Meet Our Team

  • Chi Wah Brown (Yes, I am an actual person)

    Proprietor & Master Stylist

    • Chi Wah means: Loyal, strong, Devote China man.
    • Home Town: Born in Nan Jing China, grew up in Hong Kong and immigrated to Rochester, N.Y. at age 11.
    • Family: Married to Paul Brown since 1991. Four children: Salena, Casmir, Kingsley and Marston, mom, dad and two sisters.
    • Education: Licensed NYS cosmetologist
      Monroe Community College
      SUNY Brockport
    • If I could spend an hour with any notable figure it would be: Barack Obama. I would like to know how he gets through his days as our president, how he stays optimistic when every step he takes, every speech he makes, is constantly evaluated often by people who have no credentials to judge.
    • Favorite movies and actors: Godfather- Al Pacino, Usual Suspect- Kevin Spacey, and any Guy Ritchie films.
    • Favorite Past time: Knitting gives me so much peace and allows me to be creative. I love texture and mixing colors. I also love to shoe shop. It is essential that I stay comfortable and stylish for my workdays.
    • Personal Goals: Travel is one of the best gifts to give oneself. Equally important is to spend quality time with my family.
    • Professional Goal: My passion for the beauty industry is so deep rooted. I would like to achieve leadership in Rochester, in setting the tone and direction for technical innovation, fashion and service delivery.
    • Remember, everything is better when you live gratefully and laugh often... Lauren Alsop of Mandeville Louisiana

  • Erica Morgan

    Hair Stylist & Color Specialist

    • Nickname: The Ric
    • Hometown: Webster, NY
    • Education: Webster High School
      Webber International University BS in Science and Business Administration
      Aveda Institute, St Petersburg, Florida
    • Family life: My parents, brother and sister live here in Rochester along with my 4 year old niece, Piper.
    • If I could spend an hour with any notable figure it would be: Pink. I would love to hear all about her dynamic lifestyle and her innovative thinking.
    • Favorite Movie: Romeo and Juliet directed by Baz Luhrmann, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
    • Favorite Pastime: Playing Wii Fit with my sister and shopping with my mom.
    • My best friend would describe me as: caring, devoted, loving and generous
    • I chose this profession because: I wanted to be able to express my creative nature while providing an excellent service.
    • Personal goals I've made for myself: To purchase a home by the tender age of 30, become a winner of the National American Hairstyling Awards, and have the opportunity to experience a runway show at New York Fashion Week.

  • Salena Klass

    Stylist & Color Specialist

    • Nickname: Salenie, Beenz, Sharita
    • Hometown: Rochester, NY
    • Education: Continental School of Beauty 2008
      Monroe Community College 2010
    • Family life: I have 5 siblings: 2 older brothers and 3 younger brothers. I also have some furry children, Rocco, Lola, and Milo.
    • If I could spend an hour with any notable figure it would be: FDR. I would have a lot of questions about his time as president and his views on WWII, and what he would do if he were president today. Or George Harrison...my favorite Beatle.
    • Favorite TV Show or Movie:  Mad Men, Dexter -anything on Showtime.
    • Favorite Pastime: Running, Rowing, Reading Biographies, Traveling, learning anything WWII related.
    • My best friend would describe me as: "an individual, someone who doesn't follow the majority, creative and caring"-Brittany Craig.
    • I chose this profession because: It is an outlet to be creative where I can travel and continue my education. It's very rewarding to make people feel good.
    • Personal goals I've made for myself: Attend a Vidal Sasson Academy Class, Run a 10k by next summer...

  • Andrea David

    Front End Coordinator

    • Nickname: Andy
    • Hometown: Originally from Oswego NY but Rochester has been my home since 1971.
    • Education: SUNY Brockport, both pre and post graduate
    • Family life: Married for 38 years with two children, both in their 20's
    • If I could spend an hour with any notable figure it would be: Hillary Clinton because I still feel (hope) she could be the first woman president.
    • Favorite TV Show or Movie: I'm all about reality TV. Amazing Race, Top Chef, So You Think You Can Dance, etc..
    • Favorite Pastime: Travel, especially to warm places with awesome beaches. Reading, gardening and word puzzles also occupy my free time.
    • My best friend would describe me as: fun and loyal
    • I chose this profession because: As a retired elementary teacher, I was looking for something to do, part time, that would give me the opportunity to interact with people and didn't require lesson plans or correcting papers!
    • Personal goals I've made for myself: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, both mind and body, as I ease into upper middle age!

