Enterprises that innovate, disrupt, break molds and showcase the energy, talent, intellect and perseverance of women as business leaders.

SCCS Group

Founded in 2020 and led by Stephanie Cesario, SCCS Group LLC is a bicoastal, Small Busniess Enterprise-certified, woman-owned firm specializing in community-driven development, affordable housing and historic preservation.

Based in Asbury Park, SCCS provides services across the entire lifecycle, from pre-construction planning to cost and schedule controls to contractor coordination to closeout.

Just a few of its projects include developing outdoor dining pods in Harlem to support small, minority-owned restaurants during the pandemic; reimagining a former juvenile detention center in The Bronx into a mixed-use featuring supportive housing, light industrial and public space; renovating and expanding the Count Basie Center in Red Bank; and adding ADA accessible retrofits at Trinity Episcopal Church in Asbury Park.

Cesario, a 20-plus-year veteran of the architecture, engineering and construction industry, has received accolades for building a values-driven company culture that prioritizes equity, inclusion and intentional growth. Beyond SCCS, she is involved with organizations like Habitat for Humanity International and the Urban Land Institute. Just last year, she was recognized as one of Crain’s New York Business Notable LGBTQ+ Leaders for her influence as a business leader, mentor and advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility in the real estate industry.

SHI

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Somerset, SHI International has grown from a modest $1 million software reseller into a global IT solutions powerhouse with annual revenues exceeding $14 billion.

Under the leadership of CEO and President Thai Lee, SHI has expanded to more than 35 offices worldwide and employs nearly 7,000 people, all while maintaining its deep roots in the Garden State.

SHI’s success stems from its ability to deliver dynamic, scalable and innovative technology solutions with exceptional customer service. As one of the largest privately held and woman-owned businesses in the United States, SHI’s stature reflects both its business acumen and commitment to diversity.

A recent milestone in SHI’s journey is the April 2025 launch of the AI & Cyber Labs in Piscataway. This state-of-the-art facility accelerates AI innovation by enabling customers and partners to ideate, experiment, and adopt AI and cybersecurity technologies efficiently and cost-effectively.

“We’ve been working on trying to create a facility in which our customers, our partners, and SHI can bring expertise and experience to really ideate, imagine, and adopt technology as quickly as possible—in the most cost-effective manner,” said Lee. “Which is why the idea of this AI Lab was born.”

SHIFT HR Compliance Training LLC

Co-founded by Suzanne Cerra and Katherin Nukk-Freeman, the latter also serving as president and chief culture officer – Shift HR Compliance Training does exactly what its name implies, working with organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses.

For Nukk-Freeman, being a woman-owned business “means leading with empathy, purpose, and a commitment to progress,” she said.

Shift is driving change in the compliance industry with its innovative, story-driven training. “We don’t just respond to change—we lead it,” according to the Chatham-based business.

In its own workplace, Shift supports women, offering a flexible, family-friendly culture; as well as a 14-person team comprised mostly of women—and many working mothers.

Its work also helps support women in other spaces. Shift says its training is intentionally designed to help organizations build workplaces where women are “respected, supported and able to lead—turning advocacy into action.”

For everyone in the workplace that pursuit is pertinent. According to U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission data, workplace discrimination charges increased by 44% over the past three years.

Silver Defender Corp.

Co-founded in 2018 and led by Turkish-born entrepreneur Zeynep Ekemen, Silver Defender produces an innovative microbial adhesive film that is designed to kill 99.9% of germs – including COVID-19 – on high touch surfaces, like door handles, credit card machines, touchscreens, elevator buttons and handrails.

Headquartered in Fort Lee, the woman-led company is the first to receive EPA pesticide registration and holds more than a dozen domestic and international patents. Its global client roster of airports, public transit systems, schools, hotels and buildings includes places like the World Trade Center and San Diego Zoo, as well as entities like Sony, Hilton, Bloomberg and Major League Baseball.

