The Montclair Girl Team 
We love shining a light on impactful women every day, but because March is Women’s History Month, it feels especially timely. The Montclair Girl is highlighting 26 local women doing great things to keep an eye on in 2026. Read on for a list of 26 women in Montclair + North Jersey to watch.
Laura Adjangba | Founder + President, Women Leaders in Action 
Laura Adjangba is the Founder and President of Women Leaders in Action, an organization dedicated to empowering immigrant and underserved women through education, advocacy, leadership training, and community programs. The group offers a scholarship program, health and wellness programming, and more.
Stephanie Allan and Stephanie Moreno | Founders, Pilatte
Pilatte is Montclair’s first women-only Pilates studio. Founders Stephanie Allan and Stephanie Moreno wanted to create an environment where all women feel safe and comfortable. To ensure this, during classes, doors are locked with curtains down and there is a strict no-recording policy. The studio is also hijabi-friendly, with a station to safely hang hijabs during workouts. The studio opened in the Summer of 2025.
Evie Colbert | Montclair Film
Evie Colbert is the President of the Board of Directors at Montclair Film, where she guides programming, fundraising, and community engagement that have made the festival one of New Jersey’s leading arts institutions. She is also responsible for the growth of the organization’s vital fundraising events, the Montclair Film Festival, which showcases new films with guests including Jon Bon Jovi and outgoing Governor Murphy. She is also an independent film producer and Vice President of Spartina Productions.
Karen Schloss Diaz | Owner of Diaz • Schloss Communications
Karen Schloss Diaz is a communications and strategy professional engaged in community development and nonprofit storytelling. Karen owns her own PR firm, Diaz • Schloss Communications. The firm is focused on hospitality communications through working with local restaurants. Karen has also worked as a contributor for Montclair Local.
Karen DiMarco | Founder, Food Brigade
Karen DiMarco is a licensed New Jersey real estate broker based in Tenafly. She began her career in volunteerism in 1994 as a coordinator + preparation team member for homeless shelters in Bergen County. In 2020, she founded Food Brigade with executive director Carmine DeMarco, cooking individual meals for community members in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Karen’s mission to combat food insecurity has since flourished with free community markets, meal distribution programs, seasonal drives, and supermarket gift card distribution.
Read More: 11 Black Community Leaders Making a Difference in Essex County
Eliza + Sarah | Founders, Spunky Seniors Dog Sanctuary
Montclair high schoolers Eliza and Sarah run Spunky Seniors Dog Sanctuary (SSDS), a non-profit that cares for senior dogs in Essex County. The initiative began with Eliza, who founded the non-profit after caring for senior dogs over the years. Sarah is SSDS’s social media manager and marketer, and the two girls organize extracurricular activities and programs to give love, peace, and attention to dogs under the non-profit’s care. Recently, they have developed a “senior-for-seniors” program where senior dogs and senior community members can enjoy each other’s company. The SSDS is family-funded and partnered with its mobile veterinarian, Dr. Krausman. The initiative’s website includes information on donations and senior-for-senior programs.
Natalia Espejo | Latinos of Montclair
Natalia is a cultural ambassador and the founder + co-president of Latinos of Montclair, a local non-profit that celebrates, fosters, and preserves Latino culture in New Jersey. Natalia founded Latinos of Montclair to host the first Latino Heritage Celebration in Montclair, and has since been involved in panels, educational programs, and initiatives to promote greater visibility among Latino-identifying residents. Some of the core values Natalia encourages with Latinos of Montclair include cultural pride, empowerment, inclusivity, and community engagement.
Karan Fischer | Executive Chef + Founder, Montclair Culinary Academy
Chef Karan Fischer is the Executive Chef and Founder of the Montclair Culinary Academy. Recognized for her innovative cooking style, community engagement, and passion for connecting people through food-centered experiences. Chef Karan graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education in Manhattan in 2009, and has since worked as a lead Chef at Abigail Kirsch, catering events for clients including the Alicia Keys Foundation and Morgan Stanley. The Montclair Culinary Academy (MCA) hosts classes for children and adults, with options to book individually for a public class or book private classes for a range of events, including team-building exercises and birthday parties. She is also a Board Member of the Upper Montclair Business Association.
