Touchstone 1 is proud to recognize Chief Administrative Officer Carly van den Berg as its First Quarter Employee Spotlight honoree for her exceptional contributions to youth and families through Cub Scout Pack 313.
Touchstone 1’s Employee Spotlight program recognizes team members who demonstrate leadership and a meaningful commitment to their communities. Honorees are selected quarterly based on their contributions and overall impact.
Carly first became involved with the Cub Scouts when her son joined shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, Pack 313 had lost momentum, and she and another parent stepped in to help rebuild it. What began as a small group of two leaders and five scouts has since grown into a thriving pack with a full leadership structure and approximately 80 scouts.
Over the past several years, Carly has taken on a number of roles, including Den Leader, Fundraising Chair, Activities Chair, and Deputy Committee Chair, helping guide pack operations and support a strong program for scouts and their families. Her involvement is driven by a simple desire, to make sure program participants experience all that scouting has to offer, whether that means earning badges, participating in trips, developing practical skills, or building confidence.
“I love being able to contribute to the next generation in a real, tangible way,” said Carly. “These kids are tomorrow’s leaders, and it’s a privilege to play even a small part in their growth.”
“We are proud to recognize team members who make an important difference both within our company and in the communities they serve,” said Gary Patrick, CEO of Touchstone 1. “Carly’s work in the community reflects the same leadership and dedication she brings to Touchstone 1 every day. Her ongoing service demonstrates a deep commitment to people, growth, and giving back, values that are fundamental to our culture.”
That commitment has driven extraordinary results. Pack 313 has been the top fundraising Cub Scout pack in the nation for two years in a row. Beyond fundraising, the pack has made a meaningful difference across Carly’s community. According to Carly, Pack 313 families logged several thousand hours of volunteer cleanup after back-to-back hurricanes in the area, donated hundreds of care packages to storm victims, conducted regular community cleanups, visited retirement communities, collected thousands of pounds of food for local food banks, and funded annual Cub Scout memberships for underprivileged children.
The pack also sponsors local Tampa Bay foster children during the holidays, helping make Christmas wishes come true. Last year alone, the group sponsored 50 children through its Foster Child Christmas initiative.
“Watching our kids grow through service is one of the most rewarding parts of this work,” Carly said. “There’s nothing quite like seeing a seven- or eight-year-old beaming with pride after realizing they genuinely helped someone, with nothing in it for themselves. That feeling becomes part of who they are, and I believe it shapes the kind of adults they’ll become.”
On January 8, 2026, the pack received a commendation from Governor Ron DeSantis recognizing their dedication and impact. “It was an honor to receive recognition from the Governor,” Carly said. “It affirmed the dedication, hard work, and impact that our scouts, families, and leaders bring to this program every day.”
For Carly, the true reward is not the recognition or rankings, but the growth she has seen in the children themselves.
“I’m most proud of the young people they’re becoming,” she said. “I’ve had the privilege of watching these kids grow up through the program, progressing toward Eagle Scout, transitioning from being led to becoming leaders themselves, and developing into confident, capable young adults who will genuinely make an impact on their communities and beyond. That’s what all of this is about.”