Previously involved in commercial real estate, Ekemen was inspired to create the product after a friend’s comment about the lack of cleanliness of public door handles. After spending two years researching and creating a self-cleaning film activated by silver ions, she launched the product in early 2020 – just before the onset of the pandemic – and scaled it globally via virtual outreach.

Her invention and leadership has resulted in numerous awards, including many honors from NJBIZ (2025 Leading Women in Business, Best 50 Women in Business 2021 and Business of the Year finalist 2023).

Steady Hand Café

Five years after Ashley Burk started a pop-up café known for its playful coffee creations and culinary-inspired drinks, her business finally found a permanent home this past spring at the Jersey Shore. Located in Bradley Beach, Steady Hand Café features the brand’s made-to-order offerings, like Cereal Milk lattes, and bottled drinks. It also serves as a hub for workshops and events that uplift and support local creatives.

A Culinary Institute of America graduate, Burk moved to Asbury Park in 2013 and spent about three years working in the local coffee industry before shifting gears to found her own fiber art and hand-painted sign business, Steady Hand Creative. Burk briefly relocated to Philadelphia, where she spent two years as an operations manager for local coffee shop chain Rival Brothers Coffee. Soon after the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Burk left the city to return to a less crowded place – Monmouth County – and started selling inventive bottled lattes produced in a commissary kitchen. She went on to grow brand awareness through pop‑up cafes and residencies across market venues, events, hotels, and festivals up and down the Jersey Shore–gaining attention for her playful, nostalgia-driven lattes and house-made syrups inspired by cocktails and culinary flavors.

This year, Burk is also bringing back Steady Hand’s poolside café at the St. Laurent Social Club in Asbury Park for a third-consecutive summer. She also expects to begin wholesaling products, continue collaborating on custom flavors, host more programs and return to high profile events, like Sea.Hear.Now.

Stillwell-Hansen

Based in Edison, Stillwell-Hansen is a leader in data center infrastructure solutions, fire protection and traditional HVAC products. Since joining the company in 1969 as a secretary, Carol Stillwell worked her way to become president and CEO in 1996. Over her 50-plus-year career, she has been repeatedly recognized as one of New Jersey’s top women business leaders with accolades like NJBZ’s Icon Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Under Stillwell’s leadership, the company keeps growing – and continues the legacy of truthfulness, experience and dedication to customers first instilled by founder (and her father) Gordon Stillwell.

Stillwell is also known for her efforts to actively mentor and support women and has played a big role in the industry by growing the traditionally male-dominated sector to one with a more gender-diverse group of leaders.

Philanthropy is also a huge part of the company ethos. A portion of profits supports nonprofit causes with a strong focus on aiding cancer, health care and educational organizations. Stillwell has also personally devoted her life to philanthropic causes – serving as an advocate and major fundraiser for numerous charities.

Most recently, Stillwell’s philanthropic leadership and advocacy work was honored last fall with the YMCA of Greater Monmouth County’s Distinguished Citizen Award at the organization’s 150th anniversary gala.

Stratford Solutions Inc.

Based in Holmdel, Stratford Solutions Inc. is a minority-, woman-, and veteran-owned IT consulting and staffing firm that aims to help build successful teams for local/state/federal government, military and commercial businesses.

Founded and led by CEO Elizabeth “Ellie” Reda, the company seeks to bridge the gap between top-tier talent and leading organizations, with a focus on software developers, business analysts, cloud engineers and program managers.

With an emphasis on personalized service, ethical business practices and long-term relationships, the boutique firm has built a reputation for delivering creative talent to Fortune 500 companies and small to mid-sized businesses alike, tailored to client-specific needs.

Through Stratford, Reda is particularly passionate about advancing opportunities for minority and underrepresented, highly skilled professionals in the tech sector by connecting them with impactful roles. She also seeks to foster inclusivity via strategic partnerships across the industry.

