So, Guzman-Torres needed help — and found
it, thanks to a collaboration between the New
York Jets and Dress For Success Northern New
Jersey-10 Counties.
Last Tuesday, 27 female Jets employees
participated in an online mentoring program
for women run by the affiliate of the
nonprofit Dress For Success. The global
organization is known for providing
professional attire for women, but also
helps build job search and interview skills
with no-cost seminars and programs.
“It was a breath of fresh air, this event, because
I felt like, OK, I see things a little clearer
now,” Guzman-Torres said. “I can actually feel
comfortable sending out my resume.”
Guzman-Torres was one of 11 women
mentored during the event, with the concept
conceived during the pandemic through
weekly meetings between Jessica Mandler,
the Jets’ vice president of human resources
and administration and the team’s three
other female VPs — Jessica Ciccone (content
strategy and marketing); Jill Kelley (legal affairs)
and Jennifer Linn (partner management and
sponsorships) — about what they could do
as an organization to help encourage and
empower women.
Mandler recalled being impressed by the
impact a Dress For Success program had while
she was working for the NBA several years
ago. So, she connected with the affiliate in
Madison — five minutes from the Jets’ facility
in Florham Park — and traded ideas with Kim
Iozzi, Dress For Success Northern New Jersey’s
executive director.