Janeece Freeman Clark | Founding Artistic Director, The Vanguard
The Vanguard Theater Company is a professional, non-profit theater in Montclair with a mission to produce socially conscious, inclusive theater. At the helm is founder Janeece Freeman Clark, a Professor of Theater at Seton Hall University, where she also serves as special advisor to the Arts Council. Under Janeece’s direction, Vanguard has presented NYC productions of “Runaways,” “Spring Awakening,” “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” among others. Janeece is dedicated to uplifting underrepresented perspectives and elevating diverse voices within theater through education, mentorship, and activism.
Jennifer Jones | Author, Dancer
Montclair resident Jennifer Jones made history as the first Black Rockette to join the kickline. She continues to dance and share her experiences through her children’s books and even a doll made in her likeness. She hopes to inspire others to continue pursuing their dreams.
Miranda Ferriss Jones | Songwriter, Theatrical Creator + Performer
Miranda Ferriss Jones is a songwriter, performer, and theater creator who recently released a musical, Spiral Bound, at the Lincoln Center Atrium in New York City. Miranda was born and raised in Vermont, and studied at Yale University and the London Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her biggest inspirations in play creation include her multicultural upbringing, topics of female identity, and exploring the spaces between binaries. Spiral Bound was based on poems written by Richard Edelman and interpreted through the lens of Miranda’s experiences. A full archive of Miranda’s projects can be found here.
Julia | Montclair Eagle Scout
Julia is a Montclair Eagle Scout who has contributed greatly to the Montclair community with her involvement in local causes and thoughtful service. In September 2025, Julia’s Eagle Scout Service Project was to design a new room for the Montclair donation initiative, Toni’s Closet, building flexible shelving to provide more space for donations and clothing inventory. Julia’s efforts reflected Eagle Scout values and the significance of contributing to local non-profit efforts. Her project can be found at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, located at 73 South Fullerton Avenue.
Deb Looney | CEO + Founder, Loopwell
Deb Looney is the CEO and Founder of Loopwell, Montclair’s community-driven well-being social club designed to bring people together through intentional gatherings, workshops, and shared experiences. Inspired by her own wellness journey, Deb created Loopwell as a space that nurtures connection, purpose, and holistic well-being. Before launching Loopwell, she built a successful career as an award-winning art director and agency co-founder. Today, she’s recognized as a visionary leader helping redefine how communities come together to support one another. Through Loopwell, Deb continues to champion meaningful connection and purpose-led living in Montclair and beyond.
Kiahna Molloy | A Dope Ass Ice Cream Shop
Kianha is the founder of A Dope Ass Ice Cream Shop, which focuses on serving fresh, non-processed ice cream. She currently accepts orders via website request and has a pop-up location on the way. Some of the shop’s seasonal flavors include Lemon Cream Cake, Junk Kreme, and Blueberry Cheesecake.
Liz Morgan | Director, Montclair Shelter
Liz Morgan is the director of Montclair Township Animal Shelter (MTAS). Liz has led the shelter to become a haven for animals, providing care + control, education, and community programming. Liz, who has years of experience as the shelter’s director, says MTAS’s mission is to care for and protect the community’s disadvantaged animals, promote animal welfare, and place adoptable animals in forever homes. Liz has thanked the city of Montclair for its great support of animals as she aims to make MTAS as welcoming to them as possible.
Minoru “Meiji” Pattamasingcha | Founder, Minoru
Meiji Pattamasingcha opened Minoru, a Montclair Japanese restaurant, in 2025. She began her career under Aki Kaneda, the owner of Montclair’s now-closed restaurant Daikichi, and runs Minoru in the same space. Meiji blends traditional flavors with modern creativity to keep dishes fresh and celebrate her roots simultaneously. Some of Minoru’s most popular items include their ramen bowls; steak grilling platter with wagyu beef, vegetables, yuzu kosho, truffle salt, wasabi, and A5 wagyu fat fried rice; and a variety of desserts, including a matcha parfait.
Robin Peacock | Executive Director, MEND NJ 
Robin Peacock is the Executive Director of MEND NJ (Meeting Essential Needs With Dignity), where she oversees a network of food pantries and drives innovative solutions to address hunger, dignity, and access across Essex County. Over half a million Essex County neighbors are supported each month through MEND NJ’s network of community partners. The facility has an 80,000 square foot warehouse and a mobile food pantry called the Sweet Potato. The group also participates in the Food & Health Equity Coalition of Essex County (FHEC), a cross-sector collaboration among dozens of Essex County community organizations working together to better meet the community’s needs.
