An occasional series exploring how local, family-owned businessescontribute to the unique ambience of Highland Park.On the Cutting EdgeAbbe Sparks“I always swore I would never move out of Chicago. Yet,when I saw this cute little salon on Roger Williams inRavinia, and the rest of Highland Park, I was hooked!” saysPam Gordon, co-owner of Gordon Salons. “Basically,Highland Park is different from other suburbs. It haswonderful schools, great arts venues and a good mix of wellendowedculture. I said to my husband Tony, ‘What a greatplace to open our business and raise our two children.‘” Thatwas in 1999, when Pam and Tony Gordon opened Gordon inRavinia on Roger Williams. They put down roots thatcontinue to develop all throughout the community.Fast forward to 2007. With two local salons (the Gordons have a third inLakeview) and two kids in the Highland Park school system, Tony and Pamactively engage at PTO meetings and local charity events, as well assupporting the business community at Sidewalk Sale and Fashion Week.<strong>PHOTO</strong>S: <strong>Michael</strong> <strong>Metzger</strong>, <strong>Michael</strong> <strong>Metzger</strong> & <strong>Staff</strong>, <strong>Inc</strong>.Professionalism and passionA fourth-generation hair stylist, Tony is a hair fashionista with 15 years ofexperience. He teaches over 50 classes per year on hair color whilemaintaining a growing clientele at the salons. Tony is also a beautycolumnist for What’s Happening and a sought after stylist for New YorkCity’s Fashion Week. (Here’s a glimpse into Tony’s crystal ball: “Look for fallhair to be shorter and darker,” he predicts.)Equally impressive are the credentials of his wife and business partnerPam. She is an accomplished stylist and avid eco-friendly beautician. Hereco-diligence is painstaking; she thoroughly researches new chemical-free,safer products that include the nail polish Gordon Salons use and thedecorative materials installed in its spaces.The Gordons’ vision emphasizes the power and beauty of the earth’s fourclassical elements—earth, wind, fire and air—to create an ambience ofrelaxation, serenity and warmth. Their approach includes bringing freshideas, energy and skill to all their endeavors and is compatible with Aveda,The Art and Science of Pure Flower and Plant Essences, a companyfounded to provide beauty industry professionals with high-performance,botanically based products that are safer for service providers and theirguests, as well as for the planet. Pam and Tony fully endorse Aveda’s mission
to set an example for environmental leadership and responsibility. Gordon’suses the complete line of Aveda plant-derived products for hair care, skincare, makeup and lifestyle. “The ingredients in these products are sourcedfrom around the world, reflecting our philosophy that what you put on yourbody should be as healthy and natural as what you put into it,” says Tony.Developing local professionals“Home grown” is another integral part of the Gordon mix. With hisseasoned eye for talent, Tony chooses and develops his stylists. “Before Iwill put new stylists on the floor with clients, they must go thru the‘Gordon Way,’ a one-year rigorous education program in hair design.”Gordon Master Stylist Abby Emer, whose parents reside in Highland Park, isone North Shore native who pursued the Gordon Way.“The training program was a great learning experience and really helpedme grow as a stylist,” says Abby. She now attracts her own clientele, whichincludes local residents she knew from overnight camp, Mirameta inWisconsin. Abby’s mom Susan is also a faithful client; she gets a blow dryfour times a week. Many local restaurateurs are styled by Abby, including<strong>Michael</strong>’s Red Hots manager Ben Unger. Abby began her career at Gordonin Ravinia and continues as a master stylist at the couple’s newly openedsignature salon and spa, Gordon in Highland Park on Central Avenue indowntown Highland Park. (The two stores share a phone and website forappointments: 847-266-7777 and www.gordonsalon.com)What’s happened in Ravinia? That salon (465 Roger Williams) is nowhome to Gordon’s New Talent. The “New Talent” concept offers youngstylists—many of whom are locals—an opportunity to learn their craftwhile building up their own clientele. The shop is the first of its kind inIllinois, dedicated to developing those who will become the leading hairprofessionals on the North Shore. All the stylists are professionally educated,licensed and—like Abby—trained in the Gordon Way.The transformation of the Ravinia salon brings another new idea to arearesidents—lower price points for innovative, stylish hair and makeup servicesstarting at $30. According to Ravinia businessman Charlie Barnes, who withhis wife Mari owns The Custom Framer a few doors west, “Our daughtersHannah and Becky love the New Talent Salon. They’ve been getting haircutsat Gordon in Ravinia for years at master stylist pricing. Now they get the sameglamorous haircut as before at an economically advantageous price and, forany 20-something, cost begins to become extremely important.”“The New Talent concept is still in its infancy, but it seemed a naturalfit for Ravinia,” says Tony. “Knowing your marketplace and yourclientele is something we take very seriously. We stay current on what’snew and hip in products, people and fashion and are privy to the latesttrends and styles through our Aveda relationship,” he says. For Gordon’s,staying current also means employing local high school students, whomTony and Pam view as a very important part of the fashion mix. As partof the educational component, New Talent students learn about thesalon business while developing their professional capabilities.Fashioning a work ethicTwenty percent of Gordon’s staff is from Highland Park. Teri Gorleski is 21,an Illinois State University senior and Highland Park High School alum. Teriremembers that she was just looking for some part-time work when shewas 16 and starting her junior year of high school. “My family lives nextdoor to the owners, and when I mentioned I needed a job, Tony and Pamsuggested I come to work for them. I started at Gordon’s in 2001 as a saloncoordinator,” says Teri.Teri has branched out since then. “I helped the Gordons out with theirhome office. Later I was put in charge of their booth at the Sidewalk Sale,which I've run for three years now.” But theirs is much more than a businessarrangement. “Tony and Pam are great and have become my second family.I’ve learned so much from them, and they listen to my ideas, too.”For Teri, the biggest thing about working at Gordon’s is “learning howto work with people, forming relationships with them and handling stressfulsituations,” she says. “For a 16-year-old to come in and grow with the saloncan only help me when I enter the business world full time.”Teri continues to work for Gordon Salons while pursuing her collegecareer, mostly during vacations and summers. You may recognize her lastname because both of her parents are long-time teachers at HPHS. Dad JohnGorleski is the health and anatomy teacher and assistant coach for thebaseball team, and mom Mary works in the writing lab and heads up theHPHS Student Senate Sponsors program. Both Mary and Teri’s brother Eric,currently a senior at HPHS, have been Gordon’s customers since Teri beganworking there.Another HPHS alumnus, Gordon make-up artist prodigy Sami Sleeper, isnow in her third year at Parson’s School of Design in New York City. Teri andSami are among the many local students who had their first job experiencesworking part-time for Tony and Pam as salon coordinators. Others includeHPHS seniors Alex Brown, Loren Zaluda, Lani Goodman and KarenWasserman—not to mention the Gordon’s daughter Jessica, who is a junior.(continued on next page)Spring 2007 / 7
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