David L. Dworkin, Chairman, CEO and cofounder of Swoozie’s®, Inc., passed away at his home in Atlanta, Georgia on May 2nd, 2007. Cofounder Kelly Plank-Dworkin, the President and COO of this growth company, the Board of Directors and the entire team at Swoozie’s® are deeply sorrowed by this significant loss.

 “Swoozie’s® has lost a brilliant leader,” said VP of Marketing Amy Wilkinson. “Mr. Dworkin’s vision and steadfast commitment to effective leadership molded this company. He and his wife Kelly created an organizational culture strongly committed to empowering employees, lifting customer care to the top priority, and orchestrating a colorful and vivacious environment in which to shop and work.”

 Mr. Dworkin co-founded his life-long dream, Swoozie’s®, Inc, an innovative chain of unique gift and stationery stores, in February of 2001 and was its Chairman and CEO. He had great vision and passion for Real Estate and also led Swoozie’s® store operations and human resources teams. Along with Kelly Plank-Dworkin, Mr. Dworkin was a driving force behind Swoozie’s® 6 year, 21 store national expansion effort.

Mr. Dworkin’s prestigious retail background spanned decades. Before Swoozie’s®, Mr. Dworkin served as CEO of several chains including the former Upton’s; Broadway Stores, which was acquired by Federated Department Stores in 1995; British Home Stores and its parent, Storehouse PLC, and the former Bonwit Teller . Before Mr. Dworkin was recruited by Neiman Marcus to serve as President and COO, he was a Vice President and General Merchandise Manager at Saks Fifth Avenue and also held merchant slots at Marshall Fields, Famous Barr and Abraham & Straus, nameplates that have been converted to Macy’s. 

 Dworkin also was a National Trustee of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, where he was once a member. As a business leader, he was committed to community outreach. He, along with Swoozie’s®, actively contributed to numerous charitable organizations across the nation.

 Mr. Dworkin was 63 and is survived by his wife, Kelly Plank-Dworkin; his two adult daughters, Kira Shephard and Wendy Perry; Kelly’s 3 children, Ashley, Morgan and Jordan; his sister-in-law Kim Reeder; his 5 grandchildren, Ivan, Oscar, Julian, Liam and Remy; and his extended family including members of Ching Tang and Swoozie’s®.