Speaker Bios

Rebecca James Gadberry is an award-winning journalist, lecturer, and instructor of cosmetic sciences at UCLA Extension in Los Angeles, where she has taught since 1986 (course titles include Basic & Skin Care Ingredient for the Non-Chemist, Basic & Hair Care Ingredients for the Non-Chemist, Plants & Aromascience, Selected Topics in Skin Care & Sunscreen Chemistry, Selected Topics in Hair Care Chemistry).

From 1986 to 1997, she was a consultant with such companies as 3M Wound Care, Rene Guinot, Advanced Polymer Systems, Allergan Pharmaceuticals, Alfred Sung Fragrances, General Nutrition Centers (GNC), Bioelements, Garden Botanika, Jason Natural Products, CamoCare, Blackmore's of Australia and John Paul Mitchell Systems, specializing in the areas of product development, formulation, marketing and training. In 1997, Ms. Gadberry became president of YG Laboratories (formerly Youthglow), a private label manufacturer of high performance skin and body care in Huntington Beach, California, where she continues to serve cosmetic companies in all venues of industry, including the medical esthetics, mass, network, salon, spa, infomercial, home shopping and natural food markets.

During the last 30 years, Ms. Gadberry has been a popular presenter at industry tradeshows and conferences in the medical, product development, spa and natural product venues throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. She has published over 600 articles about cosmetics and their ingredients in the trade and consumer press, including (trade) Global Cosmetic Industry, Drug & Cosmetic Industry, Skin, Inc. (Contributing editor), American Salon (Contributing editor; Award: Best Business Article, 1987; Award: Best Skin Care Article, 1988), Beauty Store News, Modern Salon, Dermascope (Column: Ask the Ingredient Expert), Les Nouvelles Esthetiques, Health Food Business (Contributing editor), Natural Foods Merchandiser, and (consumer) Glamour, Longevity (Contributing editor), Self, Playgirl (Beauty editor), Cosmopolitan, "E" The Environment, East/West Journal, Yoga Journal, Energy Times, Bestways (Beauty editor), Let's Live (Beauty editor), Delicious, New Woman, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. Her insights into cosmetic ingredients have been quoted by such publications as Shape, Redbook, Essence, Allure, Lady's Home Journal, New Woman, American Health, Health, Good Housekeeping, Dermatology Times, Cosmetic Dermatology, Soap & Cosmetics, Drug & Cosmetic Industry, happi, Global Cosmetic Industry, American Spa, Modern Salon, American Salon, Salon Today, Day Spa, Los Angeles Magazine, Cooking Light, Walking, Coastal Living, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Glamour, where she is on the expert panel that chooses the best new cosmetic products introduced annually. She is now a regular contributor to Skin, Inc.'s Ingredient Review column and is co-columnist for the Society of Cosmetic Chemists California Chapter's Advice to the Lab Lorn column with John Garruto, published in the chapter's monthly newsletter, the Cosmegram. From 1994-1998, Ms. Gadberry published BenchNotes: The Newsletter That Explains Cosmetic Ingredients. Subscribers included a national and international audience of estheticians, cosmetologists, cosmetology instructors, school owners, cosmetic marketers, public relations, salespeople, cosmetic company owners and executives, cosmetic chemists, journalists, magazine editors, television producers, officers of the Food & Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission.

Ms. Gadberry is a general member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC), where she serves on the Board of Directors of the SCC's California Chapter and has chaired or co-chaired eight Scientific Seminars for the chapter since 1986. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Esthetics, Manufacturers & Distributors Alliance (EMDA), is an associate member of the Cosmetic, Toiletries and Fragrance Association (CTFA), and is a past president of the cosmetic executive organization, Beauty Industry West (BIW). She has been a licensed esthetician in California since 1977, where she was an advisor to the California State Board of Cosmetology (1986-1996) and the Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Barbering and Cosmetology (1996-2000) regarding issues concerning esthetics' curriculum, sanitation and state testing procedures. As Legislative Chairman for the EstheticsAmerica committee of the National Cosmetology Association (NCA) in the mid-1980s, Ms. Gadberry oversaw separate licensing passed for esthetics in over 20 states during a two-year period.

