By irene maslowski
Michele A. Brown, CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority named Keynote Speaker
Dress for Success Morris County (www.dressforsuccess.org/morriscounty) is proud to announce Michele A. Brown, CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, as the keynote speaker at the annual Dress for Success Morris County Gala "Transforming Lives Gala," on April 25th at the Westin Governor Morris in Morristown, NJ.
Ms. Brown serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA). The EDA is one of three interconnected and highly focused organizations that comprise the New Jersey Partnership for Action – the centerpiece of the State’s economic development agenda. The EDA serves as New Jersey’s financing arm, supporting small and mid-sized businesses, administering tax incentives to retain and grow jobs, revitalizing communities through redevelopment initiatives, and supporting entrepreneurial growth by providing access to training and mentoring programs. Its partners are Choose New Jersey and the New Jersey Business Action Center. Ms. Brown joined the EDA in October 2012.
“We are so thrilled to have Michele as our keynote speaker,” says Stefanie Conley, Executive Director Dress for Success Morris County. “The goals of the New Jersey EDA are closely linked to those of Dress for Success Morris County—we are all about helping women get back into the workforce. This is one of the most critical issues in today’s challenging economic climate.”
The 7th annual Dress for Success Morris County Gala, “"Transforming Lives Gala,” will be held in celebration of Dress for Success Morris County’s 15th anniversary. It will be a special evening with a cocktail hour, three-course dinner, silent auction, live auction and more. The live auction will feature Sean Kelly, known as the auctioneer on the reality hit show on Tru TV, “Storage Hunters.” Proceeds from the event will assist Dress for Success Morris County in its continued mission of providing disadvantaged women with the tools – both in obtaining professional attire and career support – to get back into the workforce and onto career success.
Ms. Brown most recently served as Appointments Counsel to Governor Chris Christie, where she provided strategic and legal guidance to the Governor. In this capacity, Ms. Brown was responsible for identifying, recruiting and vetting Cabinet officials, senior executive candidates, judicial and prosecutorial nominees, and volunteer board, commission and authority members.
Also speaking at the event is Tamara Trotz, a recipient of Dress for Success Morris County’s services. Tamara stated "Dress for Success is good for people who have had a hard life to know there are services (like Dress for Success)out there that help you move beyond your hardships and look to the future." She says Dress for Success Morris County helped her "finally get a chance to dress how you feel, and look like the professional you want to be."
For tickets and information about the gala, visit www.tinyurl.com/dfsmorriscountyannualgala or contact Executive Director Stefanie Conley at 973-822-3188 or [email protected].
About Dress for Success Morris County: Dress for Success Morris County (www.dressforsuccess.org/morriscounty) served 1,120 women in 8 counties in New Jersey in 2012. Dress for Success is part of an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to more than 110 cities in 12 countries. To date, Dress for Success has helped more than 600,000 women worldwide work towards self-sufficiency.
