Lee Ann Herbert

Have you ever wondered if you were on the right path in life?  For Lee Ann, she could not be more certain that everything that she has ever done was preparing her for what she is doing right now.  Getting into the beauty industry was not something that was ever on her “bucket list”, but when it presented itself to her, she approached it with the same enthusiasm that she does everything.  She threw herself into it 100% and it was just the most natural occurrence to buy the business when it became available even though she was looking retirement in the eye and doing some “California dreamin’!  She, along with her business partner, Tonya, have known each other for many years both professionally and personally and seem to make a great pair in running a thriving business.

Having owned her own business before and after spending years in “Corporate America”, Lee Ann was prepared to spend long hours perfecting and shaping the environment that she and Tonya wanted to create.  What was the surprising part, in her words, was “how much I would love coming to work every day.  I know that we can make a difference in people’s lives in a positive and appreciated way.”  “How often do you get to make someone feel good about themselves?  We are able to do that EVERY day!”

If you are looking for her when you come to the salon, you will not find her behind the chair; she leaves that to the REAL designers…..she will be the one answering the phones, greeting clients’ tackling book work, making sure that salaries are paid and maintaining the inventory. Tonya, her business partner says: “ We could not run the successful business we have without her! She brings it all together to make our days run like a well rehearsed dance. She is our heartbeat!”

 Besides being the resident “Mom” and chief multi-tasker to everyone at the salon, Lee Ann is very involved with her family and her community life. The dedication she has at the salon to help and see others continually grow  is no doubt  what fuels her energy and love for the beauty industry, although she swears that being a grandparent is the best gig she as worked in her life! “I never knew the word “volunteer” existed, she says.  “Giving back was always a part of our lives when we were growing up and always will be a part of my life.  I actually receive so much in giving, that sometimes I feel a little guilty for getting so much pleasure out of sharing.”

Anitra Johnson

Anitra was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she also started her career. After completing her degree as a Master Cosmetologists and working in N’awlins for six years she and her husband relocated to Atlanta.

 In 2002 she found her salon home with the Salon Lotus team. Anitra says, "Each year I find something new about creating fresh hairstyles that makes me excited to be in this industry." Anitra has had many years of extensive training in the industry and her continuing education has allowed her to travel all over the country.

Anitra was chosen by Salon Lotus and Goldwell Hair Color Systems to become a Salon Ambassador so that other designers have the opportunity to learn from her overabundance of knowledge with haircolor. Salon Lotus has also chosen Anitra to team with Co-Owner Tonya Samples Kvapil to lead the Lotus Apprenticeship program. Tonya says,” I knew Anitra was the perfect instructor for our apprentice program. We are blessed to have an entire team of designers but Anitra truly understands the geometry of technical haircutting. This profound knowledge paired with her artistic eye, makes her an absolute genius at what she does!”

Anitra’s knowledge of and experience with Aveda, TIGI, Brocato International, Balmain Hair Extensions, and Mizani Retexturing Relaxers allows her to serve her multi-ethnic clientele well. Anitra enjoys every part of her job, but color seems to be her forte. Anitra also says, "I love to transform people, to make them feel great!!! Being a day maker is awesome!!  Color is one of the best ways to drastically change a look, from just adding a few highlights to something completely new; it is truly 'instant gratification'!  The feeling of satisfaction I receive when my client says, 'I love my hair!', makes each day worth it! I feel that excellent customer service and fulfilling my client's expectations are priceless." Every day Anitra comes to work with the aim to overwhelm each client so that they know that with the combination of expertise and professionalism they will get a more unbelievable hair experience then they have ever had in a salon before!

Anitra happily resides in Metro Atlanta with her husband. She loves Atlanta, but N’awlins will always be in her blood!

Bill Sayre

An Ohio native with many years of hair designing, Bill has an overwhelming love for the hair industry. He attended the Ohio State Beauty and Barber College and shortly after graduation, began his service with the United States Army. There, Bill used his barbering abilities to his advantage and continued cutting hair in the 2 years that he proudly served our country.

In desperate need of warmer weather, Bill moved to Atlanta in 1979. He then broadened his knowledge of our industry even further by becoming a salon owner himself, along with opening a distributorship of professional hair care products. It was his passion of creativity that brought him back behind the chair so he could focus on servicing his thriving clientele and submerge himself into the art of what brought him to our industry in the beginning of his adventure. Through these experiences, Bill has a wealth of knowledge from so many different aspects of our industry.

Bill is constant with his desire for more knowledge by attending seminars and classes throughout the United States. Lee Ann Herbert, co-owner of Salon Lotus says,” The dedication Bill has to his profession is unbelievable. He is a mentor to our entire staff. As Bill works with our apprenticing staff, I can see them watch him work with the dream of someday creating as gracefully and confident as the Master of the Arts that he is! Bill has studied directly with ambassadors and specialists of Aveda, Goldwell, Tigi, Brocato International and so, so many more. Bill has been a part of the team that founded Salon Lotus since 1990. Bill Says: "Salon Lotus has been my family away from family and I enjoy every day I experience with them. I especially enjoy the time I am privileged to spend training our new staff!"

