Salon Leaders Who Make the Industry Better, Everyday

Cosmetologists Chicago (CC) has a long and distinguished history in celebrating the lives and good fellowship of its members. At the 2023 America’s Beauty Show (ABS), held April 15-17, 2023, the association presented awards on behalf of and in tribute to iconic leaders who served their beloved association and industry with honor. Two special awards were presented by CC leaders Saturday, April15, 2023.

The Jerry Gordon Salon Business Leadership Award

The 2023 Jerry Gordon Salon Business Leadership Award was presented by Jerry Gordon’s wife, salon partner and Immediate Past President of Cosmetologists Chicago, Karen Gordon, to industry leader David Wagner, owner of Juut Salonspas in Minnesota, Arizona, and California. “Cosmetologists Chicago inaugurated this very special award in 2015, honoring Jerry and his passion for elevating and advocating for salons through sound business principles,” said Karen Gordon. “As a friend and industry colleague of David Wagner, I know Jerry would be thrilled to endorse him as our CC Board’s selection for this year’s Jerry Gordon Salon Business Leadership Award.”

David is proud to serve his salon communities by encouraging individuality, authenticity, diversity, and real beauty. In addition to his role as owner and Daymaker at Juut, David is a best-selling author. Wagner proudly accepted a Baccarat crystal Ferrari horse in honor of Jerry’s passion for racing and fine cars during the 2023 ABS Press Event and Special Awards Ceremony.
Previous recipients of the Jerry Gordon Salon Business Leadership Award include Frank Gironda, another CC past president and past owner of Chicagoland’s Frank Gironda Salon & Day Spas; Candy Shaw of Jamison Shaw Salons, Atlanta, GA; Eric Fisher of Eric Fisher Salons, Wichita, KS; Frank Gambuzza, owner of Salon Visage, Knoxbille, TN; Ginger Boyle, Planet Salon, Los Angeles, CA; and Jeff South, Intrigue Salon, Mariatta, GA.

Fred A. Piattoni Award for Industry Service

The Fred A. Piattoni Award for Industry Service was initiated in 2017 to celebrate the contributions of the late Fred A. Piattoni, who served not only as past president, but also as CC Executive Director throughout his lengthy career in cosmetology. The 2023 Fred Piattoni Award was given to Frank Cacciato, presented by Frank P. Fulco, CEO of Cosmetologists Chicago and America’s Beauty Show.

“This award is meant to celebrate an individual who has worked tirelessly in support of licensed beauty professionals throughout the country,” said Fulco. “Cacciato’s contributions to our industry and to our CC and ABS community reflect his beauty industry passion and loyalty.”

Cacciato proudly accepted a Waterford crystal statue in honor of Fred’s passion for the professional beauty industry, during the 2023 ABS Press Event and Special Awards Ceremony.
Previous recipients of the Fred A. Piattoni Award for Industry Service include Pat Parenty, former President of L’Oreal Professional Products Division; Mr. Hidetaka Yoshikawa, Chairman and CEO of Takara Belmont; and Dr. Farouk Shami, founder and chairman of Farouk Systems Inc. (CHI, BioSilk, Esquire Grooming); Robert Reed, president and founder of ERGO; and John Amico, Sr., founder of John Amico School of Hair Design.

In attendance at the special Awards presentation were CC Past Presidents, the CC Board of Directors, industry VIPs, special guests, the show’s largest exhibitors and members of the media.

“We are proud of our tradition of honoring success and stewardship in this salon industry we love so much and are committed to looking ahead to what’s next in our industry while celebrating our rich history,” said CC President Robert Passage, CEO, Chairman and Global Ambassador for Pivot Point International.

About David Wagner
In 1977, David Wagner, owner of Juut Salonspa, attended the Horst Education Center in Minneapolis, now the Aveda Institute to begin his career as a hairstylist. It was then that his long relationship with Horst Rechelbacher, the founder of the Aveda Corporation, began. David began working as Horst’s assistant after graduating beauty school, followed by an upward move through many roles including stylist, salon manager, and vice president of the organization. In 1986, David left to start his own salon in Uptown Minneapolis and by 1989, David and Horst merged their two companies to become Horst Salons, Inc. In 1991, David bought Horst out of the partnership and ran the salons as Horst Salons until 1998 when he bought the Yosh Salon in Palo Alto, California from famed stylist Yosh Toya. The group of salons changed names from Horst in Minnesota and Yosh in California to Juut Salonspa in 1999. The name Juut was chosen by David and his wife, Charlie, because it means “to uplift humanity and serve others.” In 2015, Juut acquired two additional salons in Arizona.

The entire collection of Juut Salonspas now covers three states, Minnesota, Arizona, and California, including eight operating salons and one retail store. The company employs over 400 Daymakers and is proud to serve their communities by encouraging individuality, authenticity, diversity, and real beauty. With his devotion to better the industry he was on the board of TSA (The Salon Association) now PBA for many years and served as President for two years. TSA represented 7500 independent salons at the time. He is also a member of the prestigious Intercoiffure ICD organization and has been featured in Salon Today magazine as one of the top 20 salon owners in America along with being in the top 200 salons numerous times.
He is the the best-selling author of, Life as a Daymaker: How to Change the World by Simply Making Someone's Day, and initiator of the "Daymaker Movement." To date there have been over one million books sold worldwide along with hundreds of thousands of digital downloads.

Wagner is a highly sought-after inspirational speaker addressing over 50,000 people annually around the world. He is committed to transforming the world with beauty. “Beauty can transform people, society, and businesses,” says Wagner. A devoted husband and father, Wagner lives in Minnetrista, MN with his wife Charlie where he continues to
work on the Juut family of salons and the Daymaker Movement to change people, society, business, and the world in a positive way.

About Frank Cacciato
Cacciato has dedicated his career to building successful relationships with industry leaders and earning the respect to be considered a master of event design and services. He quickly proved himself to be a leader with a strong entrepreneurial spirit and an unwavering loyalty to his peers from nearly every facet of the beauty industry including hair care, nails, cosmetics, skincare, spa, and salon. Those who know him are quite familiar with his unique ability to bring people together through humor and the infectious passion for his work, especially when he was spending his time supporting important organizations such as the City of Hope, Beauty Changes Lives and Beauty Cast Network. As a powerful advocate for Cosmetology Schools and their graduates, he always recognized professionals as the blueprint for the industry's foundation. These beliefs are what motivated him to run for and win a seat on the AACS Board of Directors (American Association of Cosmetology) as well hold a membership with ISPA (International Spa Association) and get involved with the PBA (Professional Beauty Association) in many
ways throughout his impressive career.

His 35+ years of experience in the beauty business and 26 years as CEO of Katherine Frank Creative, the successful boutique design agency, made him a status symbol; one that newcomers and aficionados alike were able to trust when trying to start and build their business. As of 2021, Frank and his wife Katherine are retired from the company they grew from the ground up, spending some well-earned time traveling and with their family. While the company is under new management, the same team values, passion for design, and original name, will live on, just as Cacciato intended.

About America’s Beauty Show®
America’s Beauty Show (ABS) is owned and produced by Cosmetologists Chicago® (CC). Professional cosmetologists, nail technicians, stylists and colorists from all over the world attend ABS every year to experience superior education and innovation in all aspects of beauty, as well as gain inspiration to take back to their salons.