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Economy boon to barber college
Barber Ron West is helping the community and trimming the unemployment rates.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
DAYTON — While unemployment rates are on the rise across the nation, Ron West is doing his part to reduce that trend.
West, the owner of Ron West Barber College, has placed 100 percent of his barber students.
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He teaches them the trade, as well as business and social skills.
"I teach not only how to cut hair and shave, but we also teach students how to do business taxes, build clientele and professionalism. It's a people business," West said.
For three decades, few people have attended barber college and now the average age of barbers is 65, West said.
But there are opportunities.
"With big companies closing, many people are losing jobs which is sending our enrollment up," West said.
The college's current enrollment is 30 students and includes six former General Motors employees. Other students are attending barber college after tiring of dead-end jobs; retirees are looking for more relaxing professions; and many are nontraditional students in search of higher salaries.
"I have had more jobs than a person could count. My last job was driving for the Dayton Daily News and I just got tired of driving," said 31-year-old Brad Eisen of Englewood. "Ron has cut my dad's hair for years and he smartened me up and here I am. I try to work at least 40 hours at school but the flexible class schedule is nice if I need it. If there is a will, there is a way," Eisen said.
Eisen plans to open his own barber shop in Arizona after graduation. Eisen also said Arizona is full of military personnel and that should include many flattop cuts.
Beavercreek resident, Mikyong Langenbach, is a mother of two boys, 16 and 20. She has been a student for nearly three months.
Previously, Langenbach worked in a grocery store and needed more money.
"I wanted to try something new with higher pay and I enjoy doing hair. I don't think I will tire of the profession," Langenbach said.
Ron West gets requests from employers looking for barbers daily.
"There is a barber shop on Irving Avenue that is the oldest shop in Dayton, built in 1903, and all of their employees are from our college," West said.
The average salary for graduates range from $40-45,000 a year, West said. After about three years experience that range should jump to as high as $70,000.
For more information on Ron West Barber College, visit its Web site at www.ronwest
barbercollege.net or call (937) 277-4444.
Contact this reporter at lrichey@coxohio.com.
