The Constant
Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.
by Stacey Soble
A Dynamic Management Duo that Blends Business and Beauty
At Gray & Graham Salon, Abigail Higgins make the salon's marketing programs come to life while she keeps the operations humming each day, while Molly Meyers aids in hiring and training the team. This dynamic duo help Owner Abbie Crafton grow the business into the future.
by Mya Shepard
July 22, 2025
3 min to read
Salon Today’s Meet the Manager series celebrates and highlights the managers, team leads, and directors in the industry who work to maintain the vision and goals of salons, barber shops, and spas. In today's profile, we take a look at how Gray & Graham Salon, located in Madisonville, Louisiana, upholds its driving values with the leadership of Abigail Higgins and Molly Meyers.
The Managers: Abigail Higgins, Operations Manager, and Molly Meyers, Lead Stylist, Extension Specialist and Associate Program Lead
Nominated By: Abbie Crafton, Owner of Gray & Graham
Higgins' date of hire: January 2024
Meyers' date of hire: May 2020
Salon Today: How are these managers compensated?
Crafton: “Hourly + bonus”
Abigail Higgins helps bring marketing ideas to life while keeping the day-to-day operations running smoothly at Gray & Graham Salon in Madisonville, Louisiana.
Gray & Graham
ST: Do these managers also perform services on clients?
Crafton: “Yes”
ST:What are the three most important tasks these managers take on at the salon?
Crafton: “They take on budgeting, ordering, educating and upholding core values.”
ST: What are their specific background/experience that made you believe they'd be a good fit for your business?
Crafton: “Abby has a degree in marketing and was raised in a restaurant managed by her mother, so she has a natural affinity for the industry, a strong work ethic, and a deep understanding of customer service and team dynamics. Her forward-thinking mindset made her a clear fit for a leadership role in our business. Because of her background, she's proactive and always ten steps ahead, anticipating the needs of both the stylists and the owner.”
“Because Molly has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, she has a deep-rooted passion for education and mentorship. As a previous educator at the Aveda Institute, she has honed her skills in developing and inspiring new talent. Molly takes the time to coach stylists individually, guiding them toward their goals with a balance of encouragement and accountability. Her experience, leadership, dedication, and commitment to helping stylists grow into the best versions of themselves make her an invaluable asset to our team.”
Molly Meyers' deep-rooted passion for education and mentorship was incredibly valuable after the salon had to rebuild the team after a walkout.
Gray & Graham
ST: What personality characteristics do these two hold which made you believe they'd be good leaders?
Crafton: "Abby's ability to connect with people and anticipate needs before they're spoken shows strong emotional intelligence and natural empathy. She builds trust easily and creates a comfortable environment for both clients and team members. She anticipates what is needed and she's always thinking a step ahead, which is a valuable leadership trait."
"Molly's efficiency and knowledge reflect a no-nonsense, results-driven mindset that helps the team stay on track and deliver high-quality work. She holds apprentices to a higher standard which shows that she values growth, discipline and is invested in others."
ST: How have these managers helped you personally as the owner, or how have they helped grow the business?
Crafton: “Abby has been a huge support to me. When it comes to marketing, she keeps me focused and on track, especially when my ideas start to get a little wild. She's always willing to help bring those ideas to life while also keeping our day-to-day operations running smoothly. Her ability to balance creativity with structure has been key to keeping the salon organized, efficient, and growing.
“Molly has truly been my rock during one of the most difficult times in my business. After a major walkout, she reminded me of my "why" and helped me stay grounded and focused. She didn't hesitate to step up, diving in to help rebuild the team. She played a vital role in hiring eight new team members and personally training four of them. Her leadership, loyalty, and drive were a major part of how we were able to bounce back stronger than ever.”