“Being a minority business means proudly embracing and reflecting the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and strengths that make up our communities. It’s about more than just representation; it’s about the resilience and unique perspective that minority-owned businesses bring to the table. For me, it means using my platform to show that success and impact are within reach for anyone, regardless of background,” she has said.

Stumpy’s Hatchet House

A serial entrepreneur, Monica Martinez Milan co-owns Stumpy’s Hatchet House of Green Brook and two real estate development firms with her husband. She’s also a board member of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, working to empower Hispanic-owned businesses by providing mentorship, networking opportunities and advocacy on key policy issues.

Last year, she was named as the first Hispanic woman to serve as chair of the Somerset County Business Partnership, leading more than 840 businesses in economic development initiatives. With a focus on small business growth, workforce development and regional collaboration, Milan’s leadership has led to strategic partnerships that support economic vitality and diversity in Somerset County.

Born in Newark to immigrant parents, Milan overcome personal and professional challenges – including a serious illness – before leaving the corporate world to chart her own course. In 2018, the wife and mother of two opened Stumpy’s Hatchet House to offer an inclusive, empowering space for stress relief and community engagement. She and her husband now hold rights to two additional franchise locations.

As a result of her efforts to support local economies and minority entrepreneurs, Milan has received recognition from the county and several business groups. Most recently, she was named as a Latina of Influence by Hispanic Lifestyle. In 2020, Gov. Phil Murphy honored Milan and her husband for their contributions to the state’s small business community through their resilience, innovation and community impact at Stumpy’s Hatchet House.

Suasion Communications Group

After Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt acquired Smith O’Keefe & Associates in 2007, she rebranded the firm as Suasion Communications Group, a leading boutique marketing and public relations agency that serves clients across a range of sectors, including municipal, hospitality, tourism, health care, higher education, retail and nonprofits.

Under her leadership, the woman-owned small business enterprise has grown to two offices (Somers Point and Haddonfield) and earned numerous professional accolades, including from the New Jersey Tourism Industry Association and Downtown New Jersey. Just a few of the winning campaigns Suasion has worked on include promoting downtown Haddonfield and the Greater Wildwoods.

In addition to being a frequent keynote speaker, Adelizzi-Schmidt is an adjunct professor at Stockton University, where she teaches marketing and PR. She is also known as a mentor for women in business. A champion of female entrepreneurship, she has been involved with organizations like the Southern New Jersey Development Council, Upper Township Economic Development Advisory Commission, Cape May Women’s Commission, New Jersey Tourism Industry Association, Stockton University Women’s Leadership Council, Stockton School of Business Dean’s Executive Advisory Board, Stockton School of Education LEAD Doctoral Program Advisory Board and Downtown New Jersey. She also made history in 2013 when she became the first female nominee from either party to run for state Senate in the 1st Legislative District. She won the Republican primary and went on to face incumbent Democrat Jeff Van Drew in the general election, but was defeated.

Sussex Cultivation

A woman- and family-owned business, Sussex Cultivation was one of the first cannabis processing facilities to open in the northwestern part of the state.

After founding the business in 2019, Brian Dowling, who serves as president, and his mother, Lori Dowling, a majority owner and co-founder, and his father, Chris Dowling, chief operating officer, celebrated the grand opening of their state-of-the-art cannabis cultivation and manufacturing operation last year in Vernon.

It was among the first cannabis companies in New Jersey to secure adult-use cultivation and manufacturing licenses. Along with creating innovative products that will elevate the state’s market, Sussex Cultivation aims to use sustainable practices to ensure a healthier environment, as well as establish partnerships and offer co-manufacturing opportunities to fellow businesses in New Jersey.

Equipped with solvent-less and hydrocarbon equipment, the more than 30,000-square-foot facility is capable of processing up to 75 pounds of biomass hourly, which, Sussex Cultivation says helps bring new high-quality cannabis products to New Jersey’s market. In addition to processing cannabis for other companies, Sussex Cultivation produces its own premium flagship brand, ONYX. This isn’t the family’s first time running a business together. They also operate Nurses 24/7, a health care staffing firm.

