Our Team

Barbara has always been interested in education and how it can improve people’s lives. After spending most of her 15-year professional career in the non-profit arena responding to community issues, it was a natural transition for her to move into school ownership that has as a primary goal skill-building and job attainment.
One of the things she loves about this industry is how it can provide a stable yet flexible job for the long-term. She believes it’s a great fit for any person at any stage of their lives; that it works for those looking for something as a primary focus, a second career, or a part-time job. Plus, she feels it builds on people’s natural creativity and their desire to put a smile on people’s faces as a beauty industry professional. One of Barbara’s favorite things about owning the school is to watch a student’s progress from when they begin to when they graduate. She knows they are going out into the world and make a difference for themselves, their families, and others.

Fun Fact: She is originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and has lived in the USA for over 40 years. She could eat Mexican food every day and loves the Seattle Sounders Football Club. She has a degree in Chemistry from the University of Guadalajara and speak fluent Spanish. Along with her college degree, she has several certifications focused on professional facilitation which she still does out in the community.

Patrick Davis has been a successful entrepreneur and businessman for over 40 years. He began his career in Cable Television and telecommunications. From 1987 to 2003, Patrick was the Managing Partner of Cedar Communications, a TV cable company. Prior to 1987 Mr. Davis was employed by Greater Media as Regional Director of their Central Massachusetts cable systems and by North Star Communications in several capacities. Cedar Communications was sold in 2005 and Patrick “retired”. However, retirement didn’t last long.

Mr. Davis had served in a volunteer capacity with Edmonds Community College educational programs located at the Monroe Correctional Complex. There, he assisted inmates that were attending various educational programs offered by the College. In addition, he became involved with the adult literacy program at the prison. It was here that his interest in Adult, Post-Secondary Education developed. In 2008 an opportunity developed to acquire an accredited, Title IV, beauty college and Paroba came to be! Helping individuals find a path to happy, productive careers has become a source of great enjoyment for him.

Mr. Davis has his BA from Georgetown University in Economics and Business Administration. He has been married to Barbara Davis for over 40 years and has 2 adult children. He is a member of the Cable Pioneers and has served in the following capacities; Board Member, American Cable Association, President, Broadband Communications Association of Washington, Vice President, Alaska Cable Television Association. He is currently serving on the Board of the Northwest Career Colleges Federation.

Fun Fact: Patrick’s favorite hobby amongst many is cooking! He enjoys preparing many different types and flavors of cuisine from scratch.

Rod Fender has been a licensed, registered Cosmetologist and Barber for 39 years. He has been licensed in the states of Washington, Oregon, California and Wisconsin. He has owned two beauty salons in Oregon and has been a member of the National Cosmetology Association for 30 years and the Hair America Ladies and Gents for 26 years.

During this time, he has held offices on the Oregon Executive Board of Directors and was a committee member of the Pacific Coast Beauty and Trade Show Association for four different years. He has chaired numerous state shows and has held offices on the Affiliate, District and State Levels. He became a member of the Oregon’s Hair Fashion Committee in 1973 and was Chairman and Style Director for four consecutive years. Rod has had similar accomplishments in other states.

Prior to moving to Wisconsin, Rod won numerous awards in various competitions, including the Hairdresser of the Year Award in 1974 and 1975. In Wisconsin, as a member of the Wisconsin Cosmetology Association, he became a member of the Wisconsin Cosmetology Education Committee. Rod was responsible for creating the Gents section in Wisconsin, as well as the new Junior Membership Program which now is offered in 11 other states.

Under Rod’s leadership as Gents Section Director, much was accomplished in the State of Wisconsin. He was responsible for the Gents Examination, as well as for the policy and procedures for the committee within the state. He chaired the State Seminars for two years. At Wisconsin’s State Convention in 1989, Rod was honored with the highest award given: The James Schmidt Award.

While Rod was employed by the International Beauty Academy (IBA) Colleges of Cosmetology as the National Styles Director and Assistant Vice President of Programming, he travelled to the IBA’S 21 schools throughout Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and Tennessee to train instructors in new techniques, retail sales and how to educate with excitement and flair. Rod also assisted in training for numerous competitions in which IBA Colleges did exceptionally well, such as at Kurl Kraze and the Mid-West Show in Chicago, IL.

