ZAGO, a sustainable sealing fastener manufacturer, is celebrating 30 years in business, as well as being a woman-owned business. The company was co-founded by CEO, Gail Friedberg Rottenstrich, a corporate attorney, along with her partner Harvey Rottenstrich, an electrical engineer and company president.
The duo behind ZAGO Manufacturing, Gail Friedberg Rottenstrich and Harvey Rottenstrich. Read more about how ZAGO got its start here.
“March is Women’s History Month, and it is only fitting that we recognize the pivotal roles women play in shaping the manufacturing industry,” says Jackie Luciano, ZAGO VP. “Gail and Harvey envisioned ZAGO being a diverse employer and a great place for both women and men to work and flourish.”
Luciano joined ZAGO 15 years ago as a part-time bookkeeper while raising her young children and advanced to a leadership role after earning her Rutgers MBA in Finance.
Today, ZAGO is thriving in Newark, NJ, the city where it started 30 years ago. Currently, it employs 35 women and men hailing from different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities. Out of eight management-level positions, women occupy six of them.
“There are many qualified women in manufacturing and in other industries who can excel in this sector — but they have to see themselves in these positions,” says Friedberg Rottenstrich, who adds that females are under-represented in leadership roles.
Becoming woman-owned
“Both Harvey and I realized that ZAGO should become a woman-owned manufacturer to show women, explicitly and implicitly, what is possible,” said Friedberg Rottenstrich.
“Among the reasons I love working at ZAGO is the level of support given to all employees,” say Alejandra Damacela, Contract Review/Buyer, and 10+ year veteran of ZAGO who is also the mother of two little ones. “ZAGO offers tuition reimbursement so associates can pursue higher education and advanced degrees.”
Damacela earned her Bachelor of Science, Marketing, Spring 2021, from Kean University. “For that, we are grateful.”
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