At the time of Sussex Cultivation’s grand opening, Lori Dowling, a longtime educator with the Passaic Board of Education, described it as “a proud moment for us as a women-owned business in New Jersey.”

Suuchi Inc.

Founded in 2016 by Suuchi Ramesh, Suuchi Inc. is a technology-driven supply chain management company specializing in digitizing and optimizing end-to-end apparel and fashion supply chains. Through its flagship product, Suuchi GRID, the company seeks to digitize and streamline the entire product lifecycle to develop efficient, technology-driven and sustainable manufacturing and distribution by providing real-time visibility, analytics and collaboration across the entire supply chain. Its clientele ranges from fashion brands to retailers to Fortune 1000 companies in need of solutions for product lifecycle management and enterprise resource planning.

Earlier this year, the Hudson County-based woman- and minority-owned business was acquired by IgniteTech, an AI-first enterprise software company headquartered in Texas. Since then, IgniteTech has integrated the GRID platform into its portfolio as a way to enhance supply chain management capabilities by combining Succhi’s real-time visibility and analytics with its own AI technologies .

Ramesh, an immigrant from India with a background in technology and predictive analytics, has taken on a key role at IgniteTech.

Commenting on the acquisition, she said, “Joining IgniteTech allows us to bring our solutions to more organizations. Their infrastructure and AI expertise will accelerate our platform’s development while maintaining the core functionality our customers rely on.”

TANTUM Real Estate

TANTUM Real Estate is a Jersey City–based, certified Women’s Business Enterprise boutique development and advisory firm focused on vibrant multifamily and mixed-use communities across New Jersey.

Founded in 2014 by Debra Tantleff, the firm combines deep municipal land use expertise, advanced construction practices, and sharp market insight to deliver thoughtfully designed projects that enrich neighborhoods and enhance quality of life.

TANTUM’s portfolio includes projects in Red Bank, Jersey City, Bayonne, Westfield, Madison, Morristown, New Brunswick and Port Imperial. Signature projects include The Element at Red Bank, a boutique community along the Navesink River; and supportive veteran housing in Jersey City, blending affordable living with vital services. With over 5,000 residential units and 200,000 square feet of retail space developed, TANTUM excels at navigating New Jersey’s complex land use process and high barriers to entry, seamlessly managing projects from entitlements through construction to operations.

The firm prioritizes creating amenity-rich, efficient living environments that serve a broad demographic – from luxury to workforce and special needs housing – while leveraging transit and downtown corridors to foster dynamic suburban urbanization.

Earlier this year, Tantleff was re-elected chair of the New Jersey Builders Association.

“I am pleased to be elected to a second term at a time when New Jersey is starting to make progress on housing policy reform,” she said.

TeamPAR

Founded in 1992 by a mother-daughter duo, TeamPAR has grown into a respected leader in commercial real estate flooring and design solution. It is based in Flanders.

Karen Rossilli-Kiefer, who has owned and led the company since 1999, has developed TeamPAR into a multimillion-dollar business in a traditionally male-dominated industry. With a focus on value engineering, Rossilli-Kiefer expertly balances clients’ aesthetic goals with their budgetary needs, earning trust from developers, builders, and architects across public and private sectors.

Under her leadership, TeamPAR specializes in strategic space design, procurement, project management and flooring installation tailored to diverse clients including condominium developments, Grade A office spaces, schools, health clubs and medical facilities.

The company’s success stems from its team-driven approach, honest client communication, and commitment to excellence in every project, big or small.

Originally certified as a Woman Business Enterprise by the state in 1997, TeamPAR recently celebrated its WBENC certification in June, further affirming its status as a leading woman-owned business in the industry.

Thomas/Boyd Communications

Founded in 1998 by Liz Thomas and Pam Boyd, Thomas/Boyd Communications is a women-owned, small business enterprise, award-winning firm that specializes in strategic communications, public relations, crisis management, content development, digital marketing, new product launches and special event planning.

