News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer opens up her MODERN SALON cover image.
News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer opens up her MODERN SALON cover image.
News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer opens up her MODERN SALON cover image.
News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer opens up her MODERN SALON cover image.
Good bye cake
Good bye cake
News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer holds up her MODERN SALON cover!
News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer holds up her MODERN SALON cover!
MODERNs News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer and Web Editor Lauren Salapatek
MODERNs News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer and Web Editor Lauren Salapatek
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News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer opens up her MODERN SALON cover image.
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News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer opens up her MODERN SALON cover image.
News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer opens up her MODERN SALON cover image.
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News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer opens up her MODERN SALON cover image.
Good bye cake
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Good bye cake
News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer holds up her MODERN SALON cover!
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News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer holds up her MODERN SALON cover!
MODERNs News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer and Web Editor Lauren Salapatek
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MODERNs News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer and Web Editor Lauren Salapatek

Today MODERN SALON Media and Vance Publishing thanked and celebrated News Editor Jan Hillenmeyer as she caps off a long, beautiful career at MODERN SALON. Colleagues from throughout the company joined her at a reception at the corporate headquarters in Lincolnshire, Illinois, on her last official day on January 15, 2014.

Hillenmeyer joined Vance Publishing as a MODERN SALON Sales Manager for the Midwest territory in 1978, and made the transition to MODERN editor and reporter a few years later. Most recently, Jan has edited the News and Portfolio sections of MODERN, contributed to SALON TODAY and all online platforms of MODERN SALON Media, and served as the leader and special section MEMO Editor, covering professional salon industry distribution, manufacturing, associations and business.

"I've interviewed so many interesting people in beauty over the decades--famous stylists like Horst at both the beginning and pinnacle of their careers, and many executives who had backgrounds in engineering or science or business who told me, `I never thought I would end up in the beauty industry and now I can't imagine being anyplace else."

Hillenmeyer says the audience of stylists and the broader salon business market held the same appeal for her. She fell in love with beauty, especially the people who create it. Another attraction was variety.

"When I look back at my career with MODERN and in beauty, I realize how much opportunity, how many different jobs I had," she reflected. "MODERN has always been a great place to be. Beauty is so interesting, challenging and just plain fun. The people in beauty are so creative, pleasant and entertaining. I really didn’t want to go anywhere else."

Her associates at MODERN SALON Media and Vance Publishing say they are certainly glad she felt that way.

"We miss her already," said Editorial Director Michele Musgrove. "We hope to tempt her back to help with special projects like SALON TODAY 200 and other initiatives.

While officially retired from MODERN, Hillenmeyer says she looks forward to "writing her next chapter" and pursuing new activities and focusing on her passions and interests. Hillenmeyer and her husband, David, live in Naperville, IL, and her two adult sons both live nearby in Chicago.

See Jan Hillenmeyer's Blogs

See Jan Hillenmeyer's Articles

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