  • Alina Mokrzan

    Front End Assistant

    • Hometown: Rochester, NY
    • Education: Our Lady of Mercy High School '10. Currently attending RIT with a major in Interior Design.
    • Family Life: Immediate family lives in Rochester. The rest of my family resides in Poland where my parents have immigrated from.
    • Favorite TV shows and Movies: Ferris Bueller's Day off, any Will Ferrell movie, Greys Anatomy, The Office, and anything on HGTV.
    • Favorite Pastimes: I like to kayak and partake in outdoor activites. I also love to make Pierogies and other Polish food.
    • My best friend would describe me as: independent, ambitious, creative, and slightly quirky.
    • Personal goals I've made for myself: upon graduating college, I plan to spend some time traveling abroad. Eventually I would like to settle down somewhere warmer than Rochester.

  • Lyndon England

    Front End Assistant

    • Hometown: Springfield, Tennessee
    • Education: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, BM in Vocal Performance
    • Family life: I have one sister, Samantha. Most of my family lives in the greater Nashville area.
    • Favorite TV show: I take alittle time to enjoy The View.
    • Favorite Pastime: I enjoy always learning new music and interpreting it. I also like drinking tea and knitting.
    • Personal goals I've made for myself: I plan on attending graduate school in the fall of 2012. I would like in the near future to be able to travel around the world while preforming.


    • Former Team Members:

  • Anna Botelho

    Front End Assistant

    When Chi Wah Salon was still located down Monroe Avenue above Inspiration Designs, we hired a few high school students to help out around the salon. Anna was our very first and set a great standard for many other employees to come.  Anna graduated from Brighton High School in 2003 and went to Bentley University in Waltham, MA, outside of Boston. She received her Bachelors in Economics-Finance, and then went on to work for Morgan Stanley in NYC. Missing Rochester and her family, she moved back a year later. Continuing in finance, Anna graduated from RIT this past spring with her MBA. We thank you Anna for your continued support over the years!

  • Kiah Perkins

    Front End Assistant

    While attending Brighton High School, Kiah joined Anna Botelho as one of our very first high school employees. She stayed part of our staff through out attending Skidmore College and graduated in 2007 with her bachelors with a Major in Anthropology and a Minor in Studio Art. After college, she moved to Portland, Oregon working as an elementary art teacher with Hispanic children. Kiah took some time and traveled to South America to study Spanish and then moved home to Ithaca for about 8 months and worked in a Montessori school for little ones. In 2009, Kiah moved back out west to Portland to pursue her Master in Social Work at Portland State University.   Graduated with her Masters in June 2011, Kiah currently works for Green Mountain Energy in which she helps businesses switch over to renewable power. She also is currently working for a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for at-risk youth to travel. Kiah, along with Anna, set the standard for our future front end employees and we are proud to have had her as part of our family.

  • Brittany Craig

    Front End Assistant

    While earning her Bachelors degree at Ithaca College in Community Health Education, Brittany became a huge part of the Chi Wah Organica family. After graduating in 2008, she lived in Rochester while helping the salon grow after our big move from 12 Corners. Brittany has moved on to New York University to receive her Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics and will be finished in 2012. While studying at NYU, she recently ate and drank her way through Florence, Italy while learning about Italy's rich history and culture. Chi Wah Organica is proud to have Brittany as part of its ever growing family.

  • Anna Falkovich

    Front End Assistant

    While attending Brighton High School, Anna started working in our salon. Anna went on to attend Boston University and graduated in 2010 with a degree in Studies in International Development, Public Health, and Gender. While studying at BU, Anna went abroad to Niger and that brought on her interest in international health. She is currently living in Boston and hoping to find a job in the field of maternal and child health or international health before she goes back to get her Masters. We are honored to have Anna as part of our family over the years and we wish her the best of luck as she continues her journey

  • Nicole Kone

    Front End Coordinator

    Nicole was a long time client of Chi Wah Organica before joining our team. After graduating from Loyola University New Orleans in 2008 with a Bachelor’s of English-Writing and Spanish, she decided to move back to Rochester. Nicole became part of the family in 2009 and stepped up to the plate to help out our managerial staff in 2010. Nicole was offered an opportunity to join The NYC Teaching Fellows program in June 2011. She will be teaching Bi-lingual special education in Brooklyn, NY. We wish her luck and we know those students are lucky to have such a bright eyed teacher in their classroom.

     

  • Teigan Kosel

    Stylist

    Teigan grew up in West Irondequoit, NY and graduated from cosmetology school in 2007. She started working as a stylist at Chi Wah Organica in 2010 and was immediately a huge part of our family. In June 2011, Teigan moved overseas to London, England to follow her dream of continuing her education and will be attending the Vidal Sassoon Academy. As a team we have learned a lot from Teigan and we will miss her very much!