Leadership
LIZ HOSTETTER
FOUNDER, PRESIDENT
Liz headed to Fiji in 1995 to volunteer and began what would be a life abroad, including studying and working in Paris and London. A former professional sports agent in Europe for IMG, and a mom of 3, Liz would not have discovered her entrepreneurial opportunity until she relocated to Hong Kong. Liz leads all major design decisions for the Collection and oversees branding direction and initiatives. She personally manages the company’s “break the mold” manufacturing and sourcing platform, and travels the world for design inspiration while leading Ellie Kai with a strong philanthropic vision. Holds a BS from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
JIM BIZARRO
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Jim is responsible for Ellie Kai’s Accounting, Financial Planning & Analysis, Treasury, Tax and HR functions. Jim has over 15 years of experience in Finance and Accounting, including managing the Wholesale Finance division of Clark’s Companies – a billion dollar global footwear company. Prior to Clarks, Jim worked in senior manager finance roles in Boston-based companies across retail, wholesale and e-commerce platforms, including Karmaloop, EMC Corporation, and Reebok. Jim holds a Master’s Degree in Finance from Suffolk University and a BS in Finance from Bentley College.
KIMBERLY KAYAJAN
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
A founding member of the company, Kim was initially responsible for developing and executing the inaugural trunk shows and client engagements. She has been a core part of the team from the early proof of concept stage to its point today. In her current role, Kim oversees Ellie Kai's Showrooms, development of recruiting, content and marketing materials across all channels and executing corporate direct sales opportunities. Prior to Ellie Kai, Kim spent over six years in direct marketing for a corporate gifts catalog company managing catalog development, e-commerce and online marketing campaigns. Kim holds a BA in Business from Manhattanville College.
MICHELLE CARON
VICE PRESIDENT of TECHNOLOGY
With over 15 years in management and technology development for the healthcare sector as well as 10 years running her own technology and database firm, Michelle has a deep understanding of infrastructure and systems as well as a keen sense of user experience. The force behind Ellie Kai's original proprietary technical platform, her responsibility focuses squarely on continuing to build the newest iteration of Ellie Kai's proprietary systems to support our growing direct sales model. Michelle holds a BS in Psychology from Rhode Island College and an MBA from Suffolk University.
