As the founder of The Powder Group, On Makeup Magazine, and The Makeup Show, Michael DeVellis has the inside track on what it takes to make it big in the makeup artist industry. His more than 18 years of experience working with hundreds of top artists, product lines, artist agencies, trade events, productions, and publications make him uniquely qualified to share an insider’s perspective on the career of professional makeup artistry.
He has worked on the development of programs and educated for such iconic industry beauty businesses as P&G, Kerastase Paris, Shu Uemura Art of Hair and Lancome Paris. He also served ten years with MAC Cosmetics where he held multiple executive roles working directly with the pro makeup industry including the position of Executive Director, Artist Relations where he created and launched the MAC PRO line and retail concept. He recently held the position of Vice President of the Professional Division at MAKE UP FOR EVER where he and his team oversaw the brand’s professional development in the Americas including the development of the Backstage Card program, Pro Road Show, Pro Social and Pro Artist event programs.
His company, The Powder Group — an education and event production company based in New York City — launched in 2003 and since has produced educational programs and events in more than 20 cities around the U.S. and Canada including The American Beauty Tour, Makeup 101, Ten Words, The Artist Summit and Evolution- featuring over 100 of the industry’s top makeup educators. Michael has also been a guest speaker at the industry’s top tradeshows including International Beauty Show NYC, Color Mundo Montreal, Pro Beauty U.K, America’s Beauty Show and The Makeup Show events in Berlin, Chicago, Los Angeles, NYC.
Dr. Nancy Rahnama is double board certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Rahnama has helped thousands of people achieve their goals of weight loss, gut health, improved mood and sleep, and managing chronic disease. Her specialty is Clinical Nutrition, that is, the use of nutrition by a medical doctor to diagnose and treat disease. Through this practice she helps people achieve wellness with simple changes in their diet and daily routines. Dr. Rahnama’s professional story began with a first class medical education in Los Angeles. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Physiology at UCLA and her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Keck School at USC. After a residency in Internal Medicine at Cedars Sinai Hospital, she completed the prestigious Fellowship in Clinical Nutrition at the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition.
There she performed clinical trials on weight control methods illustrating the physiological changes in the body with different foods. Her vision of creating a practice that revolved around patient individuality and specific needs became “Dr Nancy.” She created a practice that focuses on taking care of the patient as a whole, evaluating and considering every aspect of the mind, body and soul. Today, in addition to her medical practice in Beverly Hills, Dr. Rahnama aims to bring her solutions to every household in North America.
The Dr Nancy MD line of dietary supplements enables Dr. Rahnama to bring her successful and innovative approach to health to a wider audience. Dr. Rahnama, serves as the Medical Director of her clinic, Dr Nancy, and as the Director of Nutrition at Dr Nancy MD. Dr. Rahnama draws on her extensive body of knowledge and experience for every product she develops for Dr Nancy MD. Combining her clinical experience with evidence-based research has enabled her to build a robust collection of targeted, solution-oriented products. Her unique approach to wellness combines science and nutrition in a way that is convenient and accessible.
Mr. Pierre Jean Messier is the Executive Chairman of I3 BioMedical and TrioMed Innovations Europe. Founder and CEO of Triosyn Corp. , he also served as Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Safe Life Corp. U.S.A. He has devoted his career as a researcher and product development specialist in the biomedical, microbiology and hemo-dialysis fields for the last three decades, with a focus on infectious disease transmission and remediation.
His experience includes Scientific Principal Investigator and Chief Researcher for the Canadian Department of Defense (Medical Research) and the United States of America Department of Defense for over 14 years, principally in research and development for blood decontamination, advance wound care and Aeromicrobiology. An international presenter invited to the National academy of science (USA), The Pasteur Institute (France), The Kitazato Institute (Japan) to name a few. Mr. Messier has also been a lead scientist for the Chemical and Biological Defense Information Analysis Center (CBIAC) for the US government, including presentations to the US Senate and the White House. Biotechnologist by training, educated both in Europe and America. Mr. Messier was Lecturer at Mc Gill University in the post-graduate Biotechnology program.
He is the author of more than 300 U.S. and International scientific patents including theTrioMed Active Technology , and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. (RSA)
Gregory’s talent, enthusiasm and passion for teaching have brought him to the hair styling spotlight. Shortly after relocating to New York, Gregory quickly became one of the most sought after stylists in New York City.
Gregory has worked the runway at New York fashion week having keyed the looks for Project Runway Seasons 14 & 15, and is now a celebrity consultant for Sally Beauty and FHI Heat. His talents have landed him on TV serving as lead stylist for Lifetime TV’s shows “Under the Gunn”, (2015 Lifetime TV) “Project Runway” Seasons 14 & 15 (2016-2017 Lifetime TV),”The Look Allstars (2018 CW Network), The Rachel Ray Show “Ambush Makeovers – Holiday Edition” (Dec 2019) QVC, Home Shopping Network (HSN), The Shopping Channel (TSC) Canada, and Infomercials both national and internationally as a Celebrity Hair Stylist and Beauty Expert.
He has been featured in numerous lifestyle magazines as a Celebrity Hairstylist contributor including: Glamour, Shape, W, WWD, Harpers Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, In Style, Vogue, Elle, Refinery 29, Martha Stewart, Allure, Modern Salon, AMERICAN Salon, People, and Us Weekly. Allure Magazine featured Gregory as “Best Blow Dry Stylist” and “Ones to Watch” (2015) in the “Best of Beauty Directory”.
His passion for education has launched him into a Global Educator and Platform Artist role. This has allowed him to share his knowledge and passion as an educator all over the globe including: Scandinavia, Dubai, Thailand, South Africa, and Asia.
His Celebrity Clientele includes: Macklemore, Ed Norton, Lucky Blue Smith, Britney Spears, Ellen Pompeo, Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, Zara Larrson, and Keri Washington, to name a few.
2x Emmy Award Winning Hairstylist & Entrepreneur
Kiyah Wright is a 2X Emmy Award-Winning Celebrity Hairstylist & Image Maker with over two decades of hair care experience and knowledge. In a career that started with doing hair in her grandmother’s basement, Kiyah Wright parlayed her talent and business savvy to become not only one of Hollywood’s most in-demand celebrity hairstylists, but also a successful beauty expert and entrepreneur.
Her penchant for innovative beauty solutions has raised the bar in the industry as proven by her jaw-dropping and highly renowned beauty transformations on stars such as Ciara, Halsey, Tyra Banks, Laverne Cox, Gabrielle Union, Jennifer Hudson, Jada Pinkett Smith, Taraji P. Henson and more. For her work on The Tyra Banks Show, she became the first African American to earn an Emmy Award for hairstyling and the only one to win two – back to back!
Her work has graced the covers and pages of Glamour, Elle, Vanity Fair, G.Q., InStyle, Billboard, Redbook, Essence, Ebony, and Vogue. Kiyah has served as a Brand Ambassador for Proctor & Gamble hair care lines Clairol Professional and Head & Shoulders. As a highly sought after Beauty and Style trendsetter, Kiyah is constantly working towards her ultimate goal of becoming the Paul Mitchell of Textured Hair Care.
The entrepreneur’s MUZE HAIR offers a collection of premium custom wigs, extensions, and products trusted by Hollywood’s hottest celebrities. She has since expanded the successful line to include wigs and extensions, bringing awareness and Instant Beauty Solutions to women across the globe.
Ashley Galang is a registered nurse with a combined fourteen years of experience at St. Michael’s hospital with specialties in critical care and internal medicine. Most recently, she has been working on a designated COVID-19 unit where she facilitates transitions of patients from acute care to the community.
Ashley is a certified safety coach and has six years of on-set experience in fashion and wardrobe styling in both commercial and editorial work.
Ashley is working as an on-set safety coach for clients who are looking for hands-on advice and help to get back to work safely. These clients include Joe Fresh, Nivea, MOB Beauty (Rodeo Productions), Jenny Bird, Starbucks, Pantene (Corus Entertainment), Audible, Universal, Armstrong Cheese (Corus Entertainment), Pampers, and ET Canada.
Donald Mowat’s credits include 8 Mile, The Fighter, Prisoners, Skyfall, Nightcrawler, Sicario, Nocturnal Animals, Bladerunner 2049,First Man and the highly anticipated Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune as hair,makeup and prosthetics designer/head of dept..
He is an education and membership committee member for BAFTA LA and volunteers for many professional development events for BFI x BAFTA UK. Donald is a past member of The Board of Directors of the Actors’ Fund of Canada (AFC from 2008-20014) and Board Member representing the Art Department Branch of The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (2007-2011) where his leadership led to the creation of an annual make up award category . He is an active member of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS invited 1999) and serves on the Make-up and Hair Branch Executive Committee as well as a longtime member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and IATSE locals 706 LA and 798 New York.
Dr. Richard Fischer is a passionate leader with an unbeatable track record in international medical device businesses. As a trained General Surgeon, he quickly moved into corporate executive roles in the medical device space 19 years ago to help treat patients with innovative products.
Throughout his career Dr. Richard Fischer has developed a great reputation in building highly profitable companies in the global medical device arena and has raised substantial amounts of funds from VC’s and private investors.
He has successfully implemented international valuable growth strategies for multiple international medical device companies and repedatly established subsidiaries in both US and EU markets. His visionary approach to achieve sales & revenue and his honest passion to constantly rethink business models makes him the perfect fit to lead international active medical device companies.
