Kristen Kohl has been a successful entrepreneur in Florida for over 25 years. She has extensive experience in real estate, property management, and the beauty industry, and is president of three post-secondary schools that work with federal agencies. With a wide background in all facets of business, her strengths are business management, team building, budgeting and overall compliance, and regulatory and finance obligations. She loves to explore new opportunities for the community and find the right team members to put her dream into action.
Kristen was born in Greece to a native Greek mother and an American father who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. After graduating high school, she attended the University of Milwaukee for business administration. In 1990, she moved to Florida and earned her optician’s license.
Her first venture as an entrepreneur was purchasing her mother’s salon, after only three months of working there. By 1998, she had built and designed the Imperial Salon and Spa in Suntree, Florida. The upscale 10,000-square-foot salon was the first of its kind in Brevard County.
In 2010, Kristen opened her second location, Imperial Salon and Spa II in Indian Harbour Beach, Florida. Only a year later, she opened her first post-secondary cosmetology academy, The Salon Professional Academy located in Melbourne, Florida. In 2017, she opened The Salon Professional Academy in Delray Beach, Florida, and in 2019, she opened the Elevate Salon Institute in South Beach, Florida.
In opening these schools, Kristen worked with several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education, National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS), the Florida Department of Education, and the Veteran’s Administration. The schools are fully accredited and offer financial aid and scholarships.
Kristen continues to pursue her entrepreneurial goals. Most recently, in 2020, she opened her first luxurious riverfront resort in Cocoa Beach for family getaways, retreats, and weddings.
Kristen believes in giving back to the community. Her passion is Promise of Brevard, an organization that empowers people with cognitive and physical disabilities to gain independence in their lives. During the catastrophic hurricanes in the Florida Keys, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas, she organized a drive to gather and ship supplies to those in need.
COVID-19 has also made a huge impact on Kristen’s life and organizations. She has worked to increase access to effective and affordable rapid testing, which will allow people to feel safe and to overcome their fear and anxiety of being exposed to the virus.
Kristen is grateful for the mentors who have taught her the value of perseverance and remaining positive through all of life’s challenges. Her advise to those seeking purpose in their lives is to “Find your passion, which is your most important responsibility. Once you do, be diligent, forthright, and focused. It’s called living in your purpose… the sweet spot!”
Cindi began her career in the beauty industry in early 2013 as the Business Manager for The Salon Professional Academy. She has a B.S.B.A. from the University of Arkansas and a passion for Education. She was quickly promoted and has served the school in various roles. In November 2018 she was promoted to the Compliance Financial Regulatory Officer over our 3 locations.
Jennifer started her career at TSPA Melbourne in April 2019. She comes to the Academy with a B.A. from The University of Central Florida. She started her professional career as an educator for middle/high school students in Orlando, FL. She relocated to Brevard County as a Child Abuse Investigator which led her to becoming a Law Enforcement Officer. Her investment in education has been a continuous theme throughout her career and she continuous to impact students as the Director of Financial Aid.
Renee has not only worked behind the chair; she has also been a salon owner. Renee believes in continuing education in this industry and was fortunate enough to have travelled far and wide to receive the education and knowledge she now owns.
Renee started in this industry as she saw that it is always evolving and therefore provides a lifetime of learning and growth. She takes enormous pride in her fair assessment of all students. Her reward as an instructor is seeing her students grow on a personal and professional level.