Our 2006 honorees include salon operators, sales consultants and company presidents. Some are known by thousands of tanning professionals, some are in charge of many employees; others lend their talents to key roles “behind the scenes”. All were chosen by their employers and colleagues to be recognized in this exclusive IST feature because they contribute something special to our industry.
Our head writer John Ribner interviewed each of this year’s honorees. They talked about their jobs and life goals, and he got them to “dish” a little about personal stuff, too!
IST congratulates the 2006 “Women in Tanning” and we thank the companies that nominated them for this honor. We know you’ll enjoy reading their profiles.
This Year’s Honorees
Stefanie
Altieri
Sunflow Distributing
Anita
Baker
Soleil Tanning Experience
(Nominated by EuroWalls)
Clara
Bennett
Sun-Kissed Tanning Salon
(Nominated by EuroWalls)
Lorraine
Borowy
Future Industries
(Nominated by Devoted Creations)
Petra
Braun
California Tan, Inc.
Ann
Cline Dingman
American Sun Systems
Kimberly
Demetras Feist
Tan America
Penelope
Harrison
Cosmedico Light, Inc.
Donna
Izzo
Aztek Health & Beauty
Kate
Kotyleva
Luxury Brand Group/SkinScience
Renee
Lofland
Eye Pro, Inc.
LaDonna
McMasters
Cabana Mist/Aloe-Rain
Amy
Nelson
Interactive Designs, Inc.
(SunTouch, SalonTouch)
Carol
Neuwirth
Supre
Debbie
Owens
Set-N-Me-Free
Lynetta
Pilkinton
Global Sun Light
LaVonne
Reese
Hot Spot Tanning
(Nominated by Interactive Designs, Inc.)
Wendy
Rockett
Nichesoft LLC
Toni
Rodriquez
Future Industries, Inc.
Original Dr. Müller
Ramona
Sanders
Salon Support, Inc.
Cindy
VanKoevering
TAT International
Stefani Altieri
President
Sunflow Distributing
My favorite TV show is:
“Desperate Housewives”
In my CD player right now:
Alanis Morrisette
The food I can’t live without:
Pizza
The dish Icook best: shrimp
with zucchini, tomatoes & garlic over spaghetti
My favorite beauty product:
Christian Dior mascara – “Dior Show”
One of my “pet peeves”:
When I’m in the supermarket and someone stops right in front of me with
their cart.
My dream vacation: A trip
to the Fiji Islands
by John P. Ribner
With as many things as Stefani Altieri juggles, she could be considered
the ultimate multi-tasker.
Stefani is the president of SunFlow Distributing, the small distribution
company she purchased a year ago. “I’ve owned my salon – Sunquest Tanning
in Freehold, NJ – for the past five years, and I was looking to purchase
a second location,” she recalled. “I heard someone in my area wanted to
sell one of their salons, so I approached him about the idea. Come to
find out, he wanted to sell his distribution company, instead. It sounded
like a good opportunity, so I decided to broaden my horizons and add tanning
product distribution to what I was already doing.”
As the president of SunFlow, it’s easy for Stefani to sum up what she
does for the company in a word – everything. She handles all the sales,
orders, billing and shipping by herself. “My favorite part of the job,
by far, is being able to help tanning salon owners, especially those who
are new to the industry,” she commented. “I’ve been a salon owner for
over five years, so I know what it’s like to come into this industry needing
all the training and education you can get. That’s why I make myself available
for all my clients’ needs and try to help them as much as I can. It’s
very satisfying.”
In addition to her tanning salon and SunFlow, Stefani also has a family
that she must make time for – husband Jason and son Jake, 2. As such,
her life’s goal is to stay healthy and happy, and try to find a balance
between her two jobs and her home life. “It can be difficult sometimes,
because I want to spend as much time as I can with my family; but the
two businesses demand my time, too,” she commented. “I’m thankful for
the great staff we have at Sunquest, because they operate the salon, which
allows me more time for SunFlow and my family.”
Anita Baker
Owner/Operator
Soleil Tanning Experience (Nominated by EuroWalls)
My favorite TV show is:
“Fear Factor”
In my CD player right now:
Def Leppard
The food I can’t live without:
chips and hot salsa
The dish I cook best: green
chili stew
My favorite beauty product:
Mirenesse mascara
One of my “pet peeves”:
people who are late
My dream vacation: Sailing
the Caribbean on a yacht for two months
by John P. Ribner
A self-motivated achiever, salon owner Anita Baker balances her driven
nature with a genuine concern for people.
Anita has operated her Albuquerque, NM tanning salon – Soleil Tanning
Experience – for the past five months. “I’ve been an avid tanner for about
20 years, and I’ve seen the indoor tanning industry grow in my area during
that time,” she commented. “Most of the area salons had a tropical theme
and mostly base beds, so I wanted to offer something different.” Anita
opened her salon, which has an upscale, European décor and a mix
of tanning equipment, on December 23, 2005.
One of the things that accentuates Soleil Tanning’s upscale look is the
EuroWalls systems used to construct the tanning rooms. “Working with EuroWalls
has been a wonderful experience and everyone there has been so helpful,”
Anita exclaimed. “We love the way the walls look, and many of our clients
have complimented us on them, too.”
