Category: Student Spotlight

Name: Joe Day  Age: 27

Joe grew up in the city of Cleveland Heights. He had a career in artist management before he decided to become a barber. What made him want to become a barber, was his daughter being born and he wanted to show her that you don’t have to physically punch a clock to make a living. He wanted something he could pass down to her that way she does not ever have to call anybody her boss, because she will be the boss!!

“I started LaBarberia with no experience what so ever. I was so nervous, but I always say hard work beats talent when talent isn’t working hard”

 

Name: Joseph Koziura  Age: 32

Joey grew up in Lorain, Ohio. He spent a lot of time with his best friend Bryan. They planned on being cosmologists together, and later started cosomotolgoy school. When Joey’s grandfather became very sick, he withdrew from school to take care of him. Later on, he began working at Eddy’s Barbershop where Bryan worked and decided to revisit his dream, and started LaBarberia in March of 2019.

“Barbering is not only an opportunity to work in a profession that I love but to also meet new people and hear their stories. Can’t wait to be a professional barber and work alongside my friends.”

 

 

Name: Ivana DuBose   Age: 32

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College, has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight for their talents, ambition, and hard work. During the month of June 2019, we would like to acknowledge Ivana DuBose.

Before coming to LaBarberia, Ivana was an administrative assistance and a music teacher at heritage Christian School in Canton, Ohio. She always liked to do hair, like styling and braiding.

After joining LaBarberia in October, Ivana has received the most reviews on our Google page, and is one our of star students.

“Barbering means touching a lot of lives, quite literally! ”

Name: Gregory Besley Age: 29

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College, has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight for their talents, ambition, and hard work. During the month of April 2019, we would like to acknowledge Gregory Besley.

Gregory attended college at Bowling Green State University where he was studying electronic engineering. Gregory first got into barbering by cutting his own hair. While he was a freshman at BGSU, he saw his hobby turn into a passion. He would often practice on others and began making money off cutting friends’ and classmates’ hair. He enjoyed helping people and making them look good.

After being in school for a year, Gregory’s grandmother became very sick and he came home to help her. While at home, Gregory started as a dental assistant. He later worked as a home aid for seven years. He was unsure what career path he wanted to choose. He remembered looking at LaBarberia years ago, however, he thought that he lacked the personal confidence needed to become a barber. After letting nature take its course, Gregory found himself interested in becoming an official barber again. He decided to come to LaBarberia Institute of Hair for this opportunity.

Gregory compares barbering to engineering, saying that each client is unique and that you have to plan the techniques you want to apply. He does not see barbering as financial gain, but rather as a sense of achievement. He loves helping out the community and making people happy. “People’s feelings matter.” Gregory loves each connection he makes with his clients. He also loves helping the less fortunate.

“A little bit of love from a lot of people is a lot of love.”

Gregory believes that LaBarberia is a challenge, but it really helps you learn. He loves the opportunities that they offer, such as his recent “East Clark Elementary Cut-a-thon” participation where he once went to school. After graduating from LaBarberia, Gregory hopes to run his own shop one day. He would love to give back to the community and help those who really need it.

Instagram: @g_blades29

Name: Jatera Kelley Age: 23

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College, has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight for their talents, ambition, and hard work. During the month of March 2019, we would like to acknowledge Jatera Kelley.

Jatera is from Cleveland, Ohio. She grew up spending time at barbershops every weekend while her mom, dad, and brothers all received haircuts. She originally started barber college at Flawless Barber Academy. When Flawless closed its doors, she and many other students decided to attend LaBarberia Institute of Hair.

Jatera prefers becoming a barber over being a hairstylist. Cutting hair is something that she is excited to do. She loves the challenge of working with short hair and blending different levels and lines. Her favorite part of being a barber is shaving with straight razors. She continuously buys straight razors and practices on her arms and legs to perfect the angles.

“Shaving is oddly satisfying.” Jatera states

When Jatera graduates in October of this year, she wants to start her career by working in a shop and gaining her own clientele. She loves the freedom that barbering provides. With this career path, she can be her own boss, work on her own time, and own her own space. Her goal is to purchase a loft one day and design it to her style. Jatera wanted a job to work while going back to school for eight years. She plans to become a psychiatrist and work as a therapist for clients while barbering.

