In August of 1996, the New York Times published an article about the obstacles that mothers on public assistance faced when seeking work, including the lack of appropriate interview clothing and the lack of self-confidence to present themselves professionally in an unfamiliar interview setting.
Around the same time, The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act – also known as The Welfare Reform Act – passed, radically transforming the nation’s welfare system by imposing a time limit on federal welfare benefits, further complicating women’s transition from public assistance into the workforce.
The founders of Bottomless Closet were watching, and they immediately identified a critical need and took action. Embodying the philosophy of women helping women, they set out to create a welcoming and uplifting place where women in need could receive the tools and resources they needed.
In 1999, Bottomless Closet became a reality.
Bottomless Closet’s mission is to be the connection that inspires and guides disadvantaged New York City women to enter the workforce and achieve success. From our grassroots beginnings 25 years ago, we have grown into an organization that has served nearly 50,000 women in need, amassed nearly 200 dedicated volunteers and roughly 200 referral partners, and has had over 1,000 workshop attendees just last year.
As we look to the future, our founding principles of helping and empowering women in need still guide our daily work.
Staff
Melissa Norden joined Bottomless Closet as Executive Director in 2016. Prior to joining the organization, Melissa worked at the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) for 13 years, where she was most recently Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff and General Counsel in the Office of the President. She helped found NYCLASS (New Yorkers for Clean Livable and Safe Streets), a nonprofit dedicated to phasing out New York City carriage horses. Prior to joining the ASPCA, Melissa served as counsel to Madison Square Garden, where she collaborated with the management of the New York Knicks, the New York Rangers and the New York Liberty on the Madison Square Garden Cheering for Children Foundation, raising funds for after-school programs for at-risk urban youth. Melissa is a member of the Board of Directors of Life Vest Inside, a former member of the board and a current member of Tufts University’s Tufts Lawyers Association, the Tufts Nonprofit Group, the Tufts Women’s Group and the Nonprofit Committee of the American Corporate Counsel Association, as well as a former member of the Committee on Nonprofit Organizations of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Melissa received her B.A. from Tufts University, where she was named to the Dean’s List with a double major in American History and Spanish. She has also been an alumni interviewer for Tufts University for 20 years. She earned her Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School, where she was on The Journal of Law and Policy and received numerous awards for academic achievement. Melissa was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2000.
Contact: mnorden@bottomlesscloset.org
Pamela (Pam) Kulnis joined Bottomless Closet in 2017 as Program Director with more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Bottomless Closet, Pam was the Division Manager of Human Resources and Marketing for Popular Community Bank, where she was instrumental in delivering creative solutions to support not only the general business goals but also strategic initiatives such as mergers, acquisitions and organizational restructuring. She focused efforts on understanding the bank’s talent needs and creating the development path for staff, which provided not only a solid pipeline of talent but opportunities for professional and personal development for the employee population. Pam launched programs that addressed such needs as personal and financial wellness, mindfulness, yoga, understanding social media along with other core banking skills to insure a well rounded approach for staff. As a Board Member of the Popular Community Bank’s Foundation, Pam was responsible for driving the community-focused efforts of the bank, which is where she first became introduced to Bottomless Closet. Inspired by our mission, Pam organized a clothing drive and hosted a group of Bottomless Closet clients for a workshop on “Understanding Workplace Benefits.” In addition, Pam has volunteered with numerous NYC nonprofits focused on helping people become job-ready, among other efforts.
Pam is a graduate of Pace University with a degree in Business Administration.