The two set out to develop an agency that combined strategic PR with personalized service – something they felt was missing in the marketplace – and worked to build a trusted, relationship-driven enterprise that prioritizes long-term client partnerships over high-volume turnover.

In the years that followed, they grew their business almost entirely through referrals and reputation, steadily expanding into a full-service team that prides itself on consistently delivering results, navigating complex communications challenges and becoming involved in the communities and industries they serve.

Headquartered in Moorestown, the agency serves a wide range of industries, including health care, education, transportation, renewable energy, real estate and nonprofits. Just a few of its notable clients include Fulfill food bank, Mercer Street Friends, Samaritan hospice and the New Jersey Cannabis Trade Association.

Both Thomas and Boyd have also received numerous awards for their leadership, business smarts and contributions, including being named as NJBIZ’s Best 50 Women in Business.

Turtle

A fourth-generation, family-owned Certified Women’s Business Enterprise, Turtle stands as one of the nation’s foremost electrical and industrial distribution, logistics and supply chain providers.

With decades-long vendor partnerships and versatile engineering capabilities spanning cybersecurity, digital infrastructure modernization and material management, Turtle is powered by radical collaboration, technical expertise, innovation and sustainability. Its recent projects include energy-efficient LED lighting at Boston Logan International Airport, key electrical components at JFK International Airport’s Terminal 1 expansion, energy-efficient lighting packages for Boston’s transportation system and LED lighting products for NASA’s Artemis program.

Founded by M. Berry Turtle and Bill Hughes, Turtle today is led by Jayne Millard, a founder’s great-granddaughter and co-CEO and executive chairman of the board; alongside Luis Valls, co-CEO and president of the electrical distribution division. Millard’s leadership journey began in 1991, progressing through roles before stepping into her current position in 2023.

Under Millard’s guidance, the company has doubled in size, embraced sustainability and earned recognition as one of New Jersey’s top workplaces. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023, Turtle rebranded from Turtle & Hughes and moved to a new, energy-efficient headquarters in Clark. The company also expanded its four-decade presence in Texas with a 40,000-square-foot facility in Austin.

Undercover Snacks

Founded in 2017 by Diana Levy, Undercover Snacks is a better-for-you snacks brand offering a tasty and guilt-free superfood option that’s low in sugar and calories. Levy – who had been a stay-at-home mom for 20 years – created chocolate-wrapped quinoa crisps as gluten-free and allergy-friendly snack after two of her three chocolate-obsessed daughters were diagnosed with Celiac disease.

Based in East Hanover, the company produces crisps in flavors like milk chocolate, dark chocolate + sea salt, dark chocolate + mixed berries and dark chocolate + pomegranate.

The brand can be found at more than 20,000 retailers, including Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, CVS, Rite Aid, Publix, Costco Wholesale and Albertsons.

Undercover’s crisps are also available on United Airlines flights, distributing over 80 million packets since March 2023.

Levy has also earned several accolades – including recently being named as a regional winner for Ernst & Young’s 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year award.

The brand unveiled a brand new in-house ingredient-processing facility at its headquarters to help support expansion into new categories, like savory snacks, breakfast foods, GLP-1-friendly treats, nutrition bars and cereals, too.

Web-Cote Industries

Headquartered in Hamburg, Web-Cote is a woman-owned firm specializing in adhesive coated products for the pest control industry.

With a range of products that include standard rodent and household insect traps, specialized UV stable flylight glue boards, agricultural insect monitoring cards, and traps and tree bands aimed at containing the spotted-lanternfly population, Web-Cote’s lineup can be found in residential, commercial and industrial settings.

Founded in 1986 in Newark, the business soon expanded beyond specialty adhesive products and into glue traps and other coated substrates. By 1992, it relocated to Sussex County, where it established a facility to support growth. Eventually, Web-Cote shifted its focus to exclusively making private-label glue traps for pest control and entered OEM markets. It has since become one of the only U.S.-based manufacturers dedicated solely to such products.

