It was a fantastic and amazing experience to meet the students at Everett Community College School of Cosmetology.  The new remodel on the facilities was a fantastic surprise for me.  The many talented future professionals at our program impressed me tremendously.

My background in instruction is extensive but primarily in the private sector post-secondary community.  I began my teaching career after a decade and a half of working in some of the most challenging and upscale salons on the US westcoast and Hawaii.

I started my career in 1986 after being honorably discharged from my Military Intelligence unit.  In an attempt to secure more funding for my pre-law studies at Kapiolani Community College I became a cosmetologist.  My brother Keoki, a longtime hairstylist, convinced me that hairstyling could completely fund the rest of my college career.  What we did not anticipate is the love I would find in doing hair and helping people.

After a few years of doing hair full time at Paul Brown Hawaii (http://spaolakino.com/paul-brown.asp) and going to college part time, I decided to pursue my career in hair design.  I enjoyed the first few years as Paul's personal assistant.  I then became a color specialist for Paul Brown Honolulu. 

This part of my career lasted until 1991 and was one of the most exciting experiences of my life.  I worked on Countesses, Governor's wives, business owners, teachers, heiresses, the Royal Family of Japan and many more extremely interesting people. 

Sadly and excitingly, this period of my life came to an end with a move to Portland, Oregon in 1991.

Summer 2012

Welcome to my journal of discovery at Everett Community College.  I was hired in the summer of 2012 as a full-time probationary faculty member at EvCC School of Cosmetology.  It was a hurricane of a hiring experience and a very difficult adjustment period ensued.

My first experience with EvCC was my phone interview with a hiring committee.  As I had never done a phone interview in the past, I felt that my abilities and worth as an instructor did not show through during this process.  I was not expecting to move further in the process.

Fortunately, that was not to be so.

Immediately prior to leaving on a road trip to travel through 8 states in 10 days, I received a message stating that they would like me to schedule an all day interview at the main campus of Everett Community College.
I agreed to a date and the next step in my journey had begun.

On the morning of my interview, I arrived to the campus to teach a class on foiling.  It was an intimidating process to be placed in front of a group to teach a subject that usually spands a day and only have 20 minutes to teach it.  I added in some of my personal touches to the way I teach my classes.  I included a opening ritual to get the students engaged in the discussion process.  This went over well but began a 5 minute discussion which left me less then 15 minutes to achieve my goals. 

After my interview, Sharon in Human Resources gave me a tour of the campus. 

I was offered the position later in the month and accepted.