The Montclair Girl Team - Montclair Girl

by Jennifer Tripucka September 25, 2014

Jennifer Tripucka

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Jen is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of both The Montclair Girl and The Hoboken Girl. Before her media career started at Conde Nast and then full-time at HG + MG, she worked as a public school educator in the Bloomfield Public Schools for 5 years. Jen started the sites to discover the amazing things happening in the North Jersey area and to highlight local businesses. When not shopping small or eating her way through North Jersey, she can usually be found walking her two pups, watching Bravo TV, and ordering takeout with her husband, an Essex County native.

Devin Mahon

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Originally from Holmdel, NJ, Devin made the amazing decision to put down permanent roots in Northern Jersey after years of renting in NYC. With a professional background in finance and public relations, Devin left the corporate world and opened her own franchise business in 2016. A true lover of all things pop culture, she has been known to binge-watch all of her favorite TV shows over and over. When not working, Devin can be found hiking some local NJ trails with her family and pup, enjoying a meal with her closest friends, devouring a delicious piece of cake at home, or dragging her husband shopping at the local HomeGoods.

Jordan and Joelle

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Jordan and Joelle are twins, contributors, and the Volunteer Coordinators of Hoboken Girl — but most of all — true Jersey Girls. The girls moved to Hoboken a few short years after graduating with degrees in Communications from Loyola University. Outside of their 9-5 as senior publishers in NYC, the twins can be found baking cookies (sometimes on TV!), reading the latest books, or walking their Yorkie-Poo, Chica. Like many 20-somethings, Jordan and Joelle are balling on a budget and know how to score the best deals around town.

Amber Veltri

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Originally from Hamilton, and now a Hoboken resident, Amber is a true Jersey Girl. She is an Art Director for Broadway Dance Center in NYC, Graphic Designer, Social Media Guru, Photographer, Influencer {@Hoboken_Love), and a mom to her favorite muse, Brooks. When she’s not working you can find her at concerts, visiting restaurants and galleries, drinking coffee, and supporting local businesses.

The Montclair Girl Team

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Samantha Impaglia

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A recent Montclair State journalism graduate, Samantha loves sharing her view of the world through her writing. With roots in Woodbridge Township, she is a true Jersey Girl. You can find her looking for local coffee shops and places to shop for clothes and new plants. Samantha is an avid hockey fan and experienced in sports media, newspapers, and editing. Aside from her writing, she loves to travel, especially to Disney and beach locales.

Diana Cooper

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Originally from South Jersey, Diana has made her way up the turnpike and has found North Jersey to be her permanent fixture these past seven years. Montclair happens to be the perfect place to meet long-distance friends and family, especially with all the various restaurant offerings and adorable boutique shops. Diana writes in her spare time and works as a reporter for a national celebrity magazine. After a long day, what Diana enjoys the most is working out, playing with her kitten Chloe and catching up on the latest Bachelor or Real Housewives episode.

Olivia Fisher

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Olivia grew up just next door in Verona and used to call Montclair “The Big Apple” as a child because she thought it resembled NYC. She is currently majoring in Anthropology at The George Washington University in DC. As a taphophile or cemetery enthusiast, she is a big history nerd and especially interested in local history. When she's not studying, you can find her swimming, walking, making jewelry, or getting brunch at her favorite spot.

Jordan and Joelle Hernandez

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Jordan and Joelle have ties to Montclair starting even before they were born. Both of their parents are graduates of Montclair State University and they knew they would be back at some point in life. Originally hailing from down the shore in Hazlet, NJ, they are true Jersey girls at heart. Outside of their 9-5 as senior publishers in NYC, the twins can be found baking cookies, reading the latest books, or walking their yorkie-poo Chica. Like many 20-somethings, Jordan and Joelle are balling on a budget and know how to score the best deals around town!

