Pivot Point International announces 2010 L.E.O. Awards

[Tue 25/05/2010 01:45:33]

The third annual L.E.O. Awards have been presented to five industry leaders who acknowledge Pivot Point International education as the basis for their success in many areas of professional beauty.

Corrine Passage, Robert Aubin, Ann Bray and Karen Wilkin-Donachie

The L.E.O. Awards represent Leadership in the salon industry, Excellence in designer education and Outstanding Pivot Point alumni, while also honouring the founder and chairman of Pivot Point, Leo Passage.

"When he founded Pivot Point many years ago, Leo Passage's vision was to inspire and train people to reach their maximum potential in the hair and beauty industry,” said Karen Wilkin-Donachie, CEO of Pivot Point International, Inc.

“That vision became an ongoing reality as today we still recognize the powerful role that mentors play in the pursuit of every individual’s professional journey. All our L.E.O. awardees are exceptional people who have mentored many other successful professionals and provide a great inspirational example to others. We thank them for their passion for our industry and their commitment to creating an even better future for those that follow," she added.

The Five 2010 L.E.O. Awards recipients include:

Robert Aubin, CEO, Pivot Point Australia and New Zealand

Raised in the United States, where his Pivot Point training established him as a notable competition stylist, Robert Aubin accepted Leo Passage’s offer to train stylists in Australia back in 1969. It was a trip that would change his life and lead to an admirable and successful career. He stayed in Australia and is now globally recognized for his leadership in beauty and hair care education, as well as establishing two major American beauty brands “down under.” Recently, Robert’s support led to Australia’s leading point-of-sale software for salons. Now, as his son, Rob, continues the Pivot Point tradition, Robert remains a highly regarded example of the innovators and individual success stories of the Hairdressing Industry in Australia.

Ann Bray, The Masters, Huntsville, Alabama

A true master herself of the art in hair styling and finishing, Ann Bray is a treasured teaching artist and mentor to so many beauty professionals. She credits her Pivot Point training to “turning the page” on her early career as a competition hairstylist.

After winning hundreds of contests she and her late husband Gary turned to teaching and developed a Pivot Point member school in Huntsville. One of her most rewarding experiences was training the first and only USA Women’s Team to win Gold in the World Championships of Hairdressing.

She has received Intercoiffure’s Createur de Mode and Ordre de la Chevalerie. More recently, she won the NAHA award for long hair styling and is credited with creating the extraordinary hairstyles seen in advertising and educational materials for Aquage professional products. Above all, Ann is always willing to help anyone master the art of styling and finishing with confidence, competence and consistency.

Rahni Michael Flowers, Creator and Proprietor of Van Cleef Hair Salon, Chicago, IL

Michael Flowers accepted with pleasure the nickname “Rahni” when Vidal Sassoon gave it to him at a training session. This talented and enthusiastic owner of Van Cleef Hair Salon is perhaps best known as the longtime hair designer for First Lady Michelle Obama while she lived in Chicago.

For years, he and his staff have followed his mission of providing African-American women with a sophisticated, professional and luxurious environment in which to relax and enjoy their beauty treatments.

While a pre-med student in college, Rahni developed an interest in hair and beauty that led him to switch to cosmetology at Pivot Point International. Once licensed, he worked and trained at the Vidal Sassoon Salon for several years. In 1981, with the encouragement of his growing client base, he opened the original Van Cleef Hair Salon, just off Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.

The salon has since expanded into a fully renovated historic building where style is an everyday element. When Mrs. Obama went to Washington, she invited Rahni to become her personal stylist, but he declined so as not to leave behind his hundreds of other loyal clients and deprive them of his talent and dedication.

Gretchen ‘Gretta’ Monahan, Beauty and Fashion Entrepreneur, Boston, MA

Fashion and beauty are intrinsically linked, but never more so than in the expansive and explosive career of Boston’s Gretchen “Gretta” Monahan. Leaving midway through her education at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology to pursue her other passion in beauty, Monahan enrolled at Nocera Group in Watertown, MA, a Pivot Point school.

There she learned that while she loved fashion, working with hair and beauty gave her a better opportunity to work with people. As a Goldwell-trained master colorist she was immediately praised for her forward thinking and approach to style.

Her busy beauty and fashion life today includes being one of Rachael Ray’s daytime TV Buddies, dispensing advice to countless consumers. She still manages the Boston salon and spa she founded as well as the Grettacole fashion boutique Gretta Luxe, and the new beauty and fashion hot spot, G-Spa.

Diana Schmidtke, Men’s Grooming, Style and Hair Care Specialist, Los Angeles, CA

Styling the hair of George Clooney, Viggo Mortensen and Matt Damon is just a day in the working life of Diana Schmidtke, Pivot Point International graduate and currently a freelance stylist in Tinseltown.

Diana attended Pivot Point right after high school, and then worked at Chicago’s popular Trio Salon, training under colorist Phillip Palmeri. After several years, Diana moved to Los Angeles to pursue a freelance styling career. Her expertise and attention to detail have led her to work on film sets and commercial photo shoots. Her work has been featured in Esquire, Men’s Journal, Vogue, New York Times, W Magazine and InStyle.

Pivot Point International, Inc., the world leader in beauty industry education, developed the L.E.O. Awards to showcase the diverse talent, demonstrated leadership and dedication to lifelong learning that each of the recipients first experienced during their days at Pivot Point.

For more information on Pivot Point International Inc., visit www.pivot-point.com