Rod wrote many of the IBA’s programs, from basic lesson plans to the tests which were administered to the students and staff. Since Wisconsin has combined their Cosmetology and Barber Colleges into one, he also created a barber supplement book. In addition, he coordinated a 21-video program for IBA’s Professional Education Program which was sold throughout the United States.

Over the last 26 years as a member of the Ladies and Gents Sections of Hair America of the National Cosmetology Association, numerous opportunities have been afforded to Rod to travel, judge and educate on platform competitive hairstyling. Rod has created much excitement in the Hair America Committee as a Design Team Member, Ladies Section Director and Gents Section Director. He was recommended by his peers and was appointed to the most prestigious position of Hair America Chairman for 1990-1991 and 1991-1992.

During his times of travel and educating, Rod has been awarded two of the most sought-after awards in the Cosmetology Industry. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Northwest in 1997 and into the United States Hall of Renown in 1999. Rod is currently Vice President and Partner in Paroba College of Cosmetology In Everett, Washington.

Fun Fact: In his spare time, Rod enjoys hosting many parties throughout the year for different holidays and other special occasions.

Lisa Obtained her cosmetology license in 1995, and has since acquired her Instructor, Esthetics and Master Esthetics licenses as well. Her favorite part about this industry is that it appeals to both science and artistic-minded people.

Fun Fact: She has her own food blog at billfreefarms.com!

Hollie Graduated the cosmetology program at Paroba College in January of 2010. Shortly after, she received her Instructor training license and began her career as an educator. Hollie has worked at Paroba College since 2010. In the first 6 years, she worked as an educator while also working behind the chair. Additionally, during that time she attended more programs at Paroba, and gained her Master Esthetician and Barber License. Hollie also spent some time working in the Financial Aid office and is now the Director of Admissions. Her favorite thing about this industry is the instant gratification that her clients and students feel; whether it’s from getting their hair done the way they like it, the excitement from enrolling into school, or the I GET IT moment she sees in her students. Hollie’s passion, dedication, and experience allows her to be a guide for current and future students when choosing their new career path.

Fun Fact: In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors with her family and most of all being the best mom and wife she can be.

Kailyn has been in the industry for 11 years and works in the admissions department, touring and enrolling new students. She is also in charge of the Social Media and Marketing aspect for Paroba College. She is a licensed Cosmetologist and Instructor. She has worked at many salons over the years and taught Cosmetology at a beauty school for a year and a half. She doesn’t have only one favorite part about the industry; she loves everything beauty, she loves the “a ha” moment on her students faces, she loves assisting new students in their first step of living out their dreams by enrolling them into school, and much more. She is married with two small sons.

Fun Fact: Besides being the best wife and mother she can be, she is into bodybuilding and nutrition, personal growth and motivational speaking. She also loves old school video games and RPG’s.

Jennifer has been working for Paroba since 2013. From the time of being a teenager, Jennifer was always enamored with the beauty industry. It is always changing, and there will always be a need for beauty/grooming professionals.

She is a licensed Cosmetologist, and also worked in the Auto, Home, and Life insurance industry for many years.

Fun Fact: Her favorite hobbies are Natural Nail Gel-30 day Manicures and beginner photography.

Suzie started her career at Paroba working in the Guest Services department and was promoted into her current position in 2018. Suzie has a diverse professional background with experience in retail, personal services, and medical assisting.

Fun Fact: Suzie is Spanish-English bilingual and in her free time enjoys reading.

Mary Kay has been with Paroba since 2008. She manages the administrative side of the school and oversees the Admissions and Financial Aid Departments. Mary Kay acts as Paroba’s compliance officer, keeping school policies and reporting in line with the requirements of our accrediting body, as well state and federal agencies. She has a passion for writing and rules, and sometimes stays up late reading regulations just for fun.

Mary Kay has a bachelor’s degree in English and Rhetoric from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. She was Puget Sound’s Rosemary Van Arsdale Writing Excellence Award recipient for 2001 as well as the final awardee of the prestigious Miller Freeman Publishing Internship in 2000.

Prior to joining the team at Paroba, Mary Kay spent time in the not-for-profit and technology sectors, but most of her career has been in adult learning and technical education.
Mary Kay is active in Business Network International (BNI) and has been accepted into Travis Snider’s Small Business Accelerator program for 2018.