Contact: pkulnis@bottomlesscloset.org
Yvonne Cassidy joined Bottomless Closet in October 2017 as Bottomless Closet’s first ever Director of Development. With over 20 years’ experience in marketing communications and development, Yvonne has worked both in corporate and non-profit settings in Europe and the U.S., including running her own communications consultancy firm for six years, servicing many leading brands. Since moving to New York from her native Ireland in 2011, Yvonne has immersed herself fully in the non-profit world, which has been the most rewarding phase of her career to date. First, as Director of Development for Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen and most recently as Director of External Relations for Neighborhood Trust, Yvonne has used her skills to drive awareness and support for activities that empower disadvantaged New Yorkers in a range of different ways. Yvonne is very excited to join the dedicated staff and volunteers at Bottomless Closet, and to bring this experience to bear to help women take their first steps towards building new careers and futures. A graduate of University College Dublin, Yvonne is a published author with four novels published in Europe and the U.S. She also teaches creative writing for the Irish Arts Center and the JCC.
Contact: ycassidy@bottomlesscloset.org
Carlos Calderon joined Bottomless Closet in January 2019 as Office Manager. With over 15 years of experience in business administration, supervision, bookkeeping and more, Carlos will be overseeing Bottomless Closet’s office administrative functions as well as the inventory of the Bottomless Closet boutique. Before joining Bottomless Closet, Carlos worked as Director of Retail Operations for Little Sisters of the Assumption, where he oversaw every aspect of their thrift store business from sales and merchandising to inventory, donation pickups (including from Bottomless Closet), and volunteer staffing. Prior to joining Little Sisters of the Assumption, Carlos worked in a similar capacity As Senior Store Manager for Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut. A graduate of the Autonomy National University of Honduras, Carlos currently lives in Connecticut.
Contact: ccalderon@bottomlesscloset.org
Jessie joined Bottomless Closet in August 2024 as the Database Manager. Jessie brings with her a strong passion for empowering women to confidently enter the workforce and achieve their dreams. She loves combining her love of data with her drive to see women succeed. Prior to joining Bottomless Closet, Jessie was the Development Coordinator at The Door – A Center of Alternatives. She graduated American University with her BA in International Studies with a focus in Global Inequality and Development and currently lives in Brooklyn.
Anna Santiago, Program Coordinator, joined Bottomless Closet in early 2024, driven by her passion for community service and empowering individuals. With a Bachelor’s in Psychology, she champions holistic approaches that involve communities, recognizing that practices for individual well-being can also catalyze resilience within the entire community. Previously, Anna coordinated art programs focusing on social justice for marginalized youth. Responsible for programmatic designs and community events, she utilized her expertise in community organizing to enhance access, education, and engagement. She integrated her interest in psychology and fashion into a comprehensive course on Sustainable Fashion, exploring its psychological impacts for self-expression, building confidence, and promoting sustainable practices within the community. Anna’s dedication lies in innovatively empowering communities with essential resources and self-empowerment opportunities.
Contact: asantiago@bottomlesscloset.org
Board of Directors
Nancy is a Co-Founding Partner and Investor Relations, ESG & HR Manager of AMERRA Capital Management responsible for key business areas that create stakeholder value derived from 30 years of agribusiness investing, finance and banking. Nancy has served as a member of the firm’s board, executive and investment committees since co-founding the firm in 2009. One of a handful of senior women executives in agribusiness investing, Nancy’s presence as part of the core management team makes AMERRA attractive to other talented women and all prospective future staff. She inspires by supporting and reinforcing AMERRA’s organizational purpose of protecting and growing client assets via best-in-class agribusiness investment practices while contributing a positive and measurable impact on the companies, geographies and sectors in which AMERRA invests. Prior to AMERRA, Nancy worked for Société Générale, Standard Chartered Bank and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Nancy has been an active and enthusiastic volunteer for Dartmouth College for many years including roles as Dartmouth College Fund Committee Member, Class Co-head Agent, Centennial Circle and 89 Cares Committee Member and Mentor for first generation college students. Nancy holds a BA from Dartmouth College, an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, is fluent in Spanish and sits on various company boards.
