Stephen Kostas
Owner / Founder

Originated in 1974 as Scissors Hair, Stephen James Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Day Spa embraces the vision and talents of its founder and namesake, Stephen Kostas.

A salon and spa that promotes beauty and wellness in a comforting and relaxing environment while inspiring and educating people to integrate wellness and beauty in their lives has been a lifelong ambition on Stephen's. After 37 years in the beauty industry, Stephen's lifelong dream has finally come full circle at his beautiful and comforting salon and spa.

His conscious choice to be an Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa has enabled him to align his business with another company that shares his beliefs. Aveda's pure plant-sourced products are used exclusively and he and his staff promote the Aveda lifestyle of beautiful and healthy living.

Heather Rogers
General Manager

Heather Rogers oversees daily operations at the salon and spa. She is dedicated to providing personal service to the client and to assisting each and every staff member. Overseeing a staff of 19+, Heather's goal is to keep her team of professionals motivated and working together to offer a high level of service and care to clients. Her formal education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Human Resources Management with additional extensive training through Aveda business courses. Heather's success can be attributed to her personal commitment to the overall smooth operation of the salon and spa, and her excellent interpersonal skills with clients and staff members. She is a valued asset to the Stephen James Salon and Spa management team.

Alice Lankford
Manager / Partridge Creek

As manager of the Stephen James Salon & Spa at Partridge Creek, Alice brings over 20 years marketing, management and training experience to our staff. Being avid Aveda user, with passion for the beauty industry, helps her create a relaxing and enlightening environment for the entire team and each and every guest.

Claudia Lico
Customer Service Specialist

A Bachelor's Degree from Oakland University and a human resource backgroung in training, development and staffing. Claudia is a customer service specialist with a goal to deliver the very best to every guest individually. She joins Stephen James as a Salon and Spa Coordinator and can assist you in capturing the appointments of your choice.

Jessica Smith
Stylist

Her upbeat personality, creativity and desire to help people feel good are essential reasons why Jessica chose a career in the beauty industry. In 2000 she began her career with nails while she worked in Traverse City in northern Michigan. After a year she returned home to southern Michigan to pursue a career in cosmetology while working with the staff of the Greenhouse Spa at The Somerset Collection. In 2002 she joined Stephen James Salon with an enthusiasm to focus on basic hair cutting techniques and to learn extensive knowledge of Aveda products. Since joining the Stephen James staff, Jessica has trained extensively through the assistant program and continues her focus on hair cutting and hair color techniques, product knowledge, and current trends.

Nichole Keller
Stylist

The beauty industry was a natural choice for Nichole because of her desire to help people look and feel better. She is an outgoing, enthusiastic and driven person with an instinctual vision for art and beauty. She is a graduate of the Douglas J. Aveda Institute and truly believes in the Aveda vision. She chose the Douglas J. Aveda Institute because of its great structure, credibility and desire to change the beauty industry. Before becoming a member of the Stephen James Salon team she worked with Matrix and Redken color lines, but realized Aveda was her true passion. Since joining the Stephen James team she has continued her education in current trends and is working toward becoming a salon coach to train and educate other members of the team.

Michelle Morris
Stylist

Trained as a fine artist at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, as well as the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michelle has been creating works of art in various mediums as well as in hair design. Graduating with honors, earning a Bachelor degree in Art Education, Michelle taught High School art in Nevada and Michigan. She continued her education in hair design to seek out a career as a stylist. Her talents in arts are expressed through her color and cutting techniques. Devoted to continuing education and refining her skills, Michelle presently attends Advanced Design classes through the Aveda Institute system. Her commitment to the beauty industry shines through on each and every salon guest she sees.

Renee Gorski
Stylist

A graduate of Sybil Beauty School, Renee joins Stephen James with over 14 years experience. She has extensive training with world-renowed beauty industry experts and has traveled the country attending educational classes. She is continuing her passion for design by attending Performance Aveda, a two day regional seminar. Experience and education makes her one of the top hair designers in our area.

Katy Saltsman
Stylist

As a Douglas J. Aveda Institute graduate, she is extremely passionate about Aveda's mission and the beauty industry. Creativity in an important part of hair design and Katy's ability to create the "entire look" is impressive. Commitment to the industry with an eye for fashion makes Katy a natural talent in hair design.

Laura Gibson
Stylist

She is a graduate of the Douglas J. Aveda Institute and was part of the staff at the Stephen James Rochester location before moving to the Partridge Creek staff. Laura has an innovative approach and looks forward to designing a style that will work especially for you. Laura's commitment to Aveda philosophies and advanced education was another natural choice for the team at Partridge Creek.

Anne Pung
Massage Therapist

A certified massage therapist, Ann Pung joined Stephen James Salon and Spa in 2002. Her experience includes deep tissue sports massage with professional athletes, including the Detroit Lions, as well as relaxation and alternative healing techniques. Ann is well versed in massage therapy techniques and her continuing education includes extensive training in Table Shiatsu, Shiatsu I, Soft Tissue Methods for Management of Breathing Disorder and Hyperventilation Syndrome Workshop, CranioSacral Therapy, Positional Release, Myofascial Release, Hot Stone Therapy, and Rain Drop Therapy. Ann is an active member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professional organization. Her additional education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Arizona State University.

Toni Unick, R.N., L.E.
Esthetician and Skin Care Educator

A top graduate from the Aveda Institute in East Lansing, Michigan, with over 600 hours in Esthetics, Toni Unick complements her Aveda education with a 20-year career as a registered nurse. She is skilled in all areas of skin care including facials, body treatments, hair removal and cosmetics. She customizes facial care to address a multitude of client concerns such as excess pigmentation, dryness, fine lines, sun damage, clogged pores and oiliness. Toni’s approach to skin care is to achieve balance and optimum health by understanding and working with your skin. She believes that healthy skin is vibrant, “...it should glow.” Her outgoing and friendly nature makes her a welcome presence in the spa and salon, and her exceptional people skills allow her to effectively teach a client how to continue spa care at home.

In addition to her role as Esthetician, Toni is the Spa Coach at Stephen James. In this capacity she serves as a resource for the staff in the spa. She attends numerous advanced education classes every year to stay current on Aveda products and services. These courses cover a wide variety of topics and include both theory as well as hands-on education. She also participates in the twice-yearly Aveda program called “Coach Jam” for Aveda educators. Toni’s additional education includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Lawrence Technological University.