The St. Louis Suit Project Board of Directors

The St. Louis Suit Project was founded by Christopher R. Dixon, Benjamin Lawler, and Stephen Brooks. The success of the St. Louis Suit Project is a testament to what hard work and determination can achieve. The St. Louis Suit Project looks forward to the continued growth and goodwill of the Project.

Christopher R. Dixon

Christopher R. Dixon is the co-founder and Chairman of the St. Louis Suit Project.  He is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. After graduating from Lindbergh High School, he attended the University of Missouri-Columbia where he studied business finance and real estate.  After completing his undergraduate degree, Chris obtained his law degree, beginning at Oklahoma City University School of Law and completing his legal education at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Throughout school, Chris consistently felt the need to help those who were unable to help themselves.  Big Brother Big Sister and Oklahoma Lawyers for Children provided two great outlets to satisfy this need. In addition, working for the St. Louis City Circuit Attorney’s Office while in law school provided a first hand account of the hardships children face when parents were unable to care for their young due to crime and drug abuse.

Chris presently works at the law firm of Schultz Myers as a St. Louis accident lawyer. He takes great pride working alongside Missouri’s premier trial attorneys Stephen Schultz and Joshua Myers.  Named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer and Top 40 Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers Association, Chris aggressively fights for the reimbursement of the harms losses suffered following an accident. For more information about Chris Dixon’s legal practice, visit click the following link to visit his website: accidentlawyerstlouis.com.

Chris recently married the love of his life Megan. Megan and Chris live in St. Louis County, Missouri, and are supporters of organizations like Child Safety Day, Kiva.org, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and March of Dimes. The creation of the St. Louis Suit Project was a homegrown effort to create a lasting organization dedicated to providing business attire to individuals in need. The organization hopes to level the playing field for competent and caring individuals lacking the support required to compete in today’s business environment.

Benjamin Lawler

Benjamin J. Lawler is the co-founder and president of the St. Louis Suit Project.  He was born on a farm in Marion Illinois. He is one of six boys. Ben went to Marion High School and later to Saint Louis University. While at SLU, he studied International Business and Spanish. He also lived in Madrid, Spain for six months where he was blessed with the opportunity to study other cultures around the world.

After graduating college in 2003, Ben began working with Tom James of St Louis. Tom James was founded in 1966 in Nashville, TN. Today it is the largest custom clothing manufacturer in the world and has offices in over 100 cities worldwide. Tom James has grown its business by word of mouth and referrals. Ben calls on clients in their home or office and takes all the time and hassle out of going to the store, providing clients with top-notch custom clothing. Today, Ben runs the Tom James office of St Louis. He has a team of 5 salespeople, 3 tailors and 1 full-time office manager. For more information click HERE.

Ben resides in Ballwin Missouri with his wife Becky and daughter Jillian. He is also involved with the Lymphoma Leukemia Society, USTA St Louis, Juvenile Research Diabetes Foundation and the SLU Alumni Association.  The St. Louis Suit Project has provided an effective avenue for Ben to do what he loves best, helping to dress for success, while giving back to his community.

Stephen Brooks

Stephen Brooks is the co-founder and treasurer of the St. Louis Suit Project.  He was born in St. Louis, Missouri.  After graduating from Parkway Central High School in 1996, he attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.  While at IU, he honed his strength and passion for detail and numbers which lead him to a double major in accounting and finance.  After graduating from IU in 2000, Stephen began his career in public accounting in Chicago, Illinois.  After working in the city for a year, he and his wife moved to the suburbs of Chicago where he continued his career in public accounting as a CPA.

After graduating from the University of Illinois with a Masters of Science in Taxation in 2006 and obtaining the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^TM designation, Stephen and his wife moved back home to St. Louis where he continued his career in public accounting.  In 2010, after 10 years of being employed within the public accounting profession, Stephen founded his own tax and financial planning practice SRB & Associates, LLC based upon the principals of integrity, dedication, and perseverance with the underlying goal of understanding the financial goals of his clients in order to provide timely, positive, and objective tax and financial planning solutions. In January of 2012, he merged his practice into ROI Business Services, LLC.  Click HERE for more information about ROI business Services, LLC. 