In 2003, Ms. Gadberry was honored as an industry legend by the American Aestheticians Education Association (AAEA) for her outstanding contribution to Aesthetics Education in the United States, and, for her paper "The Ongoing Quest for to Discover the Etiology of Rosacea with Implications for the Cosmetic Developer", received the Outstanding Paper Award for 2003 from the California Chapter of the SCC and Chapter Speaker Award, 2003, from the Society of Cosmetic Chemists.

Ilene Cummings is an inspiring national speaker and seminar leader with over 22 years experience. Her work in the field of aging, change and the issues of family of origin have brought her before such audiences as: Nordstrom, Aveda, Royal Cruise Lines, Kiwanas International, Commonwealth Club, U.S. Air Force, Shaare Medical Center, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Re/Max, Image Industry Council, Seton Medical Center and more. Her work in these fields has included executive positions with the Hoffman Institute in California, and Ocean County College in New Jersey.

Her career path is one of innovation and risk taking. At age 37, while raising her five children, Ilene began her college career. She entered the workforce at age 44 and has been a popular seminar leader for over 22 years. You may recognize her name for the uplifting signature gifts she has created for the Red Rose Collection of quality products for quality people. She is currently finishing a Doctor in Ministry degree, writing her thesis, and publishing her new book.

David is a world-renowned hair stylist, artist, entrepreneur, educator, best selling author and "Daymaker." He is the founder and spirit behind Juut Salonspa, the original AVEDA concept salons. There are eight in the Midwest and one in San Francisco's Bay Area that are continually voted "Best Salon" within their communities. Juut comes from the Japanese word "Juuten" which means to refill. As a first name it means to uplift humanity and serve others. Collectively the salons see nearly 4,000 customers each day, and each of his 400 employees consider themselves personally responsible for making their clients' days. He deeply believes that by making other people's happiness part of what makes us happy, we can consciously begin to change the world.
He is the innovator of the "pay-it-forward" movement of Daymaking and the best selling author of Life as a Daymaker: How to Change the World by Simply Making Someone's Day. Wagner's philosophy for living a life that changes the world, one person at a time, through simple acts of kindness has captured the hearts of people all over the world. He is a highly sought-after speaker in the business, education and salon industries, addressing more than 50,000 people annually.

A devoted husband and father, David lives in Maui, Hawaii with his wife Charlie and their daughters Coco and Ava.

In 1968, after working in a large Lithuanian hospital for several years, Sonia changed her focus from medicine to cosmetology and went on to graduate from the Institute of Cosmetology in Vilnius, Lithuania. She moved to the United States in 1975 where she began earning a name for herself here in America as a talented cosmetologist. She then moved to the west coast where she worked with Aida Grey for two years in LA, eventually deciding to move north to San Francisco.

In 1978 The Sonia Remy Skin Care Institute opened a few floors above Vidal Sassoon on Post Street in the heart of downtown San Francisco. Sonia held advanced training classes for licensed estheticians at the institute. Five years later, she founded the Sonia Remy Cosmetic Company, selling her own professional products to estheticians and salons.

Today, Sonia is the President of her company, she travels around the country providing advanced hands-on training to licensed estheticians.

SFIEC is the only 600 hour esthetic program offering her hands-on class as part of the curriculum.

Combining the elements of her keen foresight into the world of fashion and her quest to push the limits of creativity, Melissa is truly an inspirational artist.
Coupled with her graceful stage presence, she has a definite unique approach to everything she does, giving her a style all her own.

Melissa?s internationally acclaimed photo work and superior talent with multi- cultural hair has earned her the prestigious North American Hairstylist of the year award.

Extending her knowledge of "art and business" worldwide, Melissa?s stage performances encompass such countries as the U.S.A., Canada, the Caribbean, Japan, Thailand, Austria, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

A profound belief in constant personal growth and continual education has led Melissa to become an extremely diverse hair designer. Her success in the salon, as well as on stage is a direct reflection of this personal commitment to growth. As you discover her true passion for helping others grow Melissa's patience and perseverance will empower your own self-confidence.

