Dress for Success Western Massachusetts opens new career center in downtown Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Dress for Success Western Massachusetts is celebrating 25 years of business in 2025, and they celebrated by cutting the ceremonial ribbon at their new career center.

“That outfit started my career,” said Eliana Gutierrez.

One outfit and one person at a time. Dress for Success Western Massachusetts has opened a new women’s career center in downtown Springfield, and the women in attendance were walking examples of the positive work they have done over the last 25 years.

Gutierrez is now a legislative aide for State Representative Carlos Gonzalez, but at the ribbon cutting today, she shared her personal connection with Dress for Success Western Massachusetts.

“For the first time, you look in the mirror, you see yourself in business wear, and you’re ready to conquer the world,” said Gutierrez. “It really changes the way you feel.”

Gutierrez was a young mother who had to drop out of college to take care of her son, but Dress for Success was there when she was ready to take on the next steps on her career, and now she is thriving.

“Now I work for the state of Massachusetts and I’ve grown. I’ve grown and I hope that other women that come here, grow as much as I have in my career,” Gutierrez said.

Not only can individuals come for a fitting appointment, but there are also a number of other programs offered to help them in the career process.

“The new career center is going to have drop-in hours for the typical things that you would see, like resume building, and job searches, printers, scanners, copiers,” said Jess Roncarati-Howe, Dress for Success Executive Director. “But it is all going to be revolving around the specific learning styles and barriers faced by the women in our community.”

Just last year, Dress for Success helped almost 400 women with their various programs and they told 22News they are already on track to beat that number this year.