As owner of Soleil Tanning Experience, the lion’s share of the salon’s
duties falls on Anita’s shoulders. In addition to taking care of her clients’
needs, she’s also responsible for the business’s financial operations,
such as accounting and profits and losses, as well as making sure her
staff is fully trained in the areas of salon operation, sales and customer
service. “My favorite aspect of my job, by far, is talking with our clients,”
she commented. “I enjoy interacting with them on a personal level and
talking about anything they want to when they come in. It helps me get
to know them better, and creates an environment in the salon that makes
them want to keep coming back.”
Renee Ammermuller, Anita’s mother, is the person the salon pro says has
most influenced her life. “My mother raised me to be confident, and she
pushed me to always strive for more out of life, and I feel that I am
a better person for that,” she stated.
Clara Bennett
Owner/Operator
Sun-Kissed Tanning Salon (Nominated by Eurowalls)
My favorite TV show is:
“Deal or No Deal”
In my CD player right now:
Cowboy Troy
The food I can’t live without:
any seafood
The dish I cook best: lasagna
My favorite beauty product:
Swedish Beauty Endless Moisturizer
One of my “pet peeves”:
My husband won’t put his dirty clothes in the hamper
My dream vacation: two weeks
in Key West
by John P. Ribner
Clara Bennett is the type of person who’s not afraid to take a chance
in life, and this outlook has served her well.
About 15 months ago, Clara opened Sun-Kissed Tanning Salon in Richmond,
KY. “My husband Gary and I owned a pool and spa store for the past 24
years, which we moved to a shopping center we recently built,” she said.
“We had an empty space next to our store, so I told my husband I wanted
to open another business there. With his blessing, we opened our tanning
salon, and it’s been very successful.” The business grew from having six
tanning units to 16 in less than a year.
Clara’s salon features EuroWalls portable wall systems, which she’s very
happy with. “We first saw these walls at the Indoor Tanning Association
World Expo, and we fell in love with them,” she commented. “They’re very
classy, they really compliment our salon’s décor and they’re very
functional, too. Plus, everyone at EuroWalls has gone above and beyond
to help us; they offer great customer service.”
As a salon owner, Clara certainly has her hands full. She does everything
at Sun-Kissed, including the laundry, bookkeeping, management and the
paperwork. “My favorite thing about my job is the people,” she commented.
“I love to see our clients every day and talk with them. I’m considering
outsourcing the taxes and other paperwork so I will have more time to
visit with our tanners.”
Clara cites her father, George W. Robbins, and her grandmother, Clara
Robbins, as the people who’ve most influenced her life. “They’re the whole
reason I’m an entrepreneur,” she commented. “My father always said, ‘The
biggest risk in life is not taking one.’ They raised me to go out into
the world and take chances, and I’m very thankful for their guidance.”
Lorraine Borowy
Sales & Salon Consultant
Future Industries, Inc./Original Dr. Müller (Nominated by Devoted
Creations)
My favorite TV show is:
“24”
In my CD player right now:
Bon Jovi
The food I can’t live without:
blackberries & strawberries with whipped cream
The dish I cook best: stuffed
cabbage
My favorite beauty product:
Bare Escentuals
One of my “pet peeves”:
Poor customer service. Calling businesses with automated phone systems
and never getting to speak to a real person.
My dream vacation: A tropical
spa resort with awesome beaches where I can be pampered.
by John P. Ribner
Courteous, friendly and always willing to help, Lorraine Borowy’s greatest
asset is her sense of determination.
This July will mark Lorraine’s third year with indoor tanning distributor
Future Industries/Original Dr. Müller. She joined the company after
relocating to Connecticut from North Carolina. “I was working at a sales
job there for about five years, and I enjoyed it, but all my family and
friends were back home in Connecticut,” she explained. “I was getting
homesick, so I decided to go back. While I was looking for a job, I came
across a sales position opening at Future Industries, and it was exactly
what I wanted”
As a salesperson, Lorraine spends most of her day on the telephone selling
tanning lotions and sunlamps to her salon clients. Another part of her
job includes setting up salon operator training and certification courses.
During the off-peak months, Lorraine gets to put the phone down and travel
to tanning salons to present sales training to tanning pros. “What I love
most about my job is that it gives me the opportunity to help salon owners
make their businesses profitable and successful,” she commented. “It’s
extremely rewarding.”
In a first for IST’s “Women in Tanning”, Lorraine was nominated for the
honor by Lewis Henry, president of lotion maker Devoted Creations. “Lorraine
is a hardworking person with lots of integrity, and she does a great job
of representing our products to the tanning public,” Lewis said. “It’s
a pleasure working with her.”
Lorraine says the best advice she’s ever received was given to her by
a former employer. “He told me that anyone can achieve whatever they want
to if they put their mind to it,” she said. “Nothing is out of reach for
the person who’s willing to work hard and focus on their goals. I try
to live by that advice every day of my life.”
Petra Braun
Vice President of Marketing
California Tan, Inc.
My favorite TV show is:
“Lost”
In my CD player right now:
“Garden State” soundtrack
The food I can’t live without:
chocolate
The dish I cook best: I’m
not much of a cook, so I’d have to say hard-boiled eggs
My favorite beauty product:
California Tan Sunless Face Perfector
One of my “pet peeves”:
The speed limit in Los Angeles is too slow!
My dream vacation: Anywhere
in Italy
by John P. Ribner
One part strategic, the other part hands-on, California Tan’s Petra Braun
is, above all, a very well traveled person.
