Meet Cassie Marino VanDyke of Dress for Success Atlanta in North-Northwest Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassie Marino VanDyke.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Cassie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I began serving as a volunteer with DFSA in 2016. I am originally from Minneapolis but relocated here to Atlanta seven years ago when I got remarried. Back home, I had volunteered with DFS Twin Cities and absolutely loved the work that we did there. My background and training is in bodywork and skincare from the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis, so I spent many years working in salon spas, and wellness centers. I also owned a studio and taught classes at the Aveda Institute. I used the money I earned to pay from my work for my bachelor’s degree, which is in Human Services, Adult Training and Education. When I moved to Atlanta, I transferred to the Aveda Institute Atlanta; however, I had been there less than six months when I found out I was pregnant.

Both my husband and I had been married before and he has four children from his first marriage. Having a child together was not part of our plan, but God had other things in mind for us. Shortly after I found out I was pregnant, I was diagnosed with an incompetent cervix and put on modified bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy. I left my job at AIA, not knowing I that wouldn’t return. After my son was born, I decided to stay home with him, knowing the likelihood of having another chance to do so, was slim to none. I spent his first three years at home with him, then started looking for work again when he began preschool. Sadly, it the first time in my life I had a gap on my resume, and I couldn’t get an interview anywhere. It was disheartening and frustrating. I felt like I’d worked harder in those three years at home with my son than I ever had in my life- I just wasn’t paid for it. Trying to reenter the workforce wasn’t working for me; even though I had been in Atlanta for over four years, I had been home for much of it and didn’t have many connections.

I decided to begin volunteering again as a way to give back, be productive, and also try to network with other women in the Atlanta area. While I had planned to serve at DFSA a few times a month, once I got started, I remembered how much I loved it and why! Within a short time, I was serving a few times a week, and after a few years, I was hired as the volunteer and operations coordinator. In that role, I recruited, trained and worked alongside DFSA volunteers. I also worked in the office overseeing daily operations so the executive director could be out in the community. 6 months later, I was promoted to programs and outreach coordinator, which is my current title. I am fortunate to facilitate our job readiness program for ladies who want to polish their interview skills, and also our professional women’s group for women who have just reentered the workforce and need support to maintain and advance in their careers. I also get to go out in the community as a brand ambassador to share our mission and vision with other organizations and individuals. I teach workshops, do presentations, and offsite volunteer orientation for large corporations. I absolutely love my job as it marries all of the things about which I am passionate: beauty, education, empowering and uplifting women, and motherhood. My job is part-time, so I am able to spend a few hours in the office each day doing what I love within our organization, then pick up my son from kindergarten, head home, and do more of what I love: motherhood.

Has it been a smooth road?
Working in nonprofit can be challenging. The need is constant and real; however, there are never enough hours in the day or hands to do the work. We are basically a volunteer run organization, so there are ebbs and flows in what we are able to accomplish for our ladies. Some days, it feels like we are fighting an uphill battle, but we are still fighting and will continue in order to do right by our ladies- they deserve the best we can give them.

We are also always searching for ways to bring in more consistent donors and funds in order to support our organization and improve on and expand the programs that we offer. Very often, people want to donate their time or clothing because they are familiar with our suiting program. We are so incredibly blessed by and grateful to those who want to contribute in this way. However, much of what we do by way of coaching and training is done behind closed doors, so people may not think about donating money to our organization to support the work that we do. It certainly does take a village and we need support in so many ways. We want to help our ladies as much as possible but cannot do it without help.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Dress for Success Atlanta is a local affiliate of a worldwide organization. Our mission at Dress for Success Atlanta is to empower women to achieve economic independence, and we do that in a variety of ways. We are a nonprofit, most known for offering free professional clothing to women in transition who are entering or reentering the workforce. However, we also support services for our clients, we teach job readiness and skills-based training for women who have several interviews but no viable job offers, and also job retention and advancement classes for women who have just secured employment. We partner with other nonprofits and offer our services free of charge to them and our clients; it’s a fabulous opportunity to help women in need.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I definitely feel that Atlanta is a great place for organizations like Dress for Success. There is a lot of need and much work to do. If someone were just starting out, I would challenge them to create a strong network or ‘circle of friends’ to help support them as they begin, The work we do is valuable and necessary; anyone entering this field will find many others in the area who want to get involved.

Contact Info:

• Address: Dress for Success Atlanta
  6255 Barfield Rd suite 155
  Atlanta, GA 30328
• Website: www.dressforsuccess.org
• Phone: 404-859-1177
• Email: gpsn.coordinator@dfsatlanta.org
• Instagram: dfs_atlanta
• Facebook: @DressforSuccessAtlanta
• Twitter: @DFSAtlanta
• Other: Dress for Success Atlanta

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