With April comes another chance to highlight the amazing people in the Montclair and Northern New Jersey area. This month, The Montclair Girl is shining a light on business owners, artists, and local students — all of whom are making a difference in their communities. Read on for a list of people to watch in Montclair + Northern New Jersey for April 2025.

Myra Deshmukh | Founder of Leadership Lab

Photo Credit: Shivani Mehta

Myra Deshmukh, a graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, mom of two, local foodie, and proud member of AAPI NJ, is the founder of the training and career coaching firm Leadership Lab. With over 17 years of experience working with companies like Amazon and Gap, Myra knows “what works and doesn’t work in successfully leading teams and being a top performer,” she told The Montclair Girl. Her goal in establishing Leadership Lab was to provide practical tools to other professionals, create genuine networking spaces, and have “real talk” about the challenges of navigating the working world. Other than the community North Jersey provides, Myra’s favorite thing about the area is the high-quality food. “The diversity of good, authentic eats, the bar for fine dining and dining experience in general, and maintaining the essence of old school joints all happening in the same region is awesome!”

Myra’s Local Favorites: KorKai Thai, Chashni Cafe, The Windough, Moghul Express, Beyond the Boogie, and Wonder Lane.

Keep up with Myra + Learnship Labs on her website, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Read More: 38 Women Community Leaders Making a Difference in Montclair, New Jersey

James Koehne | Founder of Koehne’s Games + Board Game Creator

Photo Credit: James Koehne

James Koehne, a West Orange native, wears many hats. He is an equity research associate at a bank on Wall Street and is also the founder of board game company Koehne’s Games. James’s most recent project, a family-friendly game called Fishing for Compliments, is designed to “spread positivity, encourage connection, and bring a fresh, uplifting experience to any gathering,” he told The Montclair Girl. The inspiration behind Fishing for Compliments came from his grandfather, who was a chemist. “He inspired me [to]…create something of my own like he did many times in the lab [and] create something in his honor, as someone who lived so cheerfully,” James said. He hopes that Fishing for Compliments, which is launching to the public soon, is more than just a board game. His goal is to foster a sense of community, and he is working with North Jersey stores like Player Agency in South Orange, [words] Bookstore in Maplewood, and Traveling Boards in Verona + Cedar Grove to achieve this.

James’ Local Favorites: Toast, Star Tavern, Millburn Deli, Angeloni’s, Chit Chat Diner, The Corner, Vinnie’s Pan Pizza, Blue Hippo, Benji’s, and Four City Brewing.

Keep up with James + his gaming pursuits on his soon-to-be website and Instagram.

Diana Mastrodimos | Owner of Casa Cubana Catering + D+G Fine Catering

Photo Credit: Casa Cubana

Montclair resident and self-made chef Diana Mastrodimos is the owner behind the Jersey City-based restaurant Casa Cubana Catering, which specializes in corporate and social events “with a Cuban flair.” She also owns its globally-inspired sister restaurant D+G Fine Catering. Diana learned the restaurant business “from the ground up,” she told The Montclair Girl. As a family business, she was the co-owner of the Cuban eatery Agozar! in NYC, which closed in 2017. “It will always hold a special place as my first venture into the restaurant world,” Diana said. “I’m proud to have been a part of the revival of the iconic Bowery in NYC for over 10 years, and now am very excited to play a part in growing the outstanding food options in Jersey City.” With her two businesses, she looks forward to continuing to bring the flavors of Cuba to Northern New Jersey and contributing to the ever-growing Jersey City food scene.

Diana’s Local Favorites: De Novo, La Rocca, Libelula, Faubourg Montclair, and Pharmacie Bar (especially for the cocktails).

Keep up with Diana + her adventures as a chef on Casa Cubana Catering’s website and Instagram.

 

Bria Renee | Fashion Designer

Photo Credit: Bria Renee

Bria Renee, a Montclair BNR, recipient of a BFA in Fashion Design from Savannah College of Art + Design, and fashion influencer, is a local designer who specializes in evening wear for special occasions, birthdays, prom, weddings, holiday events, and more. Other than creative mediums like film and music, what inspires her the most is the women in her life. “I have so much family and friends who are total BOSS women, doing what’s necessary to make their dream lives a reality every day,” she shared with MG. With her designs, Bria looks forward to inspiring other women to invest in themselves physically and mentally, as self-love and self-care are big components of the message she wishes to share. Locals can see Bria’s work on Instagram and YouTube, where she posts sewing vlogs, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes content about her life as a fashion designer. “I hope that my content can inspire others to be creative and pursue their own dreams,” Bria said.

Bria’s Local Favorite: Sankofa Cafe.

Keep up with Bria + her fashion content on her personal Instagram, brand Instagram, and YouTube.

See More: 46 Women Community Leaders Making a Difference in Hoboken + Jersey City

Students of EveryLibrary, EveryVoice | Montclair State University Campaign for Local Libraries

Photo Credit: Kaylee Seitz

A part of the nonprofit organization EveryLibrary, the Montclair State University Bateman Team, EveryLibrary, EveryVoice, is a campaign aiming to raise awareness about the necessary functions of libraries in the local community. This is run by Montclair State University students Libby Brennan, Hallie Lippey, Mary Lage, Noelia Aguirre Reyes, and Grace Velazquez. MSU’s campaign “[highlights] how libraries are essential in promoting diversity, equity, and why their continued protection is crucial,” and focuses on “[defending] libraries from ongoing challenges to intellectual freedom, including book bans and restrictions on access to diverse perspectives,” the team told MG. Through its philanthropic work, the team hopes to spark conversations + encourage students, educators, and community leaders to take action in supporting local libraries. “We want to educate and advocate for public libraries,” they shared. “They are resources that we need but often forget exist.”

EveryLibrary, EveryVoice’s Local Favorites: Montclair Public Library, Harry A. Sprague Library at Montclair State University, Little Falls Public Library, and Paterson Free Public Library.

Keep up with EveryLibrary, EveryVoice on Instagram and Linktree.