Every year, the Professional Beauty Association (PBA), invites cosmetology students to enter its Beacon Student Program. Students must create and submit a portfolio that includes social media, a video introduction, and a letter of recommendation.

Needless to say, the students selected as Beacon honorees are driven, talented individuals. And each year, they gather at PBA’s Beacon event at the Premiere Orlando show for a weekend of education, mentoring and networking designed just for them.

Connecting the Best with the Best

At this year’s Beacon event, May 31-June 2 at Premiere Orlando, Sheila Wilson, Intercoiffure America Canada (ICA) vice president, spoke to students about the benefits of working for employee-based salons.

“In the past few years, ICA has become more focused on students and connecting them with our network of salons,” Wilson says. “We have a student competition, and recently added an initiative to recognize and honor teachers. We also feel it’s vital to collaborate with other beauty organizations like PBA.”

At Beacon, Wilson shared all the benefits of working in a team-based environment, and provided real stories from ICA members.

“We have stylists who have gone from entry level to making six figures in two years,” she says. “ICA members aren’t just salon owners, they’re mentors. And we’re passionate about keeping our stylists passionate, too. We can open doors for them that nobody else can.” 

Wilson added, “ICA salon owners know how to put people on a path where they’ll thrive and avoid burn out.”

ICA members Frank Westerbeke and Luca Boccia also presented, with personal stories of their own to share.

Westerbeke brought his daughter, Wylie, with him, and they shared her journey of moving out from behind the chair and into the business side of the salon.

Luca Boccia of Pyure Salon brought stylist Joseph Wesolowski to share his story of starting at the front desk while in college, falling in love with the beauty biz, and, under Boccia’s mentorship, changing his career path to become a stylist. 

Boccia advises Beacon students, “Mentorship is extremely important if you want a robust career and not just a job. So choose a company that has leaders and team members who excite, motivate and inspire each other.”

In an industry with many opportunities, Boccia says, “Most hairdressers do not take advantage of the mentors willing to share their knowledge and experience, but this is how we become six-figure hairdressers.” 

Wilson, Boccia and Westerbeke, along with 17 other ICA salon owners continued the discussion with Beacon students at a roundtable session.

“Our ICA members walked around the tables to guide discussions and foster conversations, switching every 15 minutes,” Wilson says. “Students were encouraged to ask different questions to each member and make connections.” 

The Future Looks Bright

A long-time salon owner and veteran of the beauty industry, Wilson says she was truly excited and impressed by the Beacon students.

“They had incredible energy and a hunger for learning more,” she says. 

Even after Wilson and other ICA members spoke and led roundtable discussions, there were still more questions and queries from the Beacon students.

“So I gave them my cell number,” Wilson says. “And by the end of the day I had about 75 students contact me, wanting to know where to go in their area to connect with owners.”

Wilson wound up placing 11 students with ICA salons. 

“Connecting these students across the country with ICA salons was truly gratifying,” she says. “It showed them how important it is to be part of a salon team and the opportunities mentors and leaders can provide.”

But Wilson’s not done yet. Hundreds of other students applied for Beacon, but did not get accepted.

“If they took the time to fill out that in-depth application, we’d like to connect with them,” Wilson says. 

ICA plans to reach out to these students with information about how to connect with its members.

“I walked away from Beacon feeling our industry is going to be in great hands with the future generation if we can keep that passion ignited,” Wilson says.  

Learn more about becoming an ICA member here or connect with an ICA salon in your area.