Amanda H. Nussbaum is the chair of the Tax Department at Proskauer and also is a member of the Private Investment Funds Group. Her practice concentrates on planning for and the structuring of domestic and international private investment funds, including venture capital, buyout, real estate and hedge funds, as well as advising those funds on investment activities and operational issues. She also represents many types of investors, including tax-exempt and non-U.S. investors, with their investments in private investment funds. Amanda has significant experience structuring taxable and tax-free mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions and stock and debt offerings. She also counsels both sports teams and sports leagues with a broad range of tax issues. In addition, Amanda advises nonprofit clients on matters such as applying for and maintaining exemption from federal income tax, minimizing unrelated business taxable income, structuring joint ventures and partnerships with taxable entities and using exempt and for-profit subsidiaries. Amanda has co-authored with Monica Arora the New York Limited Liability Company Forms and Practice Manual, which is published by Data Trace Publishing Co. She is involved in the community in a number of capacities, including her work in a wide range of pro bono activities, for which she has received several Empire State Counsel awards and Proskauer’s Golden Gavel Award. She also serves as vice president of the International Tax Institute, on Stern College for Women’s Board of Overseers, the American Jewish Committee Legal Committee, the Administrative Committee of the Jewish Center and the Board of Directors of Manhattan Day School.
Diane began her association with Bottomless Closet in 2002 as an evening volunteer, working with clients and conducting Workplace Skills workshops. In 2004, she joined the Board and began working as a daytime volunteer coinciding with her “retirement” from the corporate world. In addition, she has been Co-Chair of the Program and Evaluation Committee, Vice President, President and Chair and has sat on numerous committees. Diane’s corporate career began in Human Resources beginning with the Consulting firm of Booz Allen, then Gulf & Western/Paramount Communications where she rose to the top Human Resources position. She joined Time Warner’s Warner Music Group as Senior Vice President of Human Resources where she had responsibility for over 12,000 employees in 65 countries and traveled extensively. Subsequently, she was in a similar role at Random House Publishing Group. Diane also is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Professional Children’s School, an educational institution dedicated to students in the performing arts, sports and entertainment. Diane received her B.A. from St. John’s University and Masters in Human Resource Management and Development from the New School in New York. In addition, she has attended numerous Executive Leadership and Development programs at Harvard and IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Andrea Lowenthal has 25+ years of senior corporate experience, as counsel and as a banker, through numerous market cycles, in strategic transactions, financial product development, U.S. bank board governance and regulatory relations, and risk management. Throughout her career, Andrea has contributed technical knowledge, critical judgment, and cross-functional leadership to the team. Andrea is adept at listening, learning and engaging others to spur new ways of thinking about strategic challenges. Her broad strategic planning, execution, and governance experience informs her client-focused, people-based, and regulatory-aware approach. As Head of Legal, America, Andrea supports ANZ’s U.S. and global business by collaborating with business colleagues in all aspects of U.S. law and regulations concerning capital markets and derivatives, financial product development, and cross-border requirements. U.S. litigation exposure, including several class-actions, are under her remit. Andrea also advises with respect to ANZ’s business in non-presence countries throughout north and south America. Andrea is a member of the U.S. Leadership Team (leading U.S. business and culture); the 401k Retirement Planning Committee; the Situation Management Team (addressing business disruption and response); and she chairs the Corporate and Social Responsibility Committee (U.S. charitable priorities and team-building initiatives). Andrea participates in the Risk Management Committee, and is Corporate Secretary to the Board of the U.S. broker/dealer, a FINRA entity. Andrea also sponsors the ANZ NY Women in Leadership Initiative, which developed to facilitate career development and the essential skills. Andrea represents ANZ at the U.S. Institute for International Bankers. At Citizens Financial Group (then a subsidiary of RBS) Andrea was SVP and Senior Counsel, and Corporate Secretary to the three Boards and its committees. Andrea advised CFG’s Finance and Treasury in debt capital markets, and major regulatory Dodd-Frank initiatives. During her tenure, Board challenges included cyber crime, Hurricane Katrina’s impact on the Eastern seaboard, a Board member’s reputational crisis, and even the Boston Marathon bombing. Andrea’s external board experience included the Brooklyn Law School Board of Trustees, Women’s Lunch Place (a large community day shelter in Boston; Board governance committee), and the Catskill Community Center (contributed to finance, development, governance and other initiatives critical to rebuilding the CCC). Andrea has a B.S. summa cum laude from the Boston University School of Management, and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the national business honor society, and a J.D. cum laude from Brooklyn Law School, where she was also Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review and a published author, Deans List for four years, and member of the Jessup International Moot Court Team.
