Dress for Success Georgia rebrands and expands workforce training statewide

The Atlanta nonprofit Dress for Success is expanding its workforce development services statewide under a new name, Dress for Success Georgia.

The organization, which helps women enter and re-enter the workforce through professional attire, job-readiness training and more, is marking the expansion with the debut of a bright pink Mercedes-Benz Sprinter mobile career center donated by Mercedes-Benz North America. A private ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for next week.

Susan Bonds-McCulloch, president and executive director of Dress for Success Georgia, said the nonprofit will partner with organizations already serving communities across the state, bringing workforce development programs to women where they live. The expansion will begin in Columbus before moving into communities including Macon, Augusta and Savannah.

Services offered through those partnerships will include digital skills training, AI and Salesforce certifications, career coaching, mentorship, leadership development and professional attire. Partners supporting the initiative include organizations such as Georgia Power.

“We are a true workforce development organization,” Bonds-McCulloch said. “As we move throughout the state, our first stop will be Columbus.”

Although Dress for Success is best known for providing professional clothing to women preparing for job interviews, the organization has evolved into a comprehensive workforce development nonprofit. Founded in 1996 in a church basement in New York City, Dress for Success originally focused on helping women in underserved communities obtain interview attire. Dress for Success Atlanta opened as an independent affiliate the following year and has expanded its mission since 2018 to include workforce development training and ongoing support for women building long-term careers.

According to the organization, 21 Georgia counties have poverty rates exceeding 20 percent. Dress for Success Georgia estimates its statewide expansion will help 3,000 additional people enter the workforce by the end of 2029, generating more than $100 million in economic impact.

Bonds-McCulloch said the nonprofit has served more than 17,000 women during its 29 years in Atlanta. Clients have included women experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.

While most clients are between the ages of 25 and 45, the organization has worked with teenagers, women in their late 60s, clients who never completed high school and others with advanced degrees. One recent participant, Bonds-McCulloch said, was a dentist seeking help returning to the workforce.

“Most of what we see are women who lack access to training and resources,” she said. “Their needs are not just training needs. They may actually not have anything when they walk in the door.”

Bonds-McCulloch said that with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence job training is a must for many clients who are applying for jobs at such places as fast food restaurants that might normally be filled by teenagers.

“A lot of women that we serve may be working two or three jobs at one time just to make ends meet. We want to get them trained so they don’t have to work two or three jobs,” she said.

Support often begins with a career assessment, resume review and mock interviews tailored to the type of job a client is pursuing. Volunteers from the organization’s corporate partners provide one-on-one coaching, and clients receive professional interview attire selected for their field.

After securing employment, participants can continue receiving coaching on workplace communication, professional etiquette and career advancement. The organization also offers classes in Microsoft Office, bookkeeping and financial literacy. Monthly empowerment gatherings cover topics ranging from vision boarding and homeownership to leadership development.

“There are a lot of things that are common sense to people who have been in the workforce for years,” Bonds-McCulloch said. “But we may have women who have been out of work for a while. We want to make sure that she is prepared.”

As Dress for Success Georgia expands statewide, the nonprofit also plans to introduce virtual workforce development services for men while maintaining its primary mission of helping women achieve economic independence.

The organization’s growth also includes the 2025 acquisition of Little Pink Book, an Atlanta-based professional women’s networking organization. Bonds-McCulloch said Little Pink Book will transition into a leadership development initiative that complements Dress for Success Georgia’s workforce development programs while supporting the nonprofit’s long-term mission.