Emilia Cortez

TO SAY EMILIA Cortez has embraced the mission of Girl Scouts would be an understatement.

She has been affiliated with the organization for 15 years, beginning as a Scout. She has been an employee of Girl Scouts of Southern ArizonaYuma County for the last 11 of those years and currently is its community development director.

Cortez says she loves “everything” about her job. “I get to play, travel and serve my community’s needs by giving my time.”

She says her most memorable professional moments come not only from working for Girl Scouts but “when I give back to the community in volunteering at (Yuma Community) food bank, (Crossroads) mission, or anything that helps children.”

She has also served on the Yuma County Library District Board of Trustees, as a regional council member for

First Things First, and with the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Corporation.

Her future goals, she said, include “growing to the next level of leadership but also improving some aspect of (the lives) of children in Yuma.”