Fiona Stiles brings a fresh, instinctive approach to creating beautiful faces for publications and global media outlets across the fashion and entertainment industries. Some of the world’s most recognizable faces trust her implicitly, as do a roster of internationally-celebrated photographers and directors.Fiona developed her creative talent early as a photography student at the Rhode Island School of Design. Since transferring her refined aesthetic eye to makeup artistry, she has built a distinguished, decades-long career comprised of collaborations with renowned photographers, fashion and commercial brands, top fashion magazines, and celebrities. Fiona’s approach relies on a matrix of colorful inspiration and masterful technique. Her work is characterized by her emphasis on natural skin and show-stopping eyes and lips. In 2016, Stiles launched a 120-piece color collection called Fiona Stiles Beauty for Ulta.
Fiona is an Emmy nominated makeup artist and a regular insider for top Hollywood talent including Jennifer Garner, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natalie Portman, Jessica Chastain, Elizabeth Banks, and Gabrielle Union. She has worked with hundreds of entertainment, music and fashion icons, and regularly creates looks for leading brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Levis, Calvin Klein, Gap, L’Oréal, Ralph Lauren, and Revlon. Fiona is revered by some of the world’s top photographers including Cliff Watts, Yu Tsai, Kenneth Willardt, David Bellemere, Paola Kudacki, and Ben Watts and has been published in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, W, InStyle and Vanity Fair. Fiona lives in Los Angeles.
Global Beauty Authority
Author
Luis Casco is a well-known beauty expert and make-up artist with over twenty years of experience in the industry. He has been lead makeup artist for award shows and other high-end events, including the Primetime and Daytime Emmys. Luis has led makeup teams for some of the top Fashion Weeks in the world, including New York, Moscow, and Paris and has also worked with leading celebrities, photographers, and fashion designers.
In addition, Luis boasts a robust history of television presence. He has been featured as a beauty expert on The Tyra Banks Show, Home & Family, Good Morning America, and CNN among others. For four years, he also served as the lead on-camera Makeup Artist for the hit TV show Project Runway and Project Runway All Stars, with an average viewership of 2+ million people per episode. Luis’ proficiency in Spanish has also allowed for appearances on Mexico’s Next Top Model, and Univision’s La Reina de la Canción, where he served as beauty consultant.
His editorial work has been featured in a wide range of publications, such as Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Vogue, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan and Glamour. Luis has also worked with various celebrities including Cameron Diaz, Heidi Klum, Jaime King, Milla Jovovich, Kristen Bell, Charlize Theron, Christy Turlington, Kylie and Dannii Minogue, Paula Abdul, Helen Mirren, Blythe Danner and Tina Fey; and Supermodels such as Coco Rocha, Christy Turlington, Kathy Ireland and Karolina Kurkova.
In 2015, Luis published a bestselling book titled #beautiful “50 Easy-to- create selfie- looks” to wide acclaim. The book has been published in three languages and received media coverage by The New York Times, Allure, and Vogue. His second book, #beautyunfiltered, was released in 2019 to rousing success.
Born in El Salvador as a diplomat’s son, Luis emigrated to the United States at the age of fifteen after his family had to flee their country due to a civil war. Despite a privileged childhood, he arrived in the US with next to nothing and experienced many hardships. Soon, however, his passion for beauty and fashion would lead him down a successful career path, becoming a self-made expert. He returned to his country of birth in 2012, when he accepted an award for his trajectory and was featured in the book The 100 Most Successful Salvadorans in the World.
Luis is active on social media and has become a key influencer in the fashion world. His account, @luiscascomakeup, has amassed tens of thousands of followers across all platforms.
A gifted speaker who loves transmitting the passion for what he does, Luis frequently travels around the world to offer his motivational beauty expertise. He has engaged in a range of speaking tours around the world and has spoken at major beauty trade shows, where thousands of people have listened to him offer makeup tips and discuss fashion trends.
Luis has been a representative for multiple cosmetics brands, including Mass, Professional, and Prestige. His consultancies and brand ambassadorships are highly sought after in the industry.
Luis is passionate about his work. He loves makeup, beauty and helping others follow their dreams. While not traveling, he divides his time between Los Angeles and New York City.
Entrepreneur, Makeup Artist. Beauty Therapist, Motivational Speaker, TV Host
With over 25 years of experience under his belt, Dr. Randal Haworth continues to push boundaries in plastic surgery. Originally, he graduated with top honors from USC Medical School and after serving a 5-year general surgical residency at Cornell, Dr. Haworth completed his plastic surgical fellowship at UCLA before opening his Beverly Hills practice in 1995.
Within two years Dr. Haworth became regularly featured in the media and included in “best of“ lists for his lip, nose and facial work. Soon he was recognized for hyperaesthetic surgery through his ability to create beautiful results which were simultaneously striking yet natural. This unique skill was clearly evident from his incredible surgical transformations he performed on Fox’s hit TV show, “The Swan“.
As a world thought leader, innovator and author, Dr. Haworth has defined the field of modern lip lifting and reshaping surgery. By inventing and perfecting different types of lip lifts and highlighting how our chin and mouth interact, he has shifted the way we think about facial aging itself.
Aside from plastic surgical pursuits, Dr. Haworth has founded NightLift®, a revolutionary bra and lingerie line incorporating his double patented wire-free support system B.U.S.T., shown to slow the effects of breast sagging and aging.
Dr. Haworth likes to paint. His last solo gallery show featured figurative photorealism upon flattened abstracted backdrops which was described as “anti-pop surrealism”.
He is planning another gallery in 2021.
Julie Socash who was born in Euclid Ohio makes her home in Shadow Hills located in Los Angeles County. Currently she is President of Local 706 the Make-up artists and hairstylists Union IATSE. Her career began after graduating from The Institute of Studio makeup working on low budget horror films and helping in the lab and has grown to cover a spectrum of projects. She has worked on productions from low to high budget features, episodic and reality TV, New Media and commercials. She has had a myriad of roles from Department head, key, day checker, and all positions in between.
Julie Socash has been involved with Local 706 for several years. She served 3 terms as an executive board member, 2 terms as Vice-President before taking the Position as President in January of 2019.
Julie graduated from CSULB with a degree in Radio, TV, and Film with an emphasis on Speech communications. She has also received a Juris Doctorate degree from Abraham Lincoln University. She has been a member of the Screen Actors Guild since 1985 starting as a child actress in theater and commercials as well as an announcer for some amateur sporting events.
As an animal lover Julie spent many years as a volunteer for the dog rescue organization H.A.R.T. (Humane Animal Rescue Team).
During her career as a makeup artist Julie has been fortunate to receive recognition for her work on a variety of projects including garnering an Emmy for the Television show X-Files.
She has also received Emmy nominations, for the Miniseries Revelations, Grease Live, Hairspray Live, Rent Live, Mermaid Live and several for ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.
Additionally, she has received 2 makeup guild awards for the television show American Dreams. A makeup guild nomination for Grease Live, DWTS and an International Short award for the film “Last Writes”.
Executive Director & Co-Founder, Grid 110
Miki Reynolds is the Executive Director and Co-founder of Grid110, a non-profit organization building a diverse community of startups and entrepreneurs in Los Angeles through access to free (no cost/no equity) accelerator programs, mentorship, and other critical resources. Grid110’s mission is to foster the most thriving, inviting & inclusive community for entrepreneurs in LA.
She has 15 years of experience working in tech, ranging from digital marketing and creative services to software development and e-commerce. After managing digital projects at global entertainment corporations like MGM Studios and 20th Century Fox, and heading up operations/product for a software development startup, she launched the Downtown LA location for tech education company General Assembly.
Miki has accepted commendations from Mayor Eric Garcetti on behalf of General Assembly and Grid110, has been recognized by LA Biz Journal as a Woman of Influence, was named to Techweek’s #Techweek100 and sits on advisory councils for two of the Mayor’s diversity inclusion initiatives: PledgeLA and WiSTEM LA.
David is an accomplished retail leader specialized in directing sales, customer service and training as well as optimizing operations for multiple retail stores. He has built new concepts for elevating the consumer experience, sales initiatives, promotions, events and customer acquisition. Promoting and fostering an inclusive environment is always top of mind for David and he firmly believes that beauty is ALL of us!
Aja Bradley Kemp is a marketer and experiential event designer who has spent over 20 years growing consumer, lifestyle, and tech brands in the United States and international markets including Expedia, MAC Cosmetics, Sunglass Hut, and Reebok. A natural connector, she loves bringing people together and is fueled by the impact technology has on the way we interact socially.
Aja founded Conversate Collective, a brand experience agency, to help businesses develop lasting relationships with their audience through the power of shared experiences. The enjoyment she gets from bringing people together coupled with her personal mission to get the perfect curl, led her to create Love My Curls Festival, the first beauty event celebrating women in Australia & New Zealand with curly and textured hair.
Deborah Marquardt is an award-winning marketing leader for global companies and high-growth startups. She is an expert at building and repositioning brands to drive awareness, preference and marketshare. Whether leading creative development, media investment and content strategy, or managing strategic partnerships and business development, she connects the dots to tell a bigger story that fuels sell-in and sell-thru.
Her experience spans beauty, luxury and media: iconic L’Oreal and P&G beauty brands including Maybelline, Garnier, essie, Cover Girl and Wella; the Diamond Producers Association where she led category marketing for the ultimate luxury product; popular Time Inc beauty/fashion titles InStyle and People StyleWatch; and top PR and media agencies at Publicis and Interpublic. A content creator at heart, she got her start as a reporter and editor at Bloomberg BNA.
