In The Lead: 2024 NJBIZ Women-Owned Businesses recognizes and celebrates New Jersey women who are using their energy, talent, intelligence and perseverance to build prosperous companies. For more:

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ACCU Staffing

Founded in 1979 by Doris Damm, ACCU Staffing Services has grown from a small office in the Cherry Hill Mall to a powerhouse that boasts 15 regional offices in South Jersey and the Philadelphia Metro market.

Over the years, the firm has expanded its services to include planned staffing, project staffing, temp-to-hire staffing and direct placement staffing. In 2023, ACCU had revenue of $90 million.

From humble beginnings, ACCU has emerged as one of the most highly regarded, privately held, family-owned businesses in America.

And the Damm family lineage continues – with Doris’ daughter, Elaine, serving as CEO and son, Edward Damm serving as COO – as well as third-generation family members also involved with the business.

Elaine oversees the daily management of ACCU’s sales and operations – providing motivation and support to team members while maintaining the company and her family’s standards, which have driven ACCU since its launch.

“With an extended family of dedicated personnel – some of whom have been with the company for decades – ACCU’s culture attests that the grounding of family values within a corporate environment encourages others to succeed,” the company notes on its website.

Adenah Bayoh & Cos.

Adenah Bayoh & Cos. founder Adenah Bayoh has established a growing empire that started with a single IHOP franchise in Irvington, opened in 2008. Since then, Bayoh – a first-generation immigrant from Liberia – has expanded her portfolio to include four IHOP locations. She’s also launched two eateries of her own. Cornbread Farm to Soul is one of the nation’s hottest fast-casual brands, according to QSR Magazine. The concept has four locations, most recently opening its doors in Montclair. There’s also Brick City Vegan. In addition to its two brick-and-mortar shops, the plant-based concept made its consumer packaged goods debut with frozen burger patties at the start of this year.

In Newark, a Brick City Vegan, Cornbread and IHOP (Bayoh has two in the Brick City) are located downtown at 915 Broad St., an 84-unit mixed-use building Bayoh also co-developed.

The Adenah Bayoh & Cos. real estate portfolio includes several multifamily homes and apartment buildings in Irvington, Newark and elsewhere in North Jersey. The land on which the IHOP Irvington location stands is also part of the roster. Last year, Adenah Bayoh & Cos., The NRP Group and Irvington Mayor Tony Vauss cut the ribbon on a 56-unit affordable apartment community in the city.

“Growing up in affordable housing in this community myself, I was able to identify the specific needs that residents would require from an apartment home like this,” Bayoh said at the time.

According to Bayoh, investing in people and developing the communities where she conducts business are the foundation of her work. For her, economic development is more than a business venture; it is a means to improve and empower urban communities.

Artech

The largest certified women-owned and minority-owned IT staffing firm in the U.S., Morristown-based Artech matches candidates with clients based on their demands for special skills. With over 11,000 industry professionals spread across the globe, Artech’s range of services includes workforce solutions, managed services and project delivery for Fortune and Global 500 companies.

Founded in 1992 by Ranjini Poddar and her husband Ajay Poddar, Artech aims to rewrite the rules not only on gender expectations in the IT sector but on the innovation and business impact of the services provided by the staffing industry.

As part of that mission, Artech has been at the forefront of diverse hiring for three decades, standing as one of the best consulting firms for diversity. Its commitment to diversity and inclusion consulting practices – internally, with suppliers and for clients – outperforms the national average. Thirty four percent of the workforce is women, compared with the national average of 25% for IT workers, and 19.5% of the workforce is Black or Latinx, compared to the national average of 16.3%.

As the preferred go-to supplier across multiple regions and countries for providing consistent deliverables, terms, rates and cost savings, Artech has a global revenue run rate of $925 million.

It’s also received numerous accolades from staffing, technology, diversity media and associations, including ones from SIA, Women Presidents’ Organization, NJBIZ, Forbes, NJ Tech Council and the New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council.

Astir IT Solutions

Astir is an information technology consulting, product/software development and outsourcing company with 2023 revenue of $47 million. Founded in 2001, Astir is now a multinational corporation with offices on both coasts and in India. Its information technology consultants are placed with clients – including Fortune 500 companies – across the U.S.

