Gene Juarez Academy Celebrates 20 Years in Cosmetology Education

In April 2007, the Pacific Northwest’s beauty education leader, Gene Juarez Academy, celebrated two decades of excellence with a continued dedication to the highest standards of cosmetology training.

As a premier salon and spa organization and a leader in cosmetology training, Gene Juarez Academy has more successful beauty professional graduates in the region than anyone else, and its alumni are among the most sought after in the industry.

We are always “growing and changing,” says Moira Douglass, executive director of administration, an industry veteran who has been with the company for 25 years. “I think we are pretty extraordinary in the Pacific Northwest.”

An education at Gene Juarez goes beyond haircutting; the school’s superb standards and innovative approach provide students with the tools, techniques, business and life skills to become successful.

In the growing $60 billion dollar market for personal beauty services and products, Gene Juarez Academy stands out because of the partnership between the Academy and the company’s eight salons, the 1,400 employees, and hundreds of thousands of annual guest visits. “We know what is going on in the industry and are able to translate that to a student level,” says Douglass.

The mission of Gene Juarez Academy is “To Change Lives, One Student At A Time,” and since 1987, the definitive authority on beauty, hair and wellness has been doing just that. Accredited by NACCAS (The National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences), the Academy prides itself on a detailed, logical curriculum that helps students “gain fabulous skills,” continues Douglass. Students learn about design, style, texture and color, and fashion, along with skin and nail care, working on real clients in a salon-like setting.

Douglass says students are also able to experience a wide variety of product lines, which sets the Academy apart from most beauty schools that train their cosmetology students using just one beauty product line.

Gene Juarez Academy has grown from 32 students in one location in 1987 to 450 students in two world-class training facilities. Faculty has grown along with enrollment, from three educators to almost 20 at each campus, and a support staff of nearly 40. All Gene Juarez Academy instructors are experts in their field, an experienced team of motivated, caring professionals who are dedicated to instructing the next generation of professional cosmetologists.

Douglass emphasizes that the Academy is so committed to providing students with the best instruction in the industry that the school closes every month to focus on instructor training. “I doubt there’s another beauty school that closes one full day every month to continually improve the skills and knowledge of their instructors,” said Douglass.

Additionally, Douglass describes another important Gene Juarez Academy difference -- the unique programs that enhance each student’s educational experience. These include a quarterly Portfolio Show and Career Fairs where students can showcase their work, to the Student Ambassador Program, where class representatives act as spokespersons for the industry and the school. “We also have an Artistic Academy that students can audition for, where they spend more time looking at fashion trends, work on community fashion shows, and develop artistic hair competitions for fellow students” says Douglass.

Other student-focused events include brown bag lunches with local salon owners and managers, mini-competitions, and even an opportunity for students to provide ideas for the company’s advertising campaigns. Little details make a big difference, like payment coverage for the state licensing exam, which is included into the tuition. “We want students to pass all exams and be ready to go,” says Douglass. The bottom line: “We provide additional opportunities for students that add more excitement to their training program.”

Founder Gene Juarez’s dream has more than come true. The ambitious Hispanic businessman, who came from humble farm town beginnings, had goals not only for his company but the industry as a whole. He wanted cosmetologists to be respected and earn professional wages. “I think he really accomplished that,” says Douglass.

To learn more about the training programs offered at Gene Juarez Academy’s two Seattle campuses, visit www.genejuarezacademy.com.