"Allison is approachable yet firm, creating an environment where accountability feels empowering rather than intimidating," says Owner Nicki Wenz.
Credit: Zandi K Salon
SALON TODAY's Meet the Manager series celebrates the managers, team leads, and directors in the industry who work to maintain the vision and goals of salons, spas, and barbershops. In today's profile, we meet Allison Stock, general manager of Zandi K Salon in Lakewood, Colorado. Owner Nicki Wenz credits Stock with elevating the success of every part of the salon, from operations and education to team culture and profitability.
Manager: Allison Stock, Director of Operations
Nominated by: Nicki Wenz, Zandie K Salon in Lakewood, Colorado
Date of Hire: February 2017
SALON TODAY: What about Stock’s background made you believe she’d be a good fit for your business?
Wenz: “Allison joined Zandi K as a stylist after relocating to Colorado and teaching at a local beauty school. Her passion for both education and leadership was clear from the start—she wasn't just an exceptional stylist; she was deeply invested in helping others grow. Over time, she became an integral part of our Leadership Team, Education Team, and Master Bridal Team, consistently demonstrating initiative and a strong sense of responsibility for the salon's overall success.
“When our General Manager position opened, Allison naturally rose to the occasion. She saw the opportunity not just as a promotion, but as a chance to make a real impact—bridging the gap between creativity and business operations. Her teaching background, technical mastery, and team-centered mindset made her the perfect fit to step into the Director of Business Operations role. Since then, she's become the glue that holds our systems, people, and progress together. She leads with heart, strategy, and an unwavering commitment to growth.”
ST: What personality characteristics does Stock have that make her a good manager?
Wenz: “Allison is incredibly organized, goal-oriented, and financially driven—qualities that have elevated both her leadership and the salon's performance. She has a natural ability to balance creativity with structure, ensuring that every idea is backed by a plan and measurable results. Her attention to detail is unmatched—whether it's analyzing numbers, refining systems, or coaching a stylist through their goals, she brings precision and purpose to everything she does.
“What truly sets Allison apart is her calm, steady energy and her ability to lead through both data and empathy. She's approachable yet firm, creating an environment where accountability feels empowering rather than intimidating. Her combination of organization, strategic thinking, and genuine care for people makes her an exceptional manager—and a cornerstone of Zandi K's continued success.”
ST: How is Stock compensated?
Wenz: “Allison is compensated through a hybrid pay structure that reflects both her work behind the chair and her leadership responsibilities. She takes clients two days a week and earns commission at our highest tier—a reflection of her technical mastery and experience.
“For her administrative and leadership responsibilities as Director of Business Operations, she receives a base salary. In addition, she earns an annual bonus based on the salon's total sales performance, reinforcing her direct impact on company growth.
“Starting in 2026, Allison also receives 1% of the service revenue generated by the team members she personally coached—a performance-based incentive that rewards her for developing talent and driving measurable results.”
ST: What are the three most important tasks the manager takes on at the salon?
Wenz: “Human Resources and Operations Management – Allison oversees payroll, onboarding, and the overall HR process to ensure smooth and compliant operations. She's hands-on in every step of the employee journey, from welcoming new hires to managing performance and ensuring our systems run efficiently behind the scenes.
“Education and Career Development – She designs, schedules, and leads ongoing advanced education for our entire team, while also managing the education and tracking for our apprentices as they move through our program. Her focus on structured, high-quality education ensures that stylists transition from training to the floor quickly and with confidence.
“Coaching and Leadership Development – Through our proprietary Genius Model—which focuses on Self, Service, and Sales—Allison provides one-on-one coaching with every new team member each month. She helps stylists set goals, track progress, and learn to use all of Zandi K's tools for personal and financial growth.”
ST: How is Stock held accountable for business performance?
Wenz: "Allison's success is directly tied to the performance and growth of the team she leads. The speed and quality of our apprentices' progress through the program are a direct reflection of her dedication to structured education and consistent coaching. She's equally accountable for the performance of the new team members she mentors—tracking their results in service sales, client retention, and professionalism.
Her compensation is designed to reflect that accountability. Allison's bonuses are based on both staffing success and the sales performance of the stylists she's coached, ensuring her focus remains on developing strong, financially thriving team members who contribute to the overall growth of the salon.
ST: How often do you meet with this manager, and what do you go over?
Wenz: “Allison and I meet daily to stay aligned on every aspect of salon operations. Our conversations cover current priorities, upcoming initiatives, and any challenges that may arise within the team or systems. We review the salon's KPIs regularly—service and retail sales, retention, new client growth, and staffing performance—to ensure we're on track to meet our goals.
“Because we both operate in defined lanes of strength, our meetings are efficient and strategic. We use that time to troubleshoot issues, celebrate wins, and plan what's next for the business. This consistent communication keeps us agile and ensures that every decision we make is informed, intentional, and focused on growth.”
ST: What type of continuing education do you offer Stock?
Wenz: “Allison receives fully paid professional leadership training three times a year through the High Performance Salon Academy (HPSA). This program provides advanced coaching in leadership, communication, financial strategy, and team development.
“These trainings not only strengthen her ability to lead and inspire our team but also keep her connected to top-performing salon leaders nationwide—bringing new ideas, systems, and strategies back to Zandi K. Her commitment to applying what she learns has been a major driver in our continued growth and our evolving culture.”
ST: How has this manager helped you personally or professionally?
Wenz: ”Allison is absolutely my right hand. She understands every facet of the business—financials, systems, people, and culture—and executes with precision, organization, and discipline. She has the rare ability to take an idea from concept to completion, ensuring that projects are not just started but fully implemented and sustained.
“Because of her leadership, my workload and stress level have become not only manageable but enjoyable. She gives me the freedom to focus on strategy and growth, knowing the day-to-day is handled with excellence. The team trusts her completely—they know she can speak and act on behalf of me and the business with clarity and consistency.
“Allison's influence has elevated every part of Zandi K—from operations and education to team culture and profitability. Simply put, she's the heartbeat of our business growth and a key reason we're able to scale successfully.”
If you have a manager you'd like to nominate for this series, learn more here.
