MENU
SEARCHIn this Meet the Manager profile, we learn about Diane Palumbo, General Manager of Ohana Salon in Scottsdale, AZ, and owner Chandra Chriswisser’s trusted right hand.
Left to right: Owner of Ohana Salon Chandra Chriswisser, Manager Diane Palumbo, with Hillary Vizcardo & Wayne Brawner
courtesy of Chandra Chriswisser
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 learn about Diane Palumbo, General Manager of Ohana Salon in Scottsdale, AZ, and owner Chandra Chriswisser’s trusted right hand. Since the tumultuous year of 2020, Palumbo has led the team at Ohana by fostering the growth of each individual team member, taking a lot of work off the plate of a grateful Chriswisser.
The manager: Diane Palumbo, General Manager
Nominated by: Chandra Chriswisser
Date of Hire: July 2020
SALON TODAY: What about Palumbo’s background made you believe she’d be a good manager for your business?
Chriswisser: “Diane has over 30 years in the industry. She was a licensed stylist and worked as a director for two of the biggest Aveda Schools in Ohio and Indiana. She really understood how to manage beauty professionals and the ins and outs of our industry.”
ST: What personality characteristics make her a good manager?
Chriswisser: “She is compassionate and fair. She leads by example and is not afraid to uphold the policies and procedures of the salon.”
ST: How is Palumbo compensated?
Chriswisser: “Hourly + bonuses based on sales goals.”
ST: What are the three most important tasks she takes on?
Chriswisser: “Coaching and growing the team, upholding our values and culture, and enforcing procedures to keep things running smoothly.”
ST: How is Palumbo held accountable for business performance?
Chriswisser: “We have set benchmarks for her that are based on overall sales goals, profitability, and the growth of the team.”
ST: How often do you meet with this manager, and what do you go over?
Chriswisser: “Bi-weekly, and we go over any challenges she has had with clients or team members and solutions. We go over set benchmarks and create any plans going forward to help team members who may be struggling with growth.”
ST: What types of continuing education do you offer Palumbo?
Chriswisser: Any management training that is available from Data Driven Salon Summit or other industry trade shows. We also do training through our CRM software.”
ST: How has this manager helped you personally or professionally?
Chriswisser: “This manager has become my right hand, allowing me to free up more of my time to focus on strategic business growth and giving me more quality time with my family. She has helped grow the business by leading our apprenticeship program and growing the team to hit their goals, which helps the salon as a whole reach our sales goals. She is instrumental in keeping things on track and leads from a place that has gained respect from the team and the clients. I could not do what I do without her.”
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.
Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.
Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Sponsored by Beautista
Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.
Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan. The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry. Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Sponsored by Phorest
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
