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about ME

Who says you can’t start over and do what you want to do your own way?

After decades in sales and operations management in the newspaper, plastics, and oil industries I decided that Act 2 would be on my terms.

I’d do something I wanted to do.

I wanted a creative field as I originally considered being an art major after high school.

I wanted something social, allowing me to both interact with my many friends and acquaintances more often and where I could meet new people and make new friends as well.  

Community based?  Flexible?  Earnings tied directly to effort? 

Thanks to my good friend Gabby Venturo, who went back to barbering himself after thirty years away from it, I decided barbering could be the right fit. I’d been cutting friends and family and liked it and seemed to have a knack for it. Check, check, check, check, check.  It hit all the marks.

Barber school was great. Great group of peers from all walks of life and all different ages and lifestyles. One better than the next. All creative and passionate about what they do and what lies ahead.  A great and varied group of instructors that prepared me with the basics, good habits, and a ton of knowledge and then helped refine what skills I had.  Some taught different techniques and approaches.  Some taught how to spot trouble areas or areas that could be improved. Some reinforced the basics. All had something to offer. A great group of instructors and I truly appreciate them all. Thank you NEHA.

I cut and shaved wherever I could get experience. I cut in the shop, at home, on vacation ... on a beach. Friends, relatives, the elderly, children. As many types of hair and as many styles as I could. Thank you to all that showed up, especially in the beginning when the cuts were likely not as good as they are now.  Your support was noticed and is instrumental in any success I may have.  

What's next?  Continuing to be the best barber I can be. Helping to raise the barbering standards and expectations of clients. Staying informed, honing skills, staying current. But not 'just' cutting and shaving.  I want people to have the best products they can to care for and maintain their look and style. There are a LOT of options. Some good. Many are fair. Some are downright awful. To that end, I have been continually learning and studying and experimenting...

After much research (and not a little trial and error!), I started blending my own small-batch high-quality beard oils, beard balms, and skin conditioner / tattoo balms for myself and friends/clients.  They've been surprisingly big hits and have received great reviews and are now being sold here on-line as well as in numerous barbershops and stores. Once clients and customers saw the results and their problems addressed, they became loyal and thankful. And I appreciate it all.  I've designed my logo and some artwork on merchandise for those who've asked to support the growing brand. Tee shirts, stickers, capes for barbers and stylists, beard combs, and beard brushes.  The latest addition is a hair styling comb / beard comb that adds just the right amount of texture. Again, its all very appreciated and humbling. And there are more items to come.

We'll see where it all leads...