According to its website, Astir was established at the height of a recession in technology services. Founders Kishore Ganji and  Srilalitha Bhattaram saw an opportunity to provide IT consulting and application development to clients who could not hire qualified IT professionals. Over time and as the client roster grew, the firm expanded its offerings to include custom application development, project management, customer relationship management, information and database management, infrastructure support and more.

In 2009, Astir launched Astir Analytics, a business intelligence and data analytics unit to help marketing and sales organizations by compiling, analyzing, reporting on, and leveraging data crucial to strategic business decisions. In 2010, the company acquired Sysnet Technology Solutions to form Astir Services LLC, a consulting and solutions firm that provides project management resources to clients. Six years later came the acquisition of GroupWare Solutions and VAP Technology Group. The resulting business, Astir Technologies, provides project management and development services.

The company’s rapid growth has been recognized by Inc. magazine and NJBIZ. Astir has also been named as an NJBIZ Business of the Year.

ATA CPA Group LLC

Founded by Grace Fan, Edison-based ATA CPA Group is the largest Asian women-owned CPA firm in the Garden State.

Since its inception 30 years ago, the firm has grown to serve a variety of industries, including banking, pharmaceutical, wholesale, distribution, warehouse logistics, solar energy, real estate, construction and other professional services.

ATA CPA focuses on transforming clients’ financial and taxation journey into an empowering adventure.

“Our mission is to guide businesses and individuals towards lasting taxation and financial health by offering strategic insights, innovative solutions, and personalized attention,” the firm writes in its mission statement. “Your prosperity is our purpose.”

The firm places a priority on transparency.

“We understand that navigating taxation and finance can be overwhelming,” the company writes on its website. “That’s why we prioritize open communication, ensuring that every step of your journey is crystal clear and easily understandable.”

Fan, who serves as managing partner, has a deep commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion – and is a founding member of the Global Federation of Chinese Business Women of New Jersey and a board member of the New Jersey Chinese American Chamber of Commerce.

Atlas

Founded in 1998, Atlas is a strategic consulting and program delivery firm focused on optimizing the capabilities of leading life sciences companies. The company has grown into a global business with an Eastern European headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic.

The firm’s Management Consulting Team provides strategic solutions and roadmaps for implementation. Atlas Consultants execute and evolve plans.

Founder and CEO Jacqueline Cleary notes on the firm’s website that Atlas has been “nimble and flexible” in responding to ways in which the business environment has shifted over the years. “We have all been through disruptive change in the last few years…it is the new normal. Our life sciences clients have especially seen the brunt of this, needing to accelerate speed to market. We applaud their ability to respond and will continue to support them in this new era.”

The firm’s clients include top pharmaceutical companies – such as Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb and Novartis – and emerging life sciences concerns. According to Atlas, nearly 90% of its team has experience in the life sciences sector and 60% have experience in GxP environments.

Cleary is a former manager at IT consultancy Princeton Information and a national account manager at office technology services provider Aztec. She is a graduate of Scranton University and has studied at the Harvard Business School and the Tuch School of Business at Dartmouth.

Atrium Staffing

Founded in 1995, Atrium is a leader in talent and extended workforce management.

The WBENC-certified business is built on its trademark legacy of an Applicant-Centric philosophy – with an approach to hiring from the perspective of the associate.

Atrium, which had 2023 revenue of $490 million, has a mission of building the workforce of tomorrow by putting people first. The company was founded and is led by CEO Rebecca Cenni-Leventhal.

“As the workforce continues to evolve, we continue to embrace change,” said Cenni-Leventhal. “It’s vital to the growth and success of people and businesses they sustain.”

And in 2023, Atrium marked another remarkable milestone continuing its growth – this time, globally – with the acquisition of a majority interest in Gibbs Hybrid, a London-based IT and business services firm.

“Atrium is committed to continuing to expand our international delivery capabilities and the innovative, next-generation Talent and Workforce Management solution offerings that we’ve come to be known for,” Cenni-Leventhal said in June 2023, noting the opportunity to grow its presence in the EMEA region and beyond.

Cenni-Leventhal says that her dream was to cultivate an energizing and collaborative work environment that inspires community beyond office walls.

