Haircolorxpress Adds 4 Beauty Industry and Franchise Professionals, Develops Executive Dream Team

haircolorxpress International (HCX), the nation's first franchisor of salons providing affordable hair-color and custom- blended cosmetic services, today announced the following appointments to its executive team: Patrick Furlong, executive vice president; Michael Nitschke, vice president of marketing; Tony Beckerman, vice president of creative and artistic development; and Joe Wasch, vice president and general counsel.

"The combination of these executives' impressive track records in the salon industry with my 27 years of successful business-franchise experience is a 'dream team' that will revolutionize the beauty industry and help beauty professionals realize their dreams of owning their own businesses," said Larry Feldman, CEO of haircolorxpress, who also serves as CEO of Subway Development Corp. of Washington D.C., the nation's largest developer of Subway franchises. "In addition, this team will help to further our company's goal of meeting consumer demand for high-quality, affordable hair-color services and complementary hair products and color cosmetics."

As executive vice president, Furlong will develop and manage HCX's operations to support the company's development agents and franchisees. Prior to joining haircolorxpress, Furlong spent 10 years as an independent consultant to international businesses in the professional and retail personal-care industry. Before this, he was vice president of research and development and quality assurance with Image Laboratories, an international manufacturer of hair-care products. A licensed cosmetologist who began his career at Redken Laboratories, Furlong holds a Ph.D. in physiology and anatomy and a master's degree in organic chemistry.

With more than 25 years of experience in the professional and retail hair-care industry, Nitschke will oversee HCX's national and regional marketing programs, including advertising, public relations and other corporate-branding activities. Prior to joining haircolorxpress, he was vice president of marketing for Rusk Inc. Before this, he was director of new products with Matrix Essentials.

As vice president of creative and artistic development, Beckerman will serve as spokesperson to communicate the company's image to salon-industry professionals and to consumers. Prior to joining haircolorxpress, Beckerman was director of artistic development and new product innovations with Matrix Essentials. Before this, he was executive director of product development with Image Laboratories. Beckerman began his career with Vidal Sassoon, where he introduced the "geometric" haircut to American hairdressers and opened the first Vidal Sassoon haircutting academy in the United States.

Wasch, who was promoted from in-house counsel to vice president and general counsel, will drive the company's development efforts into new territories in the United States and abroad as well as manage the company's legal affairs and direct its real estate leasing efforts. Prior to joining haircolorxpress, Wasch was vice president and general counsel with Outsource International Inc. (now Tandem Staffing Services), a Florida-based temporary industrial-staffing company with 75 company-owned offices and 50 franchised offices nationwide. Before that, he was vice president and general counsel to Rx Medical Services Corp., a national healthcare company located in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Wasch, who has more than 25 years of experience in corporate and securities law, Franchise law and real estate transactions, is a member of the Florida, New York and New Jersey bars.

About haircolorxpress

haircolorxpress International LLC is the first national franchisor of salons specializing in hair-color and custom-blended cosmetic services. The company provides hair colorists the opportunity to own their own salons and deliver to clients high-quality, affordable services in an upscale environment. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the company plans to build a worldwide chain of more than 10,000 salons over the next eight years.