As the Vice President of Science & Technology for Creative Nail Design, Schoon spends much of his time leading a team of scientists working with high-tech, computerized testing equipment to produce state-of-the-art nail enhancement products and natural nail treatments, as well as, world-renown spa products. With all of this expertise and technology, Creative Nail Design's research capabilities exceed even those found in many university laboratories.

For over sixteen years Schoon has led the Creative Nail Design's Research and Development program. He directs the Quality Assurance, Technical Services and Field Testing departments, as well. Schoon is the author of many books, video and audio training programs, as well as, dozens of magazine articles on salon chemicals, chemical safety and disinfection. He often serves as an expert witness in legal cases involving cosmetic safety and health. Additionally, dermatologists frequently call upon Schoon to assist them writing books and scientific papers concerning fingernails, proving without a doubt, he is a world leading experts on natural and artificial nail product, services and salons. He is also a strong advocate for salon safety and represents the entire nail industry on scientific and technical issues in Europe, Canada the United States . Schoon first entered the nail industry in 1986 as the founder of Chemical Awareness Training Service, CATS, the beauty industries first company focused on safety training programs for salons. So he has a long history of educating safe practices to nail professionals.

As a writer and speaker, Mr. Schoon is especially popular with the nail technicians because of his unique ability to make complex chemical theories and ideas seem simple, even easy to understand. His natural nail health, safety and disinfection lectures are also invaluable to anyone interested in product chemistry, safety and health issues, as is his most popular book, ?Nail Structure & Product Chemistry?, Delmar/Milady Publishing.

In addition, Schoon is a Co-chair of the Safety and Standards Committee of Nail Manufacturers Council (NMC), as well as, the holder of a Masters Degree in Chemistry from the prestigious University of California-Irvine. He currently resides in Dana Point, California.

Dr. Mark Lees is one of the country?s most noted skin care specialists, having been quoted and interviewed by Glamour, Shape, Teen, Self, The Miami Herald, The Associated Press, and NBC News, to name a few. His professional awards are numerous and include American Salon Magazine Esthetician of the Year, the Les Nouvelles Esthetiques Crystal Award, the Dermascope Legends Award, the Rocco Bellino Award for outstanding education from the Chicago Cosmetology Association, and Best Educational Skin Care Classroom from the Long Beach International Beauty Expo.

Dr. Lees holds a Ph.D. in Health Sciences, a Master of Science in Health, and the prestigious CIDESCO International Diploma, and also serves as an International CIDESCO Examiner. He has been in practice in Northwest Florida for over 20 years at his award-winning CIDESCO-Accredited Dayspa and Salon.

Dr. Lees is past president and current Chairman of the Board of the Esthetics Manufacturers and Distributors Alliance (EMDA), a division of the American Beauty Association. He is former chairperson of EstheticsAmerica, the skin care division of the National Cosmetology Association, and is a member of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists.

He started his products company, Mark Lees Skin Care, Inc. in 1983, because, as an esthetician, he had difficulty finding specific products for acne-prone, sensitive, and sun-damaged skin. The product line is now used and sold in hundreds of salons and clinics all over America.

Dr. Lees is an accomplished writer, having published dozens of skin care, technical, and business articles for almost every major beauty and esthetics trade publication. He serves on the editorial advisory board of Les Nouvelles Esthetiques - American Edition. He is the author of the popular skin care reference book, Skin Care: Beyond the Basics, used by estheticians all over the world. He also authored the science and advanced skin care chapters of the new advanced Milady?s Standard Comprehensive Training or Estheticians, and also appeared in the Video Library for the Milady System.

An extremely popular and award-winning speaker, Dr. Lees is constantly in demand for his classes at professional beauty and medical conventions, as well as consumers and women?s groups, and major universities including UCLA, Purdue and Columbia Universities. He has also made appearances in both Australia and Europe.

