In 1993 at the age of 14, Rory picked up his first set of clippers, cutting hair for his friends and family in his New Jersey neighborhood. At the age of 17, he shipped off to the US Navy where he gained more experience barbering during his time off. In 2004, he used his GI Bill to attend Parisian Beauty Academy as a Paul Mitchel Future Professional. After his first month, he entered and won BEACON. This was a turning point in his life, changing him forever as he realized that he was the only barber selected. Meeting industry icons like John Paul Dejoria, Winn Claybaugh, Vidal Sassoon, and many others opened his eyes to the power of the beauty industry for the first time. In 2006, he relocated to Virginia and became a learning leader at Paul Mitchell The School (PMTS) Tysons Corner. He grew as an educator working backstage at events like Caper and Signature Gathering. In 2010, he became the director of a Paul Mitchell focus salon, learning the business behind the art of hair dressing and continuing to grow in the industry by working on editorial shoots, fashion shows, and platform events. In 2012, Rory’s role changed by coming back to the PMTS world developing his skills in sales and operations. In 2013, he became a member of Paul Mitchell’s Advanced Academy Men’s Cutting Team, focusing on bringing a barber’s attention to detail to the salon world. Annual “FunRaising” and Caper events became his focus to help inspire the future generation of hair dressers all over the world.