A Legacy of Leadership
2019
2024
ICA President 2019 - 2024
Sheila Zaricor-Wilson
Master Design Salon & Wellness Studio
Artistic Director | Anna Pacitto
Sheila Zaricor-Wilson is a creative, innovative person who has more than 30 years of experience as a stylist, salon owner, educator, mentor and colorist. Her passion for excellence has been the driving force in her career and her commitment to continued education has been the motivation behind her involvement to the industry. Her love of the arts and Memphis is the motivation behind her service to the community.
2015
2018
ICA PRESIDENT 2015 - 2018
Frank Gambuzza
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | VAN MICHAEL
Frank Gambuzza started his career at age 13 as an apprentice for an Italian barber in Northern New Jersey. He won 22 national championships as a stylist before founding Salon Visage, Gambuzza’s Barbershop and Frank’s Barbershops, all alongside his wife, Belinda. His award chest includes 20 years of “Best Salon in Knoxville,” Top 25 Hair Salon in America by BE! Magazine, and multiple Best Barbershop in America awards. Frank and Belinda are also co-owners of Paul Mitchell The School Knoxville.
2007
2014
ICA PRESIDENT 2007 - 2014
Lois Christie
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | SCOTT COLE & VIVIENNE MACKINDER
Christie revitalized ICA’s events, launched the prestigious Haircolor Council and Makeup Council, and increased membership. In the spirit of ICA’s founders, the association welcomes talented, successful salon owners of high moral and ethical character to its ranks, to share the friendship, knowledge and creativity that have characterized Intercoiffure since its earliest days.
1980
2002
ICA PRESIDENT 1980 - 2002
John Jay
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | DON SHAW
Intercoiffure America Canada continued to hold its annual Atelier including the trend presentations to all members. It also maintained its position as a salon industry spokesperson presenting fashion forward concepts to its continually expanding membership.
1975
1980
ICA PRESIDENT 1975 - 1980
Roy Longhoffer
During his tenure, membership continued to grow. It was at this time that a Chairman of a Fashion Committee was appointed to oversee the fashion impact expected of Intercoiffure. Also, at this time, the first American World Congress was held.
1967
1975
ICA PRESIDENT 1967 - 1975
Ralph Most
Under him, membership grew to more than 200 members. Also, the annual trends show traveled cross-country and the organization attended its first World Congress. During the seventies, too, ICA joined forces with American fashion designers to tie hair trends to fashion trends. In 1969, the first Atelier took place, now an annual meeting of all members in New York City with the climax, a hair fashion trend presentation.
1960
1976
ICA PRESIDENT 1960 - 1967
Adolf Biecker
Under his direction, image building took priority. Also, the first organization fashion show was held in 1963 with Alexandre of Paris as guest artist. Subsequently, he met with hairdressing legend Vidal Sassoon, then a young unknown, and invited him to be guest artist at the Intercoiffure fashion presentation. In 1965, Intercoiffure introduced “the fall” and its fashion influence was reinforced. As president, Adolf Biecker doubled the membership in two years (from 55 to 110 members), introduced semi-annual meetings, publicized the association’s accomplishments, and built Intercoiffure America Canada into what is now one of the most influential sections of the world organization.
1960
First ICA PRESIDENT 1960
Carl Griesser
The Founding Fathers:
- Adolf Biecker of Philadelphia
- Carl Griesser of Baltimore
- Victor Herre of New York
- Emil Ludiche, also of New York
ICA Milestones
1912
Founding of Masters Ladies Hairdressing Union drawing members from Europe
1925
First World Congress held in Hamburg
1933
Group from North America were given membership and founded Intercoiffure America
1946
Name changed to Intercoiffure des Dames under the direction of famed hairstylist Guillaume, then later changed to Intercoiffure Mondial (World). Fashion newly incorporated as part of the group’s philosophy
1960
American chapter is given full acceptance, now to be known as Intercoiffure America Canada (ICA)
2007
Election of ICA’s first woman president—Lois Christie of New York
ICA History
Its roots date from 1912, when a group of German hairdressers organized the “Internationale Gesellschaft der Damen-Coiffeure” (IGDC). In April 1925, this German association was transformed into an international association with the addition of Swiss and English members at the first World Congress in Hamburg, Germany.
