Building businesses, raising families in Estero

 

By Cheryl Mandell

In Estero, a growing group of women are reshaping what local success looks like. They are “mom-trepreneurs,” and in between school drop-offs, extracurricular activities and family obligations, these moms are building something entirely their own.

For these women, entrepreneurship began with the question, “How can I build a life that allows me to show up for my children and for myself?”

For some, that meant leaving established careers. For others, it meant starting something new. What unites them is not just ambition, but the intention to live a life where motherhood and careers coexist in harmony.

 

Creating a Healing Sanctuary

Paige Arringdale’s roots in Estero run deep. Born and raised here, she has spent nearly four decades watching Estero transform from quiet stretches of land into the village it is today. From attending Estero High School to landing her first job at Miromar Outlets, her life has largely unfolded within what she fondly calls her “five-mile bubble.”

Arringdale graduated from the Florida Academy of Massage in 2008 and later earned her degree in psychology from Florida Gulf Coast University, graduating summa cum laude. She has been practicing massage therapy for over 17 years. Today, she and her husband are raising a blended family, and she owns Align Massage, a boutique massage therapy practice designed with women and mothers in mind.

Arringdale’s practice, off Corkscrew Road near Estero Park, is more than a place for physical relief — it’s a sanctuary. With a focus on personalized, intuitive care, she helps women navigate both physical tension and emotional stress.

“It’s not just about working on the muscles,” she explained. “It’s about creating a space where women can slow down, let go, and feel taken care of.”

 “I want my place to be the place that holds them together because they are holding it together for everyone else,” she said.

Her path into massage therapy was deeply influenced by her father, a chiropractor. “I was in the office all the time watching him help people,” said Arringdale. “I’ve always been fascinated by the nervous system and how the body responds to stress.”

Though she briefly explored interior design, her path ultimately led her back to holistic health. She worked part-time in massage therapy for years but took a leap forward once her children reached their late teens, and her practice has become a full-fledged passion project.

As a mother of three, she understands firsthand the tendency for women to put themselves last. Her advice to fellow “mom-trepreneurs” is to define what’s most important to you in your life and align yourself with that.

Looking ahead, Arringdale envisions expanding her space into a hub for connection, offering gatherings, book clubs and support for women seeking both wellness and community.

 

Two Businesses, One Goal

For Stephanie Barrett, the path to entrepreneurship was built on resilience and a willingness to bet on herself.

Originally from Lititz, Pennsylvania, a small town with Amish and Mennonite roots, Barrett moved to Southwest Florida as a young mother, raising her daughter Mackenzie while pursuing her education at a community college in North Port. During that time, she met her husband, Justin.

With an inherent gift for connecting with people, Barrett earned a degree in business administration in 2009 and discovered early on that sales came naturally. “I’ve always been someone people feel comfortable talking to,” she said.

That strength would later become the foundation of her thriving real estate career. Inspired during a Memorial Day trip in 2021, Barrett decided it was finally time to pursue something for herself. Dubbing herself the “inked agent,” she found a niche within the very competitive world of real estate in Southwest Florida. Within a year, she closed her first deal and quickly built nearly $5 million in sales volume.

But Barrett’s entrepreneurial spirit doesn’t stop there. In June 2024, she and Justin became co-owners of Fortis Taekwondo and Self Defense in the Estero Recreation Center. Their connection to this dojang goes back years. Their youngest daughter, Madison, started in this taekwondo program at Estero Rec Center when she was in elementary school, and it was transformative for her. 

 “I’m always a believer in the underdog — they will grow differently with the right encouragement,” said Barrett.

Justin, who trained in martial arts growing up, got involved once he saw his daughter thriving, and it quickly became a family passion. Madison is now a black belt instructor, and what began as an after-school activity to help their youngest daughter come out of her shell, has evolved into a shared purpose. Stephanie, who believes movement is medicine, teaches fitness-based classes, while Justin and Madison lead the taekwondo instruction.

“It’s more than a business, it’s a community,” she said.

For Barrett, success is not just measured in transactions or titles, but in impact, whether helping a client find a home or building confidence in a young student.

