Stacey Soble

Editor-In-Chief, SALON TODAY

(805) 709-1837
[email protected]

Stacey Soble has been involved in the conversation of salon business for more than two decades—as a reporter, a consultant and as the editor in chief of SALON TODAY. She has been responsible for growing the brand's celebrated recognition programs, SALON TODAY 200 and SALONS OF THE YEAR, and has launched two new competitions in recent years--STAMP (SALON TODAY's Annual Marketing Program) and the SALON TODAY Total Makeover Competition. She is a frequent speaker on the topic of salon business at industry events.

Chris Nedza

Founder and CEO, ZeeZor

Chris is the founder of ZeeZor, a software company focused on data analytics and employee engagement within the beauty industry. A high-energy, curiously-minded entrepreneur who loves figuring out how to make things work better, Chris has emerged as a thought-leader on employee engagement. Currently, he spends much time on the road working with hundreds of organizations in developing essential skills for employee-engagement and retention – most notably recognition and appreciation in the workplace.

Jen Baudier

Owner, Bella Style Salon

 @bellastylesalon @jenbaudier
 @bellastylesalon @jenbaudier
#bellastylesalon #bellagirl!

Jen Baudier is the owner of Bella Style Salon located in Slidell Louisiana for the past 10 years. She has had a passion for the beauty industry since her first job shampooing hair in the 8th grade. Her focus is to grow leaders in her company with the goal of creating and retiring beauty professionals. Jen has been studying and learning the behaviors associated with increasing profits and operates Bella Style on the “Profit First” philosophies. She is a firm believer that numbers are an indicator of behaviors, they tell a story and if we don’t connect with our teams or create career paths for them then we are just wasting time!

Amber Burns

Director of Marketing, Salon 124 Group

As a self-proclaimed storyteller, Amber Burns’ innate love for words and the power they hold led her to marketing. With more than 10 years of experience in the salon industry, she has asserted herself as a multi-faceted marketer who strategizes to grow salons, develop client relations and engage stylists to drive business. As the Director of Marketing at the Salon 124 Group she oversees digital and traditional marketing, public relations, web development and branding for six salon locations and their cosmetology school, Keune Academy by 124.

Stefanie Fox-Jackson

Creator & Salon Owner, Canvas Salon and Skin Bar

Stefanie Fox-Jackson is a speaker, consultant, and team builder. She is the creator of Canvas Salon and Skin Bar, a salon recognized for 5 years in a row as a SALON TODAY 200 Salon. She is also the founder of Salon Colab™, a leadership education company that encourages collaboration among salon leaders and connects them through a membership to a monthly mastermind. Masterminds focus on salon leadership development and business growth. Her passion and area of research is geared at understanding how to maximize business success with a multigenerational workforce. To learn more about salon leadership education, getting into a lab group, or collaborating with Stefanie visit saloncolab.com

Lauren Gartland

Founder & President, Inspiring Champions

Lauren, the “Red Head Firecracker” has impacted the beauty industry since 1983 by “Inspiring Dreams, Passion, and the Champion Within!” Lauren founded Inspiring Champions in 1995, and has since transformed the lives of TENS of THOUSANDS Salon & Spa Professionals – helping them make more money and work fewer hours while living a more balanced life. Rated as one of the top business trainers and success coaches she has trained and coached THOUSANDS to the top of their careers, using her proven and repeatable business systems for dramatically increasing sales, client retention, income and profit – all while having fun! 

April L. McDaniel, CPA, CRSP

Consultant, Educator, Kopsa Otte CPA's & Advisors

 @kopsa.otte
 @kopsaotte
 @kopsaotte

#SalonCPA #kopsaotte

Kopsa Otte has been referred to as “the only CPA Firm that specializes in Salons and Spas.” As a CPA for over 15 years April has a wide variety of experience including financial analysis, taxation, HR, pensions, insurance and leases. She uses this knowledge to help clients in multiple ways. She understands the financial and management challenges our industry faces. She continues to refine her specialized knowledge by serving as a national consultant to salons and spas. Her ability to take difficult topics and make them easy to understand has made her a very popular speaker.