Stephen has always looked for opportunities to give back to his community.  The St. Louis Suit Project was the perfect combination to provide opportunities to the young men of his community and provide the needed tax compliance requirements that a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization must adhere to.  Working with inspiring and motivated individuals like Chris Dixon and Ben Lawler made that opportunity even more attractive.

Stephen, his wife and two sons live in St. Charles, Missouri.  When he is not spending time at the office, with his family, or working with Ben and Chris in making a difference in their community, he’s probably running, which is his next love.  Since 2001, Stephen has competed in 19 marathons, 3 triathlons, and 3 ultra-marathons.

Ryan Quinn

Ryan Quinn is the Director of Development of the St. Louis Suit Project. He was born in St. Louis and grew up in St. Charles, MO.  He went to DeSmet Jesuit High School and later the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he studied Marketing and Spanish.

After graduating college in 2003, Ryan began working with Tom James of St. Louis, where he and Ben Lawler became friends and colleagues.  Today, Ryan works as an Account Manager in the Tax and Accounting division of Thomson Reuters.  He meets with CPAs, attorneys, CFOs, controllers and other financial personnel offering tax and accounting research solutions via Checkpoint.  Checkpoint is used by all 100 of the top CPA firms in the U.S., along with 94 of the top 100 Law Firms and 94 of Fortune’s 100 Corporations.

Ryan resides in South St. Louis City with his wife Kelly.  He is also involved with the Pujols Family Foundation, Beta Theta Pi – Zeta Phi Society Foundation and University of Missouri Alumni Association.  The St. Louis Suit Project has provided Ryan with the avenue to give back in a number of ways and help young men and women in the area with the confidence they need to take that next big step in life.  Ryan’s passion for helping people, his connections in the St. Louis area and his prior experience as a clothier make him a perfect fit for the organization.  Outside of the office, Ryan is an avid golfer, Cardinals fan and enjoys traveling with his wife and friends.

Brian Dixon

Brian Dixon is the Operations Chairman of the St. Louis Suit Project. He was born in St. Louis, MO.  After graduating from Lindbergh High School, he attended the University of Missouri where he earned his undergraduate degree studying English and Sociology.  Brian is currently working towards his legal degree at the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis.

During Brian’s undergraduate studies, he developed a passion for helping others.  While in school, he volunteered at The Intersection in Columbia, MO, which is an after-school program for Columbia youths.  He enjoyed the opportunity of being an influential positive role model for the children he encountered.

Aside from school and community volunteering, Brian interns at Page Law in downtown St. Louis.  He has had the great honor to work for and learn from Page Law’s founding partners John and Tonya Page.  During his time at the firm, he assists in the handling of personal injury and serious death claims resulting from car and truck crashes.  Brian also assists in family law matters, as well as social security disability.  He enjoys the opportunity to be able to work hands on with clients and build his rapport within the community.

Brian resides in St. Louis County, MO.  He is excited about the growth and progression of The St. Louis Suit Project and looks forward to helping those in need.  He believes the Suit Project will continue to provide ample opportunity to benefit deserving individuals, and he is committed to the expansion and development of the cause.

Julie Mroz

Julie Mroz is the Public Relations Chair of the St. Louis Suit Project. As a native of St. Louis, Missouri, got involved with the St. Louis Suit Project while working as an intern at the Page Law Firm.  Currently, Julie is finishing her last semester at Westminster College, where she will graduate Summa Cum Laude in her class.  This December, Mroz will receive her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French. Julie just returned home from living for several months in Winchester, England, where she studied international relations. She is now in the process of applying to St. Louis area law schools, as she wants to eventually specialize in legal advocacy.

Throughout her undergraduate schooling at Westminster College, Julie constantly volunteered her time to those in need.  Most notably, Ms. Mroz volunteered weekly at Head Start daycare, where she helped with childcare and even offered free dance classes. Now, as she prepares to become an attorney, Julie continually donates much of her time to the needs of the Suit Project, where she feels she is really giving back to the community.

Julie recently became engaged to her high school sweetheart, James.  The two are set to get married this coming June, before they settle into an apartment in St. Louis County.  The couple just ran in their sixth 5k Race For the Cure, as they are avid supporters of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.