Melissa Tenzer Inspires Through Action

The word “inspiration” is defined as a person or influence that moves the mind and emotions, sparking creativity, action, or enthusiasm. As executive strategic advisor for Dress for Success Worldwide and CEO and founder of The Cherry Tree Foundation, Washington Crossing resident Melissa Tenzer has dedicated her career to empowering others, serving her community, and creating meaningful opportunities for those around her. She embodies the very definition of inspiration through her words and actions that enhance the lives of others.

A Bucks County native, Tenzer says she always felt a calling to stand up for others and use her voice to make a difference. While she initially thought she would pursue a career as a newscaster, she ultimately graduated from Rider University with a degree in business administration. After college, she entered the staffing industry where she helped people find opportunities to reach their potential.

Twenty-five years ago, Tenzer took that passion and opened CareersUSA, a subsidiary staffing agency in Mercer County, New Jersey. “I helped people find jobs, strengthen their résumés and cover letters, prepare for interviews, and recognize the skills they already had,” she says. “I wanted our clients to see that what they brought to the table had value—and that there was a path forward, whether they were graduating from college or reentering the workforce.”

While working with clients through the staffing agency, Tenzer also volunteered her services to local nonprofits in Mercer County, including HomeFront and Eden Autism Services, helping individuals find jobs. “I started to see the gaps in what people needed,” she says. “The individuals referred to me were capable, but they didn’t always know how to present themselves or tell their story in an interview. And just because someone is missing one or two skills on a job description doesn’t mean they aren’t worthy of the opportunity. I wanted to help bridge that gap—between what employers were looking for and the resources people needed to get there.”

Empowering Women

The global nonprofit Dress for Success opened a location in Mercer County in 2007, and Tenzer was invited to speak at a luncheon. She immediately felt connected to the organization’s mission to empower low-income, underserved women to achieve economic independence. She became an advisor initially, and her impact continued to grow when she was hired as CEO of Dress for Success Central NJ (DFSCNJ) in 2015.

The idea for this nonprofit started in 1996 in a church basement in New York City with just a few volunteers providing women with clothing to wear to job interviews. Years later, Tenzer helped expand the organization to include career services and workforce development programs. “I submitted and then received grants to bring computers and technology into underserved communities,” she says. “I launched a mentorship program to help people in career centers navigate job boards, build their confidence, and learn how to present themselves to employers. That became the heart of what I do.”

Tenzer quickly grew within the organization. She founded the Dress for Success Business Academy at Trenton Central High School to help prepare future generations for success in the workplace. She also was promoted to executive strategic advisor for Dress for Success Worldwide. In this position, she brings in more programming and curriculum, strengthens partnership opportunities with funders, and works to ensure women continue to recognize their worth and make their mark on the world. “There is nothing like seeing a woman land a job at a company we’ve partnered with and knowing we played a part in helping her get there,” Tenzer says. “It’s about more than getting someone a job—it’s about giving them the confidence and opportunity to build a career and believe in what they’re capable of. We cheer them on, and then we get to celebrate their success stories.”

Connected to Community

Although her work takes place primarily in New Jersey, for the past 25 years, Tenzer has lived in Washington Crossing alongside her daughter, Mina Tenzer (now a senior at Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg), and her fiancé and stepdaughter. “I love Upper Makefield,” Melissa says. “The parks and the canals where I walk at least two to three times a week are so beautiful. Everybody knows each other and is so kind to each other.
My daughter had the best experience in Council Rock School District, and the moms I met through her are lifetime friends.”

Mina shares her mother’s appreciation for the surrounding community. “I feel incredibly lucky to have grown up in Upper Makefield,” she says. “I spent a lot of my childhood horseback riding and playing for local travel soccer leagues, so many of my memories are tied to this area. As I’ve gotten older, nothing seems to compare to the comfort, safety, and natural beauty that Upper Makefield has to offer.”

A Lasting Legacy

In 2024, Melissa experienced profound personal loss when her sister, Kathryn Marie Sottile, passed away from acute myeloid leukemia. Sottile was a Bucks County schoolteacher and singer who performed at many local venues including Washington Crossing Inn and Pineville Tavern.

To honor her sister’s love of education and music, Melissa created The Cherry Tree Foundation in January 2025, which provides scholarships to students majoring in education or music. The foundation’s name comes from their families’ love of cherry trees and Sottile’s favorite song to perform—“Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” by KT Tunstall.

The organization has already held two scholarship fundraising events, with plans to expand its efforts in the coming year. Family members, Upper Makefield friends, local businesses, and Sottile’s co-workers have all come together to support the cause. “It melts my heart to see how much this has helped my family through the grieving process,” Melissa says. “It has truly been a labor of love, a way to keep her spirit alive, and a way to turn our love for her into something that gives back to students.”

Mina has worked as a content creator for The Cherry Tree Foundation and has helped with marketing materials and fundraising campaigns. “The Cherry Tree Foundation is incredibly important to my family because it has given us a meaningful way to keep my aunt’s memory alive,” she says. “I think there is something really special about being able to take the love we have for her and turn it into an opportunity to help someone else. Through the scholarships, her memory gets to be connected to students who are working toward their own futures and accomplishments.”

Finding Purpose

Melissa’s entrepreneurial spirit and ability to take on multiple projects are fueled by passion. She has received numerous honors and accolades for all her professional and community work. “When you’re looking to work with a community-based organization or start a nonprofit, you have to be passionate about the purpose,” she says. “It’s also about finding the right balance in your life—something that works with your time, plays to your strengths, and feels meaningful to you. When those things come together, that’s when you can really make a difference.”

For Mina, her mother’s lifelong work has shown her the importance of giving back to the community. She says her mother’s ability to build relationships with others is one of her defining qualities. “My mom has the ability to connect with all different types of people and treats everyone with respect,” she says. “Her personality allows her to build genuine connections with people across so many different communities and businesses, and people naturally want to work with and support her.”

Melissa encourages others to volunteer with Dress for Success, noting the two nearest offices are located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. Whether through donating clothing and accessories or providing styling services, every contribution makes a difference, and many Upper Makefield women are involved, she says.

Melissa plans to continue her work with Dress for Success by increasing partnerships with national and global organizations. With The Cherry Tree Foundation, she hopes to raise awareness, grow its fundraising events, and build partnerships with more local high schools and colleges. No matter what project she takes on, her ultimate goal remains the same: “I want to have a voice, but I wantº to make sure other people’s voices are heard,” she says. “That’s important to me—in my work and in my life. You have to be willing to stand up for others, use your voice, and do something that creates positive change.”

Dari Kotzker is the editor of Upper Makefield magazine. She has worked as a reporter in television news and print media since 2001 and resides in Bucks County with her husband and four kids.

Photograph by Lucent Reflections Photography (Lucy Espejel)