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Community work

Ross has been involved in many local civic organizations over the years. She is the current trustee for the College of St. Scholastica and previously served as head of their advancement committee.

She was a longtime member of the Greater Downtown Council, and once served as its president. She is also a former board member for the Duluth Airport Authority. Ross currently serves on the UMD School of Business’ advisory board.

Ross does a lot of traveling for her career, and one of the places she visits most often is Ohio, where Ascena has a strong presence. During her travels, Ross volunteers at the Mid-Ohio food bank. She also volunteers for the Minnesota Epilepsy Foundation.

Family life

The Rosses have three children: James, 25; Meagan, 23; and Oliver, 17. They also have a 2-year-old dalmatian named Fudge. The family resides in east Duluth.

Jamey and Sue have been married for 33 years. They celebrated their 30th anniversary with a big adventure — the couple hiked 30 miles of the Pacific Coast Trail.

When she’s not working, Ross enjoys walking, hiking, golfing and catching up on the “Real Housewives” TV show. “It’s my guilty pleasure,” Ross said.

While her husband is technically retired, he stays busy by flipping houses and maintaining rental properties. Ross herself isn’t ready to retire just yet, but has big plans when she does. “I want to do more to focus on climate change, and help keep our earth a safe place,” Ross said. “I also want to do more volunteer work.”

Nomination

Ross was nominated for the Leadership Award by her husband. Of his wife, Jamey said, “Suzanne has become an intricate member of the Ascena Retail Group, spending a considerable amount of her time in New York’s fashion garment section. She has shown and proven what a woman can do in the major fashion industry, by becoming a senior executive with values and training learned and honed in humble Duluth, Minnesota. A true Rosie success story!”

Ross is pleased and grateful to receive this award. “I am touched that my husband put the nomination out there,” she said.

The night of the ceremony was made especially memorable by sharing it with friends. “Maurices bought a table at the ceremony, and Jamey and I got to sit with three of my colleagues of over 25 years and their husbands,” Ross said. “To share the night with them was really special.” D compassion serve as an inspiration and motivation for others in our region,” Moris said. “What started as an idea to honor her husband Patrick’s legacy has grown to become a movement I don’t think she could have imagined.”

In addition to receiving the 2019 Most Engaged Volunteer Award, Plys was honored in 2012 with the Duluth Woman of the Year Award. She also received the honorary Gene Boysen Volunteer of the Year Award in 2015. And she was featured in The Woman Today magazine in 2015.

Plys is grateful to be recognized for her efforts. “It means a lot,” she said of this award. “It gives me a platform to talk about Project Joy, House of Hearts and childhood hunger. It can help people understand the need in our community.”

But Plys insists that her work is a team effort. “This award may have my name on it, but so many people are involved in this work along with me.”

If you’re called to help

Plys shared that the best way to contribute to the Project Joy backpack program is either through the donation of time or a financial gift. Volunteers are always needed to help assemble the backpacks, and cash gifts are incredibly useful and appreciated; Second Harvest is able to turn a $1 cash donation into $10 worth of food for the needy. Please contact Second Harvest to learn more. D

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