Anne became involved with Bottomless Closet when she was introduced to the organization and was encouraged to lead a workshop. In 2009, Anne became a regular weekly volunteer, recognizing the opportunity to call upon her previous professional experience in Human Resources at Time Warner Inc. to coach clients to be better prepared for their interviews. She heads Bottomless Closet’s Program and Evaluation Committee and is a member of the Volunteer Committee, and regularly conducts ongoing training sessions and new volunteer orientation. Anne is a leader of Job Club, a multi-session intensive training and mentoring program for clients. Anne’s over 20 year career with Time Warner Inc. included human resources management roles at Time Inc., the Warner Music Group and Corporate Global Benefits. She is a graduate of Brooklyn College, attended graduate school at New York University and several Human Resources, Management and Leadership certificate programs. Anne has been inspired by her clients at Bottomless Closet and is happy to be able to apply her professional experience to work with clients to be better prepared for their interviews and the workplace environment.
Katherine joined the Bottomless Closet Board in 2016 and served as Chair of the Governance Committee from 2016-2020. She brings over three decades of international finance, corporate governance and non-profit leadership experience to the organization. Katherine spent most of her executive career in the financial services industry in roles spanning Mergers & Acquisitions, Institutional Securities Sales, and Capital Raising/Investor Relations at institutions including Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Eton Park Capital Management. After a successful career on Wall Street, where she gained significant international business experience, Katherine moved to the non-profit sector, where she built and led the Cities, Infrastructure and Urban Services Platform at the World Economic Forum. Today, Katherine applies her leadership skills and interest in governance to Board service. She serves as an independent director of Select Medical Holdings (NYSE: SEM), where she is a member of the Audit & Compliance and Quality of Care & Patient Safety Committees. She also serves on the Advisory Council of Brightstar Capital Partners and the Advisory Committee of CS Venture Opportunities Fund, L.P. Committed to promoting excellence in the boardroom, Katherine stays abreast of best practices in corporate governance through active participation in the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), where she is Directorship Certified, Extraordinary Women on Boards (EWOB) and the Private Directors Association. Katherine is passionate about helping individuals from diverse and underserved communities achieve self-sufficiency, which is a common theme in her volunteer and non-profit board activities. She was one of the longest-standing mentors at American Corporate Partners (ACP), a national non-profit that helps veterans transition to new careers in the civilian world through customized mentorships. She also helped non-native English speakers build new careers in the US by providing job skills training at the English-Speaking Union. In addition to her volunteer work, Katherine previously served on the Board of Junior Achievement (JA) Worldwide, a national non-profit that focuses on job preparation skills and financial literacy, where she held a variety of senior roles including serving as the Treasurer and Member of the Board’s Executive Committee. Katherine holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a B.S. in Commerce with Highest Distinction from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, and a Certificate in Executive Coaching from New York University.
Yasmin joined the Bottomless Closet Board in 2020, bringing with her over 15 years of international finance, strategy and entrepreneurship experience. She started her career in banking in the Middle East and went on to lead strategy teams at Booz Allen Hamilton and American Express in the U.S, focusing on the financial services sector. In addition to her corporate strategy experience, she is an entrepreneur – founding and operating her own restaurant business in NYC for five years. It is during that time that she developed an intimate understanding of the challenges of employment in underserved communities, particularly for women. She advocated, as a small business owner, for minimum wage policy enhancements. Yasmin is passionate about female professional advancement, mentoring many women as they navigate their careers. She also uses her entrepreneurial and strategy experience to advise startups. As the daughter of Egyptian diplomats, she has lived in a number of different countries and is fluent in Arabic. Yasmin received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and also holds a B.A. from the American University in Cairo.
