Hometown: Brooklyn, New York

When I started The Parlour: 1989

What inspires/motivates me in the industry:

Every Monday of the year is set aside to coach in the parlOUR way to everyone we work with. We leave each Monday understanding that we are all a work in progress, we are all different, we are intended to do different things in different ways and that we all belong.  We begin to respect (not judge) what each other are trying to accomplish and understand the challenges we all are going through. Simply put, we find common ground, become friends and even develop relationships that last a lifetime. In the end, it’s not the four walls that make up The Parlour but the people we are blessed to spend our time with every day.

What I am happiest doing:

My second favorite thing to do (because I’m not going to tell you my first) is to give all my free time to my family and friends. During the day, the Cahill’s scatter outside regardless of the season. Dinnertime we get back together and catch up on the day’s events.  Summer nights are filled with walks, concerts, conversation and scooter rides. Winter nights, we hibernate and watch films.  I’d rather sit on a 7-11 curb drinking a big gulp with someone I love than flying in a private jet drinking Dom Perignon with someone I don’t.

Gene is the kind of person who walks in the room and it immediately gets better. His laugh is contagious and can be heard from across the salon. He makes every single person he touches feel like the most important person to him. His humility and grace are an inspiration to the whole of our team.

Denise Serafini Gillespie – The Parlour General Manager