MISSION STATEMENT
Associated Barber College of San Diego’s purpose is to educate men and women in the field of barbering and cosmetology. Our mission is to instruct students in the hair industry with hands-on techniques and classroom theory so that our graduates will be prepared to pass the California State exam for an entry level position of employment in the barber and cosmetology industry.
OUR HISTORY
Dominick Nenna founded Associated Barber College in 1927. Mr. Joseph J. Roccoforte, the current owner and Director, attended Associated Barber College in 1960. In 1972, Mr. Roccoforte purchased Downtown LA Barber College and successfully directed his Los Angeles campus until 1989. Mr. and Mrs. Roccoforte purchased Associated Barber College in 2002. The Roccoforte’s have many years of experience in the barber industry. They have fathers, uncles, brothers, sons and even a grandfather that are (were) barbers. Education in our industry are Mr. and Mrs. Roccoforte’s passions. They have kept the barber traditions as part of the current curriculum. In 2022, we were approved by the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology to add a Cosmetology program to our school. We are extremely excited to complement our Barber Program with Cosmetology so that all prospective students can expand their knowledge and experience in this industry. As a student at Associated Barber College of San Diego, you will be prepared for the California State Board Barber and/or Cosmetology Exam while learning the traditional barber techniques and skills of Barbering and the current trends of Cosmetology.
ADMINISTRATION
Mr. Joseph J. Roccoforte – Director/CEO/CAO/Instructor/Barber
Mrs. Michelle M. B. Roccoforte – Associate Director/CFO/COO
Mrs. Martha Sanchez – Financial Aid Administrator
Ms. Marcelina Roccoforte – Director of Education
Mrs. Paula Alvarez – Admissions Administrator
Ms. Marcelina Roccoforte – Administrative Assistant
FACULTY
Instructors are recruited based on their theoretical knowledge, practical skills and experience in the barbering profession. Each instructor must have three years of experience in the working barber/cosmetology/health field to be qualified to teach. They are fully trained and experienced in all aspects of Barber Science and the Arts of Barbering, both theoretical and practical. Regular employed Faculty accommodate absences as Substitute Instructors. The instructional staff includes:
Mr. Joseph J. Roccoforte – Mr. Roccoforte was licensed in the State of California as a barber in 1962. He is an alumnus of Associated Barber College. He completed his barbering instructor course in 1973. Mr. Roccoforte is a second-generation barber in San Diego. He has owned a barber school since 1975. He specializes in theory classes.
Mr. Leandro Gan – Mr. Gan has been a licensed barber by the State of California since 1983. He has owned his own barber shop and currently owns a janitorial business. Mr. Gan has been an instructor since 1988 and specializes in haircutting and shaving. His specialty is to make our students employable in our industry after graduation. Mr. Gan speaks fluent Spanish and assists our students with Spanish speaking clientele.
Mr. Joshua Jackson – Mr. Jackson has been a California licensed barber since 2015. He is an alumnus of our school. He is currently the lead instructor of our school. Besides haircutting, his specialty lies in helping fellow barbers to better themselves while working with clientele and barber skills. He can cut all types of hair but prides himself in the trendiest styles. His specialty is making each student employable with their talent. Mr. Jackson is an amazing educator that shares our passion for barbering.
Mr. Nicholas Cummings – Mr. Cummings is a licensed Barber and is an alumnus of our school. His strengths in barbering include the passion to share his talent to each student. Mr. Cummings is also an MMA fighter who is dedicated to his sport and passion of barbering. His strength is his discipline, and he loves to teach his passion.
Mr. Sherwin Mora – Mr. Mora is a State Licensed Barber and an alumnus or our school. Mr. Mora completed his cosmetology training at Bay Vista Beauty school in 2002. Mr. Mora worked as a Cosmetologist for three years and then joined the United States Navy where he served our country as a Corpsman for eight years. Mr. Mora’s specialty is the theory education of our trade.
Mr. Michael Figueroa – Mr. Figueroa is an alumnus of our school. Mr. Figueroa is a second-generation Barber. He knew his passion was in barbering and enrolled in our program in 2018 immediately out of high school. Mr. Figueroa works in a barber shop for an alumnus and also teaches for our school. His specialty is teaching students how to be employable.
Mr. Ray Lopez – Mr. Lopez is a licensed Barber and is an alumnus of our school. His strengths in barbering include the detailed instruction of barbering. Mr. Lopez is a successful barber shop owner for the last 10 years. His strength is his teaching the details of our passion and making learning a fun environment.
Ms. Dee Dee Rodriguez – Ms. Rodriguez is a licensed Barber and Cosmetologist in the State of California and is an alumnus of our school. She has been in our industry since 2011. Her strengths on our education team include the chemical services that are included in the scope of barbering and her ability to teach shear work. Ms. Rodriguez is the lead Educator for the Cosmetology program and she loves making learning fun.
Ms. Katarina Guzman – Ms. Guzman is an alumnus of our school. She is a California licensed Cosmetologist and Barber. She has been licensed since 2014. Her
specialty in our industry is chemical work and color. Ms. Guzman also takes pride in her shear work and has a passion to teach both in a manner that shares the path to profitable employment with the full scope of the licenses.
Ms. Austin (Arenz) Echavarria – Ms. Echavarria is a licensed California Cosmetologist and Barber. She has been licensed since 2017 and has accomplished many feats in our industry. Her main passion is education; however, she has traveled to many stages to share her talent in the entertainment industry. Ms. Austin has a deep love for color and chemical work. Her focus is to provide quality education.
Mr. Christopher Rodriguez – Mr. Rodriguez is an alumnus of our school. He graduated in 2018 and has worked in shops as a licensed barber. He is a veteran and served our country as a Marine. His specialty is giving each student a bit of his barber passion in an educational environment so each student can excel and create an individualized talent. He understands the transition from military life to barber life.
Ms. Shellynn McColl – Ms. McColl is dually licensed in the state of California as a cosmetologist and a barber. Ms. McColl also has her cosmetology license in Nevada. She is alumni at our school and specializes in theory and chemical services. Ms. McColl enjoys sharing her knowledge in chemistry, anatomy, electricity and pH as well. She has worked in our industry since 2007 and owns her own barber shop. Her continuing education includes Milady, Pivot Point, Pravana, Wella, Schwarzkopf and Goldwell, Redken, Brazillian Blowout, Keratin Complex.