Employee Spotlight: Sandy Sucloy, Merchandising & Logistics Manager

Name: Sandy Sucloy

What is your role?: I am the Merchandising and Logistics Manager at Dress for Success Vancouver, which means I am responsible for coordinating all the donations that come in and go out of our shop. I also work with our volunteers in a training capacity, and assist with fundraising events throughout the year including our regular clothing sales.

Volunteer since: I was a volunteer for 6 years starting in 2004, right up to March of 2011 when I was hired as an employee.

Sandy in action!

What is the best thing about working here? First, it's working with the most dedicated and passionate volunteers in all of Vancouver. I have said this at every volunteer orientation that I have been a part of. We have the best volunteers ever and if you become a volunteer at Dress for Success Vancouver, you are one of the luckiest people ever. The second best thing about working here are the clients that we serve. These are women in many cases who are struggling to make ends meet, let alone find a job. We get to play a role in helping them reach the next step by providing them with an interview-ready outfit and some basic resume and interview skills. When they get that job, it's life changing in many cases. God, its the best thing ever. Thirdly, I love women's fashion and I get a chance to work with them everyday. It really is a great job.

Can you share a memorable moment? The most memorable moment for me is one that I speak about often. It is my very first day when I was coming up in the elevator to meet Deb and realizing that I had not mentioned the fact that I was male in my initial e-mail. The look of shock and surprise on her face was priceless and I was sure my career at Dress for Success was over before it even got started. After a few awkward moments we sat down and chatted, and I was allowed to become a volunteer at Dress for Success. Talk about life-changing. 

What do you do with your time outside of the 9-5 with DFS Vancouver? When I am not at Dress for Success, you can usually find me training at my favorite gym Sweat Co. or Barre Fitness after work. I have recently taken up chess in hopes that it helps with my concentration. I also enjoy reading about fashion and biographies, usually about those who have made a difference in the world. Speaking of which, I also spend some time taking care of an elderly parent who has made a big difference in my life.

Who is your style icon? My style icon is Karl Lagerfeld. He continues to inspire me with what he creates for Chanel, Fendi, and of course his own line of fashion for men and women.

My dream vacation would be... My dream vacation would be to return to Israel and spend more time travelling around, learning more about the culture and religions of the Middle East and all that it entails. Its also a good excuse to work on my Hebrew.

My motto is: My favorite motto would be from Coco Chanel: "Fashion fades, only style remains the same." Love that.