Our History
In 1996, Nancy Lublin, a second-year law student, received a $5,000 inheritance from her great-grandfather and decided to turn this gift into one that would keep on giving. She teamed up with three nuns in her area and, identifying a crucial need that was not being filled, founded Dress for Success in the basement of a church in Manhattan that same year. From that original basement boutique, the mission of Dress for Success spread over all of North America and then across the globe, demonstrating that achieving economic independence is a challenge that all women face regardless of their location, language, customs or culture.
“more than 14,000 women and men generously donate their time and talents to our affiliates every year”
Our Progress
Just two short years after suiting its first client, Dress for Success could be found in 22 different cities throughout the United States, and in 1999 we established our first international location. Today, there are 141 affiliates in 24 countries. Year after year, Dress for Success is able to achieve monumental milestones by rallying the support of each local community. We work with a continually expanding and diverse group of non-profit and government agencies—including homeless shelters, immigration services, job training programs, educational institutions and domestic violence shelters, among many others—to refer women to our organization once they have secured a job interview. We collaborate with more than 5,000 organizations throughout the world who send women to Dress for Success for suiting, career counseling and our full continuum of services. Our extensive network of volunteers allows Dress for Success to deliver our programming with such passionate efficiency. We are very much a volunteer-driven organization, and more than 13,000 women and men generously donate their time and talents to our affiliates every year. We would be unable to fulfill our mission—and serve as many women—without the support of such dedicated and extraordinary volunteers.
Our Board of Directors
Officers
Elena Kiam – Chair
Jean Selden Greene – Chair-Elect, Bank of America
Kelly Cusick-Dropchinski – Secretary, Ulta Beauty
Renee LaRoche-Morris – Treasurer, DTCC
Directors
Ami Palan – Accenture
Anu Aiyengar – J.P. Morgan
Brenda Saunders/Todd – Dress for Success Halifax
Cheryl Kern – MillerKnoll
Dale Bornstein – M Booth
Deirdre FitzGerald – Ann Taylor, Lane Bryant, LOFT, and Talbots
Felicia Hale – The Coca-Cola Company
Frank Aquila – Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
Janessa Cox-Irvin – AllianceBernstein
Jennifer Klein – The TJX Companies, Inc.
Jennifer Windbeck – Capital One
Joyce Russell – Adecco Group US Foundation
Lucy Kaylin – Hearst Magazines
Loretta Marcoccia – Scotiabank
Sachin Nanavati – Google
Emeritus Board Member: Debra Kelly-Ennis
Emeritus Board Member:  Rosemarie Ryan – CO: collective
Our Team
Executive Leadership Team
Michele C. Meyer-Shipp – Chief Executive Officer
Arlene Lozano – Chief Affiliate Impact Officer
Liz Carey – Chief Affiliate Growth & Sustainability Officer
Tonya Peck – Executive Director Program Transformation
Worldwide (New York)
Austin Bartsch – Director of Corporate Relations
Courtney McTeer – Manager, Worldwide Program
Danielle Holloway – Executive Assistant to CEO
Danielle Recalde – Director of Worldwide Campaigns
Isaiah Bethea – Warehouse Associate
Jennifer Wuerz – Interim Director NYC
Joanne Leighton – Controller
Jonathan Mazzella – Production Coordinator
Marc Amiel – People & Culture Lead
Michele Rella – Events Manager
Nanci Roth – Marketing Director
Patricia Kirton – Warehouse Associate
Paul Edwards – Business Operations Manager
Roberto Schiattino – Director of Communications
Sabrina Maysonet – Operations Manager
Sarah Bove – Affiliate Relations Manager
Walter Vaughn – Facilities Porter
Zahra Marston – Communications Coordinator
Worldwide Central (Chicago)
Dawn Matune – Director
Doris Gadsden – Office Coordinator
Michelle Martin – Program Coordinator
Work With Us
Interested in employment opportunities at Dress for Success Worldwide? Click here to view positions currently available.
Annual Report & Financials
We’re proud of the accomplishments made possible by the generous support of corporations, foundations and individuals.  To learn more about these achievements, please read our Annual Report.
You also can see our most recent 2022 Financial Statement and our 2022 Dress for Success Worldwide tax return. Our commitment to our donors and stakeholders is outlined in our Donor Bill of Rights and our Privacy Policy.
Additionally, Dress for Success Worldwide is committed to operating in an ethical and transparent manner. We take seriously and investigate allegations of improper activities. Any such allegations are accepted in accordance with the terms and process outlined in the Dress for Success Worldwide Whistleblower Policy.
DEIA Statement
Read about our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility here.