Deborah has a knack for building brands that are distinct and differentiated – that show up on the screens and in the environments that matter to their audiences and add value. Throughout her experience are projects that leverage digital innovation, high-profile partners and trending culture to engage with consumers via unique experiences, organic integrations and native content. She’s been quoted extensively about signature brand initiatives in The New York Times, LuxuryDaily, Adweek, Forbes, Digiday and MarieClaire, among others; and is a published writer on trends in beauty and luxury products.
In 2017, LuxuryDaily named Deborah a Luxury Woman to Watch and she was recognized as The Delaney Report’s Corporate Media Executive of the Year (2013), and an AdAge Media Maven (2012). She speaks frequently on content strategy and marketing to women and consumers < 40 at conferences including the Cannes Festival of Media, Internet Week and Cosmoprof. Active in industry organizations that support the next generation of female talent, including Cosmetic Executive Women, She Runs It, and StepUp Women’s Network (Board), Deborah also serves on the Advisory Board of Izzy, a luxury, zero-waste DTC beauty company. A French speaker and a GIA-certified diamond expert, she loves to travel and is happiest with her family – in, on or near the water.
Dinesh, Founder and CEO of ThinkLite, is an industry expert and serial entrepreneur in the electronics and optics industries. ThinkLite is currently present in 14 countries worldwide, owns several patents, and works with Fortune 500 companies, townships and enterprises across the globe. Dinesh works with his close-knit team of engineers to create “high value add” lighting solutions that solve larger problems beyond efficiency. Examples include pharmaceuticals, agriculture, poultry, data centers, general health and most recently, a technology solution that is able to track the levels of pathogens in the air in indoor public areas and facilities, including COVID-19, amongst other viruses; so that they can be addressed, and managed effectively to maximize safety in a facility.
Dinesh won Inc. Magazine’s 2015 top under 30 Entrepreneur of the Year, has been recognized as a “Top 50 Power Influencer in Massachusetts, 2018” by Worcester and Boston Business Journal, and has been recognized by the White House as being part of the top young entrepreneurs in the country, creating high impact and employment in the USA.
He is a vegetarian and passionate activist for environmentally friendly technology and healthy lifestyle.
A professional makeup artist for over 15 years, Mary has always erred on the side of science when it comes to how she works on set. When assisting at the beginning of her career, she realized that there was a huge spectrum of sanitation levels observed through the industry, and a close friend in medical school made sure she was well informed on the various ways makeup could spread diseases. This led to an extreme caution regarding sanitation throughout her entire career. She has worked all over the world, and is an artist who understands many environments and situations. Her client list includes Neiman Marcus, Badgley Mischka, Saks Fifth Avenue, Ralph Lauren, and Viseart. Editorial work has included Elle Argentina and Malaysia, Schön, and Vogue Germany.
Specializing in character prosthetics, animatronics, creatures, and replica animals, Howard has over 800 feature film and television credits that span four decades.
Over the course of Howard’s illustrious career, he has worked on such projects as KILL BILL 1 & 2, OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL, LONE SURVIVOR, BREAKING BAD, THE GREEN MILE, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN to name a few.
In recognition for his work on THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE Howard won the Academy Award for Best Make-up as well as a British Academy Award for Best Achievement in Make-up. In 2012 Howard was yet again nominated for an Academy Award for his work designing and creating the portrait makeup for Sir Anthony Hopkins for the FOX Searchlight feature HITCHCOCK.
In 1988 Howard Co-founded KNB EFX Group, Inc. For the past 32 years KNB has garnered the reputation as the most prolific Special Effects Make-up studio in Hollywood. KNB has been Recognized by such organizations as The Hollywood Film Festival, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, as well as receiving numerous Emmy wins. Collaborating with the most sought-after artists in the business, KNB’s work continues to provide filmmakers with the most ingenious and creative make-up effects to date. Their 20,000 square foot state of the art facility located in Chatsworth, California, is the base of operations for film & television production all over the world.
For the past 9 years Howard has served as Makeup Department Head on countless films such as THE GAMBLER starring Mark Wahlberg and John Goodman, TED 2 for Seth MacFarlane, DEEPWATER HORIZON and PATRIOTS DAY for director Peter Berg, Seth MacFarlane’s Sci-Fi series THE ORVILLE and recently SPACE JAM A NEW LEGACY staring Lebron James
Howard is currently a Governor for the Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Branch for the Academy of Motion Pictures and resides in Sherman Oaks, CA with his artist wife, Mirjam.
Marissa Alfe is a marketing and media specialist with 10 years of public relations expertise in branding and a passion for beauty. She has since become an agent for top makeup artists and beauty influencers alike including Ariel Tejada , Amrezy and Patrick Ta. With a backbone of traditional agency management and success in high level partnerships she has developed a new management company entitled PRTNRS .
Set to specialize in brand and artist development with a unique edge.
A Los Angeles native and professional make-up artist and educator with 30 years of experience, Paul serves as Make-up Designory’s director of education and manages global education at nearly 100 campuses worldwide. He developed the curricula, lesson materials, assessments, and training programs for MUD, including the Studio and Partner School programs and directly oversees educational operations at MUD’s Los Angeles and New York campuses. During his make-up career, Paul founded a make-up effects company specializing in television, commercial, and theme-park projects. One project resulted in the creation of the very first silicone bodysuit for an NBC mini-series. He has created numerous make-up effects for commercials, episodic TV shows, and feature films, as well as supervising film and television projects for MUD/FX Group. Over the course of his career, he has worked with many prominent actors, musicians, and entertainment personalities. Paul has held several educational specialist positions during his career, including UCLA extension, and served as director of education for another LA-area school. In addition to lecturing all over the world for major cosmetic companies, Paul manages MUD’s publishing endeavors and authored the first & second edition of MUD’s make-up textbook Character Makeup.
Nikki Lee and Riawna Capri are the co-owners of LA’s premiere, trendsetting salon located in West Hollywood, Nine Zero One Salon. Nikki and Riawna first began their journey at Fred Segal Beauty in Santa Monica, California. It was here that they met and quickly became best friends; the beginning of a steadfast partnership that continues today. Nikki and Riawna credit much of their success to respecting each other’s opinion and differing perspectives, “We couldn’t do what we do without each other.”
They opened Nine Zero One Salon together in 2009. It was important that they create a space where the client experience is always the highest priority, “We believe people go to salons to look a certain way. People go to Nine Zero One to feel a certain way. We take pride in making sure every client who walks into Nine Zero One feels comfortable; everyone is treated like an A-list celebrity.”
Speaking of A-list celebrities, Nikki and Riawna have also gone on to work with some of the most influential “it girls.” They count Selena Gomez, Emma Roberts, Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, Kate Hudson, Lea Michele, Julianne Hough, Nina Dobrev, Megan Rapinoe, Ruby Rose etc. as loyal clientele.
In late 2018, Nikki and Riawna launched In Common Beauty with Luxury Brand Partners. Nikki and Riawna have always believed healthy hair is beautiful hair. For this reason, they wanted a treatment line that was inclusive of all hair types and textures. In Common is dedicated to providing exactly that: universal products that can be tailored to individual hair needs. In Common products have won various accolades including: Refinery29’s Beauty Innovator Awards, Glamour Beauty Awards and NewBeauty Awards.
Nikki and Riawna are so much more than just “trendy hairstylists” and have grown to be quite the serial, female entrepreneurs with multiple businesses that have grown to include: Raindrops, 901 Academy, Beauty Coach, and BeYOUtiful foundation.
Raindrops, which features a shower filtration system, was developed to ensure the healthiest hair for everyone. This shower head filter helps rid hard water and harsh minerals which can damage color and/or create dry hair leaving hair softer and shinier.
Nikki and Riawna have always believed that ongoing education is key, and more importantly, the need to share and learn from one another. This belief inspired the creation of 901 Academy, dedicated to providing in-person classes for licensed, professional hairstylists, and Beauty Coach TV, an online platform for sharing Nine Zero One’s tips, tricks, trends, tutorials and teachings with other leaders in the industry.
And perhaps closest to the girls’ hearts is their most recent venture: the BeYOUtiful Foundation. This 501(c)3 was designed to provide hope, love and a path to feeling BeYOUtiful; created for women of all ages defying the odds against cancer and their loss of hair or battle with hair regrowth.
Some fun facts about each of them:
Nikki is a mama of 2 beautiful young children, Parker and Dylan. Her favorite meal is Taco Bell.
Riawna is a fur baby mama to Jazzy Fey (which she named a hair color after) and Kai. She also enjoys hosting the best Sunday Fundays at her house.
Nikki Lee and Riawna Capri are the co-owners of LA’s premiere, trendsetting salon located in West Hollywood, Nine Zero One Salon. Nikki and Riawna first began their journey at Fred Segal Beauty in Santa Monica, California. It was here that they met and quickly became best friends; the beginning of a steadfast partnership that continues today. Nikki and Riawna credit much of their success to respecting each other’s opinion and differing perspectives, “We couldn’t do what we do without each other.”
They opened Nine Zero One Salon together in 2009. It was important that they create a space where the client experience is always the highest priority, “We believe people go to salons to look a certain way. People go to Nine Zero One to feel a certain way. We take pride in making sure every client who walks into Nine Zero One feels comfortable; everyone is treated like an A-list celebrity.”
Speaking of A-list celebrities, Nikki and Riawna have also gone on to work with some of the most influential “it girls.” They count Selena Gomez, Emma Roberts, Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, Kate Hudson, Lea Michele, Julianne Hough, Nina Dobrev, Megan Rapinoe, Ruby Rose etc. as loyal clientele.
