Photo by Janet Cantore-Watson
Five years ago, if you had asked Josh “Grizzly” Newman where he would see himself today, he wouldn’t have said behind a barber’s chair. “Honestly, I would have told you I’d be dead or behind bars,” Newman admits. His life, once defined by addiction, run-ins with the law and time in prison, has taken an incredible turn — one shaped by hard work, second chances and a new sense of purpose.
From Rock Bottom to a Fresh Start
Newman grew up in Rhinelander, Wisc. where his teenage years spiraled into trouble. “I got expelled from high school. I was on a path that just kept getting worse,” he explains. Eventually, he ended up in prison for possession with intent to deliver meth. It was during this difficult time that Josh made a plan — a plan to change everything in his life.
While incarcerated, Newman entered an earned release program, which helped him tackle his addiction and set some goals for a better future. He needed something to focus on, something that could keep his mind and hands busy. That’s when an idea sparked to try barbering. His interest in barbering came from when he would go to the barbershop while in prison. He loved the environment in the barber shop and felt it was something he could do.
Discovering Skills and a New Passion
Upon his release, Newman enrolled in the Cosmetology program at Nicolet College (Wis.), where he met SkillsUSA advisor and Cosmetology instructor Marie Stott. “Barbering just clicked for me. I realized I could use it as a way to connect with people,” he says. His instructors and classmates quickly noticed his dedication, and they encouraged him to share his story and inspire others.
Newman didn’t stop at just learning how to cut hair — he wanted to test his skills on a larger stage. That’s when he learned about the upcoming SkillsUSA career competitions that would showcase the very best in technical skills. Competing in Barbering gave Josh a platform to prove to himself, and to show others that he had found his purpose. “I never thought something like this was even possible for me,” Newman says, reflecting on his SkillsUSA experience. The competition pushed him to improve his techniques and work under pressure. He also practiced networking with the other talented competitors at the state competition and then later at nationals. “It wasn’t just about cutting hair — it was about showing that I was good at something and that I could be somebody.”
“It was such an honor to compete in the SkillsUSA Championships in 2023. It was the first big achievement of my entire life and it was also my first time flying on an airplane when we went to Atlanta. I loved the experience and being able to connect with other barbers from around the country,” explains Newman. “The fact that I got seventh place in the nation was mind-boggling and it opened up so many doors. I was able to meet industry experts who I had seen working in videos back when I was waiting to get into school.
Building “Cutz with Connection”
After completing the Cosmetology program, Newman began working at Fantastic Sams in Rhinelander, building a loyal clientele. “I love making people happy and feeling confident in themselves with a great haircut and being able to retain clientele who want to come back to see me plus building good relationships in my community. Over the past two years he also developed his own business, Cutz with Connection, where he combines traditional barbering with heartfelt conversations.
“SkillsUSA prepared me for a future that I didn’t know that I could have,” says Newman. “I now give presentations in front of student assemblies. I can give a haircut in front of large audience while telling my life story of how I went from being an inmate to a college student to a successful business owner. I think having that pressure at SkillsUSA competitions really helped me be able to perform and connect with all walks of life. Today, I view every haircut as a chance to share my story,” Newman says.
Recently, Newman took the next step toward his dream. With the support of Mandi Mahler, the owner of Muse Salon, he has started renting space to grow Cutz with Connection into a full-fledged barber shop.
“I feel like I finally have a purpose,” Newman says with pride. “It’s about connecting with people and helping them believe they can change, just like I did.”
Newman is fortunate to have many people rooting for him. “My SkillsUSA advisor, Marie Stott, at Nicolet College helped me on so many levels while I was in school, and she still does to this day. She was patient with me while preparing for the SkillsUSA competitions and during my whole college experience. She was very open to my story and how I wanted to implement it into my career. She was always paving the way and guiding me. I have a lot of respect for her and I am still very close with her,” Newman says.
Inspiring Others That It’s Never Too Late
Newman now celebrates his many milestones instead of setbacks. He recently marked two years of sobriety and on Dec. 24, 2024 he was off probation for the first time in eight years. He credits his ongoing success to the support of his community, his commitment to change his life and opportunities like SkillsUSA, which pushed him but allowed him to grow.
Stott could not agree more. “I appreciate the opportunity that SkillsUSA offers all my students. Josh openly shared his experiences with me and his hope for change. Entering college and an environment that was both unfamiliar and uncomfortable, his transformation began. Josh challenged himself daily and with hard work and determination he grew his talent,” says Stott. “Josh attended classes ready to make a new life.”
She remembers that “the state competition was way outside of Josh’s comfort zone and the idea of getting on a plane and traveling to Atlanta for nationals was over the top for him. But the SkillsUSA competition experiences proved to him that he was talented, capable and ready to achieve his dreams. Today, Josh’s focus is not only on his own success but the success of others. He shares his experiences — both the ugly truth and his bright future — with people who have faced the same challenges he experienced. He now has the confidence to connect with individuals who others may give up on and prove to them that better days are in front of them. As his instructor, I could not be prouder of the man Josh is today,” Stott says.
Today, Newman shakes hands with each of his clients and freely shares his story. “If I can inspire just one person to get back up when they’ve fallen too many times, then I’ve done my job.” You can find Newman at Muse Salon on Lincoln Street in Rhinelander, Wis. where he’s not just giving haircuts — he’s changing lives, one connection at a time — including his own. He was recently named a finalist by the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce for the 2024 Entrepreneurial Achievement Award, given to those who have developed a local business that has a positive impact on the community.
Newman’s advice to other students is simple but incredibly powerful: “It’s never too late to find your passion. Whether it’s SkillsUSA or something else, you’ve got to find something you’re willing to work really hard for.”
On the Web
• NBC 12 TV Interview with Josh Newman and SkillsUSA advisor Marie Stott.
• Nicolet College story published about Josh Newman.
• Visit Josh Newman’s Cutz with Connection website.
