Girl Scouts announces 2025 Western Slope Women of Distinction

Three Extraordinary Women Honored

Each year, Girl Scouts of Colorado honors three exceptional women as Western Slope Women of Distinction. These women have displayed exemplary leadership and a commitment to advancing the profile of women and girls in our community. This year’s honorees were selected by a committee of previous Women of Distinction (WoD) honorees and chosen based on their contributions to the community, both professionally and personally. These women join a network of more than 30 Western Slope WoD alums. They are shining examples of corporate, civic, and philanthropic leaders who serve as role models for our female leaders of tomorrow.

Class of 2025, Women of Distinction

Lisa Martin, Consultant, Ariel Clinical Services, and Lisa D Martin, HR Consultant LLC - Martin’s career path has been somewhat non-traditional and varied, but the common thread has been helping people. Over 13 years at the Department of Human Services, she worked in adult services, eligibility services with Employment First, and in Adolescent Services with youth aging out of the Foster Care System. These experiences taught her about aging, the struggles of unemployment, and the pressures and uncertainty of losing support systems and prepared her for her next chapter in human resources. She served 15 years as human resources vice-president at Hilltop Community Resources, and upon retirement in 2019, she fulfilled a dream of working for Ariel Clinical Services as their human resources manager until 2023 when she founded her own consulting business. She continues to work with Ariel Clinical Services as well as other organizations on the Western Slope.
Helen Roe, Director, Business Loan Fund of Mesa County, Grand Junction Business Incubator Center - After more than two decades as a successful, serial entrepreneur on the Front Range, Roe moved to Grand Junction to earn degrees in marketing and accounting from Colorado Mesa University before being offered an internship at the Business Incubator Center. From the start, she knew it was where she wanted to be and jumped at the chance when a job opportunity was available. Nineteen years later, Roe is now director of the Business Loan Fund of Mesa County as part of the Business Incubator Center Management team and is a small business coach specializing in accounting, finance, and strategic business planning. In 2011, she was named the State of Colorado Small Business Development Center Counselor of the Year. To round out her skills, she is also a certified forklift operator. Roe is a former member of the Mesa County Executive Fair Board and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Grand Junction Housing Authority Family Self-Sufficiency program.
Laurel Walters, Retired, Chief Operating Officer, Rocky Mountain Health Plans - Following an early career as a legislative affairs director for a large health plan in Denver, Walters moved to Grand Junction to become the chief operating officer for Rocky Mountain Health Plans. Looking back at her time there after retiring in 2020, she is very proud of the work she and her team did to improve the lives of those they served. Today, Walters is a dedicated member of the Grand Junction Police Department’s Victim Services Program, where she volunteered for more than 3,000 hours, providing crucial support to victims in need. In 2024, she received the Carol Hacker Award for Outstanding Victim Advocate in the Volunteer Sector from the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance. Her compassionate and tireless work has made a profound difference in the lives of many, and her efforts have significantly contributed to the Grand Junction Police Department’s mission of offering emotional support and resources to those affected by crime.

Girl Scouts of Colorado will celebrate the Class of 2025 honorees from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., Friday, Oct. 31, at Colorado Mesa University.

"It's an honor to welcome this year's Women of Distinction," stated Leanna Clark, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Colorado. "These women are powerful examples of leadership and excellence, and their strength, boldness, and empowerment make them outstanding role models who inspire our girls and power today's world."

Proceeds from the event will support Girl Scouts of Colorado’s crucial leadership development programs in entrepreneurship, outdoors, STEM, and life skills for more than 1,800 girl members across the Western Slope.

To purchase tickets or become a sponsor, visit or contact Becky Grupe at Becky.Grupe@gscolorado.org.

June 10, 2025