Heather Fleming: Founder
Heather spent a decade as a wig designer in theatre before founding Custom Wig Company to create custom wigs for performers of all kinds, from reenactors and tribute artists, Santas and Ben Franklins, and anything else imaginable. She holds an MFA from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and enjoys teaching classes and workshops. Outside of work, raises backyard chickens and grows vegetables and writes about it all at HeyBigSplendor.com
Hannah Stoppel – Build Manager
Hannah has been drawn to fiber arts of all kinds since childhood, and spends her free time sewing, knitting, crocheting, netting, embroidering, and generally playing with string. She stumbled into wigs purely by accident while studying Theatre at Michigan State University when Heather did a workshop with the costume students. She loves the endless creativity and meticulous craftsmanship of working at the Custom Wig Company. When not staring at tiny fibers, she spends her time reading, cooking, gardening, hiking, and cuddling with cats.
Beth Townsend: Santa Care Coordinator
A unique variety of learning and job experiences led Beth to her position at Custom Wig Company, including art education, theater crew work, and television background. Her earliest interest in innovative hair styling was first noted at the age of six, using her own head and a pair of sewing shears (to her mother’s dismay), but she has honed much better techniques since. When not utilizing her wig building skills, Beth also enjoys reading, painting, movies, crochet, and video games. Her favorite part of the creative process is seeing all the individual pieces of a big project finally come together.
Katie Ward: Wig Artisan
Katie is a native to Louisville, KY and graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a BA in Wig and Makeup Design. She began her colorful career in New York as a wig builder for Tom Watson and Charles LaPointe and became a hairdresser for multiple Broadway Musicals including Wicked, Beautiful- the Carol King Musical, and Matilda. She took her skills on the road and toured with various Broadway Musical productions, including Hamilton, Jersey Boys, and Phantom of the Opera. She returned home to be closer to her family and was appointed the Wig and Makeup Supervisor position at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Katie is beyond grateful to be back in her hometown where she relishes every moment that she spends with her parents, sister, her husband and their 2 young boys, Max and Jett, and her 1year old nephew, Leo. Katie truly enjoys working for CWC, as it gives her the opportunity to continue doing what she loves, making wigs.