In late 2018, Nikki and Riawna launched In Common Beauty with Luxury Brand Partners. Nikki and Riawna have always believed healthy hair is beautiful hair. For this reason, they wanted a treatment line that was inclusive of all hair types and textures. In Common is dedicated to providing exactly that: universal products that can be tailored to individual hair needs. In Common products have won various accolades including: Refinery29’s Beauty Innovator Awards, Glamour Beauty Awards and NewBeauty Awards.
Nikki and Riawna are so much more than just “trendy hairstylists” and have grown to be quite the serial, female entrepreneurs with multiple businesses that have grown to include: Raindrops, 901 Academy, Beauty Coach, and BeYOUtiful foundation.
Raindrops, which features a shower filtration system, was developed to ensure the healthiest hair for everyone. This shower head filter helps rid hard water and harsh minerals which can damage color and/or create dry hair leaving hair softer and shinier.
Nikki and Riawna have always believed that ongoing education is key, and more importantly, the need to share and learn from one another. This belief inspired the creation of 901 Academy, dedicated to providing in-person classes for licensed, professional hairstylists, and Beauty Coach TV, an online platform for sharing Nine Zero One’s tips, tricks, trends, tutorials and teachings with other leaders in the industry.
And perhaps closest to the girls’ hearts is their most recent venture: the BeYOUtiful Foundation. This 501(c)3 was designed to provide hope, love and a path to feeling BeYOUtiful; created for women of all ages defying the odds against cancer and their loss of hair or battle with hair regrowth.
Some fun facts about each of them:
Nikki is a mama of 2 beautiful young children, Parker and Dylan. Her favorite meal is Taco Bell.
Riawna is a fur baby mama to Jazzy Fey (which she named a hair color after) and Kai. She also enjoys hosting the best Sunday Fundays at her house.
Stacey Morris, who does business under the pseudonym Stacey Kutz, is often times referred to as the “Stylist to the Stars”.
Stacey spent most of her early youth in New York City, where she was born. As a child, she lived an eventful and colorful life. The energies surrounding her then molded the path to her present career and position as a Barber-Stylist. For the last thirty plus years, Stacey has been an established Barber-Stylist based in Los Angeles, and caters to the demands of high profile clientele that span across Music, Sports, Television and Film industries worldwide.
Her current status, although requiring considerable effort at times, has been extraordinarily exciting and rewarding.
Growing up, her interests were shaped by her immediate surroundings. Her maternal grandfather was a barber for more than sixty-seven years. He blazed a trail at the age of seventeen; opening the first barbershop to be both owned and operated by an African American in Gordon heights, Long island. In addition, her mother, was a successful model and fashion designer.
Stacey was directly exposed to the extravagant world of high fashion. On her father’s side, her grandfather, was a tailor, ironically “cutting” his way through life. Her late biological father was a progressive music producer/songwriter of many familiar song productions, and her stepfather, from her mother’s early second marriage, was a record company executive at RCA, Solar and Warner Brothers records. All if these factors quickly acquainted Stacey with being in the company of A-list celebrities and instilled in her a natural eye for style.
Stacey’s process of discovery involved happy accidents and experimentation while cutting her brothers hair. These experiences revealed that the young Stacey had an irrefutable talent. Her art quickly blossomed as requests from many of the celebrities who frequented her household poured in. Soon, Stacey’s barbering skills had an unparalleled reputation. The result of an interrelated equation. Stacey became the personal barber for familiar names like Kid-n-Play, Teddy Riley and Guy, New Edition, Doug E Fresh, Kwame, Mike Tyson, Martin Lawrence and Will Smith. These professional relationships mushroomed into an even greater demand for her services. Stacey soon became the barber for A-list clientele such as Heavy D, Puffy, Sean and Marlon Wayans, Jamie Foxx, Riddick Bowe, The Rock, Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade.
Stacey’s demand and career continued to grow.
Stacey is a Guild Award & two time Emmy Award nominated stylist who is currently, the personal Barber-Stylist for Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, Anthony Anderson, Brian White, Columbus Short, Brandon T. Jackson, Alfonso Ribeiro, Derek Luke, Anthony Mackie and many more.
She is also the barber-stylist for productions including, but not limited to, Americas Funniest Videos, Black-ish, and The Voice. Stacey Kutz is the inspirational linchpin amongst her circle of preferred barbers and peers in the industry. Yet, even with her demanding schedule, Stacey still provides house calls, regular in-salon service, in a private setting, where many up coming & typical patrons intermingle & dot her weekly appointment calendar-all while proactively raising her three beautiful daughters!
Establishing a following, gaining union accreditation and maintaining a responsible reputation was no simple feat, but Stacey’s perseverance and dedication to honing her craft has paid off in many ways. Her membership in I.A.T.S.E. (international Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Entertainers) and more specifically to MUAHS, (Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild, Local 706), where she also serves as a executive board member, attest to her full commitment and devotion.
Stacey remains dedicated to excellence by shaping the perspectives of appearance, beyond the highest standards of fashion, trend and grooming. Represented by Susan Wright of the Criterion Agency in Sherman Oaks California, vital energy and order are contributed to Stacey’s success. Stacey Kutz is truly a top-tier artisan.
Ava Shamban M.D., renowned board-certified Dermatologist, is a true skin visionary, clinician, author, anti-aging expert and prejuvenation proponent. She is the founder of Ava MD Dermatology and Skin Five Medical spas located in Southern California.
She also manages the Santa Monica based Ava Shamban Research Clinic, where she conducts clinical trials for Allergan, Evolus, Merz, Galderma and others. Dr. Ava, a master injector fondly referred to as Doctor Pretty Pout for her artistic aesthetic prowess, is also well known from her tenure as the Extreme Makeover resident dermatologist, a featured expert on the Emmy-winning daytime talk shows The Doctors, EXTRA and Steve Harvey. Dr. Ava is the author of best-selling beauty book Heal Your Skin: The Breakthrough Plan for Renewal.
Additionally, she hosted her own digital series for Condé Nast Entertainment, “Dr. Ava Says” as an Allure Insider. Dr. Shamban is an Editorial Board Member for New Beauty Magazine and continues to be featured in publications including Allure, Harper’s Bazaar, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Elle, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, MSN, Yahoo and others. She is currently working on her second book focused on the physical and psychological aspects of the “Signature Feature”.
Lindsey is a licensed cosmetologist, makeup artist, educator and co-host of the We Speak Beauty podcast. She has worked in the industry for over 15 years and is most known for her beauty, editorial and advertising work. Her work has been most recently published on the covers of Harper’s Bazaar MX, Vogue Taiwan, GQ Russia, Elle Serbia and many beauty campaigns including Beauty Blender, Clinique, Elemis and Sally Hansen. Lindsey is a firm believer in the statement “you don’t know how much you don’t know” which has kept her constantly seeking information from trusted sources and sharing that knowledge with others.
Bruce founded RPG in New York City in 1991. RPG is an award-winning design/build firm globally recognized for its ability to invigorate the brick-and-mortar experience, elevate and reinforce the power of brands, and compel consumers to shop and purchase. RPG maintains an unwavering commitment to quality and innovation, with headquarters in Manhattan and global manufacturing facilities. They are recognized as industry experts, with blue chip clients including Bluemercury, Coty, LVMH, Macy’s, Tiffany & Co, Dollar General, Columbia Care, Samsung, and many others. In the face of COVID-19, RPG has pioneered unique sampling solutions for their brand partners and consumers. Through Bruce’s leadership, RPG has recently formed strategic alliances to deliver the highest of standards in turnkey solutions, including formulations, packaging, filling, trend forecasts,
and brand strategy.
Bruce conveys a very special combination of creative inspiration with business savvy. A native of NewYork, he holds a BS in Business Administration from Syracuse University, where he sits on the board of TheMartin J. Whitman School of Management. Bruce is a founding member of The Celiac Disease Center atColumbia University Hospital where he has significantly raised awareness and funds for Celiac diseaseresearch. Bruce also serves on the board of The Fragrance Foundation, a resource for industry expertise,innovation and education. Bruce currently resides in New York City with his wife and four children.
Emmy Award nominee Gregory Arlt is the Director of Makeup Artistry for MAC Cosmetics based out of Los Angeles. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he has been doing makeup professionally for nearly 30 years. He started out with a major in art history and theatre, and then began his makeup career at the prestigious Los Angeles boutique Fred Segal in 1989. Gregory began working for MAC in 1993, starting out as a Technical Artist traveling throughout the L.A. region doing makeup appointments at MAC stores and counters. He then progressed to Trainer, Senior Trainer, Senior Artist, and is now the Global Director Of Makeup Artistry for MAC.
Arlt works with some of the most famous faces in the world including Dita Von Teese, Gwen Stefani, Angelina Jolie, Victoria Beckham, Katy Perry, Fran Drescher, Alicia Keys, Cher, Sienna Miller, Minnie Driver, Anne Heche, Kim Cattrall, Liza Minnelli, Susan Kelechi-Watson, and Jodi Lyn O’Keefe. Being one of the most in demand artists in Hollywood, he appears regularly as a beauty expert on TV shows such as “”Access Hollywood,”” “”Entertainment Tonight,”” “”Extra,”” “”CNN,”” “”E! Entertainment Television,”” and “”The Style Network.”” Gregory can be found backstage at the fashion collections in Milan, Paris, and New York, designing makeup looks for Oscar de la Renta, Alexander McQueen, Ungaro, Michael Kors, and Chloe to name a few.
