Just in time for Women’s Month, Two Ten Footwear Foundation announces it will honor the seven founding members of its Women in the Footwear Industry (WIFI) Advisory Board with the 2025 WIFI Impact Award. The organization recognizes their leadership in reinvigorating the industry-wide group and professional community that offers events and programs for thousands of women in footwear.
“Two Ten’s support of the Women in the Footwear Industry (WIFI) community is a key component of our mission to lift lives in footwear,” offers Shawn Osborne, president and CEO of Two Ten. “Two-thirds of those we serve through our educational programs and our relief fund are women. It’s clear that even though representation in leadership roles has increased, the opportunity gap remains. Yet women are vital to our industry workforce.”
The WIFI Advisory Board was formed in 2023 by these seven original members (and heavy hitters in the industry): Board Chair Sarah Bloch, SVP, Footwear and Accessories, Circana; Board Secretary Jori Miller Sherer, President, Minnetonka; and Board members Stephanie Berg, Senior Director of Sales, Birkenstock USA; Eli Del Carmen, VP, Sales, Caleres; Kathy Forstadt, Former Senior Director of Merchandising, Zappos.com; Christina Gigante, VP of Sales, Skechers (BOBS/BOBS Sport Divisions); and Melissa Worth, SVP Americas, New Balance.
Footwear veterans Carol Baiocchi and Diane Sullivan founded WIFI in 2010 as a community initiative within Two Ten. The group grew quickly, attracting members across segments of the industry.
Unfortunately, in-person events were halted during the Covid pandemic, slowing the group’s momentum. “But thanks to the leadership of Sarah, Jori, Stephanie, Eli, Kathy, Christina, and Melissa, WIFI is once again a vibrant, growing community inspiring and elevating women in our industry,” adds Osborne. “We’re delighted to recognize the founding members of the WIFI Advisory Board for making that happen. What they’ve achieved is remarkable.”
About the 2025 WIFI Impact Award recipients:
• Sarah Bloch — Sarah leads the Footwear, Accessories, and Sports teams at Circana, where she and her team transform data into insights to help leading brands optimize strategies. Prior to Circana, Sarah worked at the Jimlar Division of Global Brands Group. Sarah is also a member of the Two Ten Board of Directors’ Strategy Committee.
• Jori Miller Sherer — As President of Minnetonka, Jori oversees wholesale and direct-to-consumer sales, marketing and product development. She joined the fourth-generation family-owned and operated business in 2010. She was awarded a place on the “40 under 40” list by The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, which celebrates the next generation of business and community leaders.
• Stephanie Berg — Stephanie currently serves as the Senior Director, Strategic Account Sales at Birkenstock USA. She started her career in the Buyer’s Training Program at American Eagle Outfitters and went on to work at BBC, Skechers and Fila. She earned the SGB 40 under 40 Award in 2015 and was named to the FNxTwo Ten Women Who Rock Class of 2024.
• Eli Del Carmen — Eli is currently the vice president of sales at Caleres, where she serves as the brand lead for Lifestride. She began her career with May Department Stores as an assistant buyer in 2003 and joined Caleres in 2010. Eli was named to the FNxTwo Ten Women Who Rock Class of 2024.
• Kathy Forstadt — Kathy is the former Senior Director of Merchandising for Zappos.com, where she oversaw the Men’s and Women’s Footwear division. Prior to joining Zappos, she worked for MGM MIRAGE retail. Kathy also serves on the Two Ten Board of Directors and sits on the board of the Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation (FFCF).
• Christina Gigante — Christina is Vice President of Sales at Skechers (BOBS/BOBS Sport Divisions), where she has helped build the BOBS philanthropic brand into a global movement that has donated 16 million pairs of new shoes to children in need and contributed $13 million to save and support more than 2.3 million shelter pets. She serves on the Two Ten Board of Directors, and is engaged in mentoring the next generation of leaders.
• Melissa Worth — Melissa serves as the SVP Americas at New Balance Athletics, overseeing retail, wholesale, e-commerce, marketing, and operations for the region, with strategic oversight of merchandising and finance. She previously served as President of Perry Ellis and is a member of the Board of Trustees for Boston’s Children’s Museum.
The 2025 WIFI Impact Award will be presented at Two Ten’s Annual Gala, to be held at The Glasshouse in New York City on Jun 3.
