Name/Title
Magazine, On The Cutting Edge, Inspire, 2010Description
On The Cutting Edge from the Inspire Magazine August 2010
On the Cutting edge of education
By Renee Wahlen Tillema
Some people follow their own dreams, while others pave the road to make that path a little easier for those who follow. One Waupun woman has the best of both worlds. Not only does Renee Hickmann have 24 InSpire Magazine the opportunity to pursue her passion for education, but she is able to provide an education for others who want to follow their own dreams.
With 25 years of experience as a licensed cosmologist, Renee has been involved in many different aspects in the industry including as a stylist, a business owner, an educator, a platform artist, curriculum development, and an international key note speaker. In 2005, she opened her own school, Advanced College of Cosmetology, in her hometown of Waupun.
"I started here in this building working for my mother," Renee explained. "She owned a salon [Back Home Salon] and I worked with her through the years. I bought everything from my parents in 1999. At that time my mom retired and I continued to own the salon and work until 2004 when I decided to go back to get my instructors license."
With a goal to create a small boutique college with one-on-one curriculum and instruction, Renee dived into the process of becoming approved by the State of Wisconsin. This required remodeling the building, developing a business plan and curriculum, being bonded, filling out all the required paperwork, and the in meantime, continuing to work as a stylist. She said it was "a big, scary step," but within six months she was ready to open the doors.
"The reason I'm so passionate about education is because I've been an educator even before getting my instructors license," Renee said. "I educated all over the United States for color companies. I did platform work, where other stylists would come to get inspired, and did that in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Florida — so I've also been a strong advocate of education in my industry."
With her many years of experience, Renee developed a curriculum that would be unique to her own school. She said the support of her parents and her husband, Matthew Hickmann, has been invaluable. While Renee is the president and instructor at the college, Matthew is the vice president and handles the recruitment, reception, and wears many other hats in the running of the college.
"Another big step in our lives is the federal accreditation we've been working on for the last year," Renee said. "We passed the first step, which is the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmology Arts and Sciences. It's been a lot of work, it's at the national level. Now we are at our second step and should have our federal number by the end of summer."
Since beginning the school in 2005, with 17 students in their first class, the Advanced College of Cosmetology has graduated 89 students. Renee explained that the students have ranged in age from the oldest at 53 to just out of high school. There is a nice mix of traditional and non-traditional aged students.
"I have a lot people who are going back to school as a second career," she said. "Right now I have students in their 20s, 30s and 40s. There certainly is a mix of ages. I get many people who come in and say that they've always wanted to do this and now they are. It's really fun and it's fun to have that mix of ages and maturity levels in each class."
Renee said the appeal of cosmetology as a second career includes the flexibility in hours available to those with a family. The economy has also had an impact on how students choose their career path, Renee is seeing people tap into their talents and pursue an education for which they have a passion.
"If you have a family and are going back to school, the most important is spousal and family support," she said. "It is a big thing to take that time out of your week. But, don't wait, it is 14 months out of your life, and it can be grueling and it can be difficult at times, but ultimately it's very fulfilling. I have seen a lot of those coming back for a second career who just love being back in school. They are my best students because they are very serious."
With her own passion for education, Renee finds that the rewards come from the graduates who have found success and happiness in their career choice. Some of her students have found their niche working in New York and California.
"Getting phone calls from salon owners saying, 'Wow!' Getting that feedback is rewarding," she said. "Seeing the students that first week of school and then at the time of graduation and thinking about all that they've learned."
The Advanced College of Cosmetology has students who travel from a 55-mile radius to attend school. There are students from as far as Milwaukee and as close as Waupun. Renee has also worked with students through Workforce Development getting them trained and back into the workforce. As typical for most teachers, when the students go home each day, Renee continues to work — there is always something that needs to be planned, prepared or done for the following day of class.
"The day is never over when I clock out," she said. "Sometimes I look back and wonder where the years have gone. Maybe because it was just something that I was meant to do. I feel like one of the luckiest people alive because I'm doing what I love to do. Not many people get to say that. Because I have such a passion for it, it's not really work — it's work, but it's not work — it's enjoyable." *
Caption Under Photo Front Page:[The third generation -Renee Hickmann right, works with
her daughter, Tessa Nummerdor, a student at the college.Acquisition
Accession
2010.0500Source or Donor
Found in collection.Acquisition Method
Found in Collection