MILWAUKEE PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION - Skin in the Game, DIAMONDS in the Rough Entrepreneurship

MILWAUKEE, WI - Milwaukee Professionals Association became a source of leadership in 2007 as a means of establishing a principle voice for scaffolding economic and quality of life strategies for HIDDEN TALENT at the neighborhood-level of Milwaukee, namely African American, other People of Color and the Work-Challenged in the city of Milwaukee. It was an outgrowth of research for the Smart Growth Signature Plan (2005-2010).

Its first Skin in the Game investment was the pilot called DIAMONDS in the Rough. The identification and empowerment of "hidden talent".

DIAMONDS in the Rough is a term given to neighborhood-level individuals that are skillspersons, special talents, and entrepreneur-business inclined Milwaukeeans. The entrepreneur was primarily family-created and sole proprietorship.
They were self-starter businesses.
They were businesses TRUSTED and VETTED by the neighborhood.
They were businesses financed by the bootstrap principle - individual, family, friends, church and social organization investors.
They were businesses that have stood the "test-of-time" and managed to survive.
They were businesses that "hired-from-the-neighborhood".
They were businesses that if they were mainstreamed and empowered with research-development and financed could become major corporations that would train and employ more from the neighborhood - create self-sustainability.

They were businesses unfortunately "by-design" left out of the loop of public policy benefits.

Twelve (12) Service Industries
There were twelve industries identified for GROWTH. They are:

* Auto Repair & Car Technology
* Barber - Cosmetology
* Child Care Provider
* Culinary Arts
* Food Services
* Graphic Arts
* Health Care Provider
* Hospitality
* Mortuary Science
* Public Security - Security Guard
* Restaurateur & Tavern Owners
* Service Station - Filing Station & Convenient Store

DIAMONDS in the Rough Initiative
Then came the DIAMONDS in the Rough Initiative.
Through a Request to Wisconsin Senator Lena Taylor, District 4, from Mary Glass, Chair/CEO, Campaign Neighborhood – CFNBA and Founder of Milwaukee Professionals Association BC, four (4) state agencies were assembled, May 19, 2008, for the first time in the 21st Century to begin a 5-9-month pilot for scaffolding a “partnership” model that included “linked services” of each state agency and Governor Jim Doyle’s Grow Wisconsin – Invest in the People Initiative for the Barbers and Cosmetology industry in Wisconsin.

The first meeting was held at MSOE/Milwaukee School of Engineering, School of Business, 1235 N. Milwaukee, R102 in Milwaukee.

The four (4) Wisconsin agencies participating were:
 WI Department of Commerce
o Seyoum Mengesha – Area Director

 WI Department of Financial Institutions
o Deputy Secretary John Collins

 WI Department of Regulations & Licensing
o Secretary Celia Jackson

 WI Department of Workforce Development/Apprenticeship
o Ken Moore – Field Operation Chief

The pilot of the DIAMONDS in the Rough Initiative was designed to encourage the BC industry, provide a voice, education attainment, technology access and literacy, policy update and changes, employment development, career options, business development and state agencies’ linked opportunities for licensed hair, skin and nail professionals.

The target audience include BC professionals in Southeastern Wisconsin, with a special emphasis on Milwaukee’s Apprenticeship talent pool.

Additionally, an integral part included revitalizing the industry image, options and wealth-building with regional collaborations of barbers and cosmetologists as well as all three (3) state-supported academic areas, UWM/University of Wisconsin, MATC/Milwaukee Area Technical College and MPS/Milwaukee Public Schools.

The collaborations were paramount to the success and sustainability of the model.
In Wisconsin, there are 819 Apprentice Employers.
In Milwaukee, there are 358 Apprentice Employers.
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BARBER & COSMETOLOGY
Barbers, cosmetologists, and other personal appearance workers held about 825,000 jobs in 2006. Of these, barbers and cosmetologists held 677,000 jobs, manicurists and pedicurists 78,000, skin care specialists 38,000, and shampooers 29,000. Theatrical and performance makeup artists held 2,100 jobs.

Most of these workers were employed in beauty salons or barber shops, but they also were found in nail salons, day and resort spas, and nursing and other residential care homes. Nearly every town has a barbershop or beauty salon, but employment in this occupation is concentrated in the most populous cities and States. Theatrical and performance makeup artists work for movie and television studios, performing arts companies, and event promoters. Some apply makeup in retail stores.

About 46 percent of all barbers, cosmetologists, and other personal appearance workers are self-employed. Many of these workers own their own salon, but a growing number of the self-employed lease booth space or a chair from the salon’s owner.

