Team Zing

The wonderfully talented people in our organization come together from all around the planet to create HairZing. Our teams are based in the United States, Asia and Africa. Each team has different strengths and creativity so if you are interested in who does what, read on...

ZING TEAM AMERICA

Francesca Kuglen
This is the third company I have launched. The first was sold in 1995 to a larger company, which is where I met Holli who was an executive there. The second still successfully creates and markets products in different categories. However, it is this third venture that "feels" so different than the other two ever did. Perhaps I am not afraid anymore. Perhaps it's because I am growing up or am in my fabulous forties. All I know is that I love business and see it (and education) as two great equalizers in the world. Business can be a force for good, and I am going to explore this more this time around…as one of my great friends says, "Strap yourself in and keep your hands inside the ride..."

• What brought you to the HairZing Team?
  Genetics actually. I have baby thin, fine hair that breaks if you look at it wrong. As a coping strategy I began creating products that would actually work in my type of hair. Although I sense I was actually meant to be a Super Model / Molecular Physicist, this seems to be working for me right now. Life is such a grand adventure; you just never know where you'll end up.
• If I could be a HairZing, which HairZing would I be?
  The soon-to-be-released Austrian crystal Hairzing. Although I choose to live my life in fleece and sweatpants 24/7, my secret inner self is a Queen. I imagine this is about as close to a tiara as I'll ever get.
• Favorite place to wear a HairZing?
  Walking my dog on a cool evening when no one else is out. Or, draped in a hammock on a Polynesian island...wearing a size 2 bikini...
• With whom would you like most to share HairZings?
  Women everywhere who have decided that life is too short to fade delicately away. Seize the moment! Choose happiness! Eat chocolate! In the immortal words of Queen, "Fat bottomed girls, you make the rocking world go round!"

View Francesa Kuglen’s Executive Bio.


Holli Montgomery
My real name is Holliday, but, while taking introductory High School Spanish, I was traumatized when they translated my name as "Fiesta." So, I really prefer to be called Holli. Francesca and I are partners in this grand adventure!

• What brought you to the HairZing team?
  Fresh out of the corporate world of cosmetics and hair accessories, ready for a BIG adventure. Francesca and I have been friends for over fifteen years, it was time to join forces and take her HairZing creation to the limit. We are a little like Frick and Frack…having fun and we won't look back!
• If I could be a HairZing, which HairZing would I be?
  Definitely "Criss Cross Medium AB and Wood." A little shine, a little natural, you know, goes anywhere and ready to experience anything at least once. I have thin, long hair, so the Medium is the most versatile size for me.
• Favorite place to wear a HairZing?
  Skiing, both water and snow skiing. No more hat hair on the slopes; we all know it's about looking good at the warm lodge half way down!
• With whom would you like most to share HairZings?
  My two sons are my biggest joy in life, but alas, they refuse to wear HairZings. I am now a G'Mom for the first time with a granddaughter, who will be wearing HairZings as soon as she has hair . In the meantime, Leslie, my daughter-in-law has been a huge support with proofing directions and letting me experiment with her long, enviously-thick hair. Thank you, Leslie.

View Holliday Montgomery’s Executive Bio


Holden Penley
Holden Penley is our Marketing and Advertising Director. Additionally, he ensures all our customers have the answers they need. After earning his degree at Georgetown University, he has dabbled in many arenas. His professional career has involved dancing around in the ranks of a major Talent Agency and working as a Media Buyer. Now that he is landed at HairZing, we will put all his life experiences to the test. His hobbies include writing music, taking pictures of himself on boats, wearing hip striped sweater, and drinking way too much coffee.

Our company is founded on the belief that business and education are two great equalizers. When used correctly, they increase the quality of life for everyone they touch.

One of our goals is to bring business opportunities to women, especially in areas that have limited resources and support. The second goal is as to ensure that girls in these regions receive education.

You change the world one girl at a time….

ZING TEAM AFRICA

After nearly a year of preparation, training, and travel we anticipate launching our first Maasai Collection in Summer 2007. It is produced by the women of the Maasai tribe in Kenya.

