

Clara Garman - Marion, IA
Clara is a Software/Systems Engineer at Rockwell Collins, now a conglomerate of Raytheon Technologies.  Her work in software and aircraft systems engineering quickly led into several roles, including her current role of Data Manager and Project Cost Account Manager for Display Software on the Boeing 747 aircraft series.

She has been involved with United Way, Boy Scouts of America, YMCA and the Society of Women in Engineering over the course of  many years. Clara is a strong supporter of natural and conservation initiatives. She currently holds a chair position on the SWE board for Girl Scout Days. This will be her fourth year on that board. and she initiated the new Older Girl Scout Day sleepover event in 2017. 

Clara has been a Girl Scout since 1994, following a long career of growing confidence, having the courage to face her fears and being prepared for several challenges. In 2008, she was a Girl Scout camp director. For several years since, she has served on a multitude of Girl Scout committees for items such as property management, fund raising, training and a COVID task force. Her experiences in multiple councils has allowed Girl Scouts to share ideas and learn new skills.

Finally, Clara's passion lies in the outdoors. She has volunteered at our GSEIWI events since 2011, and likes to spend her vacation as a counselor at Camp Liberty. She may be considered crazy, but firmly believes that the more girls who are comfortable living in wilderness conditions, the more prepared they will be for the future of the world.

Delia Dreifurst - Quad Citites
Team Leader + Growth Coach + Tech trainer, Delia leads the largest real estate team in the QC. She coaches, trains, and motivates agents to take more listings and increase the profit in their real estate business, helping them achieve an industry standard to focus on your ONE thing. Delia's ONE thing is to help you create a BIG life. Delia graduated from Marycrest International University with a degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Management. After earning her degree, Delia has held high-level positions in non-profit management and fundraising. After a successful career in the non-profit sector, Delia was a small business owner for three years where she did operations, marketing, sales, hiring and more.

Delia was born and raised in Quad Cities area where she lived with her parents and siblings. She married her high school crush, Ryan, and together they have three children Hayley, Jada and Benjamin, and beloved Olde English Bulldog, Fiona and Boston, Blu. They recently welcomed their first granddaughter, Arielle.

Delia has volunteered for several local non-profits and school organizations to include leading the board of directors the Association for Fundraising professionals, Villa Montessori School, and Paul Norton PTA. She has also been a Mentor in the University of Iowa Venture School for Entrepreneurs and a Mentor for the Lead(Her)organization

Kay Kress - Cedar Rapids
Kay began working for Hy-Vee in Dubuque #1 in 2004 as a part-time delicatessen clerk. She transferred to Dubuque #3 in 2006 and began working full-time. Kay was promoted to HealthMarket manager in 2007 and customer service manager in 2009. Over the next several years she took on the roles of manager, store operations, in 2010; manager, health/wellness/home, in 2013; manager, perishables, in 2013; and manager, store operations, in 2015. Kay was given her first store director assignment in 2016 at Fairfield. She transferred to lead the team at Unionville Mainstreet in 2017 and then to Cedar Rapids Drugstore #5 in 2019. Kay then went to Cedar Rapids #7 to take over the role of store manager. To date Kay is leading the Marion Hy-Vee, Marion Fast & Fresh and Cedar Rapids #4.

Kay is a graduate of Western Dubuque High School in Epworth, IA, and received her bachelor’s degree in public relations from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. She enjoys her free time by spending it with family and friends, traveling, shopping and reading. 

Jan Nichols, Cedar Rapids
Jan has worked for Hy-Vee for 16 years in various positions. At the beginning of 2023 she was promoted to District Store Director of three locations in Marion and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Jan was a Girl Scout when as a child and is excited to reconnect with the Movement. In her free time, she spends quality time with my family and is passionate about helping others. Jan is married to her college sweetheart, Josh and has a daughter, Breckin.

David Blakenship
David retired from the Aegon-affiliated companies in 2016 following a 39-year career. He also founded and directs the Pathfinder Outdoor Education Center, which specializes in outdoor experiential education. As a professional, he is skilled at providing leadership in change management at organizations. He has served on many boards for organizations that create positive outcomes for youth. David has been married to his wife Lois for 50 years, has three children and five grandchildren.