Lyn Berman, Executive Director/Founder

Lyn is doing what she loves. As executive director for Attitudes & Attire™ she’s changing the lives of hundreds of women, one at a time. By helping women rediscover their value and worth, Lyn and her staff plant the seeds for personal growth, offering hope and a new direction toward self-sufficiency.

Lyn began her professional career in retail fashion and has been an image consultant for more than 20 years. She began volunteering with various nonprofit agencies and discovered her true passion—helping disadvantaged women. Lyn worked for an agency that served women on welfare, where she observed that job training did not address less tangible skills. She knew they should be taught effective interview skills and professional work demeanor, as well as reminders of their own worth, and belief in themselves. In 1996 she founded Attitudes & Attire with $500 of her own money and one volunteer, advising 65 women that first year.

Reaching out to help other women experiencing adversity was a natural direction for Lyn. Growing up with an alcoholic father, she witnessed years of violence at a tender age. She began working at age 15, married at 20 and had two children. After a divorce, she raised her kids as a single mom. Lyn has been happily remarried since 1978 and has two grown children and four grandchildren. The same passion that helped Lyn found Attitudes & Attire in 1996, keeps it strong today. And because of it, the lives of many women have been changed forever.  Contact Lyn at 214.746.4212 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Mary Pollinzi Brown, Program Director

As program director, Mary is responsible for managing the development and delivery of the Attitudes & Attire Program. She facilitates workshops related to self-esteem and successful interview skills. In addition, Mary presents seminars and presentations to agencies, corporations, and civic groups.

Mary is a career educator with over thirty years of experience in public education on the secondary level. She coordinated teen pregnancy programs in both the Dallas and Garland Independent Schools Districts. Mary also served as coordinator of the Career Preparation Program at North Dallas High, placing high school students in jobs and teaching skills for successful employment. She received her Bachelor of Science in home economics education from the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas, and earned her California teaching credential, as a graduate student at California Polytechnic University in Pomona, California. As a family & consumer science educator in school districts in Texas and California, Mary has taught a variety of subjects including: life skills, food & nutrition, parenting education, child development, consumer economics, and career education.

Mary grew up in Dallas, and is thrilled to be a part of the Attitudes & Attire staff, where she is combining her varied experiences in education to make a difference in the lives of many women. She and her husband have been happily married since 1979, and spend most vacations visiting their daughter, son-in-law, and grandson in England. Contact Mary at 214.746.4214 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Evelyn Earl, Boutique Manager

Evelyn oversees the Attitudes & Attire boutique and all of our client dressings, working directly with clients and managing volunteers. She is also responsible for all operations relating to the boutique as well as coordinating clothing donations, including sorting, sizing, and labeling. Evelyn also works with donors on clothing drives throughout the year.

Evelyn serves as role model for our clients, preparing them for workshops and dressings and taking an active role in ensuring clients have a positive experience and clothes that are just right for them. Evelyn has been with Attitudes & Attire for nine years. Prior to her position with Attitudes & Attire, she worked at the post office for 23 years.

Evelyn moved to Dallas to follow her dream. She has worked in the retail industry for 15 years and been a wardrobe stylist for 25 years. Evelyn earned her Associates degree in fashion merchandising. She has three children, three granddaughters, and one grandson. Outside of work, her hobbies include reading, writing, and dressing ladies everywhere. Contact Evelyn at 214.746.4215 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Cristal Ooi, Volunteer Coordinator

As an administrative assistant Cristal is responsible for developing and maintaining paper and electronic workshop filing systems, creating and maintaining agency/client databases, ordering office supplies and maintaining inventories, answering and handling telephone calls, creating spreadsheets and reports, and coordinating events.

Cristal, after leaving home from Malaysia at age 21, decided to get a college education in the U.S. She enrolled at Northwood University in Michigan. After having worked in school and studying English for a while during her first year here, she seriously considered the possibility of studying for a degree. She earned her Bachelors degree in business administration, specializing in finance and management information system from the University of Central Arkansas. Then, she continued on to attain an MBA from Webster University. Years after she graduated she moved to Dallas and began volunteering at Attitudes & Attire.

She spends most of her free time hanging out with friends and loves traveling. She learns a lot by traveling to new places and enjoys trying various kinds of foods. Contact Cristal at 214.746.4216 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Marla Payne, Director of Marketing

As the Director of Marketing, Marla is responsible for coordinating the marketing and PR for Attitudes & Attire™. As an agency volunteer since 2001, she has worked as a committee member on 11 fundraisers and has extensive experience in planning all aspects of the luncheon. She was recognized as Attitudes & Attire™ Volunteer of the Year in 2003 and served as Honorary Chair for the 2009 luncheon.

Marla attended Kansas State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Marketing. Her professional career began in retail, but eventually evolved into a career in consumer products sales. She spent seventeen years in sales and management positions with Max Factor, Kayser-Roth Hosiery, Amoco Foam Products, and Sara Lee Household & Body Care. Prior to joining the Attitudes & Attire™ staff, Marla was employed as an independent marketing consultant.

Marla grew up in Kansas and moved to Texas in 1982. She and her husband of twenty-eight years reside in Coppell, Texas and have one daughter. She is an active volunteer in the CISD school district and also finds time to help her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop with the pursuit of their Gold Award. Marla is a Chi Omega alumna and a lifetime alumni member of Kansas State University. Marla enjoys yoga, reading, and socializing with her dinner club of 25 years in her free time. Contact Marla at 214.746.4222 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .