07/30/2009 - Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly

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JESSICA HARPER ERIN JOHNSON JOHN GESSNER

Homecrafters has long served community 2A Rasmussen College marks 20 years 7A Local man advocates for Hispanic businesses 8A dakotacountytribune.biz

JULY 30, 2009

VOLUME 30, NUMBER 22

Dakota County Tribune Since 1884

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Igniting the passion

Minnesota School of Beauty turns students on to helping people look their best by Stacey Ackerman

DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

After discussing plans to start a business for more than a year, Diane Lindo and Lara Kelley both quit their high-profile careers to pursue their dreams of becoming entrepreneurs and opened Minnesota School of Beauty in Lakeville in 2003. “I looked at Lara and said, ‘I think today’s the day,’ ” Lindo said. “We jumped out on a leap of faith and quit our jobs that day. We didn’t plan or stash away money and went for eight months without a paycheck. Here we are five years later and business is growing and classes are filling.” The two had been friends for more than 10 years, meeting as colleagues at Minnesota School of Business where Lindo was a controller and Kelley was an education director. Kelley had worked as a cosmetologist in the 1980s and kept up her licensure

throughout the years. While the pair knew for a long time they wanted to start a business together, they weren’t always sure what direction that would take. The idea to open a cosmetology school was a natural fit, combining both of their backgrounds and experience. Prior to opening Minnesota School of Beauty, the two were instrumental in opening the cosmetology school at Minnesota School of Business. With limited funds, Lindo and Kelley were extremely budget-conscious and decided to be their own general contractors. They found the perfect space in Lakeville – an abandoned workout facility. The space worked well because they were able to

Photo by Rick Orndorf

When students are on the cosmetology floor, professional conduct is required at all times.

re-use almost everything on site – gym lockers converted to student lockers and tanning rooms made perfect facial rooms. “We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into the build-out, but I never broke a nail,” Kelley said.

Growing fast

W hen the school officially opened for its first classes in February 2004 only three students were enrolled. A Small Business Administration loan provided capital for the first six months so they could pay staff and lease equipment while building their student

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INSIDE BIZ FORUM

LARRY WERNER

Longtime grocery store owner Jody Enggren returns to Dakota County to sell real estate for Coldwell Banker. 4A

BEST PRACTICES

body. Today Minnesota School of Beauty has 250 graduates and has performed 40,000 client services. Last year, it expanded its facility, adding 20 more hair stations and four shampoo bowls, increasing the space to 11,000 square feet. They project to reach $1 million in gross sales this year. “We planned for expansion in the beginning, knowing it would be easier to forecast growth than have to do it later,” Kelley said. The school is different from its competitors because of its familyfriendly atmosphere and its commitment to provide students with a business education – not just a technical one. Minnesota School of Beauty requires its students to have a job See School, Page 8A

Photo by Tad Johnson

Minnesota School of Beauty has 250 graduates and has performed 40,000 client services.

Business owners should follow health care debate to determine how its results could affect the bottom line. CHRIS 5A ANDRYSKI BEST PRACTICES

Great teams – whether they are on a basketball court or in a board room – simply refuse to be defeated. JEFF 5A APPELQUIST BUSINESS 101

Those thinking about becoming real estate agents need to do their homework now so they are ready for an upswing. MARTIN 6A OTTO

General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Advertising 952-846-2011

Check out our digital edition online! 1. Click on corners of the pages to “flip” to the next page. 2. Click on the top of any page to zoom in. The links to the Advertiser Web Sites will appear at the bottom of the page. 3. Looking for a particular business? Click on our Advertiser Index at the top of the page. 4. Searchable by key word.

Dakota County Tribune BUSINESS WEEKLY

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