“Today, I’m honored to share that vision with enterprise businesses worldwide,” she said. “Atrium’s focus will always be people.”

Aya Paper Co.

An eco-friendly venture launched in 2019 by SaVonne Anderson, Newark-based Aya Paper Co. sells cards, journals and other gifts made with 100% recycled materials.

At the time, Anderson was working full time as a graphic artist at a New York City contemporary art museum and was inspired by notes of encouragement she’d received over the years from loved ones. While it started as a side gig, Anderson quickly turned Aya Paper Co. into a growing brand that garnered media attention from publications like Forbes, Refinery29 and Allure.

Through Aya Paper Co., Anderson aims to create products that not only minimize waste but also provide Black people like herself with ways to express love that feel authentic. With modern, artistic designs crafted exclusively by Black women artists, Aya Paper Co. goods deliver culturally relevant messages that celebrate and honor Black culture.

As CEO, Anderson has grown Aya Paper Co. rapidly as an e-commerce business. She has also secured retail partnerships with major chains, like Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Macy’s, TJ Maxx and Whole Foods. Aya Paper Co. products have also landed on the favorite brands lists of several celebrities, including Taraji P. Henson and Elizabeth Banks, as well as holiday gift guides from The Today Show, People magazine and The Washington Post.

BAM Desserts

Owned by Melissa Jenkins, BAM Desserts is a minority and women-owned peanut-free dessert shop in Somerset that creates custom creations from scratch.

Before helping launch BAM Desserts in 2017, Jenkins’ background included more than a decade in the corporate world at a telecom company followed by 11 years in real estate sales. Since baking has always been a part of Jenkins’ life thanks to her mother and aunt, she was inspired to pursue a venture that combined her love of desserts and professional skills.

In 2018, she took over BAM Desserts fully and expanded the business to a 2,400 square-foot location the following year. The menu – which includes vegan, eggless and gluten-free options – features sweets like bundt cakes, cupcakes, brownies, cookies and cakes. BAM Desserts also has a popular catering business, providing services for corporations, organizations and businesses like Comcast NBCUniversal, American Express, March of Dimes and Old York Cellars.

BAM Desserts has received several awards, including being named as the 2023 Business of the Year by Somerset County. It was also one of the ventures included in the New Jersey Devils’ Black Business Spotlight.

Jenkins recently shared with NBC10 Philadelphia that BAM Desserts has increased its revenue 30% year over year by targeting corporate clients, as well as streamlining the ordering process online.

She’s also an advocate for small business owners. In May, Jenkins was one of 200 small businesses from across the U.S. selected by Meta to attend a summit in Washington, D.C., on how their ventures are impacted by changes to social media platforms.

Bayshore Family of Companies

Located in the Keasbey section of Woodbridge, Bayshore Recycling and its family of companies consists of nine separate and distinct recycling operations within its 58-acre eco-complex and energy campus. Last year, Bayshore had revenue of $98.5 million.

Boasting six fully operational truck scales, riverfront barge capability and active class-1 railroad, the Bayshore facilities are centrally located and accessible to all major thoroughfares in the area.

Bayshore is led by Valerie and Frank Montecalvo, who have built the facilities into a premier destination for the recycling of concrete, asphalt, brick, block, bulky waste, construction debris, non-hazardous petroleum contaminated soil and other diverse materials.

Bayshore is certified as a Woman Owned Business in New Jersey – and has a central focus on energy conservation and renewable energy, which has included the installation of a rooftop solar energy system to assist in powering operations. The company also plans to add wind and biomass toward a corporate vision of operating 100% green businesses powered by 100% renewable energy.

In addition to winning a variety of industry awards over the years, Bayshore and its owners have placed an emphasis on and a commitment to professional, environmental and civic engagement with annual participation and support of public, private and nonprofit organizations.

Berkowsky and Associates Inc.

Located in Cranbury, Berkowsky and Associates Inc. is a full-service firm that provides both architectural and construction services for office, industrial, research, institutional, governmental and educational facilities.

BAI serves an assorted clientele, including Bristol Myers Squibb, L’Oreal, Church & Dwight Co., FedEx, Lakeland Bank, William Paterson University, Sanofi US, PTC Therapeutics, Rowan University, NEC Laboratories America, Procter & Gamble, Princeton University and GenScript Biotech.

