PBA Highlights
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The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) unveils some highlights of PBA Beauty Week 2014, held July 12-15 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The event welcomed more than 27,000 beauty professionals who came to experience unlimited networking, educational, and professional growth opportunities.
The North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA), Beacon and the PBA Business Forum rounded out the stellar event lineup, which also included new events such as the PBA Regional Forum for the Professional.
Here, some highlights...
Held annually as part of PBA Beauty Week, PBA's Beacon program accepted 100 student winners and invited 200 additional student honorable mentions to be part of this career-changing event. Beacon took students behind the business side of the industry and provided valuable insight on marketing, business operations, networking, and leadership training.
Harlan Kirschner of The Kirschner Group was honored with City of Hope's 2014 Spirit of Life Award. The evening included live entertainment by singer Michael Bolton, a silent auction raising $35,000, and a special opportunity drawing for an opportunity to win a 2014 Mini Cooper Coupe, courtesy of Jinny Corp. The award is presented to individuals who exemplify the ideals and values that have guided City of Hope for a century, and whose professional and humanitarian accomplishments are worthy of celebration.
Businessman, TV personality, and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban delivered the keynote address to more than 1,000 attendees at the 2014 PBA Business Forum. His talk, "The American Dream is Alive and Well," focused on how new and seasoned beauty professionals can create their own beauty empire in today's economic climate. Cuban's address was followed by a Q&A moderated by Faye Brookman from WWD, Deborah Carver from Creative Age, and PBA Chairman and owner of Scott J Salon and Spa, Scott Buchanan. Overall, the 2014 PBA Business Forum addressed key PBA programs and initiatives helping to shape the future of the professional beauty industry.
PBA introduced the PBA Regional Forum for the Professional at the 2014 event. This educational and networking event was led by industry leaders and designed to inspire and motivate salon professionals at all levels to take their business and career to the next level. Discussion topics ranged from marketing and stylist development to business management and government affairs. Networking opportunities also allowed attendees to learn from one another and discuss common interests and business strategies.
As the preeminent photographic beauty competition in North America, the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) celebrates the artistry and skill of the salon industry. NAHA's 25th Anniversary Celebration included a specialty opportunity drawing for an opportunity to win a 2014 Fiat 500A, courtesy of J Beverly Hills, with proceeds benefiting the PBA Disaster Relief Fund. Plus, high-energy, artistic presentations by Aveda, jcp salons, Redken and Allen Ruiz, recipient of the 2013 NAHA Hairstylist of the Year award, electrified the audience.
NAHA 2014's top honor, Hairstylist of the Year, was presented to Alain Pereque from Saco Salon Drummond in Montreal, Quebec. This is Pereque's first NAHA Hairstylist of the Year honor. He also won Contemporary Classic in 2010 and was the Master Hairstylist of the Year in 2008.