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Frank Schoeneman Awarded Top Honor by AACS | Olympic Stylist | BeautyJobs.com |  Top Student Competition... |  How to Get Ahead… |  Cut It Out... |  Salon Reality Series...

Empire Education Group's Chairman/CEO, Frank Schoeneman, Awarded Top Honor by American Association of Cosmetology Schools

The 2007 N.F. Cimaglia Award, the industry's highest honor presented by the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) was awarded to Empire Education Group's Chairman and CEO, Frank Schoeneman.

Frank Schoeneman was elected by the American Association of Cosmetology Schools Past Presidents to receive this prestigious award, granted to those in the profession of cosmetology education, which was established in 1975 to honor the dedication of cosmetology schools and in particular, the support of the late Nicholas F. Cimaglia.

Schoeneman helped propel Empire Education Group to become one of the largest providers of cosmetology school education in North America. He represents the third generation to lead the 75 year old company, from Pottsville, PA, initially headed by his grandfather and father. He is especially proud that his son, Kyle, joined the company in the summer of 2006 after graduating from college, and represents the fourth generation of the Schoeneman family to champion cosmetology.

In 2007, Schoeneman orchestrated a brilliant merger between his Empire Beauty Schools and the cosmetology schools of Regis Corporation into Empire Education Group. The new privately-held company, with Schoeneman as majority stockholder, includes 87 cosmetology schools with rich heritages in the cosmetology education industry in 18 states.

Giving back to local communities is at the heart of Schoeneman's approach to business and life. Three years ago, Empire launched its National Day of Beauty to benefit the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Since then, Empire has partnered with KidsPeace, a private, not-for-profit charity dedicated to serving the critical behavioral and mental health needs of children, preadolescents and teens. The Empire Education Group team has dedicated a Saturday each year to provide hair, nail and beauty services to the public, with every dollar raised going to KidsPeace. "KidsPeace and Empire Education Group are great partners, because we have a parallel mission and philosophy; to create opportunities for people to improve their lives," says Schoeneman. "We are proud to support this phenomenal organization." KidsPeace's values reflect Schoeneman's own, such as integrity, dedication and a passionate commitment to helping others.

In October 2007, the company helped raise over $237,000 for KidsPeace through National Day of Beauty. "Empire Education Group had dedicated our work for 50 years to improving lives," says Mr. Schoeneman, "We are proud to extend that legacy to help more than 10,000 children who are at KidsPeace to find better lives."

"We want to thank Frank Schoeneman and all the wonderful people at Empire Education Group's 87 beauty schools nationwide," says KidsPeace Acting President, Dr. Lorrie Henderson. "Their generosity will truly make life more beautiful for thousands of deserving children." KidsPeace noted Empire Education Group's generous donation will be used for the KidsPeace Children's Fund, where it will help youngsters who have often been denied a chance at childhood to learn, to play, and to grow into happy, healthy kids.

In addition to volunteering his time in the communities in which he lives and owns schools, Schoeneman has contributed significantly both corporately and personally to support the professional cosmetology school issues which benefit so many young people's lives. From government relations activities, to helping fund industry studies through the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences, to serving on the accrediting committee that helps shape the direction of cosmetology school education, he is just as involved in improving his industry as he is in improving the community and the lives of his more than 1500 employees.

Schoeneman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, and he is a multi-engine, instrument rated pilot.

Jimmy VanBoxel Jr., a 2001 graduate from Chic University in Grand Rapids, MI, and current member of the United States Olympic Hair Styling Team, has turned his passion for hairstyling into an Olympic career and a new product line.

During March, VanBoxel, who will represent the United States on the Olympic team during the Chicago Hair Show and World Championships of Hairdressing in the Senior Gents Division, will also promote his company Uberzoot! Hair Co. and feature his talents in a documentary about competitive hairstylists.

Those talents could be in his training or likely, in his genes as VanBoxel's mother is a stylist and owns her own salon. After he began his cosmetology training he developed more than an interest, "I found I liked it and excelled quickly," he said. His talents were widely recognized while he was still enrolled at Chic, and his cosmetology instructors encouraged him to enter the Chicago Hair Competition. He placed and quickly began training for the Olympics. In 2001, he competed in the USA Team Trials in Louisville, Kentucky, for the Junior Olympic Team and earned his spot in the Junior Gents Division.

The National Cosmetology Association hired a trainer for him, and before long he had sponsors and was sent around the world to begin serious competition. During that time he says he had somewhat of a "winning streak," after earning third place at the Europa Cup Open in Vienna, Austria; second place in the Deutchlandpokal in Frankfort, Germany; third place at the Athens Cup Open in Athens, Greece; fifth place in Milan, Italy at the World Championships of Hairdressing; third place at the World Championships of Hairdressing in Las Vegas, Nevada; first at the USA Beauty Open in Chicago, Illinois, and first for the USA Beauty Open in Orlando, Florida.