Mikie Sherrill | Governor of New Jersey
Mikie Sherrill is the Governor of New Jersey and the first woman to hold the office. She is a former Congresswoman for New Jersey’s 11th district, a Navy helicopter pilot, and a former federal prosecutor.
Georgia Varidakis Simoes | Lackawanna Station
Georgia Varidakis Simoes is a Montclair-based artisan and designer known for her handcrafted jewelry and involvement in creative projects at the historic Lackawanna complex. As part of Georgia’s work as a General Manager and Director of Events at BDP Holdings, Georgia manages the events at Lackawanna Station, including Montclair Flea. Georgia has previously worked as an Executive Director at the West Orange Chamber of Commerce and designs jewelry, planting a tree for every item sold.
Traci Wilkes Smith | Martha’s Vineyard Black Book Festival
Traci Wilkes Smith is the Founder of the Martha’s Vineyard Black Book Festival and a Montclair resident, celebrated for championing Black authors, cultural literacy, and inclusive literary spaces. Traci has an extensive background working in law as an attorney and agent at WTA, a law clerk at the Superior Court of New Jersey, and an attorney at ArentFox LLP. Traci currently represents award-winning journalists, authors, and creators as Senior Vice President of CSE, a sports and media talent agency.
Heather Thompson | Director, Table to Table
Heather Thompson is the Director of Table to Table, New Jersey’s statewide food rescue program. The program collects fresh, nutritious, perishable food and connects it with neighbors in need through its 303 community partners in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Passaic Counties.
Farnoosh Torabi | Co-Host + Co-Founder of Montclair Pod
Farnoosh Torabi is a cohost and cofounder of the Montclair Pod. Farnoosh is a financial journalist who also founded the Webby-Winning So Money podcast. Through her work on Montclair Pod, Farnoosh has delved into the world of local news, featuring guests including local business owners and even Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill. Montclair Pod was recently awarded the 2025 Signal Award for Best Local News Podcast.
Mariekarl Vilceus-Talty | President + CEO, Maternal + Child Health of Northern New Jersey
Mariekarl Vilceus-Talty is President & CEO of the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey, leading regional initiatives that advance family wellness, health education, and equitable maternal health outcomes. The Partnership provides vaccine clinics, pre-and post-natal support, parenting education, and more to over 40,000 New Jerseyans a year.
Melissa Walker | Founder, Jazz House Kids
Jazz House Kids is a community arts organization in New Jersey, founded by arts education advocate Melissa Walker. Melissa founded Jazz House Kids to encourage great arts education for kids and bridge the gap in music instruction between different communities. The organization offers a variety of in-school programs, rehearsal resources, and events to build a circle of enthusiastic students and dedicated teachers. Jazz House Kids also loans instruments and provides need-based tuition assistance. Mellisa has opened two locations for Jazz House Kids: its headquarters in Montclair and a satellite program in Lower Manhattan.
Michelle Ward | Co-Founder + General Manager, The Rec Room
Michelle Ward is a Montclair local with a passion for creativity, community, and connection. As Co-Founder and General Manager of RecRoom, she brings big-city coworking expertise together with small-town hospitality, creating a space where professionals genuinely enjoy showing up to work. Prior to launching RecRoom, Michelle spent more than 15 years as a business coach and consultant, helping creative women build and grow meaningful careers. A longtime lover of the arts and community theater, she brings curiosity, energy, and heart into everything she does. Deeply rooted in Montclair, Michelle is known for turning great ideas into welcoming experiences — and for building spaces where people feel inspired, supported, and right at home.
Kika Wise | Founder of Kika Stretch Studios
Kika Wise runs Kika Stretch Studios, a fitness studio franchise with a location in Montclair. Kika was born and raised in Essex County, New Jersey, and graduated from Montclair State University with a bachelor’s degree in Dance. She founded Kika Stretch Studios in 2011 with the intention of introducing new approaches to health, fitness, and vitality. The franchise also offers custom wellness products, from apparel to oils. Appointments at Kika Stretch Studios can be booked on its website.
See More: This Bergen County Girl Scout Won an Award for Her Work With Senior Citizens
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