The U.S. finalists for Goldwell's 2014 Color Zoom Challenge came to the new Goldwell KMS California Academy in NYC to work with John Simpson, Goldwell Lead Artistic Director and Goldwell Color Master, to get their timing down while perfecting their skills. The three day session is designed to help prepare the finalists for the international competition to be held October 12 - 14, 2014, in Berlin, Germany. The U.S. finalists will compete with other finalists from the around the world in an exciting live, hands-on contest.

The finalists, Daniel Rubin (Partner Category), Vivian Polineni (Creative Category) and Katie Minalga (New Talent Category), learned more about the competition from former winners, other finalists and even international judges (MODERN's Maggie Mulhern is a frequent judge and spoke with the finalists), while being wined and dined in and around the meatpacking district where the academy is located. A highlight of the training was the awarding of prizes which included the trophy and a check (undisclosed amount). Vice President of Education, Sandra Humphries, and Simpson presented the awards to the finalists in a small but meaningful ceremony at the Academy during a lunchtime break. Congrats and good luck to all.