Chief Executive Officer
Joe Ann Fletcher
With over two decades of leadership experience in nonprofit management, Joe Ann joined the team as Chief Executive Officer. She holds a master’s degree in Counseling and Staff Development and has completed all but her dissertation in her doctoral studies in Adult Education and Human Resource Development at Florida International University (FIU). Joe Ann has served on numerous nonprofit boards and in several C-level positions such as CEO of Saint Laurence Chapel Day Shelter, COO of HGH Education Foundation and as the Shelter Director for Women in Distress and Lippman Youth Center. Joe Ann enjoys volunteering and traveling in her spare time. She enjoys helping others less fortunate and is passionate about spending time helping children in Ghana. She has also served two consecutive terms as president of her local AKA Sorority Alumni Chapter and recently served two consecutive terms as President of the North Broward County Chapter of The Links, Incorporated: a national friendship and community service organization. Her Motto in life is “to serve and not to be served while making a difference in the lives of others”.
Belle Glade Boutique & Outreach Manager
alexandra shatara
Born and raised in Belle Glade, Alexandra has a deep understanding of the community. She has built many strong and meaningful relationships along the way. Alexandra’s experience in retail & fashion spans nearly five years, where she thrived as an assistant store manager, honing her leadership and customer service skills. Her passion for empowering others drew her to this role with Dress for Success, whose mission is one she wholeheartedly supports. She looks forward to seeing the transformation it has on women in the Western communities. Outside of work, Alexandra is deeply devoted to her family and values the time she spends with them. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, attending concerts, and cheering on the Cowboys football team. She loves having the chance to explore new experiences.
Director of Operations
Victoria Velez
Victoria is a native Floridian and recent graduate of Palm Beach State College, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services and graduated Cum Laude. She worked at Wellington Regional Medical Center for five years as a PBX operator in communications and emergency room admissions. She is advanced in American Sign Language and has excellent interpersonal skills. Victoria works well with clients and is computer-savvy and detail-oriented. She interned with Dress for Success Palm Beaches before becoming Director of Operations, and she chose Dress for Success because she likes working with people, empowering women, and loves fashion. She enjoys spending her spare time with her spouse, family, and friends. She is an avid reader, a proud Swiftie (Taylor Swift fan), and the dog mom of her two energetic pups, Rowan and Sunny. Her love for people and outgoing personality help to make a difference with the many women we serve.
Volunteer Coordinator
Maria Bacas-Cook
Maria came from Cuba as a child and has made South Florida her home ever since. She managed all aspects of the family florist and bridal business for 25+ years. She is a court approved Spanish interpreter, she holds an AA degree in Criminal Justice Technology and a AS degree in Human Services from Palm Beach State College, while actively pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from the same institution. Maria completed her internship with us and serves as a volunteer for special events. She chose Dress for Success because she likes working with people, helping others, fashion, and empowering women. Maria enjoys serving in her church, watching sports, and spending time with family. She is excited about serving alongside the dedicated volunteers and staff members at Dress for Success Palm Beaches! She is fluent in Spanish and English.
Board of Directors
Chair
Bernadette O'Grady
Bernadette grew up in Boca Raton and graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor’s degree in communication. Since 1981 she has worked at WPTV in numerous capacities including program director. Her community involvement extends far into the community, serving on multiple boards across Palm Beach County.
Vice Chair
Esther Perman
A PR practitioner for four decades, Esther is retired from the NYC agency she helped found and where she scored several career coups. She first volunteered for DFSPB as a mentor and soon joined the Board, chairing the PR Committee, volunteering weekly on our inventory team, and hatching the concept for the “Style Icon” award that’s become a centerpiece of our annual Style for Hope Fundraising Luncheon. She volunteers for her synagogue, including helping at the CROS Ministries Mobile Food Pantry, handling client intake at their Riviera Beach, Greenacres and West Palm Beach locations.
Treasurer
steven tannenbaum
Steve is an accomplished and successful business professional with over 45 years of financial and business experience driving small and mid-sized organizations to new levels of success, including IPO and strategic sales. Steve currently serves on the board of directors of The Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach and the Citizens Association of Palm Beach. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Northeastern University in Boston, MA, and was a Certified Public Accountant. Steve and his wife live part-time in Great Barrington, MA, and Palm Beach, FL.
Director
pamela buchmeyer
Pam Buchmeyer is a licensed Texas attorney enjoying early retirement with her wife in Jupiter, Florida. She immensely enjoyed her career with the US Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Assistance, working in almost all 50 states with business owners, homeowners, and renters to secure recovery funds after hurricanes, tornadoes, mudslides, and similar catastrophes. Pam has volunteered as a board member for numerous nonprofits, including the Dallas Legal Hospice, the Gay & Lesbian (Philanthropic) Fund for Dallas, and Mystery Writers of America, Florida Chapter. She is delighted to have her daughter and baby grandson living nearby in Orlando.
Director
Haydee Carvalho
Haydee Carvalho is a driven accomplished professional with a passion for fostering business growth and community engagement. As CEO at HMC Consulting Group, Haydee serves as an executive healthcare consultant empowering healthcare organizations and practitioners to thrive, specializing in revenue cycle and healthcare contracting negotiations. Aside from her professional endeavors, Haydee is an active member of the local community and believes in the power of collaboration and networking. She’s been a volunteer with Dress for Success since 2011, committed to its mission of helping women gain confidence and skills necessary for job readiness. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of Dress for Success Palm Beaches, she has been a mentor in the Road to Success Program, and volunteers for various DFSPB initiatives.