After moving to the U.S. from Germany, Petra has worked at California
Tan’s swank, L.A. offices for four years. She originally headed the marketing
of the company’s European products, and worked closely with Cal Tan’s
satellite office in Germany. “A co-worker read a posting for the position
of vice president of marketing, and said I would be a good match for it,”
she recalled. “I applied for it, and was lucky enough to be chosen for
the position. This has been a great opportunity for me, and I love being
part of the California Tan team.”
Petra is responsible for the global development of all California Tan’s
UV tanning products – this starts with her conducting a strategic market
analysis on not only the indoor tanning industry, but other industries
such as beauty and fashion, to see what’s hot among consumers. The second
aspect of her job is product development, which is something she’s very
involved with. In this role, she gets to test many of California Tan’s
popular lotions and products. “What I like most about my job is the variety
it offers me,” she commented. “I enjoy the balance between analyzing the
market, which is very strategic, and product development, which is hands-on.”
When asked to define her life’s goal, Petra is very clear about it. “I
love to travel, and I want to see as much of the world as I can,” she
commented. “I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over Europe and I loved
it, but there are other places I haven’t been, such as Asia and New Zealand.
When my husband and I are in our 60s and 70s, we want to be able to look
at a map of the world, point to a spot and say, ‘Been there, done that.’”
Angelene Cline Dingman
Buyer &Warehouse Manager
American Sun Systems
My favorite TV show is:
“The Apprentice”
In my CD player right now: The
Very Best of Willie Nelson
The food I can’t live without:
crab legs
The dish I cook best: I’m
not a cook, but my son says canned yams
My favorite beauty product:
“Beautiful” perfume by Estée Lauder
One of my “pet peeves”:
My husband’s driving! He used to race a stock car and sometimes forgets
our SUV isn’t one.
My dream vacation: A seven-day
Caribbean cruise with my husband
by John P. Ribner
A strong work ethic, sense of motivation and a unique, free spirit are
all qualities that combine to create Angelene Cline Dingman.
Angelene has been an integral part of the American Sun Systems team for
the past 12 years, making her the longest-employed person at the North
Carolina distribution company. After just a few months there, she was
promoted to warehouse manager, and eventually took on the purchasing duties,
as well. Her responsibilities include inventory, shipping/receiving and
working closely with manufacturers on various promotions. “I came here
motivated to learn all that I could about the tanning industry, and from
Day One, I’ve tried to do the best job I can do,” she commented. “Everyone
here is like a family, and I love being part of it.”
It’s the challenge of day-to-day operations that keeps Angelene happy
in her job at American Sun Systems. “The best part is the feeling of accomplishment
I have after completing a huge, important buy-in,” she explained. “It’s
a great feeling to know that, after analyzing the amount of products to
order and utilizing the best buys and promotions available, I’ve been
able to contribute to the company’s year-end profits.”
Angelene credits life, itself, as the source of the best advice she’s
ever received. “I’ve had interesting experiences and learned that life
either makes you or breaks you, and I refuse to let anything break me,”
she commented. “No matter what happens, if you look around, you can always
find someone else who has it worse. I have learned to listen to my heart
when it tells me what is right and wrong, and be the best person I can
be without worrying about what others might say or think.”
My favorite TV show is:
“Medium”
In my CD player right now:
Kelly Clarkson
The food I can’t live without:
sourdough garlic bread
The dish I cook best: chicken
stew
My favorite beauty product:
California Tan Suddenly Sun
One of my “pet peeves”:
People who add “at” to the end of a sentence that doesn’t need it, such
as “where are you at?”
My dream vacation: Three
weeks with my husband in a warm place near the ocean, with NO PHONES!
by John P. Ribner
Giving and very family oriented, Kimberly Demetras Feist enjoys working
with her family and friends at TanAmerica.
Kimberly has been with TanAmerica – the sunbed manufacturer owned by her
parents Peter and Julie Demetras – for the past 10 years. A licensed massage
therapist and former banker, Kimberly returned to California from her
home in Tucson, AZ to take a job at the company. “I initially did this
to be closer to my family, and so that my father could spend more time
with his grandsons,” she recalled. “As it turned out, I also fell in love
with my job.”
During the first four years at TanAmerica, Kimberly worked in accounting,
and it was her sister/co-worker, Cindy Demetras, who convinced Kimberly
to give sales a try. “She said I could be doing so much better for myself
in sales, and after four years of her telling me this, I decided to try
it,” Kimberly commented. “She explained that I could make so much more
money in sales because there’s never an earnings ceiling with such a position.
It was a little scary at first because I was trying something new, but
I got the hang of it quickly and discovered that I really liked it.”
As sales manager of the sunlamp and lotions department, Kimberly keeps
busy handling customer service matters, leading the sales team and solving
the usual day-to-day issues that arise in a company as big and successful
as TanAmerica. “I like to think of myself as what sales guru Zig Ziglar
calls a ‘PPS,’ which stands for ‘professional problem solver,’” Kimberly
laughed.
True to her giving nature, Kimberly’s life goal is to help others. “I
enjoy helping people,” she commented. “For example, I have helped some
of the younger employees here at TanAmerica progress into a career in
sales, which has aided them in their finances. Even when I finally retire
from TanAmerica, I plan to continue helping people by getting back into
massage therapy, as well as doing some volunteer work in the community.”
Penelope Harrison
Marketing Manager
Cosmedico Light, Inc.
