At Spa on The Avenue, our hair designers achieve Silver, Gold and Platinum titles based on their years of experience and level of professional accomplishment. Rates are based on a hair designer’s title.
- Silver Level Hair Designers have at least 2 years of experience.
- Gold Level Hair Designers are highly skilled in their trade, have at least 6 years of experience and maintain a regular clientele.
- Platinum Level Hair Designers are the leaders in our industry. Each has mastered a degree of proficiency in their trade and have at least 10 years of experience.
All hair designers–regardless of title–must demonstrate excellence in customer service and a commitment to continuing their education.
Michelle Biensach, Salon Manager/Platinum Hair Designer
Michelle has been with A Salon by Debbie, Inc. since 1996. She offers a wide range of hair expertise. Previous to managing the hair department at Spa on the Avenue, she served as an educator for the Maryland Beauty Academy. Michelle can provide any hair service to clients. Training with Wella color expert Terri Dougherty prepared her to create any coloring hue or application. However helpful the training, Michelle feels that listening closely to a client’s needs is most important to deliver beautiful results.
Traci Nies, Salon Manager/Platinum Hair Designer
Traci joined Spa on the Avenue in 2001. She offers comprehensive color and styling services. Traci is certified in both Goldwell Trilogy and Wella color, and offers coloring and highlighting to fit any preference or style. In addition to color, Traci is also an expert in Brazilian straighteners, perms, and formal occasion styling. Traci believes that a good client experience requires great listening skills, continuing education, and keeping client needs first. And her favorite part of working in the beauty industry? – “The satisfaction that comes with seeing a client that is thrilled with their new look!”
Ally Chippendale, Gold Hair Designer
Ally has been with Spa on the Avenue since 2007. Ally uses creative thinking and visualization in her cuts, coloring and styling services to deliver the best results possible for clients. She loves that her creativity can shine in her work. “Color is my favorite part of being a designer,” says Ally, “The possibilities are endless and it results in instant gratification for our guests.”
Stephanie Kistner, Platinum Hair Designer
Stephanie offers multiple services in both design and color. She’s been in the beauty business for over ten years and has been with Spa on the Avenue since their opening. Stephanie has had extensive training in the industry, including classes with Sam Brocato in New York. She’s certified in Goldwell trilogy color, Aveda, and Bumble & Bumble products. This training combined with a perceptive consultation allows Stephanie to create a look unique to each client. Stephanie is also certified in both Cinderella hair extensions and Copolla Keratin straightening. She says the highlight of her job is being able to “make someone feel beautiful every day.”
Mackenzie Luca, Platinum Hair Designer
Mackenzie applies her extensive product knowledge and training to her haircut, color, and style services. Training with beauty leaders including Deborah Gavin and the Altieri Brothers prepared Mackenzie for any color or style technique. She uses this training to create the look most suited to a client’s tastes and style. Mackenzie joined Spa on the Avenue in 2003. Her philosophy at the Spa stresses the importance of a comprehensive beauty routine. “Make time for yourself,” says Mackenzie, “When you look good, you feel good as well.”
Jackie Messman, Platinum Hair Designer
Jackie offers an array of services in both color and styling. She specializes in corrective and dimensional color and keeps her color knowledge up to date with multiple continuing education classes including Wella Color Perfection and Aveda. Jackie is also an expert in updo styling. In addition to training with renowned updo stylist Martin Parsons herself, Jackie trains other stylists through the brand in the art of the updo. Jackie’s passion for her profession is exhibited in every facet of her lifestyle. “If you love what you do it shows in your work,” she says, “and loving your job means it never feels like work.”
Pam Needleman, Platinum Hair Designer
Pam offers services in color, cuts, and styling. She has been with Spa on the Avenue since 2005 and in the beauty industry for over 30 years. Pam keeps her skills sharp with advanced color classes and training in the Keratin straightening system. She even showcased her beauty skills in the Caribbean and Italy! All this experience lends itself to creating beautiful transformations for clients. Pam’s beauty philosophy stresses working with what you’ve got. “Make the most of what you have,” she says, “Be true to yourself and accentuate the positive.”
Brenda Paulshock, Platinum Hair Designer
A team member since 2006, Brenda has been practicing styling and color for over 20 years. Brenda offers both hair styling and coloring, formal hair design, and make-up application. Brenda has received multiple recognitions for her skills, including first place honors with Clairol for color, hair design, and make-up. She also received advanced training with Clairol as a color consultant. A true artist, Brenda loves sharing her creative techniques with her clients and making them feel confident in all phases of life. “When my clients walk out the door, I want them to feel important and beautiful,” she says.
Rebekka Sautter, Platinum Hair Designer
Rebekka has been with A Salon by Debbie since 1996. She has extensive knowledge in the industry and has trained in both New York and Connecticut under industry leaders such as Irvine Rusk and Sandra Yu. This training is evident in Rebekka’s service, which includes haircuts, coloring, Cinderella hair extensions, relaxers, and Keratin straightening services. Rebekka is a master hair colorist with Logics and Rusk color systems and also served as an educator at Rusk, Inc. for several years. Although her skills have been showcased in both music videos and the film industry, Rebekka most enjoys the daily results of her work at the Spa. “My philosophy is listen and deliver,” says Rebekka, “You do that, and you’re guaranteed to make the client feel awesome.”
Lynette Sutherland, Platinum Hair Designer
Lynette has been a Spa on the Avenue team member since 2002. She offers multiple services in color, cut, and style including corrective color and the Keratin Complex system. Lynette’s training with industry leaders and a vast array of products keep her color and style knowledge cutting edge. Transformations are Lynette’s favorite part of working at the Spa. She says, “The ability to create an idea that my client and I imagine and then bring it to reality in the mirror in front of us is exciting and motivating. The more transformations you see, the more you want to continue!”
Marcy Wirth, Platinum Hair Designer
Marcy joined Spa on the Avenue in 2011 with a wealth of beauty knowledge from owning her own salon for over ten years. She keeps her techniques current with continued color classes and attendance at the New York Hair Show. Marcy is trained in both the Keratin treatment system and Cinderella hair extensions. In addition to hair, Marcy also has experience in makeup application from her work with Covergirl cosmetics. For Marcy, outer beauty contributes to inner beauty. She says, “I enjoy revealing a client’s outer beauty. When they are confident in their appearance, it gives them confidence in themselves.”
Athena Wrightson, Gold Hair Designer
Athena joined Spa on the Avenue in 2010. She offers haircuts and both coloring and styling services. Athena has had advanced training in cutting and color techniques and loves using different methods such as block coloring and Balayage highlighting. She prides herself on offering a wide array of looks to suit each client’s beauty goal. “I think it’s important to have the skill set to create not only beautiful everyday looks but funky cuts and styles as well,” says Athena. This attitude makes Athena the go-to girl for clients looking for a look unique to their style.