A second-generation family-run company and WBENC-certified women’s business enterprise, Siri Berkowsky Heinrichs leads BAI. The 34-year-old firm’s leadership also includes her brother, Eric Berkowsky, who is an executive vice president.

Since becoming CEO in 2019, Heinrichs has collaborated with BAI’s board and executive management team to develop effective business plans that promote future growth and long-term success. At BAI – which was named as one of NJBIZ’s 2024 Best Places to Work – Heinrichs also manages all financial, human resource and information technology, as well as ensures that the mission and core values of the company are met.

BFI Furniture

BFI got its start back in 1948. Since then, the Elizabeth-based office and specialty furniture distributor has had the same objective: to put the customer first and serve as an efficient, professional and competitive resource. Over 75 years later – and now with a team of about 75 – BFI currently has three locations throughout New Jersey and New York.

Its customers cover multiple business segments, among them: corporate, higher ed, federal and state agencies, private health care, commercial brokers and more. BFI offers a single source for its clients, with services including consulting, project management, service & warranty, space solutions, installation & delivery, and relocation & reconfiguration.

At present, women own nearly 60% of BFI. The company is WBE certified by the WBENC, The Port Authority of New York, State of New Jersey, and the City of New York.

Additionally, it’s woman led. In March, President and CEO Kate Kerpchar highlighted the opportunity certifications can afford. “The success of our WBE designation is something that is taking hold at BFI and something we are extremely proud of and hold in high esteem,” she wrote in NJBIZ earlier this year. “It has helped us build upon our foundation of the longest tenured furniture dealership in New Jersey and become the largest MillerKnoll dealer in the market.”

Bogg

Founded in 2008 by Kim Vaccarella, Bogg has become the viral brand of the summer – and has sold nearly 3 million of its Bogg Bags to date – on track to hit $100 million in revenue this year.

“A beach trip with two little boys can be chaotic, so I was always looking for ways to make our outings more organized,” Vaccarella told the New York Post in a recent profile, reflecting on that fateful family trip to the Jersey Shore. “One of the biggest hurdles when packing for the beach was finding a bag that could handle the chaos, one that was durable, water-resistant, and big enough.”

Enter the Bogg Bag – which features a light, spacious, mess-free and easy design, with a non-collapsible bottom and sides that keep items secure and organized. The original Bog Bagg is available in more than 40 colors – with a constant flow of new patterns; and the company now sells lines of decorative accessories and beverage holders.

“Whether you’re heading to the beach, the park, or anywhere in between, our bags are designed to keep you organized and ready for fun,” the company states on its website. “With durable construction, comfortable materials, and vibrant colors, Bogg Bags bring a pop of happiness to every outing.”

Bogg Bag marked its latest milestone earlier this month – ranking 1,329 on Inc. Magazine’s annual list of the 5,000 fastest-growing privately held firms in the nation.

Building Security Services

A recognized leader in the security industry, South Orange-based Building Security Services provides comprehensive, full-service security solutions for a diverse range of clients, including corporate properties, commercial properties, residential properties, shopping centers, health care facilities, pharmaceutical companies, distribution centers and warehouses, educational facilities, financial services, hotels, ports, manufacturing sites, construction areas and chemical plants.

Founded in 1982 by Joseph Ferdinando, BSS is dedicated to offering cutting-edge security strategy in a cost-effective, professional and personalized manner for New Jersey and the greater New York City metropolitan area. Helmed by a leadership team that has a combined experience of over a century in law enforcement, security management and training, the company has a wide range of services, from on-site guard patrols to event security.

Since 2016, Susan Ferdinando has led BSS as president and majority owner, setting the tone for a new era of growth. Building on this foundation, her daughter, Amanda DeAlmeida, has since become the majority owner of sister company, Building Security Systems, in 2021 and was named executive vice president two years later.

CannPowerment

Launched in 2023, CannPowerment is a contract manufacturing, packaging and production solution for cannabis brands looking to hit the shelves of stores.