My favorite TV show is:
“Grey’s Anatomy”
In my CD player right now:
Norah Jones
The food I can’t live without:
cheese
The dish I cook best: four-alarm
chili
My favorite beauty product:
Any good hand cream
One of my “pet peeves”:
People who give unsolicited advice
My dream vacation: Any resort
with a great beach, great golf course and good restaurants
by John P. Ribner
Although she’s hardworking and dependable, Penelope Harrison’s greatest
quality is perhaps the unique sense of humor that always seems to be with
her.
Penelope joined sunlamp marketer Cosmedico Light, Inc. as marketing manager
six years ago. At the time, she came very highly recommended for the position.
“I used to work for a small publishing firm with Jon-Sam Frank, who is
the son of (Cosmedico President) Jerry Frank,” she recalled. “He had left
the publishing firm to join his father at Cosmedico for a few years and
we still kept in touch from time to time. When Jon-Sam was ready to leave
Cosmedico to pursue other dreams, he recommended me for the position of
marketing manager. I’ve been with the company ever since.”
Working at Cosmedico certainly offers Penelope her share of challenging
and exciting job duties. Her responsibilities run the gamut from invoicing
to shipping and receiving, and creating the company’s direct mail campaigns
and magazine advertisements. “I love the variety that my job offers me,”
she commented. “Perhaps the thing I enjoy most is creating our advertisements
for print media. It’s very interesting to see these ads develop from a
concept into reality, and I love being part of all that. It’s extremely
rewarding.”
Penelope says she feels fortunate to have been blessed with many people
who have influenced her life in positive ways throughout the years. Of
those people, she says the one who most inspired her was her mother, Lucy
Harrison. “What truly made my mother great was that no matter what circumstances
life handed her, she never lost her sense of humor,” she said. “That is
a rare and unique quality to have, especially in this day and age, and
it provides a good example for anyone to live by.”
Donna Marie Izzo
Head Educator/Show Manager
Aztek Health &Beauty
My favorite TV show is:
“Sex and the City”
In my CD player right now:
Madonna’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor”
The food I can’t live without:
pasta
The dish I cook best: Italian
dishes
My favorite beauty product:
Tan Mist
One of my “pet peeves”:
indecisive people
My dream vacation: anyplace
that is warm
by John P. Ribner
Talkative and outgoing, Donna Marie Izzo’s high-energy personality can’t
hide the fact that she’s a people-person at heart.
Almost five years ago, Jackie Allen of Aztek Health & Beauty asked
Donna to join the company’s team. “I used to work as an educator for another
company, and I met Jackie at a trade event,” she recalled. “She and I
hit it off right away, and by the end of the show, we felt like we’d known
each other all our lives. Not long after that, she asked me to work with
her at Aztek Health & Beauty, which I started on a part-time basis
and eventually moved into a full-time position.”
As the company’s head educator and show manager, it’s Donna’s job to answer
questions about Aztek’s products, network with new company reps, schedule
meetings with potential clients and organize the company’s tradeshow presence.
“My favorite part of the job is meeting people,” she commented. “I love
people, and this job is great because it gives me the opportunity to tell
so many about our wonderful products that will help them look and feel
beautiful.”
Donna’s life goal and the continued success of Aztek Health & Beauty
are interconnected. “Jackie had so much faith in me to hire me for this
position, and I want to make her proud that she did,” commented Donna.
“I believe in this company and its products, so it’s my goal to help take
it to the next level. Our goal is to establish distributor reps on the
east and west coasts, which will allow Aztek products to continue to grow.”
Kate Kotyleva
Product Development Manager
Luxury Brand Group/SkinScience
My favorite TV show is:
“Friends”
In my CD player right now:
Joe Cocker
The food I can’t live without:
grapes
The dish I cook best: pasta
with beans & lamb
My favorite beauty product:
any shower gel with a good scent
One of my “pet peeves”:
anything that reminds me of my ex-husband
My dream vacation: somewhere
with a beach and my best friends
by John P. Ribner
A caring and intelligent person, Kate Kotyleva puts her knowledge and
skills to good use by helping people’s skin to look and feel better.
Kate Kotyleva has the distinction of perhaps being one of the only dermatologists
to work in the indoor tanning industry! For the past four years, she’s
lent her dermatological expertise as a board member of tanning lotion
maker SkinScience. “I love tanning, and I wanted to help make quality
skin care products that would help people’s skin become healthier while
tanning,” Kate explained. “When I was approached by SkinScience to join
them as their chief product development officer, I jumped on board immediately.”
After four years of intense product development and testing, Kate finally
felt that she had developed the best product line available in the industry.
At SkinScience, Kate formulates, tests and produces the company’s popular
tanning lotions. In addition to those duties, which tend to keep her very
busy, she’s also recently added another item to her job description –
addressing tanners’ questions about the products on the company’s website.
“They have many questions about our products, and I’m more than happy
to answer them,” Kate commented. “It’s very rewarding to be able to talk
with and help so many tanners. I also enjoy researching to find new and
exciting skincare ingredients to utilize in our products. It’s very challenging
and exciting.”
Kate’s life goal is something she’s already in the process of achieving.
“I want to create tanning formulas that are also skincare products in
order for people to not only be tan but have beautiful skin, as well,”
she explained. “That is why we continue to conduct research to find the
best anti-aging and skin-rejuvenating ingredients to enhance our tanning
lotions.”
My favorite TV show is:
“American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars”
In my CD player right now:
Michael Buble
The food I can’t live without:
Sushi
The dish I cook best: Chocolate
Trifle
My favorite beauty product:
Pureology hair products
One of my “pet peeves”:
My husband, Ed
My dream vacation: Backpacking
for a few weeks in Europe with my sisters.
by John P. Ribner
As compassionate as she is plucky, Renee Lofland gives her all to those
she cares about.
