Dr. Farideh Golestani

Kids & Family Dentistry/ Dr. Golestani & Associates

Agraduate of the New York School of Dentistry and with advanced studies in Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Golestani has always sought the best for dentistry’s youngest patients. Dr. Golestani successfully established the continuity of services within her practice.

In 1995, she founded a small dental practice for children. A young mother, she divided her time between caring for her baby and developing her practice. Gradually, she added additional dentists to care for children and adults. “I noticed little by little, my patients were growing up and needed to transition to dentists with other specialties,” she says. “So, I added several general practice dentists, additional pediatric dentists, an orthodontist, an oral surgeon, and an endodontist to serve all patients, in a one-shop environment.”

Dr. Golestani treats children from crib to college in her practice. In addition to general pediatric care, Dr. Golestani is the only known dentist in the Northern New Jersey area who performs lip and tongue tie procedures on babies as young as two days outside New York City. On newborns, this simple procedure allows mothers to breastfeed their babies immediately.

Dr. Golestani advises women to pursue their dreams through long-term planning. “I always wanted a multi-specialty practice, but I did not think I could do it. But did it. Give yourself time, and you can reach your goal with effort,” she says.

471 W. Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Livingston | 973-597-1818 www.kidsfamilydentistry.com

Kristin Calandra

Vice President, Calandra’s Enterprises

“

Funeral service is a helping profession so the transition from one type of helping profession to another was very smooth,” says Karen Ross Kerstein, president and manager of Menorah Chapels at Millburn. Before taking over for her father, Herbert Ross, who founded the business, Karen obtained her bachelor’s degree in education and psychology and later her master’s degree in guidance and counseling in order to become a vocational counselor.

“Many of the positions I held were grant funded,” she says. “This was in the era when grant money was dwindling and my father offered me an opportunity I just couldn’t refuse. I went back to school again and after a year of rigorous training and internship, I obtained my license to practice Mortuary Science in 1983.”

Although many skills can be learned, having a heart for helping comes from within. She continues to use her knowledge and her innate compassion to provide solace to others. “At Menorah Chapels, every family we serve is treated like family by our staff,” she says. “This is very important when helping people at a very emotional time.”

Located in Union, Menorah Chapels has been serving the Jewish community for over four decades. It’s the only strictly Jewish funeral home in Union County that maintains its own building and doesn’t share its facilities with any other funeral home.

Menorah Chapels at Millburn can also arrange funerals worldwide. Regardless of where services take place, families’ religious, financial and sensitivity needs are always met.

2950 Vauxhall Rd., Union (Vauxhall) 908-964-1500 www.menorahchapelsatmillburn.com

Kristin Calandra knows the value of hard work. Since childhood, she has contributed to her family’s burgeoning business, Calandra’s Enterprises. The company began with a bakery started by her grandfather in 1958. Over the years, the enterprise has grown to include the three bakeries, four hotels, and three restaurants.

Now Vice President of Calandra’s Enterprises, Kristin has spent years preparing for her role. “I loved the business from childhood and knew that this would become my life’s work. So, I prepared for my future early on,” she says.

As a child, she worked in the bakery as a cashier and at the hotels’ front desks. She studied at Farleigh Dickenson University, receiving a bachelor’s and master’s degree in hospitality management. Her degrees armed her with the necessary information to manage a successful business.

Kristin shares the operations of Calandra’s Enterprises with her father, uncle, brother, and cousin. As the first female in ownership, she represents the third generation, bringing a woman’s touch to the table but with a keen sense of business. She introduced the company to social media, thus expanding its advertising.

Kristin values all seven hundred workers at Calandra Enterprises, whom she calls Team Calandra Members. She works side by side with the employees, doing whatever is necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the business. “It’s what I love, and I’ve always done whatever I can to make it work,” she says.

Calandra’s Enterprises, www.calandras.com