Meet The Team

Meet the Hair Arts Institute Team

At Hair Arts Institute, our staff, administrators, and instructors are dedicated to helping students pursue their goals in the beauty industry. From the moment you walk through our doors, you’ll be greeted by friendly and knowledgeable professionals who are passionate about what they do. Our team is committed to providing you with the education and support you need to succeed in the hair industry. We believe that by working together, we can help you achieve your goal of building a rewarding and fulfilling career as a hair professional.

Rick Bennett - Owner

Having gained industry experience, Rick Bennett recognized that the education received at his initial school failed to equip him for success in his burgeoning career as a hairdresser. Determined to pursue a more comprehensive education, he made a life-changing decision in 1981 to embark on a fresh start. Opting for the esteemed Vidal Sassoon School in Los Angeles, Rick immersed himself in an environment where he personally experienced the transformative power of exceptional education delivered by remarkable instructors. Motivated by this profound experience, he is impassioned about imparting the same level of education to the students at Hair Arts Institute, understanding the significance it holds in shaping their future success.

Randall Broussard - Instructor

Embarking on an illustrious career, Randall Broussard initiated his journey as a student at the renowned Vidal Sassoon Academy in Los Angeles on June 16, 1986. Following a two-year stint in Las Vegas, he transitioned to the esteemed Vidal Sassoon Salon in Beverly Hills, commencing his apprenticeship. Mastering his craft, Randall flourished as a stylist in Sassoon Salons across Beverly Hills, Scottsdale, and San Francisco, ultimately earning a promotion to the esteemed role of creative director in San Francisco. Alongside his stylist responsibilities, he undertook vital tasks such as developing and training apprentices and stylists, in addition to overseeing the education center, which hosted immersive cutting courses for licensed hair stylists from around the world. Relocating to Los Angeles, he dedicated himself to full-time teaching at the Sassoon Academy, refining his skills and honing his teaching techniques over an extensive 20-year tenure. Displaying his expertise globally, Randall conducted haircutting classes in various locations, including London, Puerto Rico, Canada, and numerous destinations throughout the United States. Through his extensive travels and engagements, the Hair Arts Institute emerged as a recurrent destination, fostering a profound connection centered around their mutual appreciation for the Sassoon philosophy of geometry, design, method, and precision. Joining the team at Hair Arts Institute was a natural and seamless progression, guided by the shared vision and unwavering dedication to the art of hairstyling.

Lauren Keohane - Receptionist

Lauren comes to Hair Arts Institute with more than 16 years of experience in the beauty industry. She has a wide range of experience such as cosmetics retail management, cosmetology school admissions, social media management, and makeup management. Lauren and her husband (a Sassoon trained hairdresser and educator) recently moved to Oklahoma from NYC where she worked as a published freelance makeup artist and salon coordinator at a prominent NYC salon. After years of doing makeup alongside her husband in salons, beauty schools, and industry events, she found her home in the hair education industry. She has grown to admire the high quality of education that comes from Sassoon hairdressing culture and is thrilled to have found a place like Hair Arts Institute to be a part of!

Jane Nowlin - Financial Aid Director

Jane is the Financial Aid Director at Hair Arts Institute, LLC, with almost 30 years of experience in the Career College Industry. She has held various positions, including School Owner, Executive Director, Financial Aid Director, Career Services Director, Business Dean, Business Instructor, and Compliance Coordinator. As a Team Leader for Accrediting Commissions of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), she provided leadership to a team conducting accreditation visits to schools nationwide. Jane understands the challenges and obstacles that students face, and she is dedicated to helping each student achieve their career goals and obtain better career opportunities.

Kwang Park - Barber Instructor

Kwang Park, a highly experienced Barber instructor with 31 years of expertise in the hair industry, possesses a deep-rooted passion for hair that has flourished into a rewarding and successful career. Proficient in Toni & Guy TiGi Coursework and Vidal Sasson approaches, Kwang’s love for teaching led him to become a hair instructor, where he has dedicated the past two decades to mentoring and inspiring future hairstylists. Renowned for his precision, flexibility, and mastery of texture techniques, Kwang continuously seeks advanced training opportunities and remains at the forefront of his field.

With an unwavering commitment to lifelong learning, Kwang actively participates in industry events, training seminars, and workshops to remain current on the latest trends and techniques. As an instructor, Kwang’s patient and knowledgeable approach, coupled with his genuine passion for his students’ success, creates engaging and personalized classes tailored to meet individual needs. Students can expect to receive an exceptional education under Kwang’s guidance, as he strives to provide the best learning experience possible.

Greg Welchel - Owner

The love of art, fashion, and design-led Greg Welchel to a career in hairdressing over 25 years ago. He realized the value of continuing education early on, and made the commitment to further his abilities by attending advanced courses throughout his career at nationally recognized programs; such as Sassoon and Toni & Guy Academies. This commitment to excellence has allowed him to stay relevant and forward-thinking in his approach to hair, making him one of the most respected hairdressers and business owners in his city and field.

In 2014, he along with Rick Bennett and Mark Wood, started the Hair Arts Institute, to help the hairdressing community out with basic education, as well as advanced training for already licensed professionals.

Mark Wood - Owner

Mark spent over 37 years serving large, complex, public, and private business enterprises
throughout Oklahoma City and the surrounding market during his career in public accounting. Throughout his career, Mark has worked extensively in a number of industries, including energy,
financial services, retail, and utilities. He’s assisted corporate, partnership, and family business
clients with an extensive variety of strategic, structural, and operational income tax matters,
including merger and acquisition transactions, reorganizations, joint venture formation, and
operation, and going public and going private transactions.

Mark was appointed a Tax Commissioner and served as the Vice-Chair of the Oklahoma Tax
Commission from November 2021 until January 2023 when he was appointed Chair. He was
extensively involved in the drafting of Commission Order 2022-10-04-14/Precedential addressing the tax implications of the McGirt decision and served on the Incentive Evaluation Committee.

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✨Gorgeous highlight work by student @hairbyalmavc !!! ✨
Swipe to the end to see the before! 👉
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#okchairschool #okccosmetologyschool #okcbarberschool #okcbarber #okchairsalon #okcsassoonacademyconnection #precisionhaircuttingokc #sassoonacademyconnectionschool #wellausa #wellahaircolor #haircolorinspo #wellablondor

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Meet The Team

Meet the Hair Arts Institute Team

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