Instagram: @yahyah2

Name: Chris Bresnahan  Age: 18

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College, has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight for their talents, ambition, and hard work. During the month of February 2019, we would like to acknowledge Chris Bresnahan.

Chris is from Euclid, Ohio. After graduating from high school, Chris was eager to begin a lifelong career. He knew that college would not be the right fit for him because he did not want to wait four years to start working. He considered barbering as a career option, however he did not know if it was his calling or not. He was drawn to the idea of making good money and always having a job opportunity, which barbering provides.

After looking around at other barber colleges in the area, Chris chose to visit LaBarberia on the day after he graduated high school. He loved how straightforward LaBarberia was in helping him achieve his goals of expediting his career. Three days after graduating, Chris was enrolled and starting barbering classes.

Unlike other fellow students, Chris had never touched a pair of clippers prior to coming to LaBarberia. Despite this, he has excelled in barbering. He believes some of the best students in the school are the students who came without any experience, because they do not have any bad barbering habits to break. Chris credits the instructors and teachers at LaBarberia for some of his success. He said the teachers will definitely help you learn, and learn the right way.

Two weeks ago, Chris was selected to become a LaBarberia Student Mentor for his classmates. To be selected, a mentor has to be someone others can look up to, know what they are doing, and have the ability to help others. Chris joined about 15 other student mentors at LaBarberia. After graduating from LaBarberia, he hopes to join someone he knows and work in their shop. He is excited to finish school in June.

Instagram: @chrisbresnahan_

Name: Tauvarsion “Shon” Waller   Age: 24

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College, has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight for their talents, ambition, and hard work. During the month of January 2019, we would like to acknowledge Tauvarsion “Shon” Waller.

Shon is originally from Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up around St. Clair and 52nd street. When he was 14 years old, his mother gifted Shon a pair of clippers for Christmas. He practiced by giving himself haircuts until he built-up the confidence to practice on others. His brother was his first client. When his brother went to school, everyone loved his haircut, they all asked who his barber was. Shon happily began building his client base including his brothers and his own freinds.

Before coming to LaBarberia, Shon found himself dealing with a minor setback. Three years later, he received his GED. Without time to go to college, he mastered different styles and types of hair. Shon always believed that barber school was his calling. One night, he ran into a LaBarberia student named Taylor. After briefly meeting, Taylor gave him her card to come in for a free haircut. The next morning, Shon ran into Taylor for a second time. Since he had never met her before, Shon thought it was a sign seeing Taylor two days in a row. He decided to call and get information about enrolling into LaBarberia’s barber program. On that same phone call, he was informed that he could start as a student the following week. Shon has heard numerous times about how great LaBarberia was from his cousin, who had previously attended LaBarberia, his decision to begin classes was easy.

He has received so much support from his friends and family. On his first week on the floor, Shon had seventeen people come in to get haircuts and to support his dive towards a barbering career. He felt the love and support from all those rooting for him. After graduating, Shon has many goals and visions for his future. Inspired by Laura, who started LaBarberia Institute of Hair, Shon hopes to open his own barbershop. He wants use the inspiration and drive what he’s learned while at LaBarberia to create his own versatile business with top of the line services, from facials to haircuts and more.

“Barbering is more than just a haircut” He mentions.

Shon loves how a simple haircut could change someone’s mood and make them smile and feel good. He hopes that in next ten years, he can master all different types of hair and become the person cutting hair for movie stars and celebrities. Shon would also love to come give back to LaBarberia. He hopes to have the opportunity to come back and teach at the school so he can help other students the way his instructors have helped him realize his strength and new skills.

Instagram: @jus.blade_

Name: Te’amo Quickley Age: 23

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College, has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight for their talents, ambition, and hard work. During the month of November 2018, we would like to acknowledge Te’amo Quickley.

Te’amo is originally from Dover, Ohio. Before coming to LaBarberia, he worked at a factory down south. Once moving to Northern Ohio, Te’amo worked at an Applebee’s until he realized that he wanted to pursue a higher career path, a calling — barbering.