Lisa Batitto

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Lisa Batitto is a resident of Montclair with roots throughout New Jersey. She is a Reiki master who owns her own wellness company and is co-owner of a branding agency that helps small businesses find their voices. She loves telling the stories of people who make a difference in their community and world. In her spare time, she likes uncovering hidden gems (and then texting everyone about them), drinking bubble tea with extra pearls, and supporting the arts.

Stephanie Spear

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Stephanie Spear is a recent NJ transplant and enjoys exploring all there is to see and do. Within the area, she likes to check out local parks, historical sites, and gardens along with her husband and dog. And of course, sampling all of the best pizza NJ has to offer. She and her husband are from Washington DC and both work for the federal government. Stephanie loves to travel, ski, paddleboard, and spend time with her eight nieces and nephews.

Danielle Farina

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Danielle is a recent graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she studied English and philosophy. Originally hailing from Roseland, NJ, spending four years in the midwest confirmed what she already knew to be true: there’s no place like home. Danielle is excited to use her love for writing to explore Jersey’s many local legends, both old and new. When she’s not writing, you can find her listening to Taylor Swift, quoting New Girl, or continuing her hunt for the best iced latte.

Erica Commisso

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Erica calls New Jersey her adopted home, after moving from Toronto, Canada. She completed her graduate degree from NYU's journalism school and now spends her days writing and reading. Her interests include everything from sports to books to fashion, and she falls more and more in love with her new home with each passing day.

Bertha Solis

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Bertha has been a New Jersey resident most of her life. She earned a B.A. in Journalism and Media Studies with a minor in Theater from Rutgers University-Newark. In her spare time, she likes creating content for her social media pages, going to Broadway shows, spending time with her golden retriever dog (Gizmo), listening to Harry Styles, and trying out new food spots in the area. You can follow her day-to-day content through her Instagram @simplyberthaxo.

Samantha Bonizzi

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Samantha is a Jersey girl through and through. She grew up in Bergen County, studied Journalism at Rutgers University, and spent her first few post-college years in Hoboken. After a short stint in NYC, she’s now settled right outside of Montclair in Cedar Grove with her husband. Samantha has spent her professional career in public relations and communications, and writing has always been a passion – whether done professionally or as a hobby. When she’s not writing, you can catch her working out or doing yoga, hiking and enjoying the outdoors, traveling, and dining out (especially in the Montclair area!). She loves living in Essex County and is in it for the long haul!

Sarah Boyle

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Sarah grew up in Northern NJ and has proudly carried the “Jersey Girl” legacy throughout her national and international travels. She has fond childhood memories of frequenting Montclair with her grandfather who hailed from Clifton and loved a good shrimp scampi. After attending Emory University in Atlanta and studying abroad in Sydney, Sarah felt the tristate area calling her home and boomeranged right back. Sarah has always had a passion for writing and editing. She’s both written and edited for Tapinto, The Jane Goodall Institute, Langtons International Agency, and The Lullwater Review. Most recently, Sarah taught creative writing at Writopia Lab, an educational non-profit for kids and teens, where she was also the Editor-in-Chief of their two literary magazines. For fun, Sarah can be found searching for the most delicious meals, petting the cutest dogs, traveling (both locally in NJ and abroad), or playing around with music composition.

Jennifer Tripucka

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Jen is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of both The Montclair Girl and The Hoboken Girl. Before her media career started at Conde Nast and then full-time at HG + MG, she worked as a public school educator in the Bloomfield Public Schools for 5 years. Jen started the sites to discover the amazing things happening in the North Jersey area and to highlight local businesses. When not shopping small or eating her way through North Jersey, she can usually be found walking her two pups, watching Bravo TV, and ordering takeout with her husband, an Essex County native.

Yiwei Gu

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Yiwei was born and raised in China. She has lived extensively in Beijing and Hong Kong, before finally settling down in New York. She moved to North Jersey after a few years in Westchester and immediately fell in love with the lively communities. A financial analyst in her previous life, she is now an education consultant, a writing enthusiast, and an avid traveler who strives to think like an economist. When she is not wandering wildly in the streets of Europe, Asia, or Latin America, she can be found trying new dishes in local restaurants.

