Meet Our Uncommon Staff
Susan Kanoff
Founder
Susan founded Uncommon Threads out of her passion for empowering women, combined with her unique mix of experience and skills as a social worker, wardrobe stylist and style influencer. Before launching Uncommon Threads, Susan dedicated over 23 years to helping low-income families move out of poverty through the HUD-funded Family Self-Sufficiency Program and has received numerous awards for her work, including the YWCA’s Tribute to Women Award, NAHRO awards for program innovation and a Massachusetts state citation for her dedication to supporting families.
Susan’s connections in the fashion world have been crucial to the program’s success. Her social media account, The Midlife Fashionista, has been an important tool for attracting national attention to Uncommon Threads including clothing donations, volunteers and media coverage. Susan’s motto is “kindness makes the world go round".
Carmen Carrion
Program Director
A well-known and respected presence in the community, Carmen brings more than 20 years of combined corporate leadership, coaching, and women’s empowerment to help individuals and teams grow with confidence and purpose. She is passionate about uplifting women, creating meaningful connections, and helping others recognize their own strength and potential. Carmen is excited to expand our mission, build strong community relationships, and create lasting impact for the women we serve.
If you stop by the boutique, be sure to say hello and welcome her to the Uncommon Threads community!
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Michelle Nugent
Store Manager
Michelle brings more than10 years of personal styling experience and a passionate desire to give back to a cause which supports women. She has provided stylist services for galas, runway shows and book jacket photos, as well as various social and business engagements.
“Doing a job with purpose is of primary importance to me on a personal level. I believe in this cause, and my experience prepared me to excel in this exact type of arena. The satisfaction of making a person’s inner light shine through clothing and style gives me an unparalleled sense of accomplishment.”
Meg Shultz
Office Manager
Meg was an associate broker/realtor for 20 years in Phoenix, AZ. Prior to moving to Massachusetts, she was an administrative assistant at an autism non-profit.
“Empowering a woman through clothing is such a simple concept, yet so powerful. The energy is so positive at Uncommon Threads, it's contagious. I don't want to miss a thing!"
Malene Aguilar-Durbeck
Office Assistant
Malene retired after 25 years with the Boston Public Schools and is excited to have been given the opportunity to explore a new path with Uncommon Threads. She is the proud mom of 2 children and a cat!
"I am drawn to the similarities between the Boston Public Schools and the Uncommon Threads community. At both, I work to empower and improve the future of the people I work with."
Aixa Delgado
Program Coordinator
Aixa, a Lawrence native, possesses a profound commitment to empowering and inspiring women within her community. For more than 30 years, she has volunteered her spare time empowering women at numerous non-profits in the Merrimack Valley. Bringing with her a track record of excellence in management, leadership, and communication, Aixa joins Uncommon Threads with the aim of bolstering and uplifting the women in our community.
"Imagine your goal vividly in your mind and feel the excitement of its fulfillment resonate deeply within your heart and witness the beauty as it unfolds before you."
Kharen Estrella
Donations & Inventory Coordinator
Kharen is a compassionate and dedicated member of Uncommon Threads with a strong commitment to helping women. As a former participant in our program, she fell in love with how our services and values lit up her confidence. Her experience guiding immigrants and underserved minorities enables her to bring empathy, organization, and a strengths-based approach to her work.
Inspired by her background in community assistance, Kharen is continuing her education in Human Services to deepen her understanding of how to better support individuals and families. She is passionate about empowering others with dignity and respect and values the opportunity to use her bilingual skills to connect with and uplift women.
"Is there any occasion more special to dress up for than the simple blessing of waking up?"
Amy Blanchette
Volunteer and Events Coordinator
Amy is very excited to be on the Uncommon Threads team as the Volunteer and Events Coordinator. She has a background in Theatre Production Management and a BFA from Elon University in North Carolina. Amy resides in Andover with her husband and three daughters.
"There is nothing like giving the gift of self-confidence. Whether you are on the stage or walking down the street, one's true power and light shine from within."
Laura Feng
Assistant to the Store Manager
Laura began volunteering at Uncommon Threads in 2019 and brings that experience to the position of assistant to the store manager. She is excited to be involved with the organization at a deeper level to support its important mission of empowering women in need.
Laura has decades of experience in public relations and writing (including ghost writing two business/marketing books). She lives in Newburyport with her husband and two Maine Coon cats. She has a son and daughter, who are twins.
“It’s a gift to be able to support this amazing organization with such purpose and heart.”
Carmen Jorge
Program Assistant
Carmen is a self-motivated, goal-oriented woman who loves to learn. While working at the Department of Transitional Assistance for 11 years as a social worker, she saw the great need for mental health support, which influenced her to change her major to psychology. She continues her studies while working at Uncommon Threads so she can better serve those in her community with dignity and respect. She looks forward to making a positive impact by helping to support our clients and using her bilingual skills to help serve more women in need.
“Karma is a spiritual belief that is all about cause and effect. The thinking is that if you put good into the world, good comes back to you."
We are grateful to our Advisory Council for their expertise, guidance and support!
DONNA ALDRICH
LEELA BAKSHI
LYNDA BELANGER
KIM MONAHAN BORGIOLI
KIM BOWDEN
SABITA CHOPRA
YOSMERY FRIAS
EILEEN PHIPPS KELLY
EVELYN MARTINEZ
NICOLE RODRIGUEZ
MARGIE ROTHSCHILD, Chair
TANYA WALDROUP