Bobby Ford

With many of experience in the hair design industry, we are thrilled to have Bobby as our Salon Manager. Bobby leads our Design Staff as well as our Guests Services Team at Salon Lotus. His daily focus is to make sure that each Guest at the salon always feels welcome and completely cared for, along with making sure our busy salon is running smooth and seamlessly.

As an industry expert, Bobby's resume certainly proves that he has been well groomed for his current position in leading the Lotus team to success. Bobby graduated from Empress Hair Design Academy in 1983 with a Masters in Cosmetology. Later, he became co-owner of Christopher Robert's Salon. Bobby's expansive career has included attending Neill Quality College with Aveda, spending a full year of monthly team building and salon business seminars. Bobby was also chosen by the Paul Mitchell team to train in Las Vegas and become a salon educator for Paul Mitchell Systems. This gave Bobby the opportunity to go inside other salons to spread his knowledge and expand the minds of others in his field. Bobby stepped from behind the chair and laid down his shears in 2004 to pursue other adventures. However, due to his vast experience and love of the hair industry Bobby could not stay away long and in 2006 was eager to accept a new role as Salon Coordinator and Guest Services Team Leader with Salon Lotus. In 2011 Tonya and Lee Ann asked Bobby to help lead our entire team by becoming our Salon Manager. Bobby says:" I have had the pleasure of performing my art as either Designer, Salon Coordinator and now Manager alongside the best group of people I have ever known. I have worked with some of them my entire career and cannot imagine anything better. The staff at Salon Lotus are more than just co-workers; they are also my friends and family."" Salon Lotus co-owner, Lee Ann Herbert describes Bobby this way, "Bobby's passion for excellence really shines through whether he is orchestrating the front desk with client needs or leading our entire team to achieve their goals. He is a joy to work beside and we would be so lost without him." Bobby believes that life is complete when you embrace passion, balance, and hope. His success in the salon industry is clearly a testament to these strong beliefs.

Bobby is quite adventurous and is a fan of the great outdoors, and traveling the world. When not in the salon there is no telling where on the map you will find him. Work hard / play hard is something he has mastered.

Rana Asfour

Born and raised in Amman, Jordan, Rana Asfour is currently at our top level of hair designes at Salon Lotus.  Rana started in this industry in 1998 at the young age of 19, and many years later says, “I still have all the passion and excitement I started with. When I was a kid I gave all my Barbie dolls haircuts and my poor little sister had to be the guinea pig as well. I always knew I was destined to do hair.”

Rana’s work as a hair designer goes far beyond just a haircut. She combines her extensive color training, her amazing hair cutting skills, and her eye for sculpting to give each client the total look they want and deserve.  Blessed with curly hair herself, Rana is excellent at cutting and styling curly hair.  She says that “using the right product to give your curls great shape without frizz is almost as important as the perfect cut”.

Rana believes continuing education is essential in any successful career, and has definitely made it a part of hers. She has traveled the United States going to many hair shows, and participates in regular in-salon coloring and hands-on cutting classes. She has attended the Goldwell color academy in Baltimore, Maryland, as well as business seminars in New Orleans, Louisiana, combined with countless Aveda, Brocato, and  S Factor classes, making her an expert in her field. As one of the senior educators in the Salon Lotus apprentice program, Rana uses her broad knowledge for hair to help guide young designers into successful careers of their own. Lee Ann Herbert, co-owner of Salon Lotus said of Rana “I was amazed when I heard Rana answer a client’s question of how she knew what to cut?” Rana replied,”It is quite simple, you just remove what does not belong outside of the shape you want.” This was an aha moment for me and the client both, reinforcing the fact that she IS a true artist!” With the natural talent, passion, and education it’s no wonder Rana is a driving force of our team. Team members new and old are always striving to keep up with her forward approach to design and success. Rana credits her success to giving every person who sits in her chair 110% of herself and it shows.  When it comes hair design, Rana says “this is not just my job…this IS what I do!”

Tonya Samples-Kvapil

Tonya is co-owner and hair designer at Salon Lotus in Atlanta. The unsurpassed passion she has for the beauty industry has driven her career to many successes during the years in the industry. Starting her career in 1989 after graduating hair design school in Atlanta, she has worked on building a very diverse resume that has molded her into the successful hair designer and salon owner of today. Tonya has many years of photo shoot experience with local production companies and modeling agencies and worked with Brocato International as a salon educator and platform artist teaching other salons current trends, professionalism and retail design. Tonya has traveled the U.S. expanding her knowledge with continuing education classes such as the Vidal Sassoon Academy in Santa Monica, as well as training in New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, Miami and countless other cosmopolitan cities in the United States. She has extensive training with many of the leading innovators in the industry, there are just too many to list. Tonya is proud to have her work  published in Goldwell Trendsetters Magazine.

The focus in her career at this time is to grow her flourishing business and to mentor young designers in Salon Lotus’s apprenticeship program. Tonya says that” mentoring young designers and teaching true professionalism keeps me motivated to be the best in anything I do. The young designers hold me accountable every day to live up to what I am teaching. After many years in the industry I am still just as excited to get to the salon every morning as I was the first day out of beauty school!” Tonya’s thriving clientele and salon is certainly a product of her excitement and dedication to her artistry!