About
Sorelle Group
Two sisters, Shawny Burns and Yony McCloskey, established Sorelle Group when they merged their talents to form their Event Management and Production firm in 2003.
Shawny Burns
Partner
Before launching Sorelle Group, Ms. Burns spent over 25 years in the Fashion Industry. As Bloomingdale’s Fashion Director of all Branch Stores, Ms. Burns was responsible for all in-store fashion events, fashion public relations and new store openings. This included producing charity fashion shows with many designers, including Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel and Donna Karan. She joined Saks Fifth Avenue in the Washington, DC area as Fashion and Special Events Director managing all store events, public relations, fashion advertising and charity outreach. Ms. Burns continued to work on charity fashion events with major designers, including Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Badgley Mischka, and Zandra Rhodes. As an independent fashion consultant, Ms. Burns worked on many projects including the Super Sale, a benefit for the Nina Hyde Breast Cancer Center and the African Odyssey Fashion Show at the Kennedy Center. Both Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue became clients when Sorelle Group opened their doors in 2003.
A native Washingtonian, Ms. Burns is a member of Fashion Group International and was named the 2006 Entrepreneur of the Year.
Yony McCloskey
Partner
Prior to the founding of Sorelle Group, Ms. McCloskey spent 20 plus years in Sales and Marketing in the consumer electronics and computer industries. Before returning to Washington, DC, she was Vice President of International Sales and Marketing for Sysgen Inc.(Silicon Valley) and managed all international markets, including the Pacific Rim, Europe and the United Kingdom. Upon returning to the nation’s capital, she volunteered for five years in the White House Social Office (Clinton administration) – which led to Special Event consulting for the Kennedy Center. Subsequently she managed their Annual Gala and The National Symphony Ball, along with other signature events.
Born in Germany, Ms. McCloskey grew up in Washington, DC and spent 12 years in California and London. Ms. McCloskey resides in Washington, DC.
