Our
Story

Story of Collectiv Academy

Why COLLECTIV Academy
And the story behind our success…

We have assembled a team of highly qualified individuals with a great depth of knowledge and experience in their respected fields, ensuring that each student receive the best possible training program and has a positive experience. Our vision is to create a community where training is accessible, easy to understand, and rewarding for everyone. Where talented hairdressers serve students to become their best and give them the richest perspective of how the industry can serve them in creating a highly successful living.

Our team has experience with owning both private and franchise schools. At COLLECTIV Academy we understand what makes a great school and how to keep the education at a global standard. This makes our perspective unique and gives us our competitive edge.

A Place to Learn, Have Fun
Under promise, over deliver…

The state board qualifications to obtaining a cosmetology license is required to be taught in schools. These requirements are a short introduction into this vast industry. However we know we must go beyond state board minimum requirements to create an opportunity to become industry fierce.
‘Industry Fierce’ is creating highly desirable , competitive hairdressers for today’s marketplace.

We know what “Industry Fierce” is since our team has several decades of experience running successful salons, basic and advanced hairdressing academies. Having worked for global education and product companies, we understand the secrets to retailing and we know how important it is to under promise but over deliver to exceed our students expectations. And, how to create a modern salon environment with an exciting atmosphere within a school. After all, that is one of the main attractions to this profession, to work hard but have FUN doing it!

A Few Words About Us…

Students choose COLLECTIV Academy because of the strength of the program itself. COLLECTIV Academy students receive a formal hairdressing education designed by the owners, Kenny and Lenore Gibson. They trained thousands of hairdressers globally, on an advanced level, with TONI&GUY Hairdressing before being asked to re-invent the cosmetology education for TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academy, transforming the way a traditional school looked and operated.

They bring to COLLECTIV Academy the same educational savviness used to teach licensed hairdressers for decades so that students graduate with knowledge beyond their years of experience, making them a fierce competitive hairdresser. In other words “Industry Fierce”.

For Kenny and Lenore it’s more than a business, it’s living up to a personal standard and a vision of giving students a true “behind the chair” educational experience.

Our approach to cuts, color and styling is uncomplicated, wearable looks with a modern tone that clients ask for. COLLECTIV Academy students graduate knowing dozens of haircut and coloring techniques as well as how to problem solve the requested personalized techniques they will face in the salon daily. Along with how to provide an excellent customer service experience.

Meet The Team

Kenny Gibson

Owner/ Creative Director | Thirty plus years’ experience in education, Kenny has trained hairdressers worldwide as a successful platform artist and has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry He ended his tenure as President of TONI&GUY Academy and Salon Divisions in 2014. His energy is contagious and is committed to this industry.

Lenore Gibson

Owner/Education Director | She has been a successful stylist, a talented educator and manager of education for over 30 years  She also mastered how to market and manage a brand image holding the Vice President of Marketing position for 15 years. Her experience gives her all that’s needed to create a great environment for COLLECTIV students.

Teddy Button

Education Director | Teddy is a dedicated professional that understands the power of a good fundamental education early in one’s career. He has spent over 15 years seeking to improve his own skills by studying many of the leaders in our industry and has chosen to lead COLLECTIV students in their own journey to be great. Teddy overseas all the COLLECTIV schools for quality education and trains all our educators.  A leader inside the artistic team.

Roxy Morvarid

Instructor | Roxy has been a stylist for a couple decades.  She joined the Salt Lake City COLLECTIV educational team in 2021. She is our go to colorist. We couldn’t be more lucky to have her sharing her skills with our future professionals.

Lindsey Bushman

Instructor | An experienced hairdresser of almost two decades, Lindsey joined COLLECTIV Academy in 2019. Born and raised in Salt Lake City she has a passion for all aspects of Barbering and much knowledge about the business side of running a salon and managing income. Great asset to our team.

Mykle Troye

Instructor | Born and raised in Utah, Mykle works on clients in a salon while working part time at COLLECTIV Academy bringing relevant information to our students. Constantly honing his skills to be the best the industry has to offer. He participates in photo shoots working with models to keep his creative talent growing. He is part of our artistic team.

Alissa Woodhouse

Financial Aid Coordinator | Alissa has made a career in helping others reach their goals . Previously working as a teacher and event coordinator, she has impeccable customer service skills and a high level of professionalism. Her organized methods along with her meticulous planning has made her a perfect fit to assist students in their financial journey to attain their dream career.

Arianna DesJardin

Assistant Education Director | Arianna works at COLLECTIV Academy  Salt Lake City. She loves to spend time creating for photo shoots. Her passion lies in the craft of cutting and teaching. She grew up in Santa Cruz California making art, drawing and collecting oddities. We love her influence as she works full time with our students giving a true artists experience. A leader inside the artistic team.

Scot Hone

Instructor | Scot a natural born teacher jumped into his passion for hairdressing as a second career. He is creative and loves his Vivid’s. He is the most interesting guy we know with all his life experiences and stories that keep us scratching our heads! Scot works full time in Salt Lake City.

Samy Rash

Admissions Director | Samy has a passion for helping people reach their goals in the beauty industry. He has served in the United States Air Force, taught ballroom dancing, and has completed cosmetology. He has been an Admissions representative for the beauty industry for almost a decade. His goal is to one day be a motivational speaker and travel the world!

Greg Hernandez

Customer Service Specialist | Greg keeps us all organized and the school running smooth. He has a love for culinary and likes to travel.

Symone Hanagarne

Instructor | Symone is our first instructor that was a 2018 COLLECTIV graduate in Salt Lake City. She works part time in the salon and works cutting inmates hair to perfect her barbering skills. She has always valued education and is a consummate student of the study of hair.

Advanced Creative Team

Heath Grout

Executive Creative Director | VP | Photographer | Heath Grout, formally Global Creative Director for TIGI Professional, joins the team, leading the creative education systems and collaborating on branding and production development through New York City based branding company, Agency Nomadic and production company, 18 Rabbit .

Teddy Button

Education Director | Teddy is a dedicated professional that understands the power of a good fundamental education early in one’s career. He has spent over 15 years seeking to improve his own skills by studying many of the leaders in our industry and has chosen to lead COLLECTIV students in their own journey to be great. Teddy overseas all the COLLECTIV schools for quality education and trains all our educators.  A leader inside the artistic team.

Arianna DesJardin

Assistant Education Director | Arianna works at COLLECTIV Academy  Salt Lake City. She loves to spend time creating for photo shoots. Her passion lies in the craft of cutting and teaching. She grew up in Santa Cruz California making art, drawing and collecting oddities. We love her influence as she works full time with our students giving a true artists experience. A leader inside the artistic team.

Mykle Troye

Instructor | Born and raised in Utah, Mykle works on clients in a salon while working part time at COLLECTIV Academy bringing relevant information to our students. Constantly honing his skills to be the best the industry has to offer. He participates in photo shoots working with models to keep his creative talent growing. He is part of our artistic team.