Karie Bennett
Founder/Master Artist, Atelier Salons
Karie’s journey as a stylist began in 1981, and as a salon owner in 1997, when she opened her first Atelier in Los Altos. Opportunity knocked in 2002, when Aveda asked Karie to open the flagship Aveda lifestyle salon in San Jose, the heart of the Silicon Valley. Fast forward to today: 65 employees in two Atelier locations: one at Santana Row, and Atelier Salon in the San Jose suburb of Willow Glen. Karie has been a part of the Aveda tribe since 1985, is a contributing writer for Salon Today magazine, and is an active member of the Professional Beauty Association’s Salon/Spa Advisory Board member, helping to protect the industry she loves.
Education: Aveda Business College, 4Mat for Leadership, redCHOCOLATE Leadership and Colorist, MBA certificate from UMass Boston, WorkLean and Public Speaking–both at Stanford University’s Continuing Studies program.
Accolades and achievements: Karie says, “These recognitions represent the work of everyone at Atelier–none of it would be possible without an amazing team. Awards are more of a compass than a badge, they tell us if we’re headed in the right direction and they raise the bar for all of us.”
-2017 Women of Influence Award Recipient, Silicon Valley Business Journal
-2011 North American Hairstylist Association’s Salon Master of Business Award Winner
(Finalist, 2009 + 2010)
-2008 UCLA Anderson School of Management Global Salon Business Award
(Finalist, 2006)
-2017 Elected to the Salon Spa Advisory Board for the Professional Beauty Association
Karie, why did you decide to become a stylist? I cut my own bangs at the age of 3 and got creative with many Barbie dolls after that. Years of makeup, haircuts, and color experiments on my friends followed. I can’t imagine not being a hairdresser.
Best professional moment: It would have to be a tie between the first time (and every time after) that we promoted a group of prote’ge’s from our Atelier training program (I was like a proud mama) and the first time Atelier was recognized as one of the Top 200 fastest-growing salons in North America. The ‘Best Professional Moments’ are really every day when I have the privilege of mentoring and guiding our team. What a gift that is!
What I want every client to know about me: That I care, and their happiness matters.
Other hobbies and talents: I write for Salon Today magazine, I love to dance and sing karaoke.
Charitable work: Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, Evelyn Lauder Breast Cancer Research Fund, Clean Water Fund, South Bay Musical Theater, Sunnyvale Community Services, San Francisco 49ers Convoy of Hope, Sunnyvale Community Services
Specialties: Curl cutting, Dry haircutting, Natural foil highlighting, transitioning to natural silver hair (letting your gray grow out gracefully!)
Haircuts: $150
Haircolor: Inquire
Email: karie@ateliersalon.com