Leslie Wolski has been in the spa industry for more than a decade. She began her career at the famed Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa as the Spa Operations Manager and was soon promoted to Spa Director where she led a staff of over 200 and grew profits over 30%. In 1998 and 1999 Leslie oversaw the multi-million dollar spa renovation and development project and in 1999 opened the new Sonoma Mission Inn Spa to rave reviews. Eager for a new challenge Leslie founded Spa Camp Inc., a corporate and home spa events company. She is most proud of Spa Camp?s relationship with the YWCA in which services are provided free of charge for battered women living in the YWCA?s safe house. In 2002 Leslie wrote SPA - Refreshing Rituals for Body and Soul for The Body Shop which has been released internationally with great success. Recently, Leslie realized she truly missed spa operations and began consulting with spas, coaching the management and lending structure to the operation, ultimately leading to increased guest and staff satisfaction and profitability.

Vivienne Mackinder is one of the most highly respected international leaders and innovators in the hairdressing profession today. In her work as Artistic Director for industry grand masters Vidal Sassoon and Trevor Sorbie, Vivienne developed an expertise for precision cutting and an eye for original hair design, from the classic and the commercial, to the avant-garde.

Based in New York City, Vivienne grew up in London and subsequently opted to "spread her wings" to the United States. She has been honored with numerous awards, including the much coveted North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) (five times), the most recent being the Masters category, and the prestigious IBS Editors Choice Awards (three times).

Vivienne is an in-demand featured guest artist-educator for premier international events worldwide and her work is consistently published in the international press. She founded the Roots and Wings educational program in New York City to much acclaim.

Vivienne's career as a master stylist is divided between her salon clientele, editorial and advertorial shoots, advertising campaigns, and countless special events as featured artist, not to mention her work for entertainment entities, MTV, and the VH-1 Fashion Awards.

As a session stylist, Vivienne has collaborated and designed hair collections for runway fashion collections in New York, Paris, and London.

Vivienne's newest and most rewarding project to date, I'm Not Just a Hairdresser, is an exciting, informative, and inspirational documentary film series that will inspire a new generation of professionals and re-inspire  seasoned stylists who may be facing burnout syndrome or questioning what's next in their careers.

"Legends," the first episode in the series, was released in the spring of 2005 and "Empires," the second episode, was released in the fall of the same year. "Stars Behind The Chair," the third episode profiling the leading ladies of hair, released in the spring of 2006.

I'm Not Just A Hairdresser has a mission to "uplift the spirit and image of our profession," one stylist at a time. A portion of the proceeds is donated to the nonprofit Movement of the Heart Foundation.

Vivienne is also the founder and pioneer of HairdesignerTV.com, the industry's first online postgraduate program for stylists. This international program goes far beyond traditional educational models and provides in-depth, interactive training delivered via the Internet. HairdesignerTV.com builds relationships and creates a community of empowerment. It will take your skills to a whole new level while "feeding your heart and pocket."

For more information, please visit: www.HairDesignerTV.com.

Winn Claybaugh has been the owner of hair salons and beauty academies since 1983. He is the founder and co-owner of Paul Mitchell The School, which was ranked by Franchise Times as the 7th fastest growing franchise in the country in 2006. He is also the author of Be Nice (Or Else!) with foreword by CNN's Larry King, and the host of Masters Audio Club, a monthly audio program featuring interviews, success secrets, and business-building presentations by the best leaders in the salon and beauty industry.

Winn is widely recognized as a leader in his industry. In 2004, the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) named him to their Hall of Leaders for his outstanding contributions to the hair and beauty industry. American Salon magazine called him a ?mover of mountains? and ?Mr. Fix-it? in their November 1997 ?Super Heroes? section, and Modern Salon magazine recently featured him in an article highlighting his Shot-in-the-Arm seminar. His previous book, Connecting to My Future!, is a success guide that helps people get focused and stay focused on the steps to creating the career of their dreams in the beauty industry.

