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
Bringing Balance to Leadership
When 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.
April 9, 2026
Kyndell Walker handles customer service, staff recruitment and hiring, and retail displays at Genesis Salon and Spa.
Genesis Salon and Spa
3 min to read
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.
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