Three years ago, Renee had the rest of her life planned. She had just
graduated from Purdue University with a degree in communications and was
all set to take a summer internship in San Diego. “Two weeks before I
was supposed to leave, the company contacted me to say they could no longer
pay me for the internship,” she recalled. “There was no way I could live
in San Diego without a paycheck, and two weeks was not enough time to
set up another internship.”
Although this was very bad news, Renee was determined to salvage her situation.
In a time of trouble, She turned to her friend, Betsy King, who worked
at Eye Pro. “It was a long shot, but I was hoping that they might have
an internship available for me,”she explained. “As it turned out, Betsy
was taking some time off, and I filled in for her. It was almost as if
it were meant to be.” Things worked out so well for Renee at Eye Pro that
she was offered a full-time position.
“A little bit of everything” would probably best describe Renee’s duties
at Eye Pro. “I contact distributors to see how the products are doing
and who needs to place orders,” she explained. “I also travel to symposiums
and salons for product education and training, and I’m now working on
free web conferencing for salon owners to attend via their home computers
and phones, as well as other tasks around the office.” Renee says the
people she works with – in the office and on the road – are her favorite
part of her job. “I can’t imagine a more exciting and fun-loving industry
to work in!” she exclaimed.
A work-family balance is Renee’s life goal. “This can be difficult because
whenever something comes up at Eye Pro, I’m always willing to cancel personal
plans to help out; but I’ll keep working on ways to balance it all out
in the end,” she confessed.
LaDonna McMasters
Director of Operations
Cabana Mist/Aloe-Rain
My favorite TV show is:
“Grey’s Anatomy”
In my CD player right now:
Bonnie Raitt
The food I can’t live without:
chicken or pasta
The dish I cook best: Southern
fried chicken and cheesy-garlic baked potatoes
My favorite beauty product:
Cabana Mist Aloe-Rain, of course!
One of my “pet peeves”:
Irresponsible people
My dream vacation: Sitting
under an umbrella on the beach in Cancun.
by John P. Ribner
Honest, dependable and hardworking, it’s no wonder LaDonna McMasters’
employers personally sought her out for the job.
Now working at sunless spray booth maker Cabana Mist/Aloe-Rain for a year
and a half, LaDonna was a shoe-in for the position from the very start.
The company’s founders – Jerry Deveney and Porter Hurt – worked with LaDonna
for more than 20 years at another indoor tanning industry manufacturer.
When the two decided to form Cabana Mist, they knew they needed someone
who could handle the company’s shipping and receiving needs, and immediately
called LaDonna. “I was honored they thought of me, and I jumped at the
chance to work with them again,” she commented.
As Director of Operations for Cabana Mist/Aloe-Rain, LaDonna’s job duties
are varied. “I do everything from shipping and receiving to customer service
and whatever else needs to be done,” LaDonna commented. “We all wear many
hats around here – we just do what it takes to get the job done.” What
she enjoys most about her job, though, is the people she works with. “Everyone
here is like your best friend,” she commented. “It’s great teamwork and
we all believe in the product we’re manufacturing. I’m proud and truly
grateful to be part of all this.”
When asked what person has most influenced her life, LaDonna says there
are two. In the early part of her life, her mother Jessie Primm was most
influential. “My father passed away when I was eight years old, and my
mother raised my two sisters and me all by herself,” she recalled. “I
admire her for her strength and work ethic.” Most recently, LaDonna says
her 19-year-old daughter, Jessica McMasters, has been the biggest influence
in her life. “When you have a child, they become your biggest priority,”
she added. “It truly makes you realize what’s important in life.”
Amy Nelson
Director of Marketing
Interactive Designs, Inc.(SunTouch, SalonTouch)
My favorite TV show is:
“America’s Funniest Home Videos”
In my CD player right now:
Ani DiFranco
The food I can’t live without:
pizza and Mexican food
The dish I cook best: chili
My favorite beauty product:
any kind of makeup
One of my “pet peeves”:
People who lack motivation
My dream vacation: A European
cruise with my husband
by John P. Ribner
Amy Nelson is someone who knows that hard work and perseverance can lead
to success.
A newcomer to Interactive Designs, Amy joined the team in November 2005.
“I used to be the vice president of sales and marketing for a cosmetics
company specializing in all-natural makeup products, and I was working
out of my home,” she said. “This was a fun job because it gave me the
opportunity to utilize my marketing skills; but after a while, I was longing
to get out of the house and back into the working world. I came across
a job opening at Interactive Designs while I was surfing the Internet,
and I saw it as a good chance to utilize my skills and experience. They
offered me the position and I jumped at the opportunity.”
As director of marketing, Amy has many duties at Interactive Designs.
She handles all inside and outside advertising, as well as researches
potential distributors, maintains the company’s relationships with current
distributors, trains employees and clients and communicates with the development
team on all the latest salon software projects. “I love everything about
my job, but my favorite thing is working with everyone here at Interactive
Designs,” she said. “Mike Young has assembled a great team, and we all
work very well together. It’s a pleasure to be a part of all this.”
Everyone has had someone influence their life in a profound way; for Amy,
that person is her mother, Darlene VanSickle. “Throughout my whole life,
my mother has always been there for my sister and me,” she commented.
