Metro Beauty Academy on the Rise
By Jackie Summers

STATS:
Owners: Chad Schneider, president, and Gary Menzies, CEO
Opening Day : February 1, 2007
Curricula: Cosmetology programs designed to prepare students for successful careers as hairstylists and estheticians, plus advanced training for owners and pros
Educational Partners : Pivot Point, Wella and Dermalogica

Chad Schneider has owned the Excape Salon in Allentown, PA, for 10 years, and for 10 years he has faced the same challenge as many other salon owners — hiring competent stylists. “It seems as if the educational standards are at an all-time low,” he says. “It took a year of heavy training to put graduates on the floor and that was costly. Plus, the whole beauty school curriculum seemed outdated.”
Frustrated by the quality of cosmetology education in his area, Schneider decided to take matters into his own hands. So he joined forces with Gary Menzies, an investment advisor, and the pair purchased a parcel of land in the booming Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania and built a $2.5 million state-of-the-art cosmetology educational facility.  The brand new Metro Beauty Academy will be, promises Schneider, “the Harvard of beauty.”

Hip Halls
Before they even broke ground, Schneider and Menzies vowed to create a unique learning environment that would stand apart from the typical beauty-school-in-the-vo-tec-basement setup.  Now, they proudly point to the floor-to-roof glass wall that floods the facility with light, the mezzanine that overlooks the clinic area, the photo studio, the al fresco student relaxation area, the computer-equipped library, the lounge brimming with artwork and the coffee bar as elements that encourage artistry and learning. The look is high tech meets high fashion, which, Schneider believes, creates the right marriage for modern beauty students.

Class Notes
Metro is more than just a pretty space. The “principals” have selected the well-regarded Pivot Point curriculum for cosmetology; the renowned color education programs from Wella; and Dermalogica skin care for the esthetics program. In addition to high-quality technical training, Metro instructors will cover sales, business skills and topics pertaining to personal growth and development. Thanks to the on-site photo studio, each grad will leave with a comprehensive portfolio showcasing their work. “Part of our business plan,” notes Menzies, “is to provide employers with high quality students.”

All About Allentown
Even while the academy was under construction, word of the unique program filtered out, and the pair began fielding inquiries from salons who wanted to hire Metro grads. One of the reasons for the interest is the area’s explosive growth. According to Menzies, the Lehigh Valley is booming, with an influx of transplants from New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia relocating for career opportunities and affordable real estate. All of these newcomers are expecting the level of work and service they were accustomed to in the big city … and area salons and spas are scrambling to accommodate their needs, with new ones opening all the time. Employment prospects for Metro graduates, therefore, are bright.

Grad School
Once a student graduates, Metro will be right behind them. The academy will present each grad with advanced training vouchers for three-to-five visits, and they can attend sessions by top Wella artists including Nick Arrojo and Patrick Cameron. What’s more, the advanced sessions aren’t strictly for grads — programs will be open to area salon owners and their staffs as well. 

Bullish on Beauty
As “The Numbers Guy” of the partnership, Menzies is bullish on the beauty biz and on the prospects of Metro Beauty Academy. “I analyze hundreds of businesses and I know what a good business opportunity looks like,” he says. “I was completely objective about this project and I analyzed it for many months before getting involved. I wrote a 30-page business plan and I simply couldn’t poke any holes in it. This is a fast-growing area and a fast-growing industry.”