Brandi Mantz started her career in Scouting as something that, at the time, seemed like just a post-college job. But decades later, what started as a professional opportunity became something much more: a lifelong commitment to a mission that shapes young lives. Here’s how Circle Ten’s Director of Marketing and Communications found a lifelong calling in helping kids find their place, their people, and their purpose through Scouting.
This Is My Why: From First Job to Lifelong Mission
“I didn’t grow up in Scouting. I came to it as a professional opportunity straight out of college, armed with a degree in business communication and ready to take on the world. My first job was with the Great Southwest Council in Albuquerque, and I figured it would be a stepping stone. But here I am, over 30 years later, still working in Scouting — because I found something bigger than a job.
I’m a supporter by nature. I love being behind the scenes, helping others shine. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to use my skills to elevate programs, events, and stories — from crafting a fundraising or recruitment campaign to shaping the voice of a council that impacts thousands of families. But what keeps me here isn’t the awards or the titles. It’s the mission.
Scouting teaches values that are often missing in today’s world. It provides kids with a safe space to fail, to lead, to grow. It gets them off screens and into nature. It builds resilience, character, and empathy. And perhaps most importantly, it teaches them how to listen —really listen— to people who are different from them. In a time when adults struggle to have respectful conversations, our youth are learning how to build bridges.
Scouting isn’t for everyone— and that’s okay. But every child should have the opportunity to find their place, their people, their purpose. For some, that place is Scouting. And for me, it’s been the honor of a lifetime to help make that possible.”