So how does he prepare for the many competitions he enters? "Preparation is in the training," VanBoxel said. He would vigorously cut for 15 hours as part of his training and with minimal breaks he would spend his time sitting in a corner visualizing every cut and movement. His trainer taught him the scissor over comb technique against a wall so he would have what he calls a "truly vertical idea" when cutting hair. And VanBoxel's method is even more intense. "You work in a system because you only have a little bit of time, maybe 15 minutes in a competition, so you start at one point and go through your system," he said.

VanBoxel continues to train and represent the U.S. at various competitions around the world. When he's not globe trotting, he's working on his own line of hair styling products he developed called Uberzoot, which he describes as a "rock inspired lifestyle brand with 80's retro, but still modern and edgy."

At the Chicago competition he plans to not only compete, but also promote his company. "We have a street team of friends and family wearing the Uberzoot! Hair Co. shirts and they'll hand out information about the product line and make contacts." The brand includes seven products. "Salons are already on board and sales are booming," he said.

"The exciting thing about Uberzoot is that after all these years of competing, all the time and money to pursue this passion, I've found a tangible outlet to attach my hard work to, and all my experiences I'm pouring into my product line," he added. With salons and other business interest in his product line, VanBoxel assured that his line is meant for salons but offers competition quality.

In addition to his many successes, a recent article from Michigan's Muskegon Chronicle featured VanBoxel in his up-coming appearance in a documentary about hair styling competitions and competitors. The independent film crew will follow VanBoxel at the Chicago Hair Show and World Championships of Hairdressing.

Although he travels for numerous competitions and spends time working on his product line, VanBoxel is also employed as a stylist at Be Medical Spa & Salon in Grand Haven, Michigan. After all the hard work, training drills and 15 hour days cutting and styling hair, VanBoxel wouldn't trade his day job, "I get to come to work and relax," he said.

"The benefits of competitions are that you're so well trained honing your craft that in a salon it's easy," he said.

So what advice does he offer cosmetology students? "It's important to find your niche. When I talk to an assistant, I tell tem you have to set yourself apart and find which niche defines you. Whether it's competitions, cosmetology education, getting involved in a product line, or a well-rounded background, what defines you makes you more marketable."

For more information about VanBoxel, visit his myspace page.

Finding a cosmetology job just got a lot easier with beautyjobs.com – an online resource center for cosmetology employment. The site offers company listings with job postings and career resources for job seekers such as, tips on how to write a resume and acing typical interview questions. Learn more at www.beautyjobs.com and find your first or next cosmetology job today!

Empire Education Group announced its 2008 Annual National Competition and Hair Show for the 86 Empire cosmetology schools across the U.S. will be held in the sweetest place on earth, Hershey, PA, on April 20-21, 2008. Empire Education Group’s annual National Competition and Hair Show is a two-day hair and nail competition event for students and educators, with a large student trade show, workshop and demonstrations open to other American Association of Cosmetology Schools member institutions.

Empire Education Group schools from Manhattan, New York, to Tucson, Arizona, and Caribou, Maine, raise funds from local businesses and events to attend, and stage local competitions to select representatives for events including Ladies Trend Cut and Style, Ladies Long Hair, Nail Art, Team Spirit, and Total Team. Last year’s Empire Education Group’s Annual National Competition and Hair Show winners won trips to the Paul Brown Academy in Hawaii, Goldwell’s Academy in Berlin, Germany, and are shadowing a stylist at the 2008 Academy Awards in Hollywood. For more information, check out the video at www.empire.edu/multimedia.html and see what makes the Empire system unique.

Tuition at public universities has risen an unprecedented 51 percent over the past five years. While the price of a college education has skyrocketed far faster than inflation, many careers for which colleges prepare their graduates are disappearing. U.S. News’ Best Careers guide concludes that “college grads might want to consider blue-collar careers” because bachelor’s degree holders “are having trouble finding jobs that require college-graduate skills.”

Many now argue that it doesn’t make sense for parents to mortgage their homes, or for students to saddle themselves with long-term debt, in order to pay high and rising college tuition to prepare for jobs that no longer exist. That’s why U.S. News is telling college graduates to look for jobs that do not require a college diploma. Among the 31 best opportunities for 2008 are the careers of hairstylist, cosmetologist, firefighter, locksmith, and security system technician.

Salon professionals have a unique role and trusted position in their clients’ lives, giving them a special opportunity to assist victims of domestic abuse.

The national Cut It Out program both builds awareness through salons of domestic abuse, and trains salon professionals to recognize warning signs and safely refer clients to local resources. Many schools now also support the initiative, along with U.S. Attorneys and state officials.

For more information, visit cutitout.org.

The hair salon reality series “Split Ends” has been renewed for a third season on The Style Network. This unscripted weekly series shows what happens when two very different hairstylists, armed with their blow dryers and attitude, swap shops and discover what it’s like to walk in the other’s shoes. Split Ends is currently recruiting participants from 20 cities across the U.S.

A second hair reality series, Shear Genius, premiered last April on BRAVO. Shear Genius pits hairstylists against one another to see who can create the most fashionable coiffure. BRAVO recently held an open casting call at the International Salon & Spa Expo 2008 held in Long Beach, California for hairstylists looking for a spot on the hit show. These talented stylists compete for a grand prize of $100,000. Jaclyn Smith returns to host the series.