FAB Professionals

ABOUT US

PURPOSE

To protect and enhance your profession, your business and your industry’s integrity now and in the future by providing a unified voice with the state lawmakers, regulators and the public.

In order to do this FAB Professionals will:

Proactively develop programs and seek out services that will increase your knowledge, productivity and profitability
Develop a strong relationship with the regulator and assist with issues on your behalf
Create a powerful and consistent legislative voice promoting beneficial industry legislation and combating hurtful legislation
Provide clear, concise and understandable information to members on current laws, rules and changes as they occur
Act as a resource for members to access information pertaining to labor issues, tax issues, and other business related questions
Create programs that will increase the level of professionalism and public perception of the beauty industry
Provide a venue to allow professional salon owners, licensees, and industry suppliers the ability to network, share ideas and best practices

LEADERSHIP

FAB Professionals is professionally managed and headquartered in Tallahassee, just blocks away from the Capitol. FAB Professionals’ Executive team, has more than 14 years of professional association management experience.

* Rick Wallace, CEO

Rick is the former VP of Education and Training at the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association where he successfully developed and launched the SafeStaff® Food Safety Training product line and SafeStaff® Foodhandler Certificate Program that has been used to train over 900,000 employees. Rick has been in association management since 1999. In addition to founding Florida Association Management Operations Services, LLC (FAMOS), he also developed a sports management company, Equine Sports Management, LLC.

Sam Farkas, VP of Marketing and Communications

Before coming to FAB Professionals in September of 2008, Sam worked for the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) as Deputy Press Secretary for the agency. Sam offers FAB and it’s members a unique perspective because of his experience at the regulatory agency. Sam also contracts with other businesses and state departments to help them with their communications, marketing and public relations needs. Some of you may recognize him as one of the Florida Lottery television draw hosts.

* Julie Todd, Director of Operations

Julie is the former Research and Product Development Coordinator for the Education and Training Division of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, where she was responsible for developing and implementing the SafeStaff® Supervisory Skills Seminar Series throughout the state of Florida. She also has experience working with the non-profit organization, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Big Bend, where she served as Project Director for the opening of a new arts-based club.

FAB's lobbyists include:

Cynthia Henderson -- an attorney and private lobbyist based in Tallahassee. Henderson's experience as former Secretary of both the DBPR and DMS gives her in-depth knowledge of the industry issues and state government.

Louis Betz -- a lobbyist and political consultant based in Tampa, Florida representing high-profile organizations with strong relationships with legislators and industry leaders.

Executive Committee

FAB's Executive Committee is the driving force of the Board of Directors. All members are passionate industry leaders dedicated to creating a powerful association.

* Joanne Powers, Chair

Joanne Powers is an owner of Shear Art Salon & Spa and The Salon Professional Academy Tampa. Joanne began her cosmetology career in 1976. In 1986 she opened Shear Art Salon and Spa in Tampa, Florida and currently serves as its president. The salon is a thriving Bay-Area business home to over 40 employees and 15,000 guests annually. Shear Art is recognized by many of the nation’s top distributors for its unparalleled achievements in advanced education and has been featured on two national television shows.

In 2005 Joanne opened The Salon Professional Academy and currently serves as its Chief Executive Officer. The Academy, sponsored by Redken 5^th Avenue NYC, is a cosmetology school with the objective to produce highly trained and well prepared graduates for salons.

Joanne travels throughout the United States and Europe completing continuing education, including The Redken Exchange in New York. She holds a teachers training certification, is certified in advanced cutting, coloring and business management, and is a graduate of the Salon Summit Business College.

Grant Givens, Vice-Chair

After traveling for many years as part of a franchisor management team in the restaurant business, Grant Givens wanted to stay in one place. Being familiar with franchising, he spoke with a good friend who was a franchisee in the Regis Corporation family. After researching Regis, talking with other franchisees and Regis staff, Givens purchased seven Florida stores – four Supercuts in the Tallahassee and Panama City markets and three Cost Cutters in Tampa.

Grant continues to serve as a member of the National Franchisee Marketing committee for the Regis organization and intends to develop a total of twenty hair care salons under the Regis Franchising system.

Tom Petrillo, Secretary-Treasurer

In 1985, Tom Petrillo graduated from Florida State University with his Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Merchandizing. In 1988, he joined Estée Lauder companies working in the Clinique brand. While at Clinique he served as the Regional Marketing Director for Florida, the General Manager for Australia, and Senior Vice President of Sales and Education for the Southeast – US.

In 1998, he joined the Aveda Corporation, a recent Estée Lauder Companies acquisition, as Senior Vice President of Distribution, Sales and Education. Under his leadership, the business grew by 111%. During this same period, he formed several divisions for the company: a retail store division, an education and school division and a Salon/Spa division. The retail store division has successfully grown from 4 to 106 corporately owned stores.

Tom left Aveda Corporation in 2002 to start The Salon People Inc., the sole distributor for Aveda in Florida. In August 2003, TSP opened the Aveda Institute St. Petersburg, a cosmetology and esthiology school. The Aveda Institute Tallahassee opened July 2005, with the Aveda Institute South Florida opening late 2007.

Tom’s mission of “creating an environment where people can meet their full potential” has lead him into two new ventures: PureChoice, a salon and spa association providing Aveda salons the opportunity to offer their employees health insurance; and PureBusiness Credit, which makes available inventory financing to Aveda salons. Both of these new ventures have helped to create an eco-system of support to his salon and spa network. Tom also believes very much in “caring for the world we live in,” to that end he has committed himself to two boards that give back to community; the FSU Center for Retail Merchandising and Product Development and the Florida Retail Federation.

Gary Carroll - Salon Oasis on Atlantic (Delray Beach)

James Griffith - James Griffith Salons (Boca Grande, Sarasota, Venice)

Tracey Stallworth - Anointed Too Beauty Salon (Tallahassee)

Monique Wood - Haute Headz Salon (Tallahassee)

FAB Board Members

FAB Professionals is currently accepting applications or nominations for the Board of Directors. If interested in serving on our Board of Directors, please submit a Nominating Committee Questionnaire or contact us for more information.

_{*Photos by Saiju Gangadharan}