Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Meagan Montoya. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Meagan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.

My parents, who are both people of color, owned small businesses. My dad was a mechanic and owned an auto shop for many years and my mom, a cosmetologist, owned and operated salons and still works in one today. I watched from a young age how much hard work and dedication went into owning and operating a small business. They believed in building something and investing in themselves. They showed me that there were other paths outside of a traditional 9 to 5 that I could use my creativity and build something of my own to be proud of.

They showed me that with hard work and determination I could succeed and provide for my family while betting and investing in myself as well.

I owe my work ethic to them. I am so grateful for them showing me how to work hard and not give up when things get tough.

Meagan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Meagan Montoya. I am a license barber and owner of Ceremony Barbershop. I have been in the industry for 8 years. I attended and graduated Emily Griffith Technical Collage in the barbering program and started as an apprentice right out of school.

My apprenticeship was one of the best decisions I made going into my career. I had the chance to learn hands on with guidance and extra education when needed. I felt supported and when it was time for me to be on the floor I was confident in my growing skills and knew I had support if anything were to come up that I didn’t know how to do. It really set me up to grow and maintain a clientele.

In 2022, I made the plunge and decided to open my own small two chair barbershop, Ceremony Barbershop. It was scary but I knew it was the next step and I felt ready to take it. I found a small space in Park Hill and signed the lease. I really wanted to create an environment that everyone felt welcome in, that serviced and gave back to the community, was a reflection of me and my culture, and a place where you could hang out and get a good haircut. I offer haircuts for everyone, but short clipper cuts/fades are my specialty. I also offer beard trims and hot towel shaves.

While I really enjoy the technical side of barbering, and I have worked really hard to hone and grow my skills over the years, what I really love about what I do is the connection to people. I have had so many of my clients for years and I have watched them grow and change in many ways. I have witnessed marriages, deaths, new babies, big job changes, buying homes, happy times, and hard times in people’s lives. It’s such a privilege to be part of it in a small way. To be a positive impact in someone’s day is really special and not something I take lightly. Most of the time I feel like I get to go hang out with my friends all day which is super cool.

My space is also a reflection of me. As a woman of color, I wanted to incorporate some of my culture in the space. I didn’t want to have a shop that didn’t feel like “home” to me. So my shop has a lot of Native American and Latin decor. I also love supporting other women owned businesses and have brought in a few items such as specialty candles made in Denver by the Weathered Wick, specialty coffee blend from Copper Door Coffee which is next door to the shop, handmade beard soap from Morning Mist which is an women indigenous owned business in CA, and hand/tattoo salve from June Supply which is locally based in the Park Hill neighborhood, all women owned. I want to support as many other women entrepreneurs that I can! I 100% believe that by supporting each other is how we will all grow and meet success.

I also feel a responsibility to the neighborhood as well. So much change and gentrification has happened in our city and I know it’s inevitable. I want to ensure my presence in the neighborhood is a positive change and that I give back to the community as much as I can. Weather that’s financially by supporting a local school, donating to the community food pantry, or by simply getting to know my neighbors, listening to their stories, learning from them, and offering support and a friendship in whatever way I can

I am so proud of my little shop and what I have built. It has taken a long time and it hasn’t been easy at all. Last year was one of my hardest years in business but I made it! I am still movin’ and groovin’ and I hope to be in business for years to come.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I first opened Ceremony I had a business partner. Unfortunately, our business partnership ended last winter without warning. It was a big change not only financially but also to my day to day. So I pivoted, I made the shop my own space, I started fully being able to prioritize what was important to me when owning a business, I started learning how to hire people, I got better at social media, and really started to make changes that would be a reflection of me and how I do business.

It was really hard but I am proud of my resilience through it. Sometimes things don’t workout the way you thought they would (especially in business) and you either can quit or you can keep going. I chose to keep going and I am so glad I did! I learned so much, I grew from the situation, and I am a better business owner because of it.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think by taking the time to learn and grow in the beginning of my career really helped set me up for success. I am a perfectionist as well so I think I have that in my favor especially since my job is so detail oriented. I am open to constructive criticism, I want to deliver the best product I can every time. So if something doesn’t grow out well or I think I can make it better next time I take that, I remember it, and I apply it to my next haircut. I am not perfect but I strive to give my very best every time and I think that resonates with a lot of people and it is appreciated.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Ceremonybarber.com
• Instagram: Ceremony_barbershop

Image Credits

Erik Dean
@dean_maschine