Employment
Overall employment of barbers, cosmetologists, and other personal appearance workers is projected to grow slightly faster than the average for all occupations.

Opportunities for entry level workers is favorable, while job candidates at high-end establishments will face keen competition.

Employment change.
Personal appearance workers growth was set at 14 percent from 2006 to 2016, which is faster than the average (increase 21 percent or more) for all occupations. This growth was projected as a result of an increasing population and from the growing demand for personal appearance services, particularly skin care services.

Employment trends were expected to vary among the different occupational specialties. Employment of hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists should increase by 12 percent because many now cut and style both men’s and women’s hair and because the demand for hair treatment by teens and aging baby boomers is expected to remain steady or even grow.

In specific areas of culture where hair care is a major industry, barber shops and employment of barbers is expected to see an injection in entrepreneurship. This is certainly true of Milwaukee's African American neighborhoods.

Continued growth in the number of nail salons and full-service day spas will generate numerous job openings for manicurists, pedicurists, and skin care specialists. Employment of manicurists and pedicurists will grow by 28 percent, while employment of shampooers will increase by 13 percent.

Hit a snag
The DIAMONDS in the Rough Initiative hit a snag when the research revealed that those in decision making position lack knowlege of the industry and did not match talk with actions for growth.

This was found at the level of the elected official, regulation department, commerce, oversight and management departments for the state of Wisconsin.

It was discovered that there was a "culture of bureaucracy", by design, that created stagnation, and "lock-step" politics that created status quo and refused change/Innovation/Reform.

The appointed board members, heads of departments and elected-appointed-hired officials lack training in sensitivity of customer base, harbored stereotypes, lack training about the labor industry relative to populations and culture, NEW growth policies and enforced policies. This did not mean that they did not know their individual departmental requirements. Enforcement and change was not in the cards.

Bureau board and the Rules and Regulation board were top-heavy with union and/or industry members that were "out-of-touch" but were able to maintain lobbying status - many of whom did not attend the board meetings; and when they did were not knowledgeable of key issues and provided rubber-stamped practices that were not customer-oriented and accountable. The out-of-touch appointed board members provided lock-step endorsement of the Director's wishes. This was true for both the Rules and Regulation Department and the Workforce Development/Apprenticeship Board. The Department of Commerce fail to provide necessary finances and affordable business plans connected to the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee or elsewhere.

The Apprenticeship Director was able to "block" state and federal input (regulations and conventions).

It also revealed the "culture of NO change" by the Director of Rules and Regulations of Wisconsin. Her interest, by action rather than words were in "issuing fees" and "fines" rather than increasing the supply chain management and promoting growth of the Barber and Cosmetology industry.

The lack of TRUST of the customer base - Barber and Cosmetology, training at Milwaukee Area Technical College, Bureau of Apprenticeship assistance and regulation, failure of the elected official to enjoin her office support; and, high fees and "got-cha" fines help to create a disconnect.

ALL HANDS ON DECK
The Skin in the Game research (hosted and sponsored by Milwaukee Professionals Association) for 1 year regarding the pilot DIAMONDS in the Rough Initiative included:

-- Five (5) months of meetings with the office of State Senator Lena Taylor - District 4, Wisconsin Department of Commerce, Wisconsin Department of Rules and Regulations, Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, and Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development/Apprenticeship

-- Six (6) months of meetings with owners/entrepreneurs; i.e., Deps Hall of Fades -Darrell Pate, Gee's Clippers - Gaulien Smith, Sid's Shear Magic - Sidney Fumbank, Monk's Barber Shop - William Campbell, Admiracion B & B Salon - Clarence Kelly and Platinum Touch - Cherie Sims.

-- Milwaukee Professionals Association hosted Workforce Development/Apprenticeship Board (18-members) quarterly Meeting in Milwaukee at the Hilton Hotel in 2009 and a 3-person panel (Ruth Zubrensky, Dr. Linda Mistele and Mary Glass) sharing needed concerns with the board.

-- Milwaukee Professionals Association and the WI Department of Commerce collaborated a vendor space for Milwaukee Professionals Barber vendors (Gaulein Smith - Gee's Clippers and Darrell Pate - Deps Hall of Fades) at the annual WI Department of Commerce Minority Trade Conference at Wyndham Hotel at the airport location in Milwaukee.

-- Milwaukee School of Engineering/MSOE provided meeting space in the Executive Conference Room and the business lecture room.
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The Skin-in-the-Game research was added to Milwaukee Professionals Association 5-Year Smart Growth Signature Plan (2005-2010). It is now being "revived" in the All Hands on Deck, WE, Not Me Initiative (January 23, 2010).