Amanda Olusanya

Salon Owner, James Irving Grooming

 @sanyaeducationacademy
 @bushihair
After building her own business, doing high end fashion, education, and salon ownership, Amanda Olusanya has found her true passion in business. "Building a business has been just as creative as hair for me and I love thinking outside the box and growing as a human."

Laura Ortmann

Owner, Ginger Bay

Not your typical salon/spa owner, Laura is not a licensed cosmetologist, but rather a licensed attorney in Missouri and Illinois.  In her law practice, Laura specialized in the areas of real estate and construction litigation, along with corporate and employment law. Since purchasing the company in 2008, she has changed the culture at Ginger Bay overnight and allowed it to experience revenue growth and profitability, without layoffs or cuts in employee benefits.  Laura has led her team to earn some well-deserved recognition, including Top 200 Salons (2009-2017) from Salon Today, 2012 Salon of the Year from Salon Today and Top Small Business Women Owners from 2008-2017 by Small Business Monthly.

John Palmieri

Speaker, Salon 124

Debbie Penzone

President + CEO, Charles Penzone, Inc.

 @debbiepenzone
 @beautyzone

#penzone #wearepenzone

Debbie Penzone is a proud salon industry innovator, community leader, author, philanthropist and lifestyle expert. She is passionate about wellness and inspiring others to live their fullest lives – and integrating these same principles into the business. Debbie leads a team of hundreds as president and CEO of Charles Penzone Incorporated, an Ohio-based group of world-class salons and spas with six locations that serve more than 300,000 guests a year. She spent more than 30 years helping to strategically build and evolve the company as a stylist, artistic director, training director and senior vice president before taking the organization’s helm in 2008. Additionally, Debbie recently opened LIT Life + Yoga Yoga with the intent of spreading and empowering people with the message of wellness, health and beauty from the inside-out. Debbie also authored “Debbie’s Club™: Discovering MyTrueBeauty™ for Girls,” an interactive workbook to inspire girls to recognize their unique inner beauty.

Chris Sulimay

Presenter, Salon 124

Valorie Tate

Executive Director, International SalonSpa Business Network (ISBN)

Valorie Tate currently serves as the Executive Director for the multi-location association, International SalonSpa Business Network. As the only network devoted to the business demands of a chain or franchise salon, spa or barbershop company, the ISBN focuses on networking within it’s members and on collaborative efforts to support the industry. Valorie’s background in marketing and technology stretches over a decade within the hair and beauty business, bringing strategic brand vision and integrated communications programs to companies in several countries and regions. Working with major manufacturers, multi-unit salon spa operations, technology firms as well as the individual salon, Valorie works to bring the industry together in her current role with ISBN.

Anna Walt

Master Stylist

Todd Weeks

Professional EOS Implementer, Traction Focused LLC

#tractionfocused

Todd is passionate about helping business owners get traction in their business through the Entrepreneurial Operating System ("EOS"). Todd personally used EOS for over four years and experienced the transformative power it can have on a business. In the first 3 years of running their business using EOS Todd and his team grew their Net Profit 6 times, and ultimately sold the company in the 4th year realizing a 40% increase in the overall value of the business. Now, Todd spends all of his time helping other entrepreneurs experience the same growth and transformation through implementing EOS in their companies.

Michael Yost

Director of Education, Strategies

Michael is the Director of Education for Strategies and was a business owner for 17 years within the beauty industry. Michael now has the privilege of teaching, mentoring, and coaching others in reaching their business and personal goals. As a presenter and coach Michael believes that, "There is no magic pill, or easy fix. However, a willingness to work hard and stay true to the systems that drive your business will allow you to reach the goals you have set."