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We love to personally answer questions you have regarding the academy, your new career and the options available to you. Fill out the form or use one of the options below to contact us.

All services are performed by students under the supervision of licensed instructors

Meet Our Team

Peyton Gomez

Admissions Coordinator

Peyton is the current admissions representative as of October 2023. She has obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Western Oregon University and has recently moved to Portland. She is from Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, a small U.S. territory in the Pacific. Peyton has a drive to help others achieve their goals and strives to make the admissions process a smooth journey for prospective students. Due to understanding the stress that comes with enrollment, she’s looking forward to being someone that students can rely on and look to for support. She is very excited to be a part of this team and reach her full potential in this role

Tracy Paramo

Operations Manager

Tracy has been a licensed practitioner since 1989. With over 30 years of experience, Tracy has seen first-hand every possible salon situation including hourly, commission, booth lease, and salon ownership. From 1997-2012, Tracy was self-employed in a successful salon in Dallas, Texas. Having fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest, she finally decided to make the move here in 2012. Upon moving to Portland, she procured her Oregon licenses in Hair Design, Esthetics, and Nail Technology, as well as her Educator’s license. Tracy has spent time here working as both a stylist and Front Desk Coordinator, however, she found a new vehicle for her passion when she began educating.  She is currently the Director of Operations at Summit Salon Academy Portland. Her dedication to the industry is showcased by her commitment to supporting new service providers with essential knowledge to be successful. Tracy says, “We need to encourage more truth about this industry. All too often service providers sell themselves short. Operate with integrity, charge your worth, continue to educate yourself and you will see great success.”

Mario Paramo

Director of Financial Aid

Mario is the Financial Aid Director and has been in the position since 2016. Mario has a Bachelor’s degree of Education from the University of North Texas. He moved to Portland in 2012, and before his employment with the Academy Mario secured a position with a non profit organization working with at-risk youth. This further developed his dedication to education. He understands the importance of responsibly financing our artist’s education so that they graduate ready to succeed. When Mario is not tackling financial aid numbers and regulations, he spends his time reading, playing video games and rooting for the Dallas Cowboys.

Elizabeth Davis

Educator

Elizabeth is an alumni of Summit Salon Academy who has returned to be a full time educator. She is licensed in Hair Design, Nail Technology, Esthetics, is certified in Bellami Hair Extensions, and has training in lash extensions. Her educational style is a collaborative experience with the students with emphasis on the student leading the process. Elizabeth takes great pride in her students and guiding them to success. 

Jennifer Rabellizsa

Educator

Jennifer, with seven years in the beauty industry, brings both hands-on expertise and a passion for teaching to her role as an educator. Committed to continuous learning, she appreciates the ever-evolving nature of beauty techniques and actively encourages her students to do the same. Jennifer emphasizes the financial opportunities that the industry offers, preparing her students for both creative and economic success. Her teaching approach is supportive, and she takes great pride in seeing her students exceed their expectations.

Jessica Vicars

Educator

Jessica is a third-generation hairstylist with over 15 years of experience in the industry. A proud alumna of Phagan’s School of Beauty, now Summit Salon Academy of Portland, Jessica has come full circle as an educator in the academy where her skills were honed. With a diverse career spanning hourly, commission, and independent roles, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her students. Her mission is to empower aspiring artists to push boundaries and achieve their dreams, beautifying the community one hairstyle at a time.

Kristen Schwartz

Educator

Kristen is a Pacific Northwest native with a decade of experience in esthetics and hair design. Her enthusiasm for the beauty industry is contagious, and she’s eager to share her expertise with the next generation of artists at Summit Salon Academy Portland. Her approach to teaching is collaborative, fostering an environment where students can grow and excel. Kristen is passionate about equipping her students with the skills they need to succeed in the competitive beauty industry.

Mitchel Ross

Educator

Mitchel is a seasoned hairstylist and educator with 14 years of experience in the beauty industry. A graduate of Paul Mitchell School in Boise, Idaho, he also holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and ESL teaching from California State University, Chico. Mitch’s passion for education took him on a transformative journey to Seoul, South Korea, where he delved into the global beauty landscape while teaching English. Now an educator at Summit Salon Academy Portland, Mitch brings a multicultural perspective to his teaching, enriching the learning experience for his students as they prepare for success in a diverse industry.

Sandie Griffith-Jordan

Professional Product Advisor

Sandie has been in the hair industry since 1999.  She realized early on that beauty was a profession she could be passionate about for many years.  In doing so she found a wonderful way to acquire new knowledge about fashion trends and techniques well ahead of her peers in the Pacific Northwest.  Sandie spends 3 days a week at Annastasia Salon working on guests capitalizing on a successful career behind the chair.  She spends 2 days a week at the school overseeing our long term curriculum strategy and supporting our educators.  Her wealth of experience brings a deep level of awesome to our technical education strategy.

Shane

Administrative Assistant

Shane is a Virtual Administrative Assistant at Summit Salon Academy. With over two years of experience as an Executive Assistant, Shane has honed her skills in handling complex administrative tasks, among other projects, that ensure the Academy runs smoothly in its day-to-day operations. She is a career-driven individual constantly looking for opportunities to learn new skills. She enjoys the educational process and takes delight in developing her skills.

Chris Huffstutter

School Director

As a fourth generation Huffstutter in the beauty business, Chris brings a ton of management and for-profit school experience to our Academy.  With one of the biggest hearts in the world, the students and staff can count on being led with their future as the greatest priority.  Whether you are a student or a guest, Chris is here to answer any questions and ensure your experience is top-notch.

Keith Huffstutter

Director of Salon Relations

Keith has spent 35 years coaching & mentoring high performance teams with a focus towards consistent and sustainable accelerated sales growth.  Keith’s last 3 years, as part of the L’Oréal Drive Salon Success Team was spent collaborating with Salon Companies, Service Providers, & Salon Centric growing sales & income for all stakeholders. He has been awarded District Sales Goal Achiever, Divisional Sales Goal Achiever, President’s Award Winner, & Presidents Club Award Winner.

Keith believes all beauty industry professionals deserve the opportunity to achieve their highest level of success and has a commitment to raise the value of Service Providers in the local communities we mutually serve.