Since 1989, Winn has traveled extensively around the country, working as an educator and consultant for several industries. He has been the National Motivational Expert for Paul Mitchell, the hair product company. He has worked with thousands of private businesses and their staffs, including companies such as Southwest Airlines, Vidal Sassoon, the Irvine Company, Fuddruckers, Entertainment Tonight, Mattel, For Rent magazine, Structure/Limited/Express, and many other businesses from hospitals to apartment communities.

A popular speaker, Winn has been a frequent emcee for the NAHA Awards and a guest speaker for IBS shows, Hair America, International Haircolor Exchange, American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS), ICE shows, The Salon Association (TSA). He has worked with literally thousands of businesses, inspiring people to take control of their careers. His Shot-In-The-Arm event and Developing Leadership Pizzazz seminar have been attended by top executives, clinical psychologists, salespeople of every sort, day care providers, housewives, and people from every walk of life who are looking for a new approach to personal motivation. Winn's humor and rapport with audiences creates enthusiasm and momentum to help businesses get motivated and focused for greater success. His seminars are designed to empower leaders to create teamwork among their people and motivation for themselves.

A tireless and enthusiastic volunteer, Winn has served as vice president of the AIDS Relief Fund for Beauty Professionals, and he has been involved in other fundraising projects for City of Hope and Leeza Gibbons' ?Leeza's Place.? In the past three years, Winn and the Paul Mitchell Schools have raised over $1 million for multiple charitable organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the Larry King Cardiac Foundation, Leeza's Place, Katrina relief, AIDS causes, City of Hope, and more.

?I believe that giving back is not just a once-a-year happening,? Winn says. ?It is our daily duty. I have been very blessed, and so it makes sense that my team and I are passionately involved to raise lots and lots of money for many causes. Our efforts are not the result of large corporate donations, but rather from grassroots efforts, one dollar at a time.?

Winn resides in Laguna Beach, California. For more information, please consult: www.paulmitchelltheschool.com, www.mastersaudioclub.com, and www.connectingtomyfuture.com.

Dean Banowetz joined the nationally syndicated series "Extra" in February 2000, which coincided with the redesign and re-launch of the long-running news magazine. In addition to his responsibilities at "Extra," serving as hairstylist to the show's host Leeza Gibbons and Co-host and weekend anchor Dayna Devon, Banowetz also serves as Gibbons' personal hairstylist for her numerous special television appearances and charity events.

Dean moved to Los Angeles in 2000, leaving behind a full service salon in Bettendorf, Iowa which he owned and operated. He landed the job at "Extra" after facing stiff competition from hundreds of other applicants all across the country. In the summer of 2002 Dean took a job on a little known show called American Idol Search for a Superstar on FOX. His primary duties were to style host Ryan Seacrest's hair, along with everyone else who appeared on the show. Funny how something seemingly insignificant can snowball into a historic record breaking phenomena for FOX television! He just signed on for the second season and it is sure to be a bigger hit than the first one.

Born and raised on a farm in DeWitt, Iowa, Banowetz is the thirteenth child among a family of fifteen. After high school he joined the Active Duty Army where, in 1987, he was selected as soldier of the year. He continued his government career for seven years. He attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City. After getting an art degree, he attended Cosmetology school at Bill Hills College of Cosmetology in Davenport, Iowa. After cosmetology school, he worked in regional dinner theatre throughout the Midwest creating wigs for the actors and also performing on stage himself. Banowetz also took this time to establish his hair clientele. As a result of years of hard work, in 1992, Banowetz was selected as the North American Educator for a major hair care manufacturer, traveling to salons all over the United States.

In 2000 he attended a school in Santa Monica, California called "On Set Motion Picture Hair Academy," a school dedicated to teaching the tricks of the trade for doing hair in Hollywood. The owner, Susan Lipson , is the one responsible for making him send out his resume to studios in the LA area. She knew he had what it took. Since then his life has changed dramatically. For that, he thanks her.

Today, Banowetz still receives hundreds of letters from former clients, as well as from television fans across the country, asking for hair care tips.