Director
kara depool
With a B.S. Degree in Resort and Hospitality Management from Florida Gulf Coast University, Kara has ascended in a 10-year-career in the hospitality industry. Her experience has included internships or training programs with leading names in the business – The Biltmore Estate, JW Marriott, Ritz Carlton – plus management positions with properties such The Ben Hotel, Palm Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and AKA Hotel and Residences. In 2025, she was named Opening General Manager for The NORA Hotel, a highly anticipated West Palm Beach venture due to open in 2026 from the team that created The Bowery and The Jane hotels in New York. Kara began volunteering for DFSPB as a RTS Mentor in 2024 and instantly clicked with our mission. Thanks to her, several of our clients have been directed to local job opportunities in the hospitality category.
Director
shaundelyn emerson
Shaundelyn D. Emerson is the Chief Program Officer at the YWCA Palm Beach County, an organization committed to eliminating racism while enabling women and girls to strengthen their quality of life, including family relationships, social and health well-being, professional development, financial security, and community influence. She received a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management from Florida A&M and a master’s in health law from Nova Southeastern. She is a Leadership Palm Beach County 2021 graduate.
Director
tirzah gabourel
Tirzah Gabourel is a visionary technology executive, data governance leader, and ERP strategist with more than 25 years global experience. She is Director of Information Technology & Enterprise Systems at ZimVie, the Palm Beach Gardens-based manufacturing giant of dental solutions. Beyond her corporate role, Tirzah is a champion for women in technology and has been sharing her tech-expertise as a DFSPB volunteer for more than a decade. She launched an all-girls STEM bootcamp in Belize, and designed the Dress for Success Palm Beaches Technology Training Program, now a cornerstone of the organization’s empowerment initiatives. Her community impact extends through Girls Who CodeTM, 100+ Women Who Care South Florida, Engineers Without Borders, and aZul Fashion, Art & Design. Tirzah has a M.S. in Engineering Management from Florida
Director
Tammy Jackson-Moore
Tammy is the co-founder of Guardians of the Glades and is a member of several boards and committees that address the needs of her community. She holds a degree in Public Administration, with a concentration in Business Management from Barry University and brings years of professional experience in the nonprofit arena, state government, as well as municipal administration.
Director
Virginia Marchetti
With over 40 years of work experience, Virginia (Ginger) Marchetti has had a broad and diverse career spanning multiple disciplines and businesses. After earning her BA and MS degrees from St. John’s University, she spent 5 years as an elementary school teacher. She then entered the corporate world, joining Merrill Lynch. There, she held various client-facing and operations roles and transitioned into a human resources career track, eventually joining UBS as a senior HR Business Partner. Throughout more than two decades in HR, she and her global HR teams partnered with executive leadership to develop and align human capital strategies with the organization’s overall business goals and objectives. Ginger now enjoys retirement in Palm Beach Gardens and has been volunteering at DFSPB for the past few years. Leveraging her HR experience, she has served as a Road to Success mentor and a Career Coach. She is co-chair of the 2026 Style for Hope Fundraising Luncheon.
Director
Pamela Rada
Pam is a fifteen-year marketing veteran and is currently the Marketing Director for Wellington Regional Medical Center. Prior to becoming president of our Board, she led our Young Executives for Success (YES!) networking group. Pam is a graduate of the 2020 Leadership Palm Beach County.
Director
Nancy Rizzuto
Nancy is a Managing Director at SageView Advisory Group, LLC, an affiliate of Creative Planning LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor. After twenty-two years as a Founding Partner and Principal of CAP STRAT, Nancy and her business partners marked a significant milestone by completing the sale of their firm in August 2025 to SageView. In December 2025, Sageview was acquired by Creative Planning. Nancy is also a Founder of the CAP STRAT Women’s Forum, a community established in 2015 to champion and support women’s personal, professional, and financial success. Today, the Women’s Forum reaches over 6000 professional women. She is a fierce proponent of mentoring. For years, she has mentored other founders, entrepreneurs, emerging leaders, and high-potential women locally and across the country. Nancy is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County Engage, a member of Impact the Palm Beaches, and a member of International Women’s Forum Palm Beach. Nancy received her M.A. in Corporate and Political Communication from Fairfield University and her B.A. in Mass Communication from Quinnipiac University. She is an active member of many philanthropic organizations in the community because creating transformational and lasting change in the lives of others is a priority.
Director
Erika Williams
Erika is a credit marketing manager with Office Depot and CFIA Certified in FCRA for Data Users. She is also president of the Office Depot Women of Color Associate Resource Group. Erika is a graduate of Strayer University in Richmond and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She is a proven leader who encourages, motivates, and empowers teams to excel and achieve.
Founder & Board Emeritus
Diane Wilde
Diane Wilde opened the Dress for Success Palm Beaches affiliate in April of 2010. She spearheaded the growth and expansion of the organization from assisting 79 clients during the first year to over 500 in 2015.