Alex is Head of Innovation for Global Transaction Services at Bank of America. In her role she oversees the exploration of new technologies and concepts that drive greater efficiencies, security and advancement of treasury solutions. Prior to Bank of America, she was Global Head of Go-to-Market, Commercialization and Partnerships for FX Product at JPMorgan Chase, and previously the Director of Network Implementation and Strategy at Hyperwallet, a company of PayPal. Alex holds dual-bachelor’s degrees from Michigan State University, and a Master of Business Administration from the George Washington University. Alex is passionate about issues promoting equality, inclusion and lifting up the underprivileged and underserved, as a member of LEAD for Women. an LGBTQ+ Pride ally, and a committee member of the Social Economic Action Council at Bank of America.
Inez brings over two decades of experience in Marketing to the Bottomless Closet board. Inez is currently a Managing Director at Accenture in Marketing Strategy and Transformation, with a focus on Culture-First Marketing. She is an ex-P&G, ex-L’Oreal Brand Marketing Executive where she created value through Communications, Agency Management, Product Innovation, Consumer Research, and P&L Management of $500MM+ brand portfolios. Inez is passionate about Adult Learning and Capability Building and has spent many years developing and delivering skill building training to Marketing and Sales leaders while building capabilities within Marketing and Sales functions to help them deliver against their growth agenda.
Inez is passionate about inclusion and diversity and supports individuals through direct mentoring and advocacy. Inez holds an MBA from Simon Business School with a concentration in Marketing and Organizational Strategy along with a BS in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech. Inez also holds a certification in Non-Profit Board Governance.
Beth Lawlor has always thrived in a team-based environment. A natural communicator and connector, Beth creates a strong sense of culture by embracing people as individuals. She firmly believes that each person brings a unique talent that contributes to the greater good of an organization, and she embraces these talents at a very human level. She credits her liberal arts background for her ability to communicate well in various situations, to lead from the heart, and to inspire others to follow. Along with her enthusiasm for leading professionals at U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management, Beth is exceedingly client focused, and is passionate about finding unique and creative ways to deliver U.S. Bank’s value to prospects and clients. Beth joined U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management as President of the organization in May 2020. She sets the strategic direction and oversees all aspects of U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management, leading teams of advisors and specialists across the U.S. She is based in U.S. Bank’s New York office. A veteran in the Wealth Management industry, Beth brings with her more than 25 years of industry experience. Most recently, she worked at UBS, where she served as Managing Director, Head of National Field Engagement and Sales, Wealth Management Banking and Lending. Prior to that role, she held leadership positions at several major firms such as Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo Advisors. Beth graduated with honors from Boston College with a bachelor’s degree in communications and psychology. Giving back to others is important to Beth. She serves as the admissions engagement ambassador for the Boston College Alumni Association and as a 15 year dedicated volunteer for CAPIC Animal Rescue. On a personal level, Beth adores spending time with her family – her husband of more than 25 years and their two children – both of whom have carried on the family tradition of attending Boston College. She is a native of New Jersey and enjoys spending time at their family’s beach house on Long Beach Island at the Jersey Shore.
Cindy has over two decades of financial services experience working in business strategy and operations in New York, London, and Hong Kong. Cindy is currently an Executive Director, Program Manager at Wells Fargo. She is responsible for leading strategic change management initiatives across the enterprise including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), business integrations/transitions and product development. Cindy serves in leadership roles on both the employee impact team and employee resource network at Wells Fargo. She began her career with Lehman Brothers in a sales and trading support role on the equity derivatives desk. Cindy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Management Information Systems from Syracuse University. A Wells Fargo Pinnacle Award winner, Cindy has also been recognized as a Top 30 Under 30 Rising Star by The Glass Hammer. She is an active member of her community, regularly volunteering with several non-profit organizations in the NYC area. Cindy joined the Board of Bottomless Closet in 2022 and is passionate about economic opportunity for all.