Mary Kay has two daughters with her husband, Josh.

Fun Fact: Outside of work, she enjoys listening to mysteries on audiobook, cooking, and competitive powerlifting.

Rebecca works as a Guest Coordinator at Paroba. She was born in El Paso, Texas and has been married for 29 years. She has worked in many different fields prior to Paroba; anywhere from retail to customer service payday loans, management and in the medical field!

Fun Fact: Rebecca has 5 children and 11 grandchildren! Her family is her whole world!

Kim has been in the beauty industry for over 20 years. She is a licensed Educator, Cosmetologist, Barber, Esthetician and Master Esthetician. She loves everything that has to do with beauty!

Fun fact: She loves spending time with her grandkids, dogs and playing darts.

Michelle has been an instructor two years. She has had her Cosmetology license for five years and an Esthetic license for four years. What she loves about the industry is how it is forever changing so there is always something to learn!

Fun Fact: She come from a family of nine kids and has three of her own. She spends most of her spare time with family!

Adam Nolin has been in this industry for 3 and a half years. His favorite part of the industry is making people feel and look good!

Fun Fact: It was his 6000 mile road trip on his motorcycle to move to Washington that barbering began to interest him and he began to pursue it!

Alexis has been in the industry for 2 years. She received her education through Paroba in 2016 and has since worked several areas of Esthetics, including business ownership. In any area, Alexis’s favorite part of Esthetics is making clients happy. Besides gratification, she enjoys the flexibility that comes with it, allowing her to do things outside of work.

Fun Fact: Alexis enjoys crafting things and participates in carpentry, crocheting, baking, and Special Effects makeup.

Josh has been cutting hair for nearly 20 years! He obtained his Washington State licensure 3 years ago. His favorite part of being a barber is the transformation before and after. His favorite part of being an instructor is the ‘a ha’ moment when a student really understands what he is teaching them. Josh also used to teach computer programming and networking.

Fun fact: He defines himself as “an old school computer and gaming nerd.”

Alyssa has been a licensed Cosmetologist since June 2016, and a licensed Instructor since February 2017. She loves everything about the beauty industry!

Fun Fact: When she’s not teaching haircuts and color, she enjoys baking, spending time with her family, and rockin’ the karaoke mic.

Cole has been working in the industry since 2002. He is licensed in Cosmetology, Nail Technician and Esthetics. He has worked behind the chair in barber shops as well as high-end salons in Washington and NYC in addition to teaching. What he loves about this industry is how much joy it brings people. He loves seeing his students get so excited to create.

Fun fact: His favorite hobby is baking sourdough bread.

Amber has been in the industry for 8 years. What she loves about this industry is that beauty doesn’t die. It started from plants and herbs, for ceremonies and to determine stature, to this big huge thing it is now; beauty is everywhere and in everyone.

Fun Fact: In her words: “I’m a huge nerd at heart, especially for Harry Potter, halloween, and all this fantasy. I also super love tacos!”

Kim has been an educator for 43 years! She is a past beauty school owner and hold 5 licenses in this state. She teaches the Cadet course. What she loves about the industry is that it is rewarding to see students from beginning to end… from their first day, progressing in their knowledge and techniques and on their way towards graduation, obtaining their license and work in their field of choice.

Fun Fact: In her spare time she enjoys is playing piano and guitar.

Danette became a cosmetologist over 30 years ago, graduating from Everett Beauty School. After 2 years of working in a salon, she purchased the salon and has owned it for almost 29 years. As well as working in her own salon, she graduated from Paroba in 2012 as a licensed Cosmetology Educator. She became a substitute at SnoIsle Skills Center and Paroba until she became an instructor at Paroba in 2016. What she loves about teaching is the opportunity to share with the students the skills and knowledge she has learned over the years, as well as learning the new trends and products in this ever-changing industry!

Fun Fact: In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family, outdoor activities, gardening and Zumba!

Trina started as a Guest Coordinator in August of 2018. She absolutely loves working with the staff and students at Paroba, as well as the clients that come in. She has previously worked in customer service and the medical field and loves working with the public.

Fun Fact: Trina has a large family and spends lots of time with them; antique shopping, hiking, camping, watching sports and attending her husband’s (and now son’s) drag racing!