THE EVENT:

Beacon Educational Program for cosmetology students held at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

THE DETAILS: Held during the Professional Beauty Association's Beauty Week, Beacon brought together students from across the country for three days of networking and learning from some of the most iconic salon owners, managers and leaders in the industry. The program kicked off with the Beacon Bash-bringing together Beacon attendees and the 100 students who entered the "Making Beauty My Business" competition. Emceed by industry icon Geno Stampora, throughout the event students learned about setting goals from Brooke Carlson and Sherri Jessee of Conair Professional; Tabatha Coffey talked about her trek to success; Cynthia DeSoto discussed the evolving role of the beauty pro; students met with Shear Genius 3 winner Brig Van Osten; and got a taste of what's happening on Capitol Hill and how the industry is being affected.

THE BUZZ: In addition to events customized just for young professionals, such as the Beacon Alumni Panel and product giveaways gifted to students, Beacon attendees attended some of the most celebrated industry events during PBA Beauty Week, including Symposium, the North American Hairstyling Awards and Cosmoprof North America.

THE LAST WORD: "Everyone has different roles they play in this industry, but it's nice to know they all have one thing in common," says Beacon attendee Dominique Bourgouis, a student at Pivot Point International in Bloomingdale, Illinois, "they were all just like us sitting here as students listening to great leaders talk about how they got started and their long journeys to success. This is so inspirational."

For information on next year's Beacon, visit probeauty.org/beacon.

Student Summit
Emcee Geno Stampora and Conair Professional's Brooke Carlson address the Beacon students.

Student Summit
Students learned about setting goals from Brooke Carlson and Sherri Jessee of Conair Professional.

Student Summit
Student Dominique Bourgouis, one of the winners of the "Making Beauty My Business" competition, poses with Geno Stampora.

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