“She not only taught us that hard work leads to success, she showed us
by always sacrificing to make sure we had everything we needed. Much of
who we are we owe to our mother, and we’ll never forget that.”
Carol Neuwirth
Contracted Educator
Supre
My favorite TV show is:
“Grey’s Anatomy”
In my CD player right now:
Black Eyed Peas
The food I can’t live without:
chocolate
The dish I cook best: seafood
alfredo
My favorite beauty product:
Mary Kay mascara
One of my “pet peeves”:
when people mispronounce “Missouri”!
My dream vacation: three
weeks in the Galapagos Islands
by John P. Ribner
An educator by trade, Carol Neuwirth’s goal is to be educated, herself,
by the people of the world.
A year ago, the skincare company where Carol worked as a product educator
changed ownership, and she found herself without her job. Lucky for her,
she knew Supre employees Joyce Baker and Sunny Stinchcombe, and through
them, met company president John Alexander. “When they heard about my
situation, they said, ‘Come work with us,’” Carol recalled. “It wasn’t
a tough choice – I’ve known them for many years and trust their decisions.
They’ve always talked about how much they love working for Supre. I knew
it was a great company and opportunity.”
As a contracted educator, it’s Carol’s job to travel to various distributor
symposiums across the country and educate salon pros and distributors
about Supre’s popular tanning products. “I absolutely love traveling and
meeting people,” she commented. “Ialways been a people person, so it’s
a pleasure to meet with all the distributors and salon operators and get
to know them. There are just so many wonderful, down-to-earth people in
this industry, and it truly is a pleasure getting the chance to meet many
of them. It’s easily my favorite part of my job.”
Carol recently took trips to Costa Rica and St. Lucia, where she went
off the typical tourist paths and interacted with the people of those
nations directly. The result was an eye-opening and enlightening experience
that has changed her outlook on life. “I would like to be in a financial
position to travel around the world and experience other cultures firsthand,”
she commented. “Seeing how other people truly live broadens our understanding
of each other and the world we live in. It also gives us an opportunity
to see how fortunate we are to live here in America.”
Debbie Owens
Manager
Set-N-Me-Free
My favorite TV show is:
“American Idol”
In my CD player right now:
Country-Western
The food I can’t live without:
Italian
The dish I cook best: chicken
My favorite beauty product:
Set-N-Me-Free
One of my “pet peeves”:
People who don’t try
My dream vacation: Going
somewhere warm, taking the top down on my convertible and having a good
time
by John P. Ribner
Debbie Owens is an upbeat, sociable person who enjoys trying new things
to see what life has to offer.
Six years ago, Debbie was looking for a career change, so she joined the
team at beauty product maker Set-N-Me-Free. “I had worked in the hospitality
industry as a restaurant manager for a long time, and I was looking for
something different,” she commented. “I had known Jan Heinrich, Set-N-Me-Free
president, for many years, and she told me about the opportunity at the
company and offered me the job. I had always liked Jan, and I was happy
to take the position.”
As a manager at Set-N-Me-Free, Debbie is very clear about her job duties.
“I do whatever it takes to help keep the company going strong,” she commented.
Her typical workday consists of overseeing the company’s sales department,
as well as communicating with customers and organizing its tradeshow presence.
“What I love most about my job is going to tradeshows and meeting people,”
Debbie commented. “There are so many interesting people in this industry,
and it’s a pleasure to have a job that allows me to get to know many of
them.”
Debbie says the best advice she ever received came from her friend and
boss, Jan Heinrich. “When I was contemplating leaving my career in the
hospitality industry and joining Jan at Set-N-Me-Free, she told me to
believe in myself and never be afraid to try something different,” Debbie
recalled. “I had never worked in the beauty industry, but after talking
to Jan, I decided to give it a try. I took the job with Set-N-Me-Free
and never looked back, and I’m very glad I made that decision. Under Jan’s
guidance, I’ve really learned a lot, and I’ll always be thankful to her
for this opportunity.”
Lynetta Pilkinton
Sales & Operations Manager
Global Sun Light
My favorite TV show is:
“House”
In my CD player right now:
Alicia Keys
The food I can’t live without:
chocolate
The dish I cook best: beef
stew, so my daughter says…
My favorite beauty product:
Mary Kay red lipstick; my fiancée loves it!
One of my “pet peeves”:
people who dance around the truth – just tell me like it is.
My dream vacation: a trip
to Italy
by John P. Ribner
After years of playing it safe, Lynetta Pilkinton took a chance and changed
her whole life – for the better!
Lynetta has been with Global Sun Light for three years, where she started
in the accounting department. She came to the company after working in
marketing for 20 years. “I needed a change, and I was fortunate to know
the office manager for Global Sun Light,” Lynetta recalled. “She told
me about two part-time job openings there and I took them both. That wasn’t
like me at all! I’m the type of person who stays at a job for a long time;
but I decided to take a chance and I’m glad I did.”
Lynetta quickly moved up the Global corporate ladder. In August 2004,
the vice president of the company asked if she wanted to try sales, but
she said she wasn’t ready. The offer again was made the following February,
and this time, Lynetta decided to move into sales. In December, she took
the position of sales and operations manager. As such, she oversees four
sales reps and one administrative staff member, forecasts and orders products,
and manages customer service and retail sales for two states. “I absolutely
love my job because it presents me with lots of challenges, and allows
me to communicate with people, which I enjoy,” she commented. “I also
love helping salon owners find the products they need to be successful.”