Lori Pennay brings over 20 years of experience in employment law and human resources as the Global Head of Human Resources and Chief Employment Counsel for the Americas for Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., where she oversees all Human Resources functions globally and employment law in the Americas. Previously, Ms. Pennay served as a Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, providing legal advice and representation to Cantor and BGC Group with respect to employment and partnership matters. Before this, Ms. Pennay worked as Employment Counsel for Credit Suisse Securities (USA), LLC, where she was primarily responsible for providing legal advice and representation for the private banking and certain shared services divisions. She began her career as an employment lawyer with the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP. Ms. Pennay holds a B.A. from Pennsylvania State University with high distinction honors and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Lisa Primeggia is Vice President, Manhattan Electric Operations, for Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., one of the world’s largest investor-owned utilities, providing electric, gas and steam service to customers in New York City and Westchester County. In this role, Ms. Primeggia leads an organization of over 450 employees and a budget of $235M that is responsible for the safe and reliable operation, maintenance and construction of all Company electric distribution facilities serving Manhattan. Throughout her career at Con Edison she has held various roles of increasing responsibility in electric power generation, transmission and distribution. Prior to her current role, Lisa was the Vice President of Facilities and Field Services, providing logistic support services to all operating groups within the Con Edison and Orange and Rockland service territories. Ms. Primeggia was also an attorney in Con Edison’s Commercial Transactions Group, focusing on contract negotiation and commercial real estate transactions. She has a broad operational background, with an unwavering commitment to safety and continuous improvement while engaging people at all levels. Ms. Primeggia acts as both a formal and informal mentor to many current and future leaders of Con Edison and has participated in initiatives to increase the representation of women in non-traditional jobs. In her prior role, as General Manager of Manhattan Electric, Ms. Primeggia oversaw the maintenance and construction of the Manhattan electric distribution system. Her leadership resulted in improved productivity, teamwork and cultural transformation. Ms. Primeggia holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Polytechnic University (now NYU Tandon School of Engineering) and a Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law. She was recognized by PA Consulting for her outstanding personal achievement related to utility reliability and was selected by the Women in Communications and Energy to share her experiences as a woman in a non-traditional role at their Spring 2018 Conference.
Molly is an experienced investor relations professional in the asset management industry, most recently at Ares Management. At Ares, Molly focused on private debt products as well as strategic initiatives, serving as a product specialist and marketing professional on several inaugural flagship funds, nascent strategies and acquired business lines. Molly supported key women’s initiatives at Ares, serving as a member of the Ares Network of Empowered Women and completing the Beyond Barriers program. Molly holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Economics from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. Molly joined the Bottomless Closet Board of Directors in 2023 and she lives in New York City with her rescue dog Romeo.
Eileen has over three decades of experience in the financial service industry. In her most recent role, Eileen joined TD Securities in 2009 as one of five people hired to build out the broker-dealer in New York. As a Managing Director in Debt Capital Markets, Eileen was responsible for the Public Finance and U.S. Supranational, Sovereign, Agency (“SSA”) origination businesses. She delivered innovative solutions to clients and was instrumental in several landmark transactions. Eileen helped TD Securities become an industry leader in sustainable bond offerings and pioneered Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) index transactions. After 14 years of service at TD Securities, Eileen retired in July 2023. Eileen was an active mentor for women and minorities throughout the TD organization during her tenure. Eileen launched Women in Leadership for TD Securities U.S. and served as the committee Chair. She was also an active member of Minorities in Leadership. In 2019 Eileen co-founded TD’s first Hispanic committee – Latinos/Hispanics United Committee. Prior to joining TD, Eileen was a Managing Director at Bear Stearns. She joined Bear Stearns in 2002 to build out a Global Frequent Borrowers Debt Capital Markets business. Eileen was the senior relationship manager globally for all U.S. Agency, Supranational, and Sovereign clients at the firm. Eileen began her financial career at J.P. Morgan in 1992. While working as a bond trader for U.S. Treasury and Agency fixed income securities, Eileen also went back to school for a degree in finance. Eileen has been an advocate and mentor for the deaf and hard of hearing community for two decades. In 2017 Eileen co-founded the non-profit Partners in Hearing and is the Executive Vice President-Secretary of the Board. Eileen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance from Pace University. She is married with two children. Since retiring, Eileen has continued to be a champion for women, minorities, and the deaf community. She looks forward to continuing her mentorship and advocacy in the community.