About the Author: Mya Shepard, a Chicago-based communications graduate with a multimedia journalism background, draws inspiration for her beauty writing from her time as a salon manager at Salon Lorrene in Palatine, IL. Known on social media as Mya Ame'rie, she shares her perspective on community, beauty and culture.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Salon Management
The Most Wonderful Time in Salons and Spas
Planning is in full swing for the most anticipated events and promotions for the 2026 holidays. As owners share their favorite ways to celebrate, they prove that a carefully planned event can also build culture, increase client loyalty, boost sales, and set a business up for a successful 2027.
by Stacey Soble
Leading with Empathy, Humility and a Mastery of Systems
When things run amok at Mane Attraction Salon, Owners Chris and Jenny Knudsen say General Manager Sami Hernandez is their go-to resource and ultimate sounding board. Meet Sami in this installment of Meet the Manager.
by Stacey Soble
Pagoda Brings AI-Powered Operations to Skinovatio Medical Spa Locations
Pagoda, a new AI-native operating system for scheduling, payments, patient records, marketing, and client communications, launches at Skinovatio Medical Spa in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
by Staff
How Women are Rewriting the Rules of Grey Hair
At a panel discussion hosted by L’Oréal Professionnel in Paris in early July, French Philosopher Sophie Galabru explored the cultural shift where women are increasingly choosing natural, personalized color results over traditional grey coverage. In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Galabru and L’Oréal Professionnel Colorist Pierrick Beringer discuss this shift and how salons and colorists respond.
by Stacey Soble
Warm Leadership and Analytical Precision
At Salon Blonde, Director of Operations treats the staff as the salon's most important guests, while her wonderful 'nerdy' side, loves data, systems, and numbers. Find out how she makes Salon Blonde tick.
by Stacey Soble
Trotting the Globe, Forging Connections, Fostering Artistic Creativity
In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Salon Owner Salvatore Minardi reflects on his past 18 months as Intercoiffure America Canada's World Talent Exchange Ambassador and how his experiences will help encourage cultural and artistic exchange and support greater engagement between ICA and the global organization Intercoiffure Mondial.
by Stacey Soble
Client Retention Guidebook
Everything you need to know about client retention as a salon owner.
Success Grown from Within
Owner Shelby Bills says her general manager, Sydney Osborne, reminds her of the power of leading with heart. Find out how Osborne became a great leader in our lastest installment of Meet the Manager.
by Stacey Soble
How Salon Leaders Can Process the Pain and Lead Forward When a Team Members Leaves Unethically
In her latest blog, Kati Whitledge identifies the five stages salon owners go through when a team member leaves the salon unethically, offering advice for each stage.
How AI Is Closing Revenue Gaps for Salons and Spas
The beauty and wellness businesses pulling ahead aren’t just working harder—they’re using AI to capture demand, personalize pricing, and convert more of every guest interaction into revenue. Here’s what the benchmark data reveals about the growing gap between AI adopters and everyone else.
Sponsored by Zenoti
The Premium Talent Magnet: The Modern Salon Playbook for Attracting Six-Figure Stylists
Stop chasing recruitment ghosts on generic job boards and start curating an elite team. Discover the framework that top-tier salons use to bypass phone tag, automate visual portfolio vetting, and attract high-earning, culture-first beauty professionals directly through real-time messaging. Turn your recruitment process into an exclusive brand invitation that keeps your highest-ticket chairs permanently filled.
Sponsored by Beautista
Five Revenue Leaks Hiding in Your Salon
Your calendar looks full, but is all of that demand actually converting to revenue? From phantom rebookings to underpriced peak hours, the 2026 Benchmark Report exposes five revenue leaks that most beauty and wellness businesses don’t even know they have.
Sponsored by Zenoti
The Heartbeat of Zandi K's Success
After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.
by Stacey Soble
Rethinking Retail in the Era of E-Commerce
In a world dominated by e-commerce, salon owners push back with proven strategies to increase retail sales while motivating team members to educate their clientele and delighting clients with retail-themed events and clever merchandising displays.
by Stacey Soble
The Harper Ellis Hair Co. Certification Program Teaches Stylists a Smarter, Safer Way to Install Extensions
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
by Staff
The Micro-Salon Blueprint: How Kat Scott Quadrupled Income by Maximizing Her Suite
Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.
by Staff