HISTORY:
We approached the Maasai women in Kenya because of their legendary beading expertise. Beading is a traditional art form practiced ONLY by women in the tribe.

Our Promise: Was to provide marketing and management experience to help them grow and establish their company if they began a business that was fully owned and operated by Maasai women. Teaching them sound business practices ensures they will be able to build other small companies on their own.

Women's Collective: The women have responded enthusiastically, launching "Olorien" which means "Olive Tree." Production is currently underway and nearly 100 women are involved on the Hairzing project, with more waiting to begin when demand increases.

We will write about many of these women on our web site as the year progresses.

Understanding the Maasai: The Maasai are pastoral, proud of their abilities to be self-sustaining. They have tended cattle and goats for centuries, but as politics, poverty, war, disease and drought change the face of Africa, the Maasai are challenged to maintain their culture and sustain themselves independently. One way of doing so is by creating cottage industries and small businesses that allow them to live on their ancestral lands rather than moving to the cities.

Challenges: The challenges are daunting. Electricity and running water are luxuries. Women often walk up to eight hours to locate well water for their families. Job opportunities for women are scarce. Girls are just beginning to enjoy education, but it is expensive because public schools do not exist in Kenya. Female circumcision is still practiced, and the opportunity for women to run their own businesses is non-existent.

Dignified work, flexible work schedules and the ability to earn fair wages are key elements to the Maasai's continued growth and independence.

FUTURE TEAMS:
We believe poverty has no nationality, race, or religion---but we know wherever you find poverty you will find women and their children.

We are currently looking at areas within the United States and around the world that could also become "Team Zing" regions. Please E-mail us with any ideas or suggestions you might have.

ZING TEAM ASIA

Zachary Hany
An American by birth, a global citizen by choice, Zachary is our Quality Control Guru. Living now in Shenzhen, he is responsible for creating sensational quality in every product. Zachary is part Technical Nerd (and we say that in a GOOD way), part Detail Dictator, and part Visionary Activist.

Although born in the United States, Zachary has traveled and lived all around the world. In fact during his lifetime, he has spent less than 6 full years in the USA. While in school he studied Chinese and now secretly enjoys the shocked expressions on people's faces when he opens his mouth and Mandarin (with an American accent) pours out. He is especially good at doing this in places where no one realizes he speaks Chinese…….after they have been conversing about personal details for an hour or so in Chinese…..

Eva Din
Eva Din is a Chinese Nationalist who is a powerhouse living in Shenzhen, China. She is responsible for all aspects of running HairZing in Asia. She splits her 48-hour days between sourcing innovative and planet-friendly materials, making certain our shipments leave the country on time, and working to ensure the women who bead our products have the ability to stay at home with their children and work while staying close to their families, nurturing a household, not living in a factory.

Eva joined the Zing Team to put her entrepreneurial skills to the test.

The Workers
Providing working opportunities for women is fundamental to us. That goal is two-fold:

1) To create a system where women control where and when they work
2) Allowing women to work at home where they can grow with their children and families.

The current HairZings we create in China are produced quite differently from the traditional factory regime that exists for working women in Asia.

In most of China, work is located in the cities, so women leave their families behind to live far away, usually in dormitories, on the factory site. Women with children who choose not to leave for the city have extremely limited opportunities for securing income. Our goal is that women won't have to choose between being with their families or earning money. Their incomes directly help their children's lives, and so does their presence.

As an alternative, we teamed up with a husband and wife in rural China who have been willing to join us in this adventure. They are working with us to ensure the success of this business model; finding, educating and rewarding women in this rural region.

We believe products CAN be made ethically. Sure it's more challenging… but by using our HairZings, we are saving the time we used to spend fussing with our hair, so we HAVE time to spend on more worthwhile projects…..

ZING WEB TEAM - Zango Creative, Inc

Zango Creative is a talented group of "techies" from Seattle, WA. Our fabulous team includes:

• Michelle Drewien, Creative Director
• Vinny McKee, Web Developer
• Colleen Lynn, Graphic Designer
• Josh Tuininga, Flash Designer
• David Bennet, Quality Assurance