Dress for Success
 
Who We Are | Worldwide Staff

Dress for Success Worldwide was formed in New York City in 1999. In addition to offering assistance to affiliates around the globe, Dress for Success Worldwide staff members oversee major fundraising efforts, worldwide corporate sponsorships, policy development and implementation, brand management,
S.O.S. - Send One Suit - Weekend, the two annual meetings (the Professional Women's Group Success Summit and the Affiliate Leadership Conference) and organizational expansion.

Dress for Success Worldwide
32 East 31st Street
Seventh Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: 212.532.1922
Fax: 212.684.9563
worldwide@dressforsuccess.org


Joi Gordon, Chief Executive Officer

joi@dressforsuccess.org

Joi Gordon joined Dress for Success as the executive director of the New York program in 1999 and in 2002 took over leadership of Dress for Success Worldwide. One of Joi's primary goals is to ensure that Dress for Success becomes recognized as an acknowledged leader in promoting the economic and social development of disadvantaged women while expanding the organization's reach so that more and more women across the globe will have access to the resources and tools they need to succeed in the workplace.

One of Joi's proudest accomplishments is to have succeeded in building a passionate, dedicated and talented staff who will make these objectives a reality. Assembling such a capable group has enabled Dress for Success to improve the services that it offers to its clients, who now number more than 50,000 worldwide each year. In addition, the staff has expanded and strengthened the organization's affiliate network and increased the support that is offered to its members.

"I am incredibly fortunate to have a job that combines my commitment to public service with my passion for women's issues," says Joi.

As the CEO of Worldwide, Joi spearheaded a rebranding of Dress for Success, complete with a new mission statement, tagline and logo. Under her leadership the organization has increased its focus to include employment retention in addition to suiting. Dress for Success now supports women as they find and retain employment and helps them turn their jobs into rewarding careers. Our suiting program has grown tremendously while the organization has launched new initiatives to assist our clients in their efforts to grow professionally.

Among her professional activities and relationships, Joi serves on the board of directors of Urban Brands, owner of both the Ashley Stewart and Marianne nameplates, a leading specialty retailer who targets the fashion-savvy urban, multi-cultural woman, and America's Charities. She sits on the women's advisory councils of Office Depot, American Airlines and VOICE, and imprint of Hyperion Books. Joi also serves on the advisory board of the New-Jersey based non-profit organization My Daughter's Keeper. Over the past several years a number of prominent institutions have recognized Joi for her achievements. In 2007 she was presented with an Ellis Island Medal of Honor and received the 2006 Visionary Award from Office Depot. The Harlem YMCA and Coalition of 100 Black Women in New York City, among many other organizations, have presented Joi with community service awards to acknowledge her contributions. Joi received her B.A. in radio/ television broadcasting from the University of Oklahoma and her juris doctorate from its College of Law. She lives in Queens with her husband Errol, where they own and operate a fleet of luxury limousines. Her greatest joys are her two children, Sydney and Nicholas.

Liz Carey, Executive Vice President of Affiliate Relations & Information Technology
liz@dressforsuccess.org


The executive vice president of affiliate relations & information technology at Dress for Success Worldwide, Liz Carey oversees the overall health and governance of the organization’s affiliate network.

Since coming to Dress for Success in 2004, Liz has increased communications with affiliates and improved the support and materials provided to them by the Worldwide office. She has implemented systems that allow the Worldwide office to evaluate the accomplishments of its members and to track growth in a number of areas on an annual basis. New policies relating to the accountability and transparency of affiliate operations have helped strengthen the organization as a whole. 

By overhauling the application process for new affiliates, Liz has ensured that candidates are better informed about starting and managing an affiliate of Dress for Success and the expectations of Worldwide.  The organization's new programs are stronger and more effective as a result of the revised procedures.  She also supervised the planning for and opening of an affiliate in Philadelphia. 

