MENU
SEARCHWhen the owners at Genesis Salon and Spa disagree, they believe Manager Kyndell Walker brings the balance helping them find their way to resolution. See why they believe Walker is the perfect manager for carrying out their vision.
Kyndell Walker handles customer service, staff recruitment and hiring, and retail displays at Genesis Salon and Spa.
Genesis Salon and Spa
Kyndell Walker handles customer service, staff recruitment and hiring, and retail displays at Genesis Salon and Spa.
Genesis Salon and Spa
SALON TODAY's Meet the Manager series celebrates the managers, team leads, and directors in the industry who work to maintain the vision and goals of salons, spas, and barbershops. In today's profile, we meet Kyndell Walker, manager at Genesis Salon and Spa in Mobile, Alabama. Owners DeAnna Clifton and Sarah Poiroux describe themselves as opposite pieces that fit together perfectly, and they believe Walker adds the balance needed to carry out their vision.
The Manager: Kyndell Walker
Date of Hire: April 2018
Nominated by: DeAnna Clifton and Sarah Poiroux, owners of Genesis Salon and Spa
SALON TODAY:What about Walker’s background made you believe she’d be a good manager for your business?
Poiroux: “Kyndell started with us as a front desk associate. She was promoted to a leadership role when we lost our previous manager. She demonstrated her willingness to do whatever it took to make the customer and service providers happy. She was never officially given the title of manager, our team just started referring to her as such. They respect her and value her, as do we.”
ST: What personality characteristics does this person have that make her a good manager?
Poiroux: “She is very task-oriented. She's thorough. She has amazing customer service skills and a deep understanding that can smooth over even the bumpiest scenarios with customers. She is well respected by our team members. She brings zero drama and has a calming presence. She is detail-oriented and loves merchandising our retail displays and helping decorate the salon and spa seasonally.”
ST: How is Walker compensated?
Poiroux: “She is compensated hourly plus bonuses. We are a Summit Salon, and we utilize their systems for compensation.”
ST: What are the three most important tasks Walker takes on at the salon?
Poiroux: “Customer service and handling unhappy clients, the hiring and firing of staff, and paperwork.”
ST: How is she held accountable for the salon’s performance?
Poiroux: “She is always aware of our budgets and goals. She sits in on all team meetings and PDMs. Being a Summit Salon, we follow their structure for growth and recommendations. Fortunately, Kyndell has never given us a reason to even discuss worst-case scenarios. She's been with us for eight years, and she has always exceeded our expectations. She doesn't want to let us down, so when Genesis isn't performing as well as it should, she jumps in immediately, asking what she can do to help get things back on track. She treats the business as if it's her own.”
ST: How often do you meet with this manager, and what do you go over?
Poiroux: “Every day and everything! She shares the office with us; we joke that we are cubicle buddies (when DeAnna and I aren't on the salon floor). We are very close, and work very well together.”
ST: What types of continuing education do you offer Walker?
Poiroux: “Our Summit coach spends time with her during visits. Kyndell constantly uses any online training or podcasts we have available. She will attend Redken Symposium 2026 with us and participate in their business classes.”
ST: How has Walker helped you grow the salon business?
Poiroux: “Kyndell is both our right AND left hand. She's creative. She keeps the peace. She's encouraging and God-fearing. She builds everyone up, and also keeps us (as owners) grounded. She's the perfect balance in our partnership and helps us reach a mutual resolution if there's ever a disagreement. She shares our values and vision for Genesis Salon and Spa. We adore her and would do anything for her!”
If you have a manager you'd like to nominate for this series, learn more here.
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.
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
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.
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.
Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.
Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Sponsored by Beautista
Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.
Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan. The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry. Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Sponsored by Phorest
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
