Working in Clark County: Marty Brusco, mobile barber

When Marty Brusco was a machinist at Tektronix, she felt she should have something to fall back on when and if the time ever came when she might be laid off. Mohler Barber College was near her home, and she thought barbering sounded like fun. So fast forward 30 years, a layoff and retirement later, she cannot even estimate the number of heads she has shorn. She goes wherever the unruly hair resides: homes, adult foster care homes, retirement facilities. “I look forward to hearing my clients’ stories and talking about current events,” she said.

Name: Marty Brusco

Residence neighborhood: Edgewood Park

Employer/business name: Barber 2 Go, 360-903-0294

Age: Not too young. Not too old.

How — and when –you got started in your business: As a teenager, I worked at both Burgerville in Hazel Dell and for Frito-Lay. Later on, working for Tektronix in Beaverton and then transferring to their Vancouver plant on Highway 14, I entered a full-time program for women to learn machining. After finishing the program and obtaining a machinist job at Tek, I continued evening machine shop classes at Clark College for two years. I decided to start a career in barbering while still working at Tektronix, and I enrolled at Mohler Barber College on Fourth Plain here in Vancouver and received my license in 1986.

With Tektronix downsizing and moving some divisions back to Beaverton, I took a job at Freightliner where I worked for 28 years while continuing to work part time as a barber. In 2010, when Daimler announced that they were going to close the Freightliner plant, I started my mobile barbering business, Barber 2 Go, and worked part time at The Classic Clipper on Fridays and Saturdays. Due to a new labor contract in 2012, I retired from Daimler Trucks North America (Freightliner) and am now working as a mobile barber full time and at the The Classic Clipper part time.

Personal/business philosophy: One day at a time. One foot in front of the other.

Most rewarding part of job: The most rewarding part of my job is the time I am able to spend with my clients. I cut hair in homes, businesses, adult foster care, retirement facilities. I look forward to hearing their stories and talking about current events. Once a month, I am the volunteer barber at the Vancouver Veterans Administration and look forward to spending a day with my barber assistant, Frank Cardinaux, a retired nurse, and the many wonderful veterans and hard-working staff.

Something surprising about your work: I was surprised and saddened at how lonely some of my clients are. They just want to feel that they are still a viable part of the community and that someone cares enough to listen to them.

Best feature of my Clark County community: I love the rich history of Vancouver: The Fort, the Clark County Historical Museum, Pearson Airport, Clark County Genealogical Society and Esther Short Park along with Saturday Farmers Market and all the fun summer events.

What would make your community a better place? I would like to see tiny house communities for the homeless and lower income. Also, more dog parks.

What is your favorite travel destination and type: I love camping on the Puget Sound.

Favorite restaurant/pub/coffee shop/store: Sushi Hana is my go-to eatery. Also, any Starbucks.

Hobbies: I love to build things from recycled wood.

Most enjoyable book/play/movie/arts event in past 12 months: Downtown First Fridays or any event at Fort Vancouver.

Something you’d like to do this year/within five years: I am looking forward to continuing to build a successful mobile barbering business.

One word to describe yourself: I go with the flow. That’s one word isn’t it?

Person you’d most like to meet: Jane Goodall. I think she is an amazing person and I love her dedication to the preservation of wildlife.