The Elaine Sterling Institute Announces Partnership With ArtsBridge Foundation

Atlanta's good looks could be attributed to Elaine Sterling, the founder of The Elaine Sterling Institute (ESI), a respected and internationally recognized school and institute for students pursuing careers in the spa and salon industries.

Started nearly 15 years ago by Sterling, a single-mom-turned entrepreneur, she launched her eponymous brand 'with six students and a credit card.'

A trailblazer, Sterling has developed a learning institute that promotes the best of both beauty worlds: the European tradition of spa and salon techniques and standards combined with American scientific technology and innovation.

Today, ESI is "sitting pretty" as the beauty market's personal care segment is expected to reach $254 billion in 2022, according to Statista.

At a June 4 open house, ESI hosted prospective students and customers to tour the newest addition to the campus, a 12,000-sq-ft space dedicated to The Salon at ESI complete with classrooms and open salon stations teaching students who enroll in the Cosmetology Program (hair, makeup, and nails) or the Nail Program.

The previous 27,000-sq-ft space at Lenox Square remains dedicated to The Spa at ESI for students interested in studying esthetics or massage therapy.

During the opening event, ESI announced a community partnership in support of ArtsBridge Foundation, a nonprofit organization on mission to provide access to performing arts programming for K-12 students statewide, including field trips, professional development, and the production of the annual Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards known as The Shuler Awards.

"I'm very proud of what we have been able to accomplish at ESI," said Sterling. "I attribute much of the growth and the success to my students and highly skilled instructors, first and foremost, as they are my greatest teachers. My life has been changed by our school and the school has changed the lives of thousands of passionate, creative and ambitious students who have walked our halls."

With the pandemic and other modern day factors including workforce development and evolving career paths, ESI has developed attractive beauty course and continuing education offerings by being smart about the agility factor. ESI features flexible schedules to complement the potential student's busy work-life schedule; a hybrid classroom format; and evening and Saturday classes.

ESI graduates are recruited to work in spas, salons, med spas, and medical and wellness centers in Atlanta and beyond. And many go on to open their own businesses in and outside of Georgia. The institute enrolls an average of 480 students per year and an average of 80 percent of their graduates are placed in massage therapy, nail tech, or esthetician career openings.

The Elaine Sterling Institute was founded by Elaine Sterling in 2008 and is a leading beauty school teaching and certifying students in cosmetology, esthetics, massage therapy, and nail care. ESI relocated to an expanded location from Sandy Springs to Buckhead in 2019. The newest addition to their Buckhead campus - The Salon at ESI - is scheduled to open June 2022. The accredited school is nationally and internationally renowned for its high educational standards. Of paramount importance from inception, is Elaine's vision for a spa-like environment with classroom structure and for her students to learn the very best of European standards combined with American scientific technologies. The mission at ESI is to develop in the student the practical skills, theoretical knowledge, and professional attitudes necessary for success in the professional cosmetology industry. Graduates of ESI are equipped with the tools, experience, and confidence to pass the state licensing examination and to be a top hiring candidate for spa and salon owners and employers. For more information, visit ElaineSterling.com, Facebook and Instagram.

Elaine Sterling, the founder of The Elaine Sterling Institute is originally from South Africa where she was a student of cosmetology. She relocated to Atlanta in 1998 and shared her European trained talent and acumen by working at some of the top spas and schools at that time. After a decade of studying the market by working with clients, industry leaders and owners, Elaine recognized the opportunity for highly skilled and well-trained technicians in an industry that was on the cusp of explosive growth. In 2008 she opened The Elaine Sterling Institute, as the only instructor with six students. The original 1,800-sq-ft location was in Sandy Springs. Today, ESI is one of the largest schools of its kind offering a competitive curriculum in a 39,000-sq-ft campus at Lenox Square in Buckhead. @elainesterling1

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