Hoboken Girl Team

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Rosaria LoPresti

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Rosaria is a journalist driven by a profound love for writing and finds her inspiration from her ties to Montclair, NJ — which were strengthened during her time at Montclair State University. From growing up in the area, she proudly identifies as a Jersey girl. With a background in newspapers and magazines, Rosaria channels her creativity into crafting children’s books and indulges in her passions for reading, music, fashion, and traveling the world. During her down time, you’ll catch her playing instruments, exploring new shops in Montclair, and spending time with family.

Cristina Lombardi

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Cristina is a Jersey girl through and through. She grew up in Essex County, just a few short miles away from Montclair and currently resides in Northern NJ. She has a degree in Food Marketing from Saint Joes in Philly, and has since been pursuing a career in the world of digital marketing and advertising. Outside of work, she loves traveling, cooking, interior design, photography and staying active. You can find her wandering around Church Street, taking yoga classes or hitting up the local coffee shops and restaurants around Bloomfield Ave.

Christina Mastroeni

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Christina Mastroeni Veloso is born and bred in North Jersey. So much so, that if she's giving you directions, it'll likely be based on the nearest parkway exit. Also, her love for Jersey and Taylor Ham knows no bounds. In addition to writing for The Montclair Girl, Christina is currently a Business Writing Professor at Kean University. Prior to this experience, she held marketing positions for other medium-sized companies/institutions in North Jersey. Christina has experience running her own blog, performing stand-up comedy, and co-hosting a weekly podcast (Two Girls Watch TV) and Youtube Channel (Two Girls Drink Beer). When she's not wearing all these hats, Christina loves a good cup of coffee, enjoys working out, and practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu when she can.

Francesca DiPisa

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Born and raised in Northern New Jersey, Francesca is a true "Jersey girl" at heart. She has loved exploring her home state since her family has always taken trips to new local shops and Italian restaurants all over North Jersey as well as vacations to Wildwood Crest every summer. When she's not eating brunch at Toast with her best friends or visiting her alma mater at Montclair State University, she can be found reading a romance novel, reviewing the latest films on Letterboxd, or performing at open-mics in the area. You can follow her adventures and music-making on her Instagram @francesca.dipisa

Sarah Griesbach

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Sarah Hermes Griesbach lives in Northern New Jersey. She’s a long-time museum educator and culture writer using her location at a crossroads of ferries, trains, subway, light rail, bike, and walking paths to explore this creative hub. Montclair Girl gives Griesbach an excellent excuse to ask questions and seek answers from the countless creative movers, shakers, and thinkers who populate our vibrant region. She’s ever on the lookout for stories about nature, city-living, and people pushing up toward a better world.

The Hoboken Girl Team

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Jodi Cirincione

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Jodi is a New Jersey native, and lives in Cedar Grove. She fell in love with the area after living in Montclair and attending graduate school at Montclair State University. Jodi has been a school counselor for fifteen years. In her free time, Jodi loves spending time with her family, including her daughter and lovable yellow lab. Local coffee shops, psychological thrillers, and chicken sandwiches are among her favorite things. As a new mom, Jodi has been enjoying all the parks and activities that Montclair has to offer.

Michele Danna

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Michele was born and raised in North Jersey. She can often be found running, doing yoga outside, or playing soccer in a local league. Before joining The Montclair Girl team, Michele worked as public school educator for seven years, teaching English + Theater. Michele is also a professional actor with credits across stage and screen. Currently, she is performing off-Broadway.

Editor

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Jacqueline Kirby Zonkowski

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Jacqueline has been in NJ for a decade, and enjoying all of the opportunities and activities in the area ever since. She is a children's book author and runs a marketing and food company with her husband, and lives in Jersey City with their daughter. Jacqueline loves exploring the Montclair area and takes every advantage she can to dine at Mesob for a little taste of the world.

