Hidden Gems: Meet Tonya Klein of MK Atelier Salon

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Tonya Klein.

Hi Tonya, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
During a casual conversation, fittingly in a salon chair, co-owners Katie McCarty and Tonya Klein first discussed opening a salon together. Then, less fittingly, during the winter of 2020, the talk turned into action, and MK Atelier Salon opened its doors.

Katie and I decided to just go for it. We had formed a close friendship when I had stepped out of the industry to start a family and became her client. We both had been in the beauty industry for many years. I had spent 10 years working behind the chair and 4 more years in sales and education, teaching classes in the salon and managing a team of educators in the mid-west.

Katie had become a successful hairdresser with more than 17 years behind the chair before we opened MKA. We had both been wanting to open a business and decided to go for it together.

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The most stressful part was opening a business during COVID-19 and the restrictions that came with it.

We have been fortunate to have built a team of talented professionals through it (we have hired slowly intentionally to be comprised of the right people) and our guests are the best. We feel very fortunate.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business?
MK Atelier Salon is conveniently nestled between Beverly Hills and Birmingham, Michigan, where we offer a full menu of hair, color, and styling services. At MK Atelier Salon, we only use the highest-quality hair care products from trusted brands like L’Oreal Professional, Redken, R+Co, and Kérastase.

We pride ourselves on outstanding customer service and creating an overall exceptional beauty experience for everyone who walks through the doors. We promote a positive culture and champion teamwork, which creates a fun, supportive, professional environment for employees and guests alike.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a mentor or a few key people I believe in order to become a successful mentor is imperative. Having an effective leader or mentor in any industry is a must.

Both Katie and I are huge believers in that and understand we also must be willing to be coached and held to account in order to be a contributing part of any team. It also shows we are putting the work in as well, not just talking the talk but walking the walk. It is our obligation as mentors to be open to being mentored.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mkateliersalon.com/
• Instagram: @mkateliersalon
• Facebook: @MK Atelier Salon

Image Credits
Midnight Oil, Poppy Photography, and Bedazzled Britt