Elaine Loyack appointed CEO of regional Girl Scouts council serving Burke County

Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont, the regional council that serves Burke County, has named Elaine Loyack as its new chief executive officer.

Loyack brings 25 years of leadership experience to the role and will oversee Girl Scouting operations across 40 counties in western and central North Carolina, including Burke County, where local troops and volunteers are part of the council’s footprint.

She most recently served for a decade as vice president of community engagement and government relations for Delta Dental of North Carolina, where she focused on building partnerships and advocating for policies to expand access to oral health care. She also served as a liaison to the Delta Dental Foundation.

“Our Board of Directors is thrilled to have someone with Elaine’s qualifications guiding Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont into the future,” said Trish Johnson, board chair for the council. “Not only is she a proven leader, but she is also passionate about the Girl Scout Movement.”

Earlier in her career, Loyack worked as program director for Triangle Air Awareness and as a consultant for Environmental Defense on efforts to reduce vehicle emissions and improve health outcomes in North Carolina. She has also owned a prenatal and postnatal fitness business and held accounting and operations roles with the World Wildlife Fund, supporting offices in Africa and Asia.

“I am honored to carry forward our Movement’s mission in my new capacity,” Loyack said. “As someone who benefited from this organization as a girl, I’m focused on helping all girls find a place where they can grow, express themselves and feel like they belong.”

Loyack is a lifelong Girl Scout and a fourth-generation member of the organization. She earned the Girl Scout Gold Award and has served as a troop leader, adviser and board member. She previously served on the board of Girl Scouts North Carolina Coastal Pines, including as chair of the Board Development Committee.

The council serves more than 9,000 girls and adult members, including families and volunteers in Burke County, and operates multiple camps and service centers throughout the region.

Loyack holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Wake Forest University and an MBA in global management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.