Shirin Trehan Toor is a leader in PwC’s BXT Team focused on organizational transformation. She has almost 20 years of experience in strategy and transformation consulting. She is a certified ScrumMaster, facilitator, and collaborative design specialist who helps teams and leadership think and work differently in order to accelerate strategic transformational initiatives and prepare for growth. She led the design and build of PwC’s approach to work, called BXT. Rooted in agile, design thinking, and human centered design philosophies, BXT combines business strategy, experience design, and immersive technology to work better, smarter, and faster. Shirin has brought BXT to clients both in-person and virtually, to help teams achieve outcomes faster and in a more engaging way. She upskills teams to think about challenges and solutions through different perspectives in order to drive results for the customer, employee, and business. She works with organizations to adopt and apply the capabilities needed to be more agile, sustain change and grow. Shirin’s experience includes helping top companies in telecom, media, and health care evolve their ways of working resulting in increased employee satisfaction, increased productivity, greater value for customers, and sustained transformation outcomes. Shirin has a MA in HRMD from NYU and a BA in Economics from Bryn Mawr College. She lives in northern New Jersey with her husband and 2 daughters and enjoys hiking, running, traveling, and culinary exploration!
Chair Emeriti
Reva has a lifetime of volunteer involvement. She is experienced in fundraising, in creating and sustaining effective organizational structures, and in supporting and nurturing staff at all levels. Reva and a small group of women initiated the idea for Bottomless Closet in November 1996 and she became its subsequent President when the organization opened its doors in January 1999. Reva previously served on the Board of Lighthouse for the Blind in the 1970’s, and was one of the architects of the “Posh Sale,” which now brings in hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. As one of the very early members of the New York Philharmonic’s Volunteer Council, Reva served as its President. She has also served on the Board of the Learning Leaders, formerly known as the New York City School Volunteers. In addition, Reva has sat on the Boards of the Rehearsal Club and The Chelsea Theater Club. Today, Reva is proud to be the Chair Emerita of the Board of Directors of Bottomless Closet. She believes that one’s life is immeasurably enriched when given the opportunity and the privilege of helping another person – especially one-on-one. Reva is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.
Sheila is a founding member of Bottomless Closet and served as its first, volunteer Executive Director at its opening in January 1999. She has served in numerous leadership positions including President and Chair as well as chair of several committees. A retired corporate executive with extensive experience in human resources and general management, Sheila has applied these skills to her volunteer career. Sheila was with The Dun and Bradstreet Corporation for twenty years. Her responsibilities as Vice President, Human Resources, included all recruitment, compensation and employee relations. Subsequent to that, Sheila served as Senior Vice President and Publisher at Moody’s Investors Service where she managed production, sales and marketing operations for all of Moody’s published products. Other current volunteer commitments focus on education, Jewish continuity and education, women’s issues and the economically disadvantaged. Sheila has served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Town School, is former board chair and current executive committee member of Project Kesher, a women’s advocacy group in the Former Soviet Union, former Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of Hebrew Union College, President of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Center of Manhattan. She is also a founder and past Board Chair of Breakthrough, an enrichment program for disadvantaged students to help them gain access to more educationally challenging high schools and is a member of the advisory board for the school of communications of Northwestern University. Sheila is passionate about the issue of women’s empowerment and believes wholeheartedly that Bottomless Closet makes a real difference in the success of its clients.