He works regularly with Gwen Stefani and was her personal makeup artist on “The Voice” for three seasons, enjoying coming up with different looks for her each week. Gregory also designed the makeup for the last three tours for Cher, creating looks for the iconic singer, her dancers, her backup singers, and the band.
In 2015 he won the prestigious Hollywood Beauty Award for “Best Makeup Artist”. He also won an Ibiza Music Video Award for “Best Makeup” for Gwen Stefani’s “Misery” video. And in 2020 he was nominated for an Emmy Award for his work on Gwen Stefani.
Arlt brings his wealth of knowledge and talent all over the globe, doing press, makeup master classes, editorial photo shoots, and television appearances in countries such as England, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Canada, Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan. “”My approach to makeup is simple. I love allowing my clients to look- and feel- like the A+ version of themselves. Instead of piling makeup on the face, I bring out a woman’s beauty, respecting her features, bone structure, coloring, and most importantly, her personality.”
Jenny Frankel, Founder and President of NUDESTIX, is a chemical engineer with over 20 years of beauty experience. She is equal parts scientist, visionary and marketing ingenuity. With her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at the University of Toronto, Jenny quickly landed a position in Research & Development for the creation of innovative beauty products with industry giant, MAC Cosmetics
In 2000 Jenny co-created and assumed the position of Executive Vice President of Cover FX – a cosmeceutical complexion brand created for skin conditions and sensitive skin.
In 2014 Jenny returned to her passion – the Beauty industry. Identifying the ‘white space’ in the cosmetics industry for innovative, neutral-tones, easy-to-use makeup products and collaborating with daughters, Ally and Taylor on product ideas, shades and cool style, NUDESTIX beauty was born. This labour of love resulted in a streamlined makeup collection designed to provide a quick and easy, nude look that works for all faces.
An established on-air guest, brand ambassador and sought after public speaker, Jenny is an avid supporter of women entrepreneurs and is a member of the Women of Influence and Canadian Women’s Foundations.
“Michael Key wears many hats. In addition to his Emmy® Award-winning career as a motion picture and TV make-up artist, Key is the founder and publisher of Make-Up Artist magazine and executive producer of the International Make-Up Artist Trade Shows (IMATS).
Key has contributed extensively to film and television productions including Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Santa Clause 3, The Grinch, Planet of the Apes, The Other Sister, Batman & Robin, Jingle All the Way, Eraser, The Last Action Hero, Star Trek: Generations and VI, Coneheads, Patriot Games, Touched by an Angel and Alien Nation. He has also done print and ad campaigns for Nike and Nintendo and even a music video for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He was nominated for Emmy® Awards five times, and won twice, for his work on the Star Trek television shows.
Key helped pioneer computer make-up design for film and television. He created looks for such famous faces as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lindsay Lohan, Samuel L. Jackson, Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Garner, Val Kilmer, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dennis Hopper, Kate Mulgrew and Tommy Lee Jones.
In June 1996, Make-Up Artist magazine debuted as a bimonthly publication covering all aspects of make-up artistry—from beauty to special make-up effects—in film, television, print and theater. It has become the voice of the industry, representing professional make-up artists, students and make-up enthusiasts. Make-up Artist magazine is now a major publication, with international distribution and subscribers in more than 70 countries.
In 1997 Michael pioneered the first trade show for make-up artists, The International Make-Up Artist Trade Show. Almost two decades later, IMATS has prestigious cosmetic exhibitors such as MAC, Make Up For Ever, Bobbie Brown and Nars. IMATS is hosted annually in London, Vancouver B.C., Los Angeles, New York and Toronto.
Despite his hectic schedule, Key also serves on the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences awards committee. He is an Emmy® Awards judge and a regular guest lecturer at international conferences, schools and trade shows.
Moving from Jamaica to New York when he was six years old gave Director of Makeup Artistry Romero Jennings a dual heritage that offered him an eclectic and fruitful taste for both the fast pace of the city and the more wholesome approach of island life. He describes his style as having four main aspects – colour, nature, futurism and technology – a heady mix that he affectionately terms “organic alien.” Not the most typical approach perhaps, but certainly a winner that has propelled him to worldwide acclaim.
Joining M·A·C in the 1990s, Jennings claims to have always felt at home among the brand’s team of dedicated innovators. After working in Japan, where he was offered a place to study and assist makeup artists such as Mitsuru Kohno and Savaro Watanabe, Jennings returned to the Big Apple with equally big plans. “Strategy is my best friend,” he confesses. “I always strive to innovate and to think about the next big trend. I constantly challenge myself to be more efficient, technical and productive. This really can be seen in the organization of my makeup kit and my daily life.”
A die-hard fashion fiend, Jennings began drawing models and designing clothes when he was just seven years old to a soundtrack of glam rock. “Music is a big part of my life,” he concedes. “Grace Jones, Debbie Harry and David Bowie were unreal, virtual, creative, shapeshifting inspirations to me, and even today I still listen to their music and look to their images for inspiration.”
In the spirit of his chiseled icons, Jennings’ preferred look involves a perfected skin with a strobing face effect and an architectural eyebrow. Master that, and combine with regular use of Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator and he promises to unlock the secret of eternal youth.
Landing a full-page interview in the New York Times Magazine was a standout career moment, second only to being interviewed by Kim Kardashian, whom he describes as “a living doll.” Jennings took the New York Times feature as an opportunity to explain the more painterly approaches to makeup while admitting that it was also a good platform for showcasing his (exceptionally) long fingers.Perhaps that comes in handy for putting his horticultural skills to good use. “Gardening inspires me to create, social media is my research and provides access to high-tech apps and learning opportunities, while music allows my mind to dream,” explains this polymath, who is showing us that it really is possible to have it all.
Dr. Wagner has been in dental practice since 2010.
Before forming his practice in West Hollywood, Dr. Wagner established his reputation at a thriving Santa Monica dental office for seven years.
David Wagner earned his DDS from Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, Nebraska, near where he was born and raised. He subsequently moved to Los Angeles in 2010 and completed the Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program at UCLA, which focused on complex restorative dentistry, dental implants, TMJ and expert patient bite evaluation.
Dr. Wagner then went on to complete the UCLA Esthetics Program, where he further refined his in-depth understanding of the art of dental esthetics and the necessary treatment skills for optimal function and longevity. Completing the circle, Dr. Wagner is presently a Clinical Lecturer at UCLA’s Center for Esthetic Dentistry where he teaches multiple courses.
Says Dr. Wagner, “For me, teaching while running my private practice strikes a perfect balance because they feed into each other. UCLA’s program is of such a high caliber that it keeps me in the forefront with the brightest minds, most talented innovators and most advanced techniques in esthetic dentistry.”
Vicki has earned a reputation as an attorney who creates effective and smart strategies to best mitigate the potential losses faced by her clients, while also appreciating her clients’ unique needs and concerns. Vicki has successfully defended an array of high-profile individuals, studios, arts and entertainment networks, pharmaceutical companies, licensed professionals, the hospitality industry and national retailers.
Vicki’s accomplishments have earned her the recognition of a national insurer in which she was named its National Defense Counsel Liaison wherein she served as a consultant for attorneys throughout the United States advising them on defenses unique to the entertainment industry. She has successfully defended her clients’ First Amendment right to free speech and authored numerous anti-SLAPP motions, many of which have been affirmed by the California Court of Appeal. Vicki has also successfully tried many cases involving general liability and commercial business disputes. Vicki has successfully litigated many cases involving general, hospitality and product liability, medical malpractice, governmental liability, business and commercial disputes. A key to Vicki’s success is her ability to analyze complex legal issues and communicate solutions not only to her clients but to opposing counsel, jurors and the court. Following her graduation from Western State University College of Law with a Juris Doctorate, Ms. Greco was admitted to the California State Bar in 1996. Ms. Greco is also a member of the California Central District Court and the United States Court of Appeals. She is also a member of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.
John is a multi-national entrepreneur with a focus on international sourcing and product development. He founded JC Sourcing Group in 2016 upon completion of his MS in Economic Growth, Innovation and Spatial Dynamics from Lund University in Sweden. Until this year, his company specialized in providing wholesale luxury merchandise for some of the premiere special event companies on the West Coast. In Early 2020, COVID-19 caused the special events to shrink by 90% and his consumer market disappeared overnight.
Realizing the severity of the pandemic and its effect on the populace, John looked to pivot to an area that helps businesses get back on track in a safe and convenient manner. He recognized the new status quo of manual temperature screening was inefficient, unsafe and impractical. In collaboration with a tech hardware manufacturer, he developed the Temp Tracker, which is an automated screening checkpoint with AI technology. After months of development and testing, John launched Safety Checkpoints in August, 2020. He has found his niche providing service to the beauty industry, where practitioners are in close contact with clients for extended periods of time. His goals are to continue to help small and medium businesses reopen efficiently and affordably while protecting their stakeholders.
John is a San Diego native and likes to spend his free time with his chocolate lab Bosco at the local dog beach or hiking in the mountains. He also enjoys riding motorcycles, cooking for friends and camping.
Named 30 under 30 Coolest Entrepreneurs by Inc. Magazine, COO-CFO of ThinkLite, Danny Wadhwani is an industry expert and business strategist with 10 years of executive experience in the education, finance and technology industry. Danny graduated with a degree in Economics, Finance & Management Information Systems from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business after which he went on to lead Mergers & Acquisitions at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is also the founder of a Boston-Based real estate company.