The business was formed by Matha Figaro, the chief executive officer and founder of Jersey City-based canna-bakery ButACake, as part of her journey from legacy to legal. After hanging up her apron while she pursued approvals from the state to manufacture infused baked goods, Figaro established CannPowerment to raise capital, increase brand awareness and gain more market experience.

Co-founded with Figaro’s childhood friend, James Barrett, the business is the first woman- and minority-owned cannabis product manufacturer in the state.

Through CannPowerment, Figaro’s ButACake edibles brand is also able to partner with cannabis manufacturers nationwide, allowing minority- and women-owned businesses to make quality cannabis ingestibles accessible to a broader audience.

ButACake made its long-awaited debut in New Jersey late last year – making Figaro the first independent operator in the state to bring an edible product to stores. Figaro was also the first minority- and women-owned business owner to do so, launching peach-flavored oral dissolvable strips at locally run dispensaries.

Caryl Communications

Founded in 1984, Hoboken-based Caryl Communications is an award-winning, women-owned public relations and marketing communications agency.

The firm was launched by Caryl Bixon-Gordon – with an aim of helping tell stories, raise profiles and grow businesses. Caryl offers communication strategy, public relations services, media relations, digital marketing support, and crisis communication services to businesses and nonprofits around Central and North Jersey, in New York City, the Hudson Valley and beyond. The firm works across commercial and residential real estate, health care, retail, technology, architecture, professional services, and more.

In 2022, Bixon-Garden retired and was succeeded by long-time team member, Sandy Crisafulli, who boasts more than three decades of agency and client-side public relations experience. Crisafulli was serving as COO at the time of the succession – and was transferred ownership of the firm Jan. 26, 2022.

“This was a carefully planned, natural transition; the agency is in a very strong position and will continue to thrive under Sandy’s stewardship,” said Bixon-Gordon at the time.

“Not everyone has the advantage of learning the PR business from one of the industry’s best, and it’s certainly a rare chance – 30 years later – to be given the opportunity to continue that mentor’s legacy,” said Crisafulli in 2022 when she took the helm. “I am incredibly grateful and thrilled about what is to come for Caryl Communications. I’m also so appreciative of the outstanding clients and talented team that will be part of the company’s future.”

CQ Fluency

CQ Fluency is a fast-growing business-to-business provider of language compliance services in life sciences, health care and other highly regulated industries. The company forecast 2023 revenue of $75 million. Services include cultural adaptation; transcreation; multicultural marketing; interpretation; translation asset management; transcription; and linguistic validation among others.

Transcreation involves making sure that translated materials convey the same ideas and capture the same emotions as the source language material. With translation asset management, CQ provides planning, monitoring and analysis of multilingual glossaries, style guides and translation memory (TM). Staff members clean and validate client TMs.

According to the company, its artificial intelligence-powered language translation solutions are crafted to embrace sensitives, inclusivity and ethical considerations while taking advantage of cutting-edge technologies that improve efficiency, save money, enhance quality and reduce administrative burdens. According to its website, CQ Fluency  leverages its Cultural Intelligence – CQ – to improve lives by giving individuals a chance to be understood and creating a more accessible inclusive, and linguistically equitable world.

CQ says its model blends advanced technologies with a human-centric attention to detail, producing quality translations and cultural adaptations. Evidence of success came this year when the company was ranked at No. 4,022 on the Inc. Magazine list of the 5,000 fastest-growing U.S. companies.

Davis Physical Therapy & Sports Rehab

Davis PTSR aims to deliver high-caliber physical therapy treatment to clients of all ages and specializes in the use of cutting-edge technology for rehab and sports performance with focused, hands-on care. It posted 2023 revenue of $1.2 million.

The company is focused on changing the perception of physical therapy by providing individualized care using research, analytics, advanced technology and hands-on techniques. Patient captains provide focused attention and personalized care. The Davis team meets weekly, reviewing cases to harness the collective expertise of every therapist to create a custom treatment plan for each patient.

Patients are taught how to move so they can recover properly and gain strength. That may mean working harder, enduring longer and reaching further with a patient captain providing instruction and encouragement. Thus, while the treatment plans are individualized, patients never face a difficult and trying situation by themselves.