CLEAR IDEALS, NEW HEADQUARTERS
After the end of the war, the association moved its headquarters to Paris, reflecting that city’s post-war stature as the capital of the hairdressing world. During the first World Conference in 1925, the founders of what would grow into Intercoiffure Mondial adopted the pentagram or five-pointed star as its symbol. This iconic image represents Intercoiffure’s core values of honesty, reason, justice, reconciliation and diligence. The most basic prerequisite of membership has always been that an Intercoiffure member must be a salon owner of high moral and ethical character. Over time, the formal principles on which Intercoiffure is based have evolved to include fraternity, friendship, fashion and finance. These principles reveal the true benefit of membership—besides the cachet of belonging to the industry’s elite, members may count on the open sharing of knowledge and experience with their fellows.
NORTH AMERICA STEPS UP
In 1933, four young men in America pooled their resources to seek admission to the IGDC. Adolf Biecker of Philadelphia, Carl Griesser of Baltimore, Victor Herre of New York, and Emil Ludiche, also of New York, sought recognition for their talent from the European masters. That summer, they were granted membership and became the founding fathers of Intercoiffure America Canada.
The battle for inclusion was won, but the war for total acceptance continued until 1960, when Adolf Biecker assumed the presidency following Carl Griesser’s last presidential term. As president, Adolf Biecker doubled the membership in two years (from 55 to 110 members), introduced semi-annual meetings, publicized the association’s accomplishments, and built Intercoiffure America Canada into what is now one of the most influential sections of the world organization.
THE MODERN ERA BEGINS
A new milestone was reached in 2007 with the election of ICA’s first woman president—Lois Christie of New York. As president, Ms. Christie has revitalized ICA’s events, launched the prestigious Haircolor Council and Makeup Council, and increased membership. In the spirit of ICA’s founders, the association welcomes talented, successful salon owners of high moral and ethical character to its ranks, to share the friendship, knowledge and creativity that have characterized Intercoiffure since its earliest days.
A NEW DIRECTION AND INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT
In 2019, when Sheila Wilson started her first term as Intercoiffure America Canada’s president, she had no idea she would be leading the organization through a global pandemic. But within months, Wilson and ICA Artistic Director Anna Pacitto found themselves in uncharted territory, figuring out how to host an event virtually to keep members inspired and engaged.
“In 2020 we streamed Atelier to 32 countries,” Wilson says. “Anna had a green screen, and worked on all the models, one at a time, in her house. We had 5,000 people click in over the two days of presentations at our virtual Atelier.”
Pacitto’s inspiring work featured techniques ICA members could emulate and profit from in the salon. And she brought the first ICA event to Canada, holding the 2024 Spring Atelier in her hometown of Montreal.
Wilson has also left a lasting impression on ICA members, in particular through her dedication to educating schools and students about ICA. Now, ICA is connecting with stylists while they’re still in school. Teachers are encouraging students to work in ICA salons and connecting them with ICA salon owners.
Wilson’s passion for partnerships also extends to manufacturers.
“We have become more diverse in the companies we work with,” she says. “We want them to help us make the industry better. ICA should be on the career path of anyone who owns or wants to own a salon.”
THE CONTINUING GROWTH AND INFLUENCE OF ICA
In 2025, Scott Buchanan, long-time ICA board member and owner of Scott J Salons in New York City, took the helm as ICA president.
“I’m excited to continue what Sheila started, and keep watering the seeds and exposing ICA to schools and people in the industry,” he says. “It’s an honor and humbling to serve as president.”
With Buchanan comes Wella’s Sonya Dove as ICA’s new Artistic Director.
“My inspiration for hair in color, cutting and styling has always come from nature,” says Dove. “I have been a nature lover since I was a young girl, and the places I have traveled to around the world have certainly inspired me–from Asia to Europe to South America to Africa. The colors and shapes that nature provides are so inspiring for my hair creations, mixed with whatever is current and trending at that very moment.”