Te’amo always knew he wanted to be a barber, he just didn’t know how or where to start. When he was younger, he would always cut his friends and his own hair. He knew it was something that interested him, just didn’t know how to pursue it as a career path. When searching of barber schools online, he came across LaBarberia. He applied, and received his call last February.

Unlike other barbers who trademark different barber names, Te’amo thinks he’ll keep his given name as his brand. The word “te’amo” translates to “I love you” in Spanish. This ties him to his part-Dominican, part-African American heritage. His mother picked the name when she heard it on a Spanish television program.

Te’amo is a fitting name. Te’amo is a loving father. He contributes all his hard work and dedication to having his daughter, “I’m doing it for her”, he states happily. Having his daughter was the motivation he needed to pursue his dreams.

Te’amo currently has sophomore standing in the LaBarberia program. After graduating from LaBarberia, he plans on expanding his learning through working at a barbershop to gain more experience. His goal is to not only start his own barbershop, but start a large franchise of barbershops.

Facebook: Te’amo Quickley

Name: Rachel Vaughn Age: 21

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College, has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight for their talents, ambition, and hard work. During the month of October 2018, we would like to acknowledge Rachel Vaughn.

Rachel is from Shaker Heights, Ohio. After graduating high school, she realized she didn’t want to waste time and money going to college until she knew exactly what she wanted to do and which career path would be perfect for her.

Rachel took time off after high school to work in the retail and fashion industry, one of her biggest passions. She has always been into styling her friends’ hair, helping with fashion choices, and loves helping others define their sense of style. Rachel states, “Making people feel good about themselves is something that brings a smile to my face.”

Rachel was introduced to barbering through her uncle, who has opening up his own barbershop. Before deciding to let her uncle cut all her hair prior a trip to Miami, Florida, Rachel often got her hair styled and cut by her own personal stylist. Rachel always looked up to her stylist because of the way she carried herself, handled her clients, and ran her own business.

Talking to people is one of Rachels biggest enjoyments and since she gravitates towards people so much, she thought, maybe barbering would also be a great career for her.

Rachel began looking at barber colleges around the area. She looked at Flawless Barber Academy, in Shaker Heights, and Allstate Hairstyling & Barber College in downtown Cleveland before deciding to come to LaBarberia. She loved that what LaBarberia had to offer over all those other schools. After doing a walk through, she liked the classroom style and saw herself as a student here. She thought the students were cool and found out her friend was at LaBarberia as well! When she originally applied, she was told that she had to wait 7 weeks until the following session began due to the program being full. Happily, two days before classes started, Rachel received a call telling her about an opening in the class — she’s never looked back.

Rachel currently has senior standing in the LaBarberia program and is working on the floor full-time. After she graduates from LaBarberia, she would love to find a local barbershop to work with so she can learn more from hands-on experience. She has her eye on a new shop that is being completed in the Van Aken plaza renovation named Eddy’s Barbershop. She loves the European style cuts this barbershop gives and thinks that it would be a great place to start a clientele base.

Instagram: @razedbyrachelrae

Name: Brandy Harkless Age: 28

LaBarberia Institute of Hair, the Cleveland Barber College, has been recognizing our students with a monthly spotlight for their talents, ambition, and hard work. During the month of September 2018, we would like to acknowledge Brandy Harkless.
Brandy is from Akron, Ohio. Before deciding to become a barber, she was a student at the University of Akron for two years. Her family influenced her to get involved in barbering.

Brandy has always been around a group of barbers. Her identical twin sister, Brittany, received her cosmetology license from Regency in Akron. Her sister has worked at several salons and inspired Brandy to try it as a possible career path. Brandy’s brother, Matthew, goes to the Akron Barber College and his wife does cosmetology as well. Barbering is in the family!

Brandy spends her weekdays driving from Akron to Mayfield Heights to pursue her passion. She chose to come to LaBarberia because she knows it’s the best barber college around. She knew she could go anywhere else, but other options would not give her the financial aid and the classroom teaching experience that LaBarberia offers.

On the weekends, she’s working, taking care of a lady who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Brandy has recently joined the Cleveland Fusion, playing on Cleveland’s women’s full-contact football team, this upcoming season. She’s excited to demonstrate her speed as the team’s wide receiver, while keeping her hands taped up, to avoid any injury to her “money-makers”.

Instagram: @bharkless