EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — East Brunswick recognized the accomplishments and contributions of women entrepreneurs on Monday, October 26, as township officials proclaimed October 2026 National Women's Small Business Month.
Councilwoman Dana Winston presented the proclamation during the Township Council meeting, joined by a group of women business owners and professionals from the East Brunswick Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Winston, herself a small business owner, acknowledged the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship while welcoming the Chamber members.
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"Being a small business owner myself, I can tell you owning a business is not always for the faint of heart and can be a wild ride," Winston said. "I am proud to stand among such incredible women."
The proclamation, issued by Mayor Brad J. Cohen and the Township Council, recognizes October as a time to honor the accomplishments of women across industries and backgrounds. It also acknowledges the historical challenges women have faced in the workplace, including being underestimated or overlooked despite their contributions.
The township encouraged residents to learn more about women business leaders in East Brunswick and beyond, raise awareness of resources available to working women and support an environment in which women-owned businesses can succeed.
Amy D. Lewandowski, a local woman business owner speaking on behalf of the women business owners gathered at the meeting, thanked township officials for the recognition and emphasized the relationships among local business owners.
“We are so happy to be part of this community, and we're so proud to support one another and to support the future generations of women in business, too,” Lewandowski said.
Mayor Cohen also addressed the group, reflecting on changes he has witnessed in professional opportunities for women, particularly in medicine.
He recalled that women made up approximately 40% of his medical school class, a proportion he described as unusual at the time. Cohen also shared an experience involving his wife, whom he met in medical school.
During surgical rotations, he said, male physicians sometimes discussed upcoming procedures in their changing rooms, leaving female colleagues without access to the same conversations before entering the operating room.
Cohen said workplace expectations have changed considerably since then, including in traditionally male-dominated professions such as medicine, engineering and architecture.
He congratulated the women in attendance for their accomplishments and for serving as examples to younger generations, while also recognizing those who had challenged professional barriers before them.
The proclamation calls on East Brunswick residents to continue recognizing the accomplishments of local businesswomen and supporting opportunities for women to succeed in business.
For our readers, the video from the Town Council meeting is embedded below.
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