Membership
Chair: Max Wexler
Beauty Craft Supply & Equipment Co.
Minnetonka, MN
leadership@probeauty.org
President of Beauty Craft and 40-year industry veteran, Max Wexler has been involved in all aspects of sales and marketing for Beauty Craft. Max worked his way through school at the University of St. Thomas by selling beauty supplies, achieving a bachelor's degree in Political Science before receiving his Juris Doctor degree from Hamline University Law School. After practicing law for six years, while simultaneously continuing his sales career with Beauty Craft, Max eventually decided to focus on expanding Beauty Craft.
Max has been married to Marianne for 33 years and has three sons, Adam, Ian and Benjamin. Marianne, Adam and Ian are all active in the family business.
Vice Chair: Scott Buchanan
Scott J Salon & Spa
New York, NY
leadership@probeauty.org
Scott Buchanan began his career in the beauty industry as an apprentice in a Long Island salon. Today, he owns three salons: a 2,800-square-foot salon and spa on New York's fashionable Columbus Avenue; an active, full-service high-end Aveda concept salon near Columbia University; and a 2500-square-foot Aveda lifestyle salon and spa amidst the glam and bustle of New York’s Upper Eastside. Scott makes it a priority to give back to the industry that he holds dear, regularly leading Aveda Business College seminars such as “Front Desk Systems” and “Measuring Business Profitability.” In addition, his artistic team travels the US teaching innovative trends for the salon environment and has done multiple makeover shows, including The Opera Winfrey Show, among others. They are also the leaders of many New York fashion week shows, and within the Aveda Network.
Treasurer: Bruce Selan
Zotos International
Rosemont, IL
leadership@probeauty.org
A 35-year beauty industry veteran, Bruce Selan has spent his entire career with Zotos/Helen Curtis. As Vice President of Core Brands at Zotos, Bruce is dedicated to seeing distributors grow their business and to giving salons the education necessary to succeed.
Bruce has been a partner with PBA for decades, serving on the board for more than 15 years. He strives to increase the status of the professional beauty industry and to make it a a nurturing and educational atmosphere for all industry professionals.
Sydney Berry
Salon Services & Supplies, Inc.
Renton, WA
leadership@probeauty.org
Sydney Berry has been with Salon Services & Supplies for nearly three decades. Joining the company in 1980 as its first business consultant, Sydney quickly climbed the ranks to sales manager to general manager, and eventually president. Along with George Learned, Sydney and her husband Miles purchases Salon Services & Supplies Inc. in 1997.
As a licensed cosmetologist, and a former salon owner, Sydney embraced the opportunity to interact with a broad range of people, which has built Salon Services & Supplies into a distinctive force in the Pacific Northwest. She has been actively involved in the beauty industry for over thirty years. Her commitment to the salon industry is demonstrated by Salon Service’s continual investment to provide education to its constituents. At the beginning of her distribution career, Sydney developed a networking group, which continues today, to help salon owners grow their business through shared strengths and camaraderie.
Sydney's family includes her husband Miles; children Stacy, Jeremy and Tiffany and grandson Kanon.
Mark Goodman
The Hair-Designers
Hilton Head Island, SC
leadership@probeauty.org
Mark has been a cosmetologist for 32 years and a salon owner since 1981. His salon has been voted The Best of Hilton Head for several years. He is a past president of South Carolinas Association of Cosmetology Salon Professionals and serves on their Fashion and Education Committee. An NCA member since 1978, he is a member of NCA Hair America and served as a designer on several of the past design teams. He has served on the NCA Board of Directors since 2001 and now is proud to serve the members as the NCA section president. He believes that belonging to a professional association is the most important thing that we can do for our careers and lives.
Brian Graham
Nioxin
Lithia Springs, GA
leadership@probeauty.org
Brian Graham is Chief Executive Office of NIOXIN Research Laboratories, Inc., the worlds' leading manufacturer of natural solutions for fine and thinning hair. Prior to this role, Brian served as vice president of marketing for eight years.
Before starting his career with NIOXIN, Brian worked in the field of medical rehabilitation. His natural attraction to NIOXIN stems from his passion for helping others look and feel their best.
Brian received his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Southern University before completing his P.M.D. at Harvard University.
Brian is the eldest son of Eva Graham, NIOXIN Founder and Chairman. He currently lives in Atlanta with his wife and three children.
Josh Hafetz
The Raylon Corporation
Reading, PA
leadership@probeauty.org
President of Raylon Corporation, Josh Hafetz has played many roles within the industry, including Regional Sales Manager for ISO in California and Raylon’s Director of Sales. Josh’s passion for the beauty industry is rooted in his enjoyment of the incredible people that make it so amazing. He regularly provides educational outreach to stylists and salon owners to help them achieve greater financial and personal success in their careers. Before his appointment to the Board of Directors, Josh served on the Distributor Leadership Council and PBA’s Governing Council and hopes to continue to contribute to the future success of the industry.
Beth Hickey
Spa Specialties Representatives
Arlington, TX
leadership@probeauty.org
Beth Hickey is a twenty-six-year veteran licensed cosmetologist, former salon owner and manufacturer, salon and spa industry advisor, and product development consultant to manufactures and distributors across the globe. Her area of expertise covers the spectrum of nails, skin, hair and body. Beth is the editor of "500 Beauty Solutions" and "1001 Beauty Solutions" and has been seen on numerous TV programs, including "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Joan Rivers - Can We Talk Show," "Our Home" and others. She is also the author of "New Business: How To Get It, How To Keep It."
Beth believes that education is the foundation of all growth and success. She makes it a point to never stop learning and to see the endless opportunities that the beauty and spa industry offers.
Marilyn Ihloff
Ihloff Salon and Day Spa
Tulsa, OK
leadership@probeauty.org
Marilyn opened her salon in 1980, with a staff of six. Now, with her sons sharing ownership, her business has grown to three full service salons and spas in Tulsa and Norman, Oklahoma, and a salon in Kansas City. The four salons employ 155 people and are all Aveda Lifestyle locations.
The salons have been voted "Best of Tulsa" yearly and have been on the Salon Today 200 Fastest Growing Salons in America four times. