We had the good fortune of connecting with Jerri Rosen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jerri, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
There is ALWAYS another way of looking at things. This quote is on the tip of my tongue in everything I do. When a four alarm fire destroyed everything we owned on February 2, 2020, we rebuilt with our community’s wonderful support. I could have cried, lamented and gnashed my teeth (and I wanted to do few times!) but I chose to get into action.

Five months later, we have a new vibrant Career Success Center and a separate wonderful donation center. We have rebuilt so we can serve more clients who are in great need of finding work!!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My professional background is in marketing/advertising and I’ve been able to bring my creative eye, sense of urgency and business discipline to Working Wardrobes. That has informed all the creative work we’ve done in 30 years and my work with a creative team is part of what I truly love. We’ve been able to create phenomenal campaigns, collateral, signage and a brand personality that I’m so proud to have.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Wow, a week to showcase our area – love it. I’d start at Sherman Gardens in Corona del Mar – tour and lunch. Then head to Laguna Beach, shopping and dinner with an overnight stay at the Surf & Sand. Beach time, drinks and more food at Splashes, my favorite restaurant and a day in their spa. Then I’d head to the Bowers Museum for a tour and lunch at Tangata Cafe and more time at Spa Montoya. There is a theme here! Then I’d head north to Santa Barbara, drop in to Ojai, stay at the Ojai Valley Inn, tour the village of Ojai and artists in the area. Then off to the wine country in San Luis Obispo and that area – over night in the area. Drive south and spend a little time in LA – doing the Broad Museum and a tour of Disney Hall and then a tour of Chinatown and lunch/dinner. We’d end up on my patio having delicious appetizers and the best wine in my wine cabinet. Talking non-stop.  Then I’d want to repeat that entire trip in a year!!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have been so very, very fortunate to be surrounded by extraordinary volunteers for the past 30 years. They have inspired me, motivated me and supported me through thick and thin – and they have accomplished miraculous goals. The volunteers know I wouldn’t ask them to do something I wouldn’t take on – except for putting together the world’s largest outdoor hair salon, powered by a portable generator that could have lit up all of Newport Beach. When I told the volunteers they could do a spectacular job, little did I know. They did it and then some!  I’m over the moon happy that Working Wardrobes has attracted amazing volunteers over the years and that I’ve made deep friendships with many, many of them.

Website: www.workingwardrobes.org
Instagram: www.instagram.com/workingwardrobes
Twitter: @workingwardrobe
Facebook: fb.com/WorkingWardrobes
Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/workingzwardrobes.costa.mesa
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/WorkingWardrobes

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.