MEET THE TEAM
Welcome to The Mama Exchange! Founded by Nikki Lynn after her own experience as a NICU mom, The Mama Exchange was created to support mothers in need with essentials, encouragement, and community. Together with Vice President Nicole Keller, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jen Gonda, and our team is passionate about connecting moms through compassion, dignity, and shared strength. We’re moms helping moms — and we’re so glad you’re here!
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT
Nikki Lynn
Nikki is a proud mom of two, HR professional, and the founder of The Mama Exchange! After giving birth to her preemie baby who spent time in the NICU, she found herself overwhelmed, not just by the emotional toll, but by how quickly the need for support, baby essentials, and community became clear. In that vulnerable moment, she realized she wasn’t alone. So many moms were quietly struggling—whether it was affording maternity clothes, accessing baby items, or just needing someone to say, “You’re not in this alone.”
With almost a decade of experience in Human Resources and Data Analysis, her career has consistently centered on helping people grow, feel supported, and navigate life’s transitions. That passion naturally carried over into motherhood, inspiring the creation of The Mama Exchange—a nonprofit rooted in kindness, where moms in Central New Jersey can give, receive, and connect freely and without judgment.
What started as a personal need became a mission to ensure every mom has access to the essentials and emotional support she deserves. Whether you’re here to donate or to receive, you’re part of a village that lifts each other up, because motherhood was never meant to be done alone.
VICE PRESIDENT
Nicole Keller
Nicole Keller is a stay-at-home mom of three and currently serves as Vice President of The Mama Exchange. She also bartends part-time, so life is often a mix of chaos, coffee, school schedules, snacks, and trying to keep everyone fed, happy, and supported.
As a mom raising children in very different stages of life — including a son with autism, ADHD, and sensory processing challenges — Nicole has firsthand experience navigating therapies, school systems, sensory needs, and the everyday ups and downs that come with motherhood. Those experiences have taught her patience, compassion, flexibility, and the importance of having a strong support system and community to lean on.
Nicole is deeply passionate about helping others and creating genuine connections between moms and families. She believes even the smallest acts of kindness can make someone feel seen, supported, and a little less alone.
Outside of The Mama Exchange, Nicole loves desserts, building community connections, and finding ways to bring comfort and happiness to others — whether through a thoughtful gesture, helping a family in need, or simply being someone people can turn to.
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND TREASURER
JENNIFER GONDA
Jennifer Gonda serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer of The Mama Exchange, an organization dedicated to supporting mothers in need of essential items throughout Central New Jersey. With over 14 years of experience in education, Jennifer has devoted her career to advocating for individuals who need additional support and ensuring equitable opportunities for all.
As a triple-certified teacher specializing in supporting underperforming students, Jennifer is passionate about creating inclusive environments where every person feels seen, valued, and supported. She was nominated for Teacher of the Year and co-authored a curriculum designed to ensure students could see themselves represented in the literature they study.
Before entering education, Jennifer worked as a Direct Support Professional, assisting individuals with physical and developmental disabilities while completing her college education. That experience helped shape her lifelong commitment to service, compassion, and community advocacy.
Jennifer’s passion for supporting mothers is also deeply personal. As a mom of two who experienced fertility challenges and years of IVF before welcoming her rainbow baby, she understands firsthand the emotional, physical, and financial toll many families face on their journey to parenthood. Her experiences continue to fuel her compassion and commitment to ensuring no mother feels alone or unsupported.
As COO, Jennifer oversees the day-to-day operations of The Mama Exchange, including member support and public outreach. She has already contributed to fundraising initiatives, partnership opportunities, and organizational support to help expand the organization’s impact.
Above all, Jennifer believes no family should feel alone during difficult times, and she is committed to helping build a community where mothers feel supported, empowered, and cared for.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COORDINATOR
ALEXANDRA POWERS
Alexandra, goes by Ali and is a stay-at-home mom of three and a proud member of the beautiful chaos that is motherhood. She holds a degree in Marketing from Pace University and spent several years working in hospitality, where she developed a love for connecting with people and creating welcoming experiences—skills she now brings to her work with The Mama Exchange.
Ali became a mom to spontaneous fraternal twin girls, who arrived prematurely and spent some time in the NICU. That experience gave her a firsthand understanding of how overwhelming, isolating, and unpredictable motherhood can be—and how much it means to have a community that truly understands. She is always happy to be a listening ear for another mom navigating the NICU, twin life, or just the everyday chaos of parenting.
Her girls are now big sisters to their little brother, who is 2½ years younger, making life at home equal parts busy, hilarious, and occasionally chaotic.
When she’s not working on The Mama Exchange, Alexandra and her family can usually be found exploring the woods, spending way too much time at the library, or finding their next little adventure together.
She’s passionate about building a community where moms feel supported, welcomed, and never afraid to ask for help—and she’s incredibly proud to be part of The Mama Exchange.
COMMUNITY & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
ASHLEY RAMPACEK
Ashley is a devoted stay-at-home mom of three whose own journey into motherhood began as a teen mom, giving her a deeply personal understanding of how meaningful support, encouragement, and community can be for moms navigating all stages of life.
Warm, generous, and an incredible hard worker, Ashley is the kind of person who is always willing to step in wherever she is needed. Whether she is helping coordinate a pickup, connecting a mom with essentials, assisting behind the scenes, or making sure a project gets across the finish line, Ashley is committed to doing whatever it takes to help ensure moms and children in our community have what they need.
Outside of her work with The Mama Exchange, Ashley is also an entrepreneur and the owner of Photography by Ashley and Balloons by Ashley, where she brings her creativity to photography, balloon décor, events, and special celebrations. She also gives back to her community by volunteering with her local rescue squad.
Ashley’s compassion, creativity, work ethic, and genuine love for helping others make her an incredible part of The Mama Exchange team. She truly embodies the heart of our mission: showing up for moms, supporting families, and strengthening our community one connection at a time.