New Jersey Family Announces its 2022 Mompreneurs of the Year
The winners of NJ Family’s second-ever Mompreneur of the Year contest share their entrepreneurial journeys while juggling rasing kids.
May 9, 2022– Today, New Jersey Family, the go-to source for NJ parents, announced the results of its second-ever Mompreneur of the Year contest. The contest recognizes small businesses owned and operated by NJ moms. The winner of this year’s contest is Avani Modi Sarkar, co-founder of Modi Toys in Edison and a mother of three from Skillman.
New Jersey Family, in partnership with contest judge Morphmom—an organization that helps women at all stages of their work like life figure out their next step— is also honoring 8 finalists. The magazine spoke with the winning mompreneurs about the inspiration behind their unique businesses in its May issue.
“We’re thrilled our Mompreneur of the Year contest will shine a spotlight on the many innovative businesses run by NJ moms at a time when it’s more important than ever to support them,” said Dina El Nabli, Editorial Director of New Jersey Family. “We hope sharing their stories will inspire others who are thinking about starting a business to go for it. We also hope it will encourage our readers to shop local when they can.”
In an interview with New Jersey Family, Modi Sarkar shares her entrepreneurial journey with her brother and co-founder and their wish for toys and books that could spark curiosity and conversation about Hinduism and South Asian culture.
“I would often find myself softly humming and singing the Gayatri mantra (a popular Hindu prayer for Goddess Gayatri) while putting my oldest daughter to sleep,” Modi Sarkar told New Jersey Family. “I wondered if there was a crib mobile that played Hindu prayers in a soothing instrumental melody. When my brother and I couldn’t find it anywhere on the market, we decided to make our own. Three of our five children have now grown up listening to our very own musical crib mobile.”
The contest was judged by Kathleen Butler-Smith, founder and CEO of Morphmom. Morphmom provides mentoring and coaching for women-owned businesses. “It was an absolute honor to be awarded the privilege to judge the New Jersey Family Mompreneur Contest,” Butler-Smith says. “It was an incredibly difficult decision to make as each and every applicant was truly a winner….all model morphmoms in their own right--brave, courageous, inspirational and empowering to us all!”
From healthcare to law and education to marketing, the May issue also highlights many of New Jersey's leading women-owned businesses.
Here is a list of the 2022 New Jersey Family Mompreneurs of the Year:
Mompreneur of the Year Winner
Avani Modi Sarkar, Skillman
Co-Founder, Modi Toys, Edison
Mompreneur of the Year Finalists:
Mental Health
Robyn Spodek-Schindler, Manalapan
Paint the Stars Art Therapy, LLC
Author
Montserrat Coughlin Kim, Montclair
When a Dragon Comes, LLC
Movement
Sharyn Brandman, Martinsville
The Circus Place
Food
Aginah Maltabes, Hopewell
Pizza Den, Princeton
Local Community
Melissa DeSanti, Mendham
The Morris Bernards Moms Network
Community/Social Media
Tara Clark, Closter
Modern Mom Probs • Modern Mom Style Box
Baby
Aimee Danchise, Randolph
Inklings Baby
Birthdays and Holidays
Michelle Hawthorn, Ridgewood
The Fiesta Box
For more than 30 years, New Jersey Family has been the #1 trusted authority on what to do, where to go and where to raise a family in New Jersey. We know what families in the Garden State need to live happier, healthier, more involved lives—and we deliver it. Find us at njfamily.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/newjerseyfamily and on Instagram at instagram.com/newjerseyfamily.
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