Her advice to other mothers considering a leap: “100% bet on yourself, or you’ll never know what’s on the other side.”

 

Advocacy in Action

Dr. Rachel Cohen, owner of ListenHEAR in Bonita Springs, has built a specialized practice focused on audiology, with an emphasis on auditory processing disorder (APD). Her career encompasses a cause she advocates for every day.

A Florida native and Estero resident, Cohen’s path took her to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., where she earned her Doctorate of Audiology in 2005.

Many of her patients have normal hearing but struggle to process sound effectively — impacting their ability to follow directions, read or thrive in a classroom setting. Through comprehensive evaluations and individualized therapy, Cohen helps unlock those barriers, giving children the tools they need to succeed academically and socially.

“I am trying to raise awareness that auditory processing disorder is not deafness; it’s a disorder that becomes a reading and spelling issue,” said Cohen. “There are treatments for APD that can fix it rather quickly. The brain has to make the right connections, and they’re connections that stick.”

Cohen estimates that 5-6% of the population has an APD. As a certified IEP, or individualized education plan advocate, she also partners with local school districts to provide educational audiology and auditory therapy services.

Her reach also extends beyond Southwest Florida. Through telehealth, Cohen and her team serve families across Florida, Pennsylvania and Virginia. She is licensed in 10 states.

Business has grown organically, slow but steady, which is a good fit for Cohen as she balances work and motherhood.

“I think you need to give yourself permission to grow slowly and make it as flexible as possible, so that it fits your family life,” said Cohen. “Everything doesn’t have to happen all at once.”

Family is the foundation of Cohen’s life and work. She and her husband, a Lee County circuit court judge, are raising two children, Eli, 14, and Sarah, 11.

Eli, who is autistic, is a big inspiration for her practice. “Working with him through so many therapies and feeling the support from everyone has been really special to me,” said Cohen. “The whole process has also made me more empathetic toward families who seek my help, especially when I’m asking them to commit to a therapy that takes time.”

Cohen’s greatest strengths are her family and the community that stands behind them, as well as her unwavering dedication to a cause that is helping families around the country every day.

 

Creating family-centered community

Neha Patel is redefining what it means to build a business with family at the center of it all.

A Chicago native, Patel grew up in the suburbs before earning her degree in business management and marketing from Purdue University. Alongside her husband, Panak, her high school sweetheart, she made the move to North Naples nearly five years ago, searching for a place to plant roots and raise their growing family.

But it was Estero that caught her eye. “We wanted a town that felt like back home, a community where kids could play outside, slow down and be present — and we found that in Estero,” said Patel. “I knew this was where I wanted to be.”

Before entrepreneurship, Patel built a successful career in account management and corporate event planning, but raising three daughters, Ellora, Rory and Kiera, shaped her next chapter.

“This season of life taught me patience, resilience, and how to truly lead with my heart,” said Patel.

That perspective led her to Soccer Stars, a youth soccer program serving children ages 1 to 12 across Estero and the surrounding area. After enrolling her youngest daughter and seeing the joy it brought, Patel knew she wanted to be part of something bigger. When the former owners wanted to sell, Patel dove in head first.

Since taking over the business earlier this year, Patel has grown Soccer Stars to serve more than 250 children through local parks, including Estero Park, preschools and community partnerships. Her Spirit League will begin its fall program this year at Pinewoods Elementary School.

Her mission extends beyond the field. Patel is passionate about creating flexible opportunities for other mothers. “There are so many moms who want to work a few hours a week and still be present with their kids,” she says. “This gives them that chance.”

Patel is proof that success doesn’t require perfection every day, just the courage to begin.

“If there’s something on your heart, a dream or a ‘what if’, don’t ignore it,” said Patel. “So many moms put their goals on the back burner, but we are allowed to build something for ourselves as well.  Our kids are watching us show up in a beautiful way, so not every little detail needs to be perfect. You just have to start.”

 

Redefining Success

Mom-trepreneurs in Estero are venturing out, launching places of learning, creating wellness spaces and medical practices, and they’re doing it with heart. Because at the center of each business is not just a story of entrepreneurship, but of motherhood.