Dan Shine, Global Sun Light Man aging Director, nominated Lynetta for
“Women in Tanning” because of her work ethic. “She’s one of the most hardworking,
selfless people it’s been my pleasure to know,” he commented. “We’re extremely
proud to have her managing our sales team.”
When asked about the person who’s most influenced Lynetta’s life, she
doesn’t hesitate to name her 22-year-old daughter, AaLesha. “She tells
me to remember that each day is a chance to be successful, and that holding
onto past failures only holds you back,” she commented. “She has given
me a reason to not only survive in this world, but to flourish.”
Lyvonn Reese
Owner/Operator
Hot Spot Tanning (Nominated by Interactive Designs, Inc.)
My favorite TV show is:
“Dancing with the Stars”
In my CD player right now:
“Take the Lead” soundtrack
The food I can’t live without:
potato chips
The dish I cook best: chicken
pot pie
My favorite beauty product:
Lumiere
One of my “pet peeves”:
Anything that isn’t clean
My dream vacation: A Mediterranean
cruise
by John P. Ribner
Salon owner Lyvonn Reese is a living example of the adage, “a job worth
doing is a job worth doing well.”
For the past six years, Lyvonn has owned and operated Hot Spot Tanning
– an eight-salon franchise based in Murfreesboro, TN. A former travel
agent, she was drawn to salon ownership after being disappointed in a
salon near her hometown. “Every time I tanned there, I got a little red,”
Lyvonn recalled. “I asked the salon employee why this was, and she couldn’t
give me an answer. That’s when I decided to research indoor tanning for
myself.”
After reading all she could and seeing Dr. Michael Holick’s presentation
at a tanning industry event, Lyvonn made up her mind – she wanted to own
a salon. “I wanted to not only get people tan, but also educate them about
tanning and the importance of moderate UV exposure,” she explained. Her
approach has clearly proved successful.
Lyvonn was nominated for IST’s “Women in Tanning” by Interactive Designs,
Inc. “When we had one salon, we used SunTouch software and were very happy
with it,” she commented. “As we expanded our chain, we needed to network
our systems, and were one of the first to use Interactive’s networking
programs. They make great products, their staff is always very helpful
and they’re a pleasure to work with.”
Owning eight salons, it’s no surprise that Lyvonn delegates some of her
duties to her managers, but still handles all the computer, bookkeeping
and maintenance issues. “What I enjoy most is educating our clients about
the importance of moderate tanning,”she said. “No one ever took the time
to explain it to me, so I’m happy to pass the knowledge on to those who
could benefit from it.”
Lyvonn fondly remembers a former boss as the person who most influenced
her life. “She truly cared about her staff, but she knew how to walk the
fine line between being a boss and a friend,” she recalled. “Her tough
love taught me many things, the most valuable being the importance of
doing a job right.”
Wendy Rockett
Sales Manager
Nichesoft, LLC
My favorite TV show is:
“CSI Miami”
In my CD player right now:
Seal, “The OC” soundtrack, Rob Thomas, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”
soundtrack, and my iPod. I might be a music junkie!
The food I can’t live without:
It’s a toss-up between tortillas and pasta.
The dish I cook best: I
love to cook! Dinner parties are my specialty – from appetizers to desserts,
it’s all good!
My favorite beauty product:
Any lip-gloss. I’m addicted!
One of my “pet peeves”:
People who aren’t willing to give 110% in every aspect of their life.
My dream vacation: A trip
to the Mediterranean, or any beach…give me the sun!
by John P. Ribner
Wendy Rocket says she accomplishes her goals because she is definitely
“her father’s daughter.”
This July marks Wendy’s third year as sales manager for Nichesoft LLC.
“I was introduced to Nichesoft by a friend who was working there during
the summers,” she recalled. “Once I got in here and learned my way around,
I quickly discovered that I loved being in a sales, and more importantly,
I truly loved being a part of the Nichesoft team. I decided right away
that I wanted to make this my career.”
As sales manager, Wendy sells Nichesoft salon software, visits tanning
salons and distribution companies and answers clients’ software questions
over the phone. “What I love most is the family atmosphere here at Nichesoft,”
she commented. “From the minute I walk into the office in the morning
until the end of the day, everyone is always laughing, and there is lots
of camaraderie; but we’ll all roll up our sleeves and pitch in when there’s
work to be done. This has made for a very enjoyable career for me.”
Given her educational background – she received a bachelor’s degree in
biology from the University of North Texas – Wendy wouldn’t seem likely
to gravitate toward a sales career. But despite her interest in science,
selling is in her blood. “I had planned to pursue a career in clinical
research, but I was drawn to sales,” she said. “My father, Donald Rockett,
was a natural born salesperson. I tend to take after him, so I should’ve
known all along that I would follow in his footsteps.”
Wendy says much of what she has become in life, she owes to her father.
“He taught me to be independent from very early on,” she recalled. “He
always encouraged me to go after what I wanted because nobody was going
to give it to me. He always said, ‘Work hard and don’t stop until you
reach your goal,’ and I’ve always tried to live up to that advice.”
My favorite TV show is:
“24”
In my CD player right now:
Gospel House
The food I can’t live without:
Rice & Beans
The dish I cook best: I’m
told I make delicious spaghetti sauce with meatballs.
My favorite beauty product:
Can’t say I have one.
One of my “pet peeves”:
That’s easy – negative people. If a person views the glass as half empty
rather than half full, I will do my best to avoid him/her.
