Portfolio by MODERN SALON’s courses are led by the industry’s top trailblazers, stylists, owners, and operators. Drawing from their unique perspectives and demonstrated success, you’ll have insights, tips, and beyond valuable industry advice.
Coach Cyd Charisse has been coaching industry leaders for the past 13+ years. She is the co-creator of Destroy The Hairdresser and focuses on empowering salon owners to build stability, structure and strategy. She focuses on building strong brands, empathetic leadership skills, and transforms the financial futures of the salons she coaches. As a life and career coach, Cyd has enhanced the personal lives and paychecks of those she has worked with through one on one education. Cyd is also a blonding Specialist in New York City and has completely built her business through social media marketing.
Instagram: @cydcharisse
TikTok: @cyd_charisse
Visit Cyd’s Facebook Page
Pinky has been a celebrity stylist for 20 years. Experienced in many aspects of the beauty industry, she has had success with education seminars, as a platform artist, and on set with numerous performers. She has been a set stylist and extension specialist for over 11 years.
A stylist to the stars in everything from to TV to movies, and from fashion runways to music videos, Pinky prides herself in her students’ achievements, helping them to grow as professionals within the entertainment industry, always giving back and trying to change peoples’ lives one hair strand at a time.
Instagram: @hellopinkyhair
TikTok: @hellopinkyhair
Owner of J. Gordon Designs, Karen Gordon has been a hairstylist since 1978. As a color specialist, she likes to create beautiful blonde-on-blonde and multi-dimensional colors. Karen is also a Certified Trichologist, specializing in thinning hair, hair loss, and scalp disorders. She sees hair loss clients at Karen Gordon Hair Loss Solutions, a private studio above the salon and at Arrojo in NYC. Karen is the President of Cosmetologists Chicago, representing 18,000 salon professionals. She is on the Board of Directors of Intercoiffure America/Canada and is member of the American Hair Loss Council.
Kelly Johnson is a Chicago-area Master hair stylist who has been licensed for 10 years. She began work as an assistant at a salon at the age of 16 and fell in love with the beauty industry. She specializes in blonde hair, extensions, and balayage. After years of working for others, she just recently went independent and she can’t wait to see what the future holds for her business.
Instagram: @kellylynnhair
Tom Kuhn is a former CPA and multi-location salon owner, turned entrepreneur and recognized as the trusted financial expert and leader for beauty and wellness businesses. Noticing a major gap in financial confidence and skills in the beauty industry, Tom merged the power of visual creativity and finance to create Qnity; a global education and consulting company and Qnity for Schools; a robust financial literacy curriculum for trade and career schools. As Founder/CEO of both companies, Tom has and continues to dedicate his career to the financial success and sustainability of the industry at large. Tom is also an Advisor to top businesses on profitability, financial management and transition planning. In addition, Tom is an active educator, spokesperson and contributor through various industry platforms, serving as the Creator/CEO of the 2to10 Project, a Beauty Changes Lives board member and the host of the Weekly Financial Roundtable; a weekly forum designed to support the school and professional market on current financial topics and best practices.
CPA, CRSP, Advisor, Educator, Consultant
Kopsa Otte CPAs + Advisors
Kopsa Otte has been referred to as “the only CPA Firm that specializes in Salons and Spas.” As a CPA with a wide variety of experience including financial analysis, taxation, HR, employee benefits, and leases, April can help clients in multiple ways. She understands the financial and management challenges our industry faces. Utilizing this specialized knowledge, she’s able to serve as a national consultant & educator to salons and spas. Her ability to take difficult topics and make them easy to understand has made her a very popular speaker.
In the last two decades, Patricia has built a lucrative brand and gained extensive knowledge in business leadership. Patricia owns a successful eight chair commission salon and six salon suites. She is a skilled course creator and has helped stylists across the United States and Canada work less and make more behind the chair.
Patricia specializes in leadership, marketing, and recreating salon culture. When working with Patricia, you can expect to walk away with a solid understanding of taking your business and team to the next level and a plan to get you there.
Instagram: @patricia_opulentbeautysalon
Michele Pelafas, principal and founder of Michele Pelafas Inc., has over 16 years of experience in the spa, beauty, and medical spa industry with hundreds of projects in her portfolio including award winning designs. She is an educator and expert in the design field, a frequent speaker at industry trade shows, and featured in industry trade publications. Michele's company embodies her personal style and passion which is inspired by her love for fashion, travel, and trends. However, her greatest passion is creating value and meaning in the smallest of details that make a difference in people’s lives through her designs and the interior environment.
Instagram: @michelepelafas
Visit Michele’s Facebook Page
Elyse has been a professional hair stylist and colorist since 1992. Her artistic vision, in-depth industry knowledge, and impeccable eye for the latest trends allow Elyse to provide her clients with styles, and color that not only suit their personal tastes, but keep their hair healthy and looking fantastic. Elyse prides herself on her natural ability to find a style that suites each person and/or event. Ranging from contemporary to classic to outlandish and wild to reserved and conservative, every style Elyse creates is done with both flair and professionalism.
Instagram: @elyserox00
TikToK: @elyserox
Visit Rockit Studio’s Facebook Page
Ivan Zoot is President and CEO of Zootcuts Inc., and a trainer, coach, mentor, and educator with 30+ years of presentation experience. He also founded Zootcuts Family Hair Center in Chicago, IL, where more than 300 haircuts are given every day.
Ivan holds patents for unique beauty tools and haircutting techniques and systems, and is the creator of the ClipperGuy hair care product line, licensed to John Amico professional hair care.
Ivan also holds three Guinness World haircutting records for world’s fastest haircut, most haircuts in one hour, and most haircuts in 24 hours.
Instagram: @ivanzoot
Twitter: @ivanzoot
Visit Ivan’s Facebook Page