Gail Lorenzini was an educator, an entrepreneur and a business owner who immersed herself into the community and took advantage of her varied points of contact to support area causes. Gail did nearly all of this in partnership with her husband, John, before she died unexpectedly July 4 at the age of 71.
Gail and John Lorenzini created the University of Spa & Cosmetology Arts in 1978, three years after their first BJ Grand Salon opened in Springfield. They recently sold the solons but kept the cosmetology school.
BJ
Grand Salon and Spa, regularly recognized as a finalist in Illinois Times’
annual Best of Springfield competition, grew from the initial location to nine
salons and had 440 employees at one time, according to John.
Over
the years, USCA has graduated more than 3,400 students who became licensed as
cosmeticians, estheticians and, more recently, barbers. With about 100 to 120
students a year at USCA, John credited Gail with growing the school by handling
its administration, bookkeeping and financial aid. Although the BJ salons
started with hair styling, the business expanded by recognizing a market need
for other services such as facials, makeup, massages and more.
Gail
was nominated not once, but five times, for the prestigious Athena Leadership
Award, which recognizes individuals who actively support women in attaining
professional excellence and leadership skills. She won the Athena award in
2013, when it was still presented by the Greater Springfield Chamber of
Commerce. She and BJ Grand Salon remained active supporters of the award
process when Athena transitioned from the chamber to the area chapter of Illinois
Women in Leadership.
“Throughout
her career, she was always very supportive of women – helping other women get
to their highest potential,” said Heather Burton, chair of IWIL’s Athena
committee. “She really exemplified what Athena means: community service,
excellence in their career and lifting other women up.”
Gail
was a founding member of the local chapter of the National Association of Women
Business Owners, which later became Women Entrepreneurs of Central Illinois.
She also partnered with the Just for You Salon at the Simmons Cancer Institute
and provided furnishings for the private space where patients try on wigs.
John
said his wife was passionate about helping Simmons with wigs, since many
insurance companies would not pay for them, and Gail wanted to provide the
chair and shampoo and everything that a person would need. BJ Grand Salon also
hosted a bra-designing fundraiser, which had originated with The Wardrobe, to
raise money to help people undergoing cancer treatments in Springfield and Champaign.
Participants would decorate a white bra to tell a story, and BJ Grand Salon
would put them on display and ask people to make a contribution to vote for
their favorites.
Another
one of Gail’s passions, John said, was Hope School, which educates, treats and
cares for children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental
disabilities. Stylists and estheticians would assist the students with their
hair and makeup for the fashion show, and the students’ enthusiastic and
grateful reactions thrilled the salon staff.
“We
owe everything to the community, and we want to give back as much as possible
and see the community grow,” John said. “That’s what makes Springfield so good
– it’s businesses that support the community.”
John
said Gail would make a list every year of causes they would support, then they
would work together to implement it. “It’s one thing to say it; it’s another
thing to actually do it,” John said. “When she said we’re going to do it, (that
meant) we’re going to do it.”
John
and Gail were married for 53 years and were business partners most of that
time, pooling their backgrounds in hair styling, barbering and business. The
couple have an adult son and daughter. John said their son, Nick Lorenzini, has
a salon in St. Louis and their daughter, Lynne Lowder, works elsewhere in real
estate and property management. They also have three grandchildren, which, John
confirmed, are the best grandchildren in the world.
Asked
what she was most proud of in her career, John had a quick response. “I know
she was most proud of the cosmetology students that she watched come in,” he
said. “Some of them did not have the greatest start in life, and she would take
them from there and convince them to stay in school. She would convince them
that this would work – and then she would see them owning salons and building a
business. (Some were) single mothers, and she was just very proud of all the
independent women who came out of the school and still live in Springfield and
the surrounding communities.”