ThinkLite is currently present in 14 countries worldwide, owns several patents, and works with Fortune 500 companies, townships and enterprises across the globe. They have recently launched an exclusive technology solution that is able to track the levels of pathogens in the air in indoor public areas and facilities, including COVID-19, amongst other viruses; so that they can be addressed, and managed effectively to maximize safety in a facility.
With the goal of making our world more sustainable with every product launched, Danny thrives on innovation and continually looks for ways to continue creating value-driven opportunities to meet the indoor air quality needs of organizations around the world.
Eddie is an Instructor at the New York Academy and one of Make Up For Ever’s top artists since 2014. After joining the brand’s Education team in 2014, Eddie quickly excelled to the prestigious role of National Educator. A natural born teacher, Eddie joined the Academy team in 2019. There, he shares his passion and expertise in special effects, theater, runway, film and editorial artistry with his students. Throughout his 25 years in the industry, Eddie has worked on countless New York Fashion Week teams, including that of legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath. His keen eye for color composition and artistic trends are consistently sought for global campaigns. Eddie teaches courses in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and creates curriculum for MAKE UP FOR EVER’s Mexico, Canada and Brazil Academies. Prior to joining MAKE UP FOR EVER, Eddie worked for brands including MAC, Nars and Shu Uemura.
Claire McCormack directs strategy and creates content for Indie Beauty Media Group’s digital publication Beauty Independent. She’s a thought leader and speaker on beauty and wellness business, trends and consumer behavior.
Claire’s writing has appeared on Huffington Post, Charlotte’s Book, Yahoo Beauty and more. She has an MBA in Management and Marketing from Fordham University.
Celebrity hair colorist Kim Vo, world-renown as the “best blonder in the business” as defined in his first Vogue Magazine feature, first shot to fame and success on ABC’s ‘Extreme Makeover’ as the official on-camera hairstylist, followed by his ‘Ambush Makeover’ segment on E!’s Daily 10 and then as the on camera color judge on Bravo’s ‘Shear Genius’. Kim can currently be seen on ‘Access Hollywood’ as a premiere hair stylist for their “Makeover Monday’s”.
Kim’s artistry has touched the manes of many A-list celebrities including but not limited to: Gwyneth Paltrow, Uma Thurman, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn, Katherine Heigl, Mischa Barton, Alicia Silverstone, Camilla Alves, Heather Locklear, Pamela Anderson, Morgan Fairchild and Paris & Nicky Hilton.
Even with all his legendary success, Kim stays true to his roots and can be found either working on his haircare product line or in his namesake salon chatting up his clients while skillfully navigating their hair to exactly what they wish. Developing these longtime clients(some as loyal as 20 years) hasn’t been tough as they flock to Kim not just for his talent but also his humble warmth, treating each person as family. The same familial feeling continues at his flagship salon in West Hollywood created with partner celebrity fashion stylist Adeel Khan with his incredible team of skilled stylists and staff, hand-chosen for their individual and unique techniques to compliment the ‘Kim Vo’ experience.
Susan Zinn, LPCC, LMHC, NCC, is a licensed psychotherapist and the founder of Westside Counseling Center in Santa Monica, California. She is a certified trauma and eating disorder specialist and has a particular interest in working with teenagers, young adults, and families and the specific challenges that they face throughout the various transitions of their lives. In addition to her clinical practice, Susan is a mental health advocate, writer, presenter, and a regular media contributor. She has been featured in Forbes Magazine, The New York Post, Science Times, L.A. Parent Magazine, Insider Magazine, Psych Central, and a guest host on iHeartRadio, BBC talkRadio, and other podcasts. For more information about Susan, you can find her on Instagram @SusanZinnTherapy or www.susanzinntherapy.com.
James Sun is an entrepreneur, managing partner, and angel investor of several companies. He is currently the chairman and CEO of BeautyTap, a cross boarder commerce/content site focused on Korean beauty and Dramabeans, which is the largest Korean drama online recap and community site focused on the English speaking market. Previous to this, he was the founder & CEO of Pirq, a loyalty application for small and medium sized businesses which was successfully acquired by one of the largest payment processing companies in the U.S. He raised $5M dollars in VC funding and returned an exit to investors in 3.5 years.
James also has Fortune 500 experience where he served as an engineer at Intel and management consultant at Deloitte Consulting for several Fortune 500 clients including Honeywell, Microsoft, Daimler Chrysler, and Boeing. At Deloitte Consulting, he led the Northwest vertical practice for integrated CRM (customer relationship management) systems.
James’s family immigrated to the U.S. when he was three years old, and his curiosity for business and entrepreneurship began at the early age of 11 where he started a window cleaning marketing service. At the ripe age of 13, he started reading The Wall Street Journal and began his studies into the world of business and finance. After graduating high school with a perfect 4.0 GPA, he started an investment company called Sun & Associates with $5,000 at the age of 18 and became a multimillionaire by age 22 when he graduated (Cum Laude) from the University of Washington. Sun & Associates has now expanded into international investments, real estate, private equity, and strategic consulting as well.
James also comes with extensive media marketing experience where he had his own hit program called “Sun Tzu War on Business.” This show was a co-collaboration between BBC (British Broadcasting Corp), Mediacorp, and CMMN, which aired worldwide in over 20 countries. James was chosen to play the part of a dynamic business guru who travels around the world – meeting ambitious entrepreneurs to give them tough lessons on how to grow their businesses using principles from “Sun Tzu’s Art of War”. James was also the first Asian male to land a spot on Donald Trump’s hit reality show “The Apprentice.” Asian-American men have a very difficult time landing a major role on prime time television in the United States, but James broke this barrier beating out 800,000 applicants and became the only Asian finalist in the history of the show.
He has previous publishing background as the owner of Koream magazine, which was an award-winning monthly magazine dedicated to news, commentary, politics, lifestyle and culture published in the United States. It was the oldest and most widely circulated English-language monthly magazine for the Asian American community. He was also the owner of Audrey Magazine, which was an award-winning national publication covering the Asian experience, as seen from the perspective of Asian American women. Audrey covered Asians and Asian Americans in popular culture, fashion and beauty trends, lifestyle and travel, as well as social and cultural issues relevant to Asians and Asian Americans.
James is a highly sought out speaker on the topic of consumer segmentation and diversity especially in the areas of globalization, immigration, and generational differences between the Y, X, and Baby Boomer groups. He has advised over 35 companies on this topic alone including Proctor & Gamble, Deloitte & Touche, JP Morgan, Ernst & Young, BASF, Qwest, Honeywell, US Army, and dozens of top tiered universities. He is published in a book titled “Millennial Leaders Y” as an expert in this field. James has been featured on CEO Magazine and Fortune Magazine as a guest blogger on the topics of leadership and entrepreneurship.
James graduated Cum Laude from the University of Washington Business School with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems. James was recently selected as a top 100 alumni from the University of Washington in the “Wonderous 100 Alumni Award” which included prominent individuals like Bill Gates Sr., Governor Christine Gregoire, and musician Kenny G.
Anne Moratto’s well-rounded beauty career includes years in beauty public relations, beauty marketing, beauty manufacturing, and beauty content creation and editorial. The through-line has been an intense interest in all things beauty and an appreciation for the artists and entrepreneurs who make the industry so compelling and creative. She oversees the tone, voice and direction for both MODERN SALON and NAILS.
Anne has launched MODERN SALON’s first podcast, CHOOSE BEAUTY, she is an international judge for hairdressing competitions (North American Hairstyling Awards, the Australian Hairdressing Awards), and a speaker and thought leader at industry events.
Emeran A Mayer is a Distinguished Research Professor in the Departments of Medicine, Physiology and Psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He is the Executive Director of the G Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress & Resilience and the co-director of the CURE: Digestive Diseases Research Center at UCLA. He has made major scientific contributions to the area of basic and translational enteric neurobiology with wide-ranging applications in clinical GI diseases and disorders. He has published more than 370 scientific papers (h-factor 113) and co edited 3 scientific books.
Mayer has a longstanding interest in ancient healing traditions and affords them a level of respect rarely found in Western Medicine. He has been involved in documentary film productions about the Yanomami people in the Orinoco region of Venezuela, and the Asmat people in Irian Jaya. He has recently co produced the award winning documentary “In Search of Balance” and is working on a new documentary “Interconnected Planet”. He is a follower of Buddhist philosophy, was a member of the UCLA Zen Center for several years, and got married in a Tibetan monastery by Choekyi Nyima Rinpoche in Kathmandu. He regularly pursues meditative practices.
Dr. Mayer has spoken at UCLA TEDx on the Mysterious Origins of Gut Feelings in 2015 and has been interviewed on National Public Radio, PBS and by many national and international media outlets including the Los Angeles and New YorkTimes, Atlantic magazine and Stern and Spiegel Online. He is the author of the bestselling book The Mind Gut Connection (2016) and the upcoming Gut Immune Connection (2021), both published by Harper&Collins.
Actress, Producer and Beauty influencer Diana Madison introduces Diana Madison Beauty, a line of clean and natural skincare products made with millennial moms in mind. The debut product from Diana Madison Beauty is Glowtopia. This anti-aging moisturizer harnesses the renewing power of prickly pear seed oil to hydrate and rejuvenate skin, offering anti-aging preventative care for all skin types.