Owner Andrea Davis has developed an initiative called Analytics for Athletes, which identifies performance gaps and reduces injury risk. She made the NJBIZ 2023 People to Watch in Health Care list and was a 2023 NJBIZ Best Fifty Women in Business honoree. This year, Davis was named to the NJBIZ Power 100 list of the state’s most influential people. And the firm was named a 2024 NJBIZ Health Care Heroes honoree in the Physical Therapy Organization category.

DeTorres & DeGeorge Family Law

DeTorres & DeGeorge is a boutique family law and divorce legal practice with 2023 revenue of $2 million. From offices in Florham Park and Clinton, the firm provides guidance and representation on family law and divorce-related matters, including custody and parenting time, alimony and child support, equitable distribution of assets, premarital agreements, post-divorce issues and divorce mediation.

DeTorres & DeGeorge boasts a mastery of the complex New Jersey divorce laws. According to its website, the firm is known for settling 99% of its cases out of court, but maintains that it possesses the knowledge, skills and determination to win even the most difficult cases in court.

The firm’s attorneys have been recognized for outstanding client satisfaction with listings in Super Lawyers, Lawyers of Distinction, and the 10 Best Family Law Attorneys. That team includes two Certified Matrimonial Law attorneys – an honor bestowed by the state Supreme Court on only 2% of New Jersey divorce attorneys. It requires a commitment to continuing legal education, favorable evaluations from other attorneys and judges, a written examination in matrimonial law and a minimum of five years of experience.

Outside of court, the firm’s staff serves in a number of leadership roles including positions on the Hunterdon County United Way Local Business Community Leadership Council, BW Nice board of trustees, and Career & Life Transitions Center for Women Advisory Council.

Diane Turton Realtors

If you drive around New Jersey, it’s very likely you at least know the name, Diane Turton Realtors – emblazoned in its signature blue and green hues. In fact, the firm’s branding has traveled as far as the shores of France. After one of its signs famously washed up around the world following Superstorm Sandy, Diane Turton Realtors capitalized on the moment as another unique marketing opportunity.

Founded in 1985 by its namesake and president, the full-service residential and commercial real estate company is based on five core values: Trust, Communication, Service, Knowledge and Courtesy.

Diane Turton Realtors operates from 17 locations, including its Wall headquarters, and has more than 400 employees. The company is consistently ranked as one of the Top 250 Privately Held Companies in New Jersey as well as one of the state’s largest women-owned firms by revenue, by NJBIZ, pulling in $13.7 million in 2023.

Diane Turton Realtors also offers in-house marketing, title, insurance, relocation and referral services.

And the company consistently earns praise from its customers, including repeat wins as the Best of the Best Real Estate Agency in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in the Asbury Park Press’s Reader’s Choice Awards.

Diverse & Engaged LLC

Based in Newark, Diverse & Engaged LLC is an award-winning leadership development and DEI consulting practice that helps businesses solve the challenges of attracting and retaining diverse talent, diverse suppliers and diverse consumers. The firm designs and delivers programs that engage, support or train an inclusive population. Through such initiatives to solve workforce issues – like low morale, low performance, employee burnout, lack of engagement or high turnover – companies can improve performance, increase productivity and boost innovation revenue. Its CEO is Dee Marshall, a well-known influencer and respected thought leader on equity, diversity and inclusion across industries and sectors. A former corporate executive and leadership trainer for companies like Merrill Lynch, The New York Times, Prudential Services and Moody’s Investor Services, Marshall began the firm more than a decade ago to provide leadership development to high-level, high-ranking and high-profile executives. Over the years, Diverse & Engaged evolved to address issues impacting women and people of color in the workplace. Certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and National Minority Supplier Development Counsel, Diverse & Engaged has a clientele that ranges from private sector Fortune 100 corporations to local government to federal government. It has worked with entities including Lyft, MassMutual, Bristol Myers Squibb, ADP, Congressional Black Caucus, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Accenture, AT&T, Capital One, Coca-Cola, Dropbox, Google, Johnson & Johnson, LinkedIn, Macy’s, Prudential, Sephora, Unilever, Toyota, Dove, RWJBarnabas Health, Audible and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.

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Editor’s note: Berkowsky and Associates Inc.’s information to include Siri Berkowsky Heinrichs’s full name.