Highland Park women business leaders unite for ‘powerful’ photo op

Two days before International Women’s Day, 45 women business owners from across Highland Park gathered on Friday to do something many entrepreneurs rarely have time for: connect. 

Representing retail, wellness, consulting, creative services and nearly everything in between, the group came together to share experiences, support one another, and strengthen the growing network of women-led businesses in the community.

For the second Great Gathering of Women of Downtown Highland Park, the group met on March 6 in the atrium in Port Clinton Square. And the 45 in attendance represented just a slice of the 140 women-owned businesses in downtown Highland Park. 

A similar event, the Whistle Stop Trolley Tour, in May of 2025 was inspired by Therapeutic Kneads owner Sandy Saldano, who was there on Friday. 

“With all of the growth in women-owned businesses, I wanted to do something that would highlight and empower women-owned businesses to help us all become successful together and build camaraderie,” Saldano said of last year’s event.

Highland Park women business owners also gathered in 2023 for a photoshoot. Ilyse Strogin, the event organizer, thought it was so wonderful then, why not again.

“Our women’s event in 2023 made us realize how many women-owned businesses there were,” Strogin said. “So this year I thought, let’s do it again.” 

She added, “This is a fabulous opportunity for collaborations to happen and history to be made. I love the power of women. And bringing all these women together is powerful.” 

Attendees on March 6 came from fashion, food and beverage, wellness/fitness, event planning, and interior design. 

One of the attendees, Sherry Levin, co-owner of Style Shack, cultivates community at her lifestyle boutique. Not only does she provide customized gifts, but also a bright and colorful space people can gather. 

Style Shack has offered home decor, jewelry, tabletop and housewares in Highland Park for 20 years.

“What’s unique about us is that we provide one-of-a-kind items wrapped in beautiful gift wrap,” Levin said. “We also are an uplifting place to go to – which we are proud of.”

Saldano’s Therapeutic Kneads is a massage therapy center that reduces pain and stresses drug-free support.

The business instead uses topicals like CBD or magnesium, but primarily focuses on hands-on work, such as stretching, circulating and decreasing stress, to help the body heal. 

“A lot of people in Highland Park have endured trauma, and stress never leaves us, so we contribute to the community by keeping people healthier. We see the whole family,” Saldano said. “My inspiration to start this business came from my desire to help people.” 

Therapeutic Kneads does clinical work and has been in Highland Park for 19 years. Saldano has been working in downtown Highland Park for 29 years. 

Ellie Nottoli, the owner of Ellie Styled, was also with her fellow women business owners on Friday. Her event-planning company specializes in weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, and dinner parties. She also owns Atelier by Ellie Styled, the brick and mortar serving as the showroom, offices, design studio, production space and event venue for the business. 

Nottoli’s mission as a business owner is to “curate events for people in their most joyous moments, to help spread joy and beauty through the art of celebration,” Nottoli said. 

The fast-paced nature of the event planning brings “energy and vibrancy” to Sheridan Road in Highland Park, said Nottoli, who opened Ellie Styled 10 years ago and moved into the Highland Park space three years ago.

Another attendee, Stephanie Cohen, co-owner of Local Leaf Farm, has a goal to revolutionize the way that people connect with food. 

Her microgreen, leafy green, edible flower and sprout farm features no soil, no bugs and no pesticides. 

“We want people to get into the Highland Park community and really connect with their food by believing what they are seeing and what they are eating,” Cohen said.

The farm opened in January this year. If the farmers market and science and industry museum had a baby, Local Leaf Farm would be that baby, said Cohen. 

The Whistle Stop Trolley Tour will return this year from 4-9 p.m. on May 7, when attendees can walk-through downtown Highland Park or hop on and off the trolley as it tours local women-owned businesses.

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