Diana Madison developed the Diana Madison Beauty skincare line after she started looking closer at the skincare products she was using. She discovered they were full of harsh chemicals, fillers and silicone. Unlike these other skincare products, Diana Madison Beauty uses safe ingredients that nourish and refresh tired skin without damaging it or stripping it of its natural beauty and luster.
Diana Madison knows the struggle of being a “momtrepreneur,” juggling motherhood with entrepreneurship. Diana Madison Beauty products are formulated for the needs of millennial momtrepreneurs or anyone balancing both a full-time career and full-time parenthood. “I want to give back to moms,” Diana says. “Moms who hustle to raise their kids while ignoring themselves. I wanted to bring the spa to my house. That’s what Diana Madison Beauty is all about.”
Diana Madison is a beauty influencer and digital media maven. She has interviewed the beauty industry’s most influential figures, learning their style and skincare tips firsthand.
Diana is currently getting ready to film her second movie and getting ready to launch product number 2.
gotta have face™ was started in April 2020 to help with the immediate need for masks as a response to COVID-19. Former Fashion Industry Executive, Jaye Hersh-Eigler realized that as the supply for surgical masks for our frontline workers dwindled, she had to create an alternative option for face coverings.
Jaye’s 35 plus years in the L.A. apparel industry prepared her to react quickly and get these masks to market overnight. Jaye wanted to create an overall win-win-win-win. Protect yourself, protect others, help the less fortunate, while looking great and feeling comfortable. She offered an assortment of ladies, men’s and children’s masks available for purchase on Instagram @gottahaveface and on the website, gottahaveface.com. The masks would retail from $12.00- $18.00 with the intention that all net proceeds would go to charity.
Now more than ever, there is a critical need to help our hungry neighbors. The LA Food Bank proved to be the obvious choice as the recipient of all gotta have face ™ proceeds because 97% of all funds raised goes directly to the community.
Jaye’s message to her followers is: Wearing a mask is a symbol you care. It shows that you care about yourself, others and the common good of your community. gotta have face™… we’ve got you covered.
Fashion Masks for a Cause… gotta have face™ has donated over 420,000 meals to the LA Food Bank to date.
Michael Dueñas never set out to be a celebrity hairstylist.
Growing up surfing and spending time at his friends salon, he realized a true passion and gift for hair. While his career has been anything but laid back, his charming personality and unique talent has been attracting top level clients from the beginning.
Michael Is a curly hair specialist, after training at DevaChan in Soho and becoming a master stylist and educator for them, his love for textured hair grew.
Michael has been on the fast track, working with such celebrities as Illana Glazer, Rachel Brosnahan, Noah Cyrus, Padma Lakshmi, Morena Baccarin, Petra Nemcova and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Michael has been fortunate to have been the consulting celebrity stylist for Garnier, the brand ambassador for Schwarzkopf Professional, currently the brand ambassador for Aloxxi International, and Co Founder Support Creatives Nonprofit.
Moving to New York to focus his energy on editorial and fashion, Michael has been able to work alongside Orlando Pita on shows for Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, and Victoria’s Secret. Michael has also keyed shows for Alice and Olivia, Betsey Johnson, Trina Turk, Nicole Miller, Charlotte Ronson and many others.
After several years working in New York, Michael moved his career out west and is currently based in Los Angeles. He has had the pleasure of shooting for editorials including Elle, Allure, Jalouse, FLAUNT, C Magazine and Nylon and works with advertising clients including GUESS, Aeropostale, L’Oreal and Dannon.
Whether Michael is on set for cover shoots or backstage at fashion week, his demeanor never changes. He has a gifted ability to maintain creative focus while under pressure.
Based in Los Angeles, California, the dynamic retail environment firm JT Nakaoka Associates Architects combines the design and planning aspects of a conventional architectural firm with a consumer-savvy merchandising angle that produces some of the industry’s most acclaimed projects. The firm operates in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Europe, and in some Asia’s largest, most cosmopolitan cities. Founded in 1982, the company has successfully completed over 2,000 projects, each combining architectural elements with an in-store layout concept design to increase exposure, sales, and brand recognition of its client’s company.
To achieve the unique result that set it apart, the firm employs a wide range of talented individuals. Architects form the backbone of the company, joined by interior architects, designers, project managers, and a host of administrative staff members. The company’s professionals approach each client’s project with a fresh slate, unafraid to completely wipe away previous design elements or store features to create award-winning retail landscapes. This approach has garnered JT Nakaoka Associates Architects the highest of international awards and accolades in the retail design industry.
The firm’s resulting work can completely transform a product or brand. Forever 21 went from a low-end store to one of the biggest names in young women’s clothing. It now owns free-standing stores in the world’s best shopping cities, including Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, and San Francisco. For this client, JT Nakaoka Associates Architects completely renovated major buildings and spaces, changing the perception of Forever 21 and pushing the company past revenue expectations. JT Nakaoka Associates Architects boasts a proven track record of success in developing complete retail store environments.
Dr. Golan obtained his medical degree from McGill University in 2003. He acquired training in Internal Medicine from McGill University in 2006 and Critical Care Medicine from the University of Toronto in 2008. He then completed a fellowship in Neurosciences Critical Care Medicine at the University of Cambridge, England in 2010. He was subsequently recruited back to Toronto where he worked as an intensive care doctor at the University Health Network until 2017 and then transitioned to Mackenzie Health where he currently practices full time.
Since returning to Canada, he has completed a double Masters of Sciences degree through the University of Toronto in Clinical Epidemiology and Resuscitation Sciences, and has over 40 peer-reviewed publications. His main research focuses on the long-term outcomes of critically ill patients with brain injury, with a specific focus on the prognostication of neurological outcomes in survivors. He is involved in national and international guidelines of management and prognostication in adult cardiac arrest survivors.
He has acted as an Honorary Fellow and Researcher at the University of Cambridge for 5 years, served as the vice-Chair for the Critical Care section of the Ontario Medical Association from 2010-2018, and is currently the Vice-President of the Professional Staff Association at Mackenzie Health where he sits on the Board of Directors for the organization.
Most importantly, he has three young boys who don’t care about any of this, and only want to have dad play with them in the backyard, and read them as many bedtime stories as they can negotiate.
Mr. Kleinhenz has over 35 years of experience in the biotechnology field and 30 years experience in regulatory affairs.Current and past projects include:
The first european approval for a point-of-care medical device to process regenerative medicine cells from adipose tissue, as well as the first industry approval for novel enzymes to extract the regenerative medicine cells at the point of care.
He has been at the forefront of regenerative medicine laws in Japan and Europe to positively affect the legal language and interpretations of existing and emerging regulations.
Mr. Kleinhenz has obtained 20+ FDA clearances, 10+ European Union CE Marks and 25+ other international approvals for bioresorbable products in countries such as China, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Australia.
Dr. Jeremy Rossman is a virologist, an Honorary Senior Lecturer in Virology at the University of Kent and President of the non-profit organisation, Research-Aid Networks. Jeremy has conducted collaborative interdisciplinary research on the molecular biology of pandemic-causing viruses, international epidemic responses, evidence-based humanitarian aid and science education. His organization, Research-Aid Networks, facilitates collaborative and evidence-based approaches for assessing need, delivering aid, evaluating effectiveness and achieving long-term sustainable community development, worldwide. Jeremy is coordinating local community outreach efforts at endcoronavirus.org and providing expert guidance to the NSVD consulting service.
Dr. Dannielle C. DeWaal is an accredited scientist with expertise in the fields of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics. She has high-impact publications focused on cancer metabolism and cell differentiation regulation, conducted at the University of Illinois-Chicago. She currently serves as scientific consultant and contributor for the National Scientist Volunteer Database (NSVD) to the international coalition, End Coronavirus (ECV) organization because of her knowledge of working safely with virion particles and personal protective equipment.
In addition, Dannielle has been a licensed cosmetologist for over 20 years. With more than 15 years of professional experience in both art and science, she now overlaps her expertise to converge science into the beauty world.
Jon Reyman is a hair stylist, business owner, educator, and partner to some of the most influential designers and businesses in the industry, from Oscar de la Renta to Pyer Moss, from Dyson Inc to Estee Lauder Companies. He leads up to 15 shows during fashion month working with teams in New York, London, Milan, and Paris.
Dubbed the go-to stylist for beauty editors, Jon has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The Hollywood Reporter, Into The Gloss and has made guest appearances on E!, The TLC Network, Access Hollywood, and Bravo TV.
Off the runway, Jon is the creative force behind Spoke & Weal’s haircutting and styling programs and has brought dry-cutting into the mainstream of modern haircutting practice. He values utility and simplicity in his work and sees beauty in what’s natural and useful.
When she was younger, Beatrice Dixon suffered with bacterial vaginosis for eight months. One night, an ancestor gave her the ingredients to heal herself in a dream. From that insightful dream, she created the formula for a healthy, clean feminine wash. In 2014, Dixon launched The Honey Pot Company, a plant-based feminine hygiene line created with a goal to provide women with a healthy alternative to feminine care that is free of chemicals, parabens, carcinogens and sulfates. The rest is history.
With experience in pharmaceuticals, retail and natural foods, Dixon has the insight and expertise to bring the innovative concept of a plant-based feminine care system to the marketplace. Unlike mass market and conventional feminine care brands, consumers will be able to get all of their feminine care needs met under one brand as The Honey Pot Company currently offers feminine washes, wipes, tampons, pads, mommy-to-be products, and soon-to-be additional offerings in both the feminine hygiene and feminine care segments.
