Our Story
Established in 1987, Advance Beauty College proudly serves the Orange County community and works hard to provide quality vocational education to enrich lives.
Mission
Inspire
36+ Years
Educating beauty professionals
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2 Generations
Family-owned Business
​
100+
Globally recognized for educational and philanthropic efforts
Educate
45,000+ Graduates
With the largest manicuring programs in the nation
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50%
Online-learning, combining practical and theoretical training
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6 Programs
Offering barbering, cosmetology, manicuring, esthetician and teacher training
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2 Languages
Multicultural campus offers classes in both English and Vietnamese
Give Back
30+ Million
Worth of personal protective equipment to health-care professionals and front-line workers during pandemic
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400,000+
Covid Tests
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100+ Charities
Impacting our local communities
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50+ Awards
Recognized for contributions in education, business and philanthropy
Leaders
At Advance Beauty College, the leadership team is dedicated to providing a supportive
and inspiring environment for students to grow and succeed in their chosen careers.
Linh Nguyen
President
Linh is the President of Advance Beauty College. A licensed cosmetologist, manicurist and barber for 30 years, she has taught in both public and private beauty schools throughout her career. She has participated in Nail Expert Panels alongside companies such as CND, OPI and Tammy Taylor Nails. She has also worked with the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology as a member of the Manicuring technical advisory committee. She was hired as an industry expert and assisted with translations for NIC- National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology. She has worked with publishers Pivot Point and Milady as contributor and reviewer for industry textbooks. Linh earned her BA and MBA from Cal State University, Fullerton. Linh currently serves on the Industry Advisory Committee for the Professional Beauty Federation of California, is a member of the AACS- American Association of Cosmetology Schools, and is also on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the CSUF School of Business. Not only does she love teaching students in all areas of the trade, she enjoys that she can help students in their career path.
Kate Lam
Student Services Manager
Kate began her journey with Advance Beauty College as an Admissions Coordinator, transitioning to the Student Services department and now serves as Student Services Manager. Kate has a strong background in customer service and brings 8 years of customer service experience from the cosmetic retail sector. She has a passion for helping others and a dedication to student success. Her goal is to successfully guide students as they pursue their education and career aspirations. Kate earned her bachelor's degree in history from Cal State Long Beach and attended esthetics school.
Tam Nguyen
Chairman
Tam has been a dedicated leader in business, his community and in philanthropy, for the past 25 years. As Chairman of Advance Beauty College, Tam and the team have graduated 50,000 future professionals from the school's innovative beauty program, which offers rigorous training and multilingual education in English and Vietnamese. Since 2016, Tam has been a faculty member at California State University, Fullerton, teaching business management. He is actively involved in supporting various university initiatives, including the Center for Family Business, Center for Leadership, and the Colleges of Education and Humanities and Social Sciences. Tam has also received the Cal State Fullerton Vision & Visionaries Award in 2015 and served as the current Chair of the Philanthropic Foundation Board of Governors. In the community, Tam serves on the boards of the Small Business Diversity Network, Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce, Orange County United Way, Orange County Transportation Authority, Metrolink, and Garden Grove Community Foundation. He is also a member of Garden Grove Police Department’s Chief Advisory Council. Additionally, Tam co-founded Nailing It For America, a volunteer group that contributed over 1.2 million personal protective equipment worth approximately $30 million to healthcare professionals, front-line workers, and vulnerable community members during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jill Gonzalez
Director of Education
With 15 years of experience in the beauty industry, Jill has established herself as a passionate educator, accomplished salon owner, and leader in the field of cosmetology. Currently serving as the Director of Education at Advanced Beauty College in Garden Grove, CA, she is dedicated to shaping the next generation of beauty professionals by delivering top-tier education and hands-on training. With a passion for innovation, personal growth, and creating opportunities for others, Jill continues to inspire students and clients alike, helping them to achieve their beauty goals and advance their careers in the ever-evolving world of cosmetology.
Suzette Christian
VP of Operations
With over 20 years in the beauty industry, Suzette has dedicated her career to the beauty school sector. She has worked for industry leaders such as Paul Mitchell the School and Dermalogica, where she developed the education curriculum, executed initiatives to drive school business and helped to launch Dermalogica’s first undergraduate school in New York City. Suzette spent over a decade managing Dermalogica's premier school partnership program consisting of over 450 schools, where she identified ways to elevate the beauty school industry based on program needs and market demands. In her current role, Suzette serves as a Director of Strategic Partnership with Advance Beauty College and oversees industry partnerships, educational programs and business development. Additionally, Suzette spent a decade teaching in both the private and public sectors. She has been a guest speaker at industry events and served on numerous advisory boards sharing industry insight to help schools identify educational opportunities. Suzette graduated from Villanova University with a B.A, in communications.