About

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dorlisa Goodrich Young is from Clarksville, Tennessee now living in New Jersey, with a passion for “all things” etiquette.

She is a Certified Children’s Etiquette Consultant who was professionally trained by The American School of Protocol, in Atlanta, Georgia. She founded The Delaware Valley School of Etiquette (DVSE) in 2014.

Her first etiquette teachers were her grandmother Bessie and her mother Sallie, who gave Dorlisa her first etiquette book on Valentine’s Day while she was a freshman at Clarksville High School. Dorlisa was very disappointed that it wasn’t a box of chocolates. At the time, her mother gave her sound advice that still holds true to today. She told her the etiquette book would last longer and have more of an amazing impact than chocolates ever would. Of course, she was correct!

One of Dorlisa’s favorite memories and super funny moments was her formal “Sweet Sixteen” party, given by her parents Sallie and Charles, at the Ramada Inn Riverview in Clarksville. Since Dorlisa didn’t have a boyfriend, her mom went on a mission to find a suitable “date” for the evening. He was the son of one of her mother’s friends from high school, all of the way from Knoxville, TN- a full four hours away- because then there could be no attachment. LOL! Dorlisa still remembers that she had to wear a pink taffeta, tea-length dress, was “forced” to listen to classical musical by a solo harpist during the first half of the evening, but then danced the night away with music from a DJ at the end, and that she dined on a delicious formal meal with her special guests. What an amazing evening. It was her first introduction to society!

Prior to her teen years, her grandparents Bessie and Richard, along with her parents Sallie and Charles also taught her character-building education. Her parents were educators in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School system, her grandfather was one of the first black firefighters in her town and her grandmother showed her how to run a mansion when she would go to work with her as a little girl. Afternoon tea, formal table settings, polishing silver, telephone etiquette skills were a part of her upbringing from a very early age while watching her Grandmomma and then using those skills at her grandparents’ house and at her house, too. Dorlisa’s Saturday chores included polishing silver and ironing linen napkins for her family’s Sunday and holiday dinners.

Dorlisa holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Spelman College in Atlanta. She also holds a Master of Science in Publishing from Pace University in New York. With over 15 years in newspaper and magazine publishing, she has held editorial, marketing, production and Webinar positions at several top publishing companies.

As a member of organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, past member of the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Alumnae Association of Spelman College, former member in Mocha Moms, Incorporated and a locally-based Tea Group, Dorlisa has had a myriad of opportunities to exhibit proper etiquette skills while attending brunches, luncheons, tea, dinners, receptions and special presentations.

Dorlisa is married and has a son who often receives compliments on his great manners!