Today, The Honey Pot Company’s products can be found online and in stores nationwide at Target, Walmart, Urban Outfitters, Walgreens, Bed Bath and Beyond, Wegmans and Whole Foods, among other retailers.
An empowering African American female entrepreneur, Dixon has been a recipient of the Sundial and Unilever’s multimillion-dollar New Voices fund; was 1 of the first 40 women of color to raise one million in venture capital; and has been featured in T-Pain’s School of Business, BuzzFeed’s Ladylike series, Today Show, The New York Times, Entrepreneur, ELLE, ESSENCE and Forbes, to name a few.
Most recently, she was named one of Entrepreneur’s top 100 groundbreaking women entrepreneurs of 2019; her company won a 2020 ESSENCE Best in Black Beauty Award; and she received a CEW Indie 65 Award in 2019, honoring beauty’s independent companies.
Through her diverse background and experience, Dixon continues to make a mark in the world of natural health and retail with a truly revolutionary approach to feminine health and sexual wellness.
Dr. Jagmohan Batra is an American physician who is a Pediatric Infectious Diseases and HIV Specialist who has served as the Medical Director of the Bickerstaff Family Center since 2015. Dr Batra is also the Chief of – Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital – which is affiliated with Long Beach Memorial. Long Beach Memorial Medical Center is ranked seventh countywide and is number four on the top ten hospitals in California.
As an Infectious disease specialist, he treats a broad array of diseases caused by germs, viruses and fungi, ranging from HIV to hospital acquired infections to pneumonia- and now SARS Cov-2 infections. Dr Batra’s research interests include HIV and he was part of the team that led the treatment of a second “potentially cured” infant born with HIV. He has made many contributions to clinical research on the treatment of immune-mediated and infectious diseases.
He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCI and UCLA Schools of Medicine.
Industry icon Tom Bachik brings more than 25 years of experience from the professional nail industry and mass markets. Developing product innovations and application technique for some of the most well-known companies in the nail industry, Tom loves to create. Product development, marketing, sales and education are a passion. He not only created and launched numerous products but upstarted multiple companies and traveled the globe as a platform artist, trainer, and key speaker. Tom is no stranger to competition and has won over 300 prestigious nail contests, including the WINBA World Championship. In addition to creating the standard format for modern score sheets Tom has judged competitions across the US, Europe, and Asia.
One of the top “Man”-icurists in the world, Tom is also one of the most sought after nail professionals in the fashion industry and among celebrity elite. Coined “The Rad Manicurist,” he currently polishes the hands and toes of A-list celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckham, Anne Hathaway, and Heidi Klum to name a few. Top Publications and high-end brands, such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Elle, Allure, InStyle, Gucci, Versace and Armani call on Bachik for his unique and stunning nail designs.
The first Nail Artist to have a contract with Chanel, Tom is all about designing the most visually fashion-forward looks – whether it’s the most elegant, timeless and classic natural nail manicure or styling something unexpectedly bold and cutting edge Bachik’s designs are unparalleled works of art. A trained graphic designer, Tom has a unique approach to nails. With a love for color, dimension, and design, Bachik currently has a collaboration with LVX featured on QVC. As an industry expert Tom makes regular appearances on domestic and international television and featured in trade and consumer publications to discuss all things nails, color, and trends. Based in Southern Calif., Bachik is married to his wife Liz and has two sons and a 21-year-old daughter, Zoie, who frequents as his nail art muse.
A freelance make-up artist of 13 years living in Vancouver, Katrina began her career at a local Clinique counter. She quickly understood how naturally creative she felt in the world of beauty and enrolled at Canada’s prestigious Blanche Macdonald Centre for their Global Make-up Artistry programme. Soon after she began working at MAC Cosmetics and shares an important lesson: “I spent almost six years working at MAC learning as much as I could. It was an amazing place to practice my artistry.”
In 2015, Katrina co-founded The Artistry Collective – a team of experienced make-up artists and hair stylists working in and around Vancouver specializing in bridal, beauty and fashion. After a couple of years on the road as a freelance make-up artist, Katrina decided to set up a dedicated beauty Instagram account so that she could connect to, and create a dialogue with like-minded artists, recreating that critical sense of creative collaboration that she missed from her time working at MAC. Fast-forward to now, Katrina mans the respected The Artist Edit account which has blossomed to over 250k followers and is an intuitively curated, go-to space for bold make-up references and unexpected inspiration, unique tips, tricks and informative how-tos. Katrina interviews admired creative talent for IGTV and continues to brainstorm new ideas to continue the self-less process of inspiration for the artist community.
Jennifer Betts is the President of Innovative Public Relations, and has made a name for herself in the Media industry based on her exceptional work ethic and multitude of contacts. At Innovative, it is her goal to provide fresh brand representation while maintaining the quality and integrity of her business. Betts ultilized her strong relationships with Hollywood talent, fashion icons, lifestyle influencers, and charitable foundations by generating awareness for an array of new & new brands. Through a team of advocates who have reliable and constant relationships with beauty, lifestyle, business, and luxury media sources, Innovative PR continues to stay ahead of the curve. Throughout her seven years at Live Loyal PR, Betts worked with numerous brands on campaigns and events such as GQ, Sundance, Hennessy, Super Bowl, Nivea, NYX Cosmetics, Muse Lifestyle Group, VoliLyteVodkas, and Joico by using creative campaigns that were specifically tailored to the individual needs of each client.
Incepted in 2016, Innovative PR has established million dollar companies in the media eye, such as Beautycon International, Simply Stylist Inc., Thoughtfully Gifts, Shiseido USA, Philosophy Skin Care and more. Rooted in a love for beauty and fashion, with a passion for seeing clients succeed, Betts prides herself in her unique ability to elevate any brand. Prior to starting Live Loyal PR, Betts was an executive at Fingerprint Communications, and worked closely on events and lifestyle brands. At Fingerprint, Betts began to see her hard work and dedication pay off, as she managed a diverse roster of brands including Young Fabulous and Broke, Opera, Crimson, and GOA.
Innovative PR currently has a roster of clients such as Pureology Haircare, Twila True Collaborations, Evereden Skincare, and International brands such as SHRD Haircare & MiHigh Blankets. Innovative Public Relations has quickly become one of Los Angeles’ premier lifestyle boutique public relations firms. Innovative works closely with each client to design a comprehensive brand strategy across a number of platforms. These platforms elevate brand awareness, consistency, and specific calls to action to purchase products and services. Every campaign begins with understanding and distinguishing our clients’ core brand values and business objectives. The result is a custom-tailored PR campaign that significantly positions the client at the forefront of the media and its target audiences.
Frank has been directly involved in the retail industry since starting with Moss Adams in 1983. He is well-versed in multiple industry sectors, such as apparel and consumer goods, as well as in various distribution models, including traditional bricks and mortar, pure ecommerce, direct to consumer, and cross-channel combinations. With a focus on helping clients to grow and achieve their goals, Frank identifies impactful industry trends, develops relevant strategic plans, and assists in plan implementation. He spends a significant portion of his time with clients during liquidity events, where preparation and negotiation are integral for success.
Frank presents at industry events such as MAGIC’s Retail Forum and is regularly quoted in the Orange County Business Journal, Apparel News, TransWorld Business, Shop-Eat-Surf, and other industry publications. He has co-authored the Moss Adams Annual Retail Update since its inception.
Inspired by his grandfather, Aftab “AJ” Jiwani started his first business when he was a teenager, printing and selling forms to hotels in the 1990’s. His forms company evolved into a full-fledged printing business which he built and sold in 2006. From there he branched out into medical forms, developing an electronic filing system to help healthcare organizations make the transition to digital medical records.
With a successful track record in setting up businesses that solve problems by using technology, AJ saw the opportunity that education had a records problem. In 2006, he founded Edfiles and Ed and since then has worked with 120 school districts in the transformation of permanent records protection, retention and compliance. AJ is currently a Strategic partner with California School Business Officials.
In 2020, the Covid quarantine inspired AJ to be a part of the solution and bring smart products to his client base. He founded The Disinpro Corporation providing easy to use, innovative and cost-effective disinfecting and sterilization products to the education, hospitality and retail industries. AJ has successfully launched and sold the Disinpro UVC mobile robots to sterilize small and large spaces, the Disinpro App to monitor and record effective disinfection levels, the ThermoDispenser, which combines the function of a hand sanitizer dispenser and thermometer in one, and a host of other products and solutions to help his clients create safe work places.
Belle Ghouleh, with a health science Background and a licensed cosmetologist, has worked in the beauty industry for over 20 years.
Belle began her career as a makeup artist and continued to grow in the industry. A salon owner and Master Stylist and Educator for Innosys Beauty Treatments. Determined to make a difference, Belle has a wealth of knowledge and experience she enjoys sharing. With her early healthcare experience, she has always understood the effects of excellent health on every part of your beauty.|
More recently, she is one of the founders of SteriliLight, LLC.
established in 2016. Her overall concerns regarding sanitation standards in the beauty industry have fueled her passion for keeping makeup artists safe and healthy while returning to work.
@sterile_light
Eryn Krueger Mekash has 33 years of television and film industry experience. She began her career in the special makeup effects field in Los Angeles and is diversified in beauty, makeup effects and design. Her credits cover a wide range of projects: soon to be released Run, The Prom, and Hillbilly Elegy . She is now a producer on American Horror Story, 911, Hollywood, and Ratched.
Krueger Mekash has won 8 Emmy® and 10 Artisan Awards and earned 38 Emmy nominations.
