
Our Mission
We feature frontline inspired and designed accessories for quick, easy, and readily available hearing protection. Prioritizing a culture of personal safety, we aim to provide users with innovative, rugged, and high-quality products which make hearing protection immediately accessible. Our goal is to provide personal protective storage to enable users to confidently protect themselves, loved ones, and quality of life.
Our Team
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Paolo - Founder, CEO
A gear nerd with over a decades worth of experience in personal and community safety, and preparedness. This led to the development of Bayani Designs, where Paolo aims to significantly reduce hearing loss, and create a shift in the way we value personal protection.
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Jon Zacharkiw - Director of Product Development
Bachelors of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University. With seven years of experience as a civil servant engineer for the US Navy, Jon developed a strong proficiency in a variety of computer aided design programs. Jon moved to Oregon and became a Deputy Sheriff for Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, where Jon received high level firearms training. Unfortunately, his career was cut short after suffering multiple on-duty injuries, most notably hearing damage after being part of an Officer Involved Shooting.
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Susan Zacharkiw - Finances and Business
Susan is Jon’s mom. She struggled alongside her son as he recovered from on-the-job injuries as a deputy sheriff. Jon’s head and ear injuries ignited an interest in safety protection for all. As a forever learner and problem solver, Susan is using her BS in Business Management (Penn State University), MBA (University of Colorado) and MA in Education (University of Colorado) along with over thirty years of experience in industry, as a teacher and an Instructional Coach to be a contributing member of Bayani Designs as an organizational leader.
The Beginning
In 2022, Paolo had met Jon, who was recently in an Officer Involved Shooting (OIS) while working patrol for Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. Hearing of Jon’s story, Paolo reached out to tell him about an invention he had thought of: quick access hearing protection storage. Jon ended up having to medically retire from law enforcement due to hearing damage from the OIS, so he and Paolo immediately had a shared interest in finding ways to help protect people’s hearing from loud noise trauma.
Paolo and Jon becoming friends was meant to be, and Paolo was thrilled to learn Jon not only wanted to help with product development, but had a degree in Mechanical Engineering and wanted to help design the product.
After countless iterations machining aluminum bars into prototypes, and sleepless nights exploring solutions, Jon invented the patent pending tapered hole that would become “Ready Ears”. But the team didn’t stop there, understanding that hearing loss impacts all kinds of people from construction workers, engineers, musicians, and so much more.
Original Prototype ^
CAGE Code: 0Q9R2