20 Years of The Cosmetology Academy!

This year, we’re lighting 20 candles on the cake for The Cosmetology Academy, marking two decades since we first opened our doors back in Fall 2003. Our journey in the Mid-Mon Valley has seen our students flourish, transforming into licensed cosmetologists who now make a splash in a variety of settings, from local salons and spas to the glamorous worlds of television and film. Some have even become entrepreneurs, launching businesses of their own.

Douglas Education Center, in the early development phase of The Cosmetology Academy, collaborated with local cosmetologist and neighbor, Jimmy DelVerme, who served as a consultant in designing both the facility and the curriculum. Together, we built more than just a physical space on the corner of Fourth Street and Schoonmaker Avenue Monessen, PA. We created an environment for growth, complete with offices, specialized classrooms, a well-stocked library, and hands-on student clinics. Among these, the upstairs clinic holds a special place, a stage where our students demonstrate their budding skills to the public.

Our teachers have always been the driving force behind The Cosmetology Academy’s success. Take Karen Nelson, our Program Director. Karen was a cornerstone in the shaping of our programs, facilities, and clinics, and has been with us every step of the way. It’s teachers like her and others including Bonnie Pitzarella, Michelle Mason, Alex Mosby, and Kissie Cobb, who bring their passion and dedication to the classroom day after day, that make our Academy shine.

Jeff Imbrescia, the CEO and President of DEC, is quick to share the credit for our success. For him, it’s the strong bonds and partnerships we’ve forged with local salons, spas, and product lines that have kept us afloat. He showers gratitude on our local salon owner allies Gino and Cindy Levy, and Stephen Szabo, who’ve stood by us through thick and thin. And let’s not forget the rockstar contribution of Michael O’Rourke, owner of Sexy Hair, who graciously let us use the red star that now symbolizes our logo.

Bonnie Pitzarella, our esthetics instructor, who has been with us since inception and oversees the esthetics courses and clinic, expressed her delight in being a part of the Academy. For Bonnie, every workday at The Cosmetology Academy is a privilege, a sentiment echoed by the rest of our team.

Jeff’s closing remarks wrap up the spirit of our The Cosmetology Academy perfectly: “Here’s to the 20 years that seem to have passed in a blink, and here’s to eagerly looking forward to the next 20. Here’s to continuing the legacy we’ve built. To everyone who’s been on this journey with us, we say, ‘Congratulations and thank you!'”