Sabrina Browne

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Sabrina N. Browne is an award-winning PR Executive, women’s advocate, and lifestyle influencer residing in the Mile Square. In 2016, she moved to Hoboken after accepting her position at a global communications agency in Manhattan. By day, she counsels clients in the beauty, finance, and travel sectors. When she’s not in the office, you can find Sabrina brunching or rooftop hopping across Hudson County. The Belgian-West African beauty believes we should all “see, sip and savor more life” and she exudes this mindset in everything that she does. Follow her on Instagram at @TheTasteofS.

Via Rutkowski

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After years of bustling through NYC and working in the fashion industry, Via pivoted her career when the pandemic had other plans. From copywriting and social media to PR and TV hosting, Via wore many hats that ultimately helped her identify her passion for storytelling. Now, she gets to admire the NYC skyline from her home in North Jersey where she runs a business of her own. When she’s not writing in a coffee shop or tending to her clients you can find her experimenting with photography and snapping outfit videos outside of some of your favorite local spots.

Stephanie Brown

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Stephanie recently relocated to Jersey City and immediately felt at home. Since moving, she's been checking out all of the local coffee shops and trivia nights with her husband. Stephanie has a background in nutrition and works as a cooking instructor and freelance writer with a focus on health and lifestyle content. Her ideal Saturday includes a run along the waterfront, doughnuts, a museum visit, and a cocktail to cap it off.

Sammi Caramela

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Sammi is a Jersey girl through and through. She's lived all across the state and studied creative writing and journalism at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. Sammi currently resides in Hunterdon County, where she spends her free time hiking, exploring the art and history of her area, and writing at her local cafe. To unwind, Sammi enjoys reading or doing yoga with her little black cat, Poe. Sammi has a ton of friends in Hoboken, so she considers herself a resident by association.

Danielle Lynch

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Danielle moved back to the Jersey burbs to start a family after being a Hoboken girl for nearly 10 years. She loves the Garden State and enjoys keeping up with all of the happenings and supporting local businesses in her new and old communities. Danielle loves spending time with her boys, trying her hand in the kitchen, and traveling the world.

Amber Veltri

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Originally from Hamilton, and now a Hoboken resident, Amber is a true Jersey Girl. She is an Art Director for Broadway Dance Center in NYC, Graphic Designer, Social Media Guru, Photographer, Influencer {@Hoboken_Love), and a mom to her favorite muse, Brooks. When she's not working you can find her at concerts, visiting restaurants and galleries, drinking coffee, and supporting local businesses.

wpengine

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This is the "wpengine" admin user that our staff uses to gain access to your admin area to provide support and troubleshooting. It can only be accessed by a button in our secure log that auto generates a password and dumps that password after the staff member has logged in. We have taken extreme measures to ensure that our own user is not going to be misused to harm any of our clients sites.

Devin Mahon

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Originally from Holmdel, NJ, Devin made the amazing decision to put down permanent roots in Northern Jersey after years of renting in NYC. With a professional background in finance and public relations, Devin left the corporate world and opened her own franchise business in 2016. A true lover of all things pop culture, she has been known to binge-watch all of her favorite TV shows over and over. When not working, Devin can be found hiking some local NJ trails with her family and pup, enjoying a meal with her closest friends, devouring a delicious piece of cake at home, or dragging her husband shopping at the local HomeGoods.

htmlpro

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Jillian

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Jillian is Hoboken Girl's Social Media Assistant. She's a proud Maryland transplant now feeling at home in Hoboken and soaking up all that the "Garden State" has to offer. Since she was young, she dreamt of working in the big apple, but after making the move discovered that the little square mile of Hoboken was the perfect balance of city living with a small, hometown vibe. Her days are spent completely immersed in social media, be it focusing on the latest HG meme or 'gramming pics of her cat. If anyone has a spare Shar Pei puppy, she will happily take it off your hands.

Martin Halo

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Martin heads a creative agency developing websites for small businesses and touring musicians based in New York, Nashville, San Francisco and Los Angeles. While not in Hoboken, Martin can be found at a watering hole somewhere on the tiny island of Key West.