Liz has managed both the re-design of the organizational Web site, which has enhanced Dress for Success’ presence on the Internet, and the creation and launch of an Intranet site for affiliates that offers resources and communications tools. Under her leadership the annual affiliate leadership conference has become an increasingly valuable experience for affiliates.  By recruiting well-known and respected expert speakers to present on a range of topics, Liz has ensured that the affiliate representatives who attend gain additional skills and information that will help them sustain and grow their programs more effectively.  For the past five years she has overseen the planning and management of overwhelmingly successful conferences.


Liz graduated magna cum laude from Skidmore College with a B.A. in English literature. She has also studied literature, Shakespeare, French and gender issues at the graduate level.


Suzanne Elliott, Executive Vice President of Resource Development & Strategic Marketing
suzanne@dressforsuccess.org   


Suzanne Elliott serves as executive vice president of resource development and strategic marketing at Dress for Success Worldwide. Under Suzanne's leadership, Dress for Success Worldwide cash revenues increased by more than 50% over the past four years and funding sources were diversified. Suzanne also secured grants for new client programs such as Financial Literacy and Health & Wellness and spearheaded new initiatives such as The Power Walk for Dress for Success and the Something To Share™ campaign. Suzanne works tirelessly to ensure that the faces and voices of the women served by Dress for Success are prominent in all of the organization's communications and events.

Prior to joining Dress for Success, Suzanne served as vice president of marketing and strategy for a national nonprofit organization. Suzanne also has experience in corporate strategic communications and corporate social responsibility.

Suzanne earned a B.A. in public policy studies summa cum laude from Duke University. She also received an MBA from New York University's Stern School of Business.



Denalerie J. Johnson, Executive Vice President of Workforce Development
denalerie@dressforsuccess.org


Denalerie J. Johnson joined Dress for Success Worldwide in July 2008 as the executive vice president of workforce development.  In this role Denalerie oversees program development and resource procurement for the Professional Women's Group and Career Center.  She also works with affiliates to grow and strengthen programs, collect best practices, focus on global issues affecting the welfare of women, supervise client service programs in New York City and pilot new initiatives for international rollout.

Denalerie has a background with national non-profit groups.  Most recently, she directed human resources employee training and strategic workforce enhancement in the Organizational Development and Change Management department for a staff of 3,000 at New York's largest elder health system.  She also has done strategic planning consulting and career counseling for technology-based companies and clients of substance abuse treatment, economic sustainability and education-based organizations.  In addition, Denalerie sits on the executive committee of the board of directors for JusticeWorks, Inc.

Denalerie graduated cum laude from Howard University and is also a graduate of Columbia University.  Currently a Human Services and Non-Profit Management doctoral candidate, Denalerie is completing her dissertation on employment discrimination and the career advancement of women of color.





Other Worldwide staff members
Blair Badenhop,
Corporate Contributions Manager, blair@dressforsuccess.org

Sarah Carter
, Affiliate Operations Coordinator, sarah@dressforsuccess.org
Michelle Chin, Development Manager, michelle@dressforsuccess.org
Jenny Edwards, Affiliate Relations Manager, jenny@dressforsuccess.org

Sue Lewis O'Halloran, New Zealand & Australia Regional Director,                   nzauregionaldirector@dressforsuccess.org
Tracey MacDonald,
Director of West Coast Operations, tracey@dressforsuccess.org
Erin Moran
, Corporate Relations Manager, erin@dressforsuccess.org
Amy Nelson, Development Associate, amyn@dressforsuccess.org

Jill A. Pall, Director of Special Events, jillp@dressforsuccess.org

Jill Simonson, Corporate  Relations Director, jill@dressforsuccess.org

Angela Williams, Director of East Coast Operations, angela@dressforsuccess.org

 




Dress for Success Worldwide :: 32 East 31st Street 7th Floor :: New York, NY 10016 Ph: 212.532.1922 | Fax: 212.684.9563