GAZELLE WEST EDITOR’S NOTE
When Cillah Hall approached me with the idea of Gazelle West and asked me to be
the Editor-in-Chief, I think my first thought was “whaaat?” Then I was flattered,
then scared, then unsure, and thought she must be pulling my leg. So we talked, and
she explained what this publication can do, about the fresh content and ideas we
could bring to my neck of the woods, and I decided that I had to be a part of this
great venture.
I have worn many hats in my life, from carpenter’s assistant, salon apprentice, salon
manager, salon owner, platform artist, national education manager for Rusk/Conair,
president of the Professional Beauty Association’s salon section, and now, Editorin-chief of Gazelle West.
For all of you readers that know me, I hope you see me as more than just the “Salon
Guy,” as I am the father of four beautiful daughters (Chloe, Sydney, Isabel and Mia),
raising them with my equally beautiful wife, Talisa. I like to shoot, hunt, camp, build
things around my house, and just for fun, run marathons and ultra-marathons (any run
longer than a marathon). For those of you I have not had the opportunity to meet yet,
I look forward to hearing from you or meeting at a future event.
I will approach this new challenge as I have approached all the ones prior by learning,
planning, training, and of course, with the hard work that it will take. I of course, will
trip and stumble, try to keep from falling, and then regroup and work harder to bring
you the best content we can for every issue.
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Thank you readers and Cillah for the chance to turn a new page, and start a new
chapter (pun intended). We will grow together, so enjoy the journey.
Cary O'Brien
Cary O’Brien
Editor-in-Chief
GAZELLE WEST