My dream vacation: On a
tropical island with my family, a masseuse, a chef, a housekeeper, a pool…
I’d better stop there or I’ll have trouble coming back to reality!
by John P. Ribner
A hardworking, confident, and above all positive person, Toni Rodriguez
strives to make each day better than the one before it.
As a sales and salon consultant for Future Industries/Original Dr. Müller,
it’s Toni’s job to help salon pros run more effective and profitable businesses.
This means she helps them with everything from salon trainings and suggesting
products, to helping with customer appreciation weekends and other special
sales events. “What I love most about my job is that it gives me the ability
to help people succeed,” she commented. “It’s always rewarding to see
a salon go from the building and planning stage to becoming a profitable
business. It’s great to be a part of that.”
Of all Future Industries’ sales reps, Toni has the distinct honor of being
with the company the longest. “I first met (co-owner) Karen Meade-Bentlage
when I was working at a local tanning salon, and she was offering her
profit-sharing program for tanning equipment,” she recalled. “When we
met, I remember thinking that she was a very enthusiastic and energetic
person, and I found that inspiring. Shortly after meeting her, I moved
out of state for a few years; but when I returned to the area, I remembered
her and decided to just call her out of the blue and ask her for a job.”
Toni began working for Future in 1991, and was there almost two years
before taking a few years off to raise her two oldest children – Jacqueline,
17, and Jacob, 15. She returned to Future in 1998, and has been there
ever since.
Toni says the best advice she’s ever gotten cannot be attributed to one
person – it’s the result of being surrounded by many positive people her
whole life. “Over the years, I’ve learned to be positive about everything,”
she commented. “With a positive outlook, I believe a person can achieve
anything they want to in life, no matter what it is.”
Ramona Sanders
Education Consultant/Training Manager
Salon Support, Inc.
My favorite TV show is:
“American Idol”
In my CD player right now:
Casting Crowns
The food I can’t live without:
Pasta Alfredo
The dish I cook best: Holiday
foods – rich desserts
My favorite beauty product:
Crystal by Australian Gold
One of my “pet peeves”:
Clutter – I can’t function in disorganization!
My dream vacation: Take
my family on a trip around the world
by John P. Ribner
A spiritual person who enjoys the company of others – that’s Salon Support’s
Ramona Sanders.
Nine years ago this August, a young Ramona Sanders returned home to Texas
after four years in the U.S. Navy. She was looking for a job that would
eventually develop into a career, and she found it with Salon Support.
“This is the best job in the world!” she exclaimed. “It provides me with
the opportunity to help salon professionals in five states with everything
from implementing sales strategies to finding locations, determining equipment
mixes and educating their sales staff. What I love most is that I get
to help people, and all the different challenges and opportunities to
grow, both professionally and personally.”
Ramona was initially hired as a sales rep for Salon Support and has been
progressively promoted to her current position of education consultant/training
manager. She says she owes many thanks to Jane Ford, Salon Support President,
for all the opportunities she’s given her. “If Jane wasn’t such a kind
and forgiving person, I wouldn’t even be working here today,” Ramona explained.
“When I applied for a position here, I missed my first interview. At that
time, I was applying for so many jobs that I double-booked interviews
for that day and completely forgot about my appointment with Jane.”
Fortunately for Ramona, Jane offered her a second appointment, perhaps
because she saw in Ramona an outgoing, friendly and honest person – just
the type she wanted in Salon Support’s sales department. She offered Ramona
the job immediately after the interview, and the rest is history.
When it comes to life’s goals, Ramona’s is a noble one. “I want to raise
spirit-led, confident, happy and healthy children,” she commented. “The
kind of people who will make good decisions and be better people for the
world they live in.”
Cindy VanKoevering
Sales Director
TAT International
My favorite TV show is:
“The Apprentice”
In my CD player right now:
Matchbox 20
The food I can’t live without: chocolate
The dish I cook best: lasagna
My favorite beauty product:
Merle Norman toner
One of my “pet peeves”:
People who don’t get to the point
My dream vacation: Anywhere
with a white sand beach and blue water
by John P. Ribner
Hardworking and honest, Cindy VanKoevering always strives to do the right
thing in every aspect of her life.
When Kirk Knapp started his temporary airbrush tattoo and sunless tanning
company – TAT International – he knew just who to call on to be his sales
director. That person was Cindy VanKoevering, who’s been with TAT since
2002. “I’ve known Kirk for many years because I worked for one of his
previous companies,” Cindy recalled. “We parted ways after he decided
to leave that business and I went on to a career in mortgage sales. When
he started TAT, Kirk called me and offered me the job. I’ve always respected
him, both as a businessman and a person, so I was glad to accept his offer.”
A revolutionary product such as TAT International’s temporary airbrush
tattoo/sunless tanning system is bound to illicit questions from interested
salon pros – that’s where Cindy comes in. She handles all questions and
inquiries from TAT clients and potential clients. “I love working with
our clients because they represent such a wide variety of personalities
and business types,” Cindy commented. “I also enjoy the challenge of finding
the right system for each one, based on their needs.”
Cindy says the best advice she ever received came from quite an authoritative
and well-known source – none other than General Norman Schwarzkopf. “I
had the opportunity to meet him at a VIP reception while I was working
for Kirk in the 1990s, and I asked him if he had any advice for me,” she
recalled. “He quickly turned to me and said, ‘Always do what’s right,
and you’ll never have to explain your actions.’ I thought this was great
advice, not only for me, but for anyone. I’ve tried to live by it ever
since.”
