The Professional Beauty Association (PBA) is hosting its 2016 Executive Summit from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Designed exclusively for upper-level management, it will focus on industry trends, leadership development and application of best practices. 

 With a spotlight on catering to the consumer and instilling loyalty, this year’s Summit theme is Understanding Consumer Behavior. Through a series of keynote speakers, beauty executives from around the country will discuss current and future trends, and delve into strategic planning and leadership.

 “The Professional Beauty Association’s Executive Summit is the leading industry event for beauty executives. This year we’ve assembled a panel of experts from various disciplines including technology, research and consumer psychology to share best practices and key learnings with our attendees,” PBA Executive Director Steve Sleeper says. “Understanding consumer behavior and engagement is pivotal to the beauty industry. This year’s summit promises to be another substantive and engaging event.”

 2016 speakers include:

Ken Hughes, Leading Consumer Shopper, Behaviorist and Playologist

Session: Beyond the Screen: The Beauty of Digital Disruption

The world is moving at an incredibly fast pace. It’s moved from simply stocking and displaying product to needing to elevate the brand through experiential delivery. Hughes, one of the world’s leading consumer and shopper behaviorists, tackles how businesses can deliver a personalized authentic contextual experience to meet customer demands and expectations. Hughes is acknowledged as one of the most respected thought leaders on shopper marketing and centricity, as well as digital strategy and retail futurology.

Carrie Mellage, Vice President, Consumer Products, Kline Group

Session: Salon Hair Care Market Analysis & Opportunities

Knowledge is power and well-informed beauty professionals are vital in helping grow and advance the industry. Mellage will take attendees through the latest transactional data and research conducted recently between Kline Group and PBA. In addition to providing an overview of the overall report, Mellage, who oversees all of Kline’s consumer-related market research, will showcase an in-depth analysis and comparisons within the proprietary data.

Abigail Posner, Head of Strategic Planning, Google’s Creative Think Tank for Agencies and Brands

Session: Cracking Creativity: Re-Engaging Our Innate Creativity for Greater Productivity & Growth

As a thought leader, author, manager and corporate executive, Posner has spent her life catalyzing change and creating impact. Creativity is one of the strongest change agents, especially when it comes to connecting with one another. Posner will share how the modern world can help actually reconnect individuals to pre-digital, if not pre-technological humanity and yield a profound difference in both professional and personal lives.

Steve Sleeper, Executive Director, Professional Beauty Association

Session: PBA Update & Industry Report

To know where we’re going, we need to know where we’ve come from. Sleeper will take attendees through an in-depth immersion on high-level issues affecting the professional beauty industry. With more than two decades at PBA, 15 of which at the helm, Sleeper will provide an engaging and informative session on where PBA stands and how it is adapting to the rapidly evolving status of the industry.

Maureen Mullen, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, L2

Session: Benchmarking Digital Performance in the Haircolor and Haircare Industry

Maureen is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of L2, a subscription based business intelligence firm.  She authored the Digital IQ Index® methodology, which analyzes more than 1,250 data points across four dimensions: Site & E-Commerce, Digital Marketing, Social Media and Mobile; and leads C-level engagements and benchmarking projects for firms including P&G, L’Oréal, LVMH, Unilever and many others.

The event will be held at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia. Detailed information about registration, ticket prices, itinerary and hotel reservations can be found at probeauty.org/execs.  To see 2015 PBA Executive Summit pictures, please visit probeauty.smugmug.com/Events/2015-PBA-Executive-Summit/.