Date: Thu Apr 20 - Thu Apr 20
- Signature Events
Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make
the world a better place. Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia annually
honors distinguished men and women whose lives are models of leadership
and character.
Women of Distinction 
Columbus Women of Distinction 2023
Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia is proud to announce that
Irmgard Cordell, Jennifer Joyner, Dr. Tiffany McBride, and Barbara Motos have been selected as the 2023 Columbus Women of Distinction honorees.
The Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction award honors women who reflect the values in the Girl Scout Promise and Law and who serve as excellent role models for girls. These women exemplify the mission of Girl Scouts as their contributions continue to make their communities and the world a better place.
The 2023 Columbus Women of Distinction honorees will be honored during a dinner on Thursday, April 20th, 2023, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, at the Columbus State University Cunningham Center. Proceeds from the event will benefit Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia. Individual tickets are $75 and sponsorship opportunities are available.
Questions about this event may be directed to Tawana Farley, Community Engagement Manager at tfarley@gshg.org.
Irmgard Cordell started her Girl Scout journey in Nurnberg, Germany, and currently resides in Columbus, GA with her daughter. She has been a registered Girl Scouts adult for 53 years, 41 of which she has been with the Legacy and GSHG council in numerous positions. Some of her fondest memories of Girl Scouts include being a Girl Guide in Germany, camping outdoors, and attending Resident Camp in Pisa Italy. Her years of service include being a Master Trainer, Service Unit Treasurer, Service Unit Recognition Chair and Gold Award committee member. One of her most notable contributions is being invited to National and helping design the Outdoor Training module that is still being used by Girl Scouts today. Cordell is passionate about helping Girl Scouts learn outdoor skills and is currently a Certified Small Craft and Archery trainer, assisting numerous Cadettes annually with earning their archery badge. She has dedicated her volunteer life and philanthropy to Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia and Girl Scouts USA. Her proudest accomplishment is her daughter and being able to witness her Girl Scout journey and leadership. Irmgard embodies the vison of Juliette Gordon Low, and defines what it is to be a Girl Scout.
Irmgard Cordell
Jennifer Joyner
Jennifer Joyner was born and raised in Macon, Georgia where she remembers her earliest moments of Girl Scouts watching her mother as a Troop Leader with her big sister. Eventually, she became her own Girl Scout and created special memories of camping that she cherishes forever. Joyner currently resides in Columbus, GA with her husband of 25 years, Richard Joyner, and their daughter. She has carried the values of Girl Scouts into adulthood through philanthropy and being deeply involved in her community. Joyner is the Columbus State University Assistant Vice President of Alumni Engagement and Special Events, the President of the Columbus Ballet, and the immediate Past President of the Georgia Education Advancement Council. She is also the current Trustee and Chair of both the Finance and Grants Committee for the Phi Mu Foundation.
Prior to CSU, she worked in development positions at Children’s Miracle Network and University of South Carolina Beaufort. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Mercer University and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from CSU. Joyner has received numerous awards, one being the Outstanding Alumni Relations Professional by the Georgia Education Advancement Council in 2019. Her proudest accomplishment is setting an example for her daughter on how to be a loving wife and mother, but still pursue your dreams, and give your time and talents to make your community a better place.
Dr. Tiffany N. McBride is a native of Columbus, GA. Tiffany matriculated through the Muscogee County school district having attended Clubview Elementary, Richards Middle School, and Shaw High School. She is a proud graduate of Columbus State University (B.A. Mass Communications), University of Phoenix (Master of Business Administration), Troy University (Master of Science in Strategic Communications), and more recently, Mercer University (Ph.D.). McBride currently works at Auburn University as a Public Relations Lecturer and Columbus State University as part-time faculty in the department of communication. She is also the diversity, equity, and social justice chair for the school of communication and journalism at Auburn University. McBride was a Girl Scout from the ages of 5 to 13 years old, here in Columbus, GA. Her most vivid memory of being a Girl Scout was having the opportunity to attend Camp Concharty in Shiloh, GA. She recalls staying in the treetop treehouses and meeting so many new friends. It would be almost 10 years later that she would have the opportunity to work as a camp counselor at the same camp that she attended when she was a young girl, an experience she describes as a full circle moment.
McBride is involved extensively in the community, serving on various boards including BRIDGE of Columbus, Urban League of Greater Columbus Young Professionals, Girls Inc., the Liberty Theatre Youth Council, and the Junior League of Columbus. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Columbus Alumnae Chapter, and an ordained and licensed minister at The Remnant Church. In addition to Tiffany’s community service efforts, she has also been recognized as a CSU Young Alumni Award recipient (2022) and has received several other service awards for her work to include: Junior League of Columbus President’s Award (2022), Columbus and The Valley Rising Star (2010) and is a graduate of Leadership Columbus (2014) and Youth Leadership Columbus (2004). Tiffany is married to the love of her life, Mr. Demetrius Andrew McBride, who is an Eagle Scout and a business educator at Shaw High School. Out of all her accomplishments, she is most proud of her ability to persevere and complete her doctoral studies. She selflessly gives back to her community and universities, uplifting the next generation with every turn.
Dr. Tiffany N. McBride
Barbara C. Motos
Barbara C. Motos grew up in Tallahassee, Florida and graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Spanish. While at FSU she performed with the Flying High Circus including four summers at Callaway Gardens. She first taught at Hardaway High School where she met her husband, Jimmy Motos. After staying home nine years following the birth of their children, Barbara returned to education as a kindergarten teacher. Motos has specialist degrees in both Early Childhood Education and Administration and Supervision and retired from the Muscogee County School District in 2006 after having taught and held administrative positions for 30 years. She served as president of the Muscogee Elementary Principals Association and was selected for a Governor’s Leadership Program and mentor for new principals. Upon retirement she began volunteering as a member of the Piedmont Columbus Regional Auxiliary at the John B. Amos Cancer Center and has continued for 16 years. During that time she helped establish a support group for gynecological cancer which has evolved into the present After the Ribbon Foundation.
She has served on various boards, including serving for more than 20 years on the Miss Georgia Board of Trustees and producing the annual state competition; serving on the Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission, the Salvation Army Auxiliary (president), and the Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Auxiliary. Motos has extensively volunteered at the Springer Theater; and has written and produced numerous musicals and plays for local retirement communities, the John B. Amos Cancer Center, the Ellwood Moyer Dinner Club and the MEA Credit Union. She has been recognized by Piedmont Columbus Regional Auxiliary as a Volunteer of the Month, has served as Board Chaplain and received the “I Make a Difference Award.” She was also honored with the 2019 Distinguished Alumnus Thomas Y. Whitley Award from Columbus State University for her community service. The joy of her life, in addition to her husband and two adult children, Jennifer Anderson and Jimbo Motos, are her grandchildren, Tyler, Emma Ruth and Laura Kate Motos and Drury and Martha Anderson.