Web-Cote is also one of the few 100% woman-owned manufacturers in the country.

In 2024, after more than 16 years with the company, Susan Masciarelli purchased Web-Cote from former owner James Cowen. Now as president and CEO, Masciarelli brings a practical, growth-minded approach to the business, focusing on innovation, quality and meeting the evolving needs of the markets Web-Cote serves.

Well Together LLC

Headquartered in Maplewood, Well Together is a wellness consulting company dedicated to improving mental health education by offering workshops, training and events to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions as a way to break stigma, improve mental health literacy and nurture holistic wellness.

The company was founded in 2021 by Iyana Anderson, a licensed social worker whose Antiguan-American upbringing and personal experiences with grief inspired her to challenge stigma and prioritize culturally sensitive mental health work. Her background – combined with previous roles working in AmeriCorps, nonprofits and state government – exposed her to systemic gaps in care and inspired her to create a sustainable, inclusive model that integrates mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.

In addition to serving as CEO of Well Together, Anderson has been regularly featured in media and at special events to discuss wellness, healing and enhancing overall quality of life. She also hosts her own podcast, Mental Health Unscripted, which features experts from various fields, wellness practitioners and entrepreneurs sharing insights, stories and tips to achieve mental wellness.

She has said, “I’ve seen firsthand the impact of effective mental health support and the difference it can make in people’s lives. At Well Together, we curate meaningful experiences that empower individuals and organizations to embrace holistic wellness.”

Zago Manufacturing

Launched in 1993, Zago Manufacturing is a Newark-based certified manufacturer of high-tech sealing fasteners and switch boots for a range of industries, from aerospace to medical to clean energy to electronics to transportation. Its 1,000-plus client roster includes Apple, Lockheed Martin, Ferrari, Google and the U.S. military.

The woman-owned firm was founded by Gail Rottenstritch and her husband, electrical engineer Harvey Rottenstritch, at the New Jersey Institute of Technology Enterprise Development Center’s small business incubator. Formerly a corporate attorney and now a CEO, she transitioned into manufacturing leadership.

Operating from a century-old refurbished factory, Zago deploys lean and automated processes to manufacture more than 10,000 distinct fastener offerings. It also runs a 50,000-watt rooftop solar display to support clean manufacturing and reduce energy costs. Beyond manufacturing, the company invests in its community through the Zag Sustainability 360° program – offering scholarships, internships, apprenticeships, and full‑tuition support for employees – while actively promoting STEM education in underserved communities.

In addition to her corporate role, Rottenstritch is involved with the National Advisory Board of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership and on the boards of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, New Jersey Business & Industry Association and Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey. Rottenstritch was also elected to Fair Lawn Borough Council in 2017, became mayor in 2024 and now holds the title of deputy mayor.

The Zita Group

Headed by Patrizia “Trish” Zita, a former Assembly research associate and later the senior director of the Chemical Industry Council of New Jersey, The Zita Group consistently ranks as one of the most recognized, respected and relied upon lobbying firms in New Jersey. The 18-year-old Trenton-based group also specializes in public affairs, government affairs, business development and procurement.

After undergoing a rebrand in 2022 from Kaufman Zita Group to The Zita Group, a year after longtime partner Adam Kaufman retired, Zita became full equity partner, making the business the first and only-woman owned firm among Trenton’s top lobbying groups.

With a team made up of political leaders, former senior administration officials, campaign operatives and attorneys, TZG has experience representing clients on legislative, administrative and regulatory issues at all levels of New Jersey government.

When the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce revived its Walk to Washington in February after a five-year hiatus, TZG revived its traditional beer & wine reception as a way to foster stakeholder engagement on key policy issues over a stellar selection of craft beverages curated by the Brewers Guild of New Jersey.

Zita has also continued to be a recognized and influential political strategist. She was retained earlier this year by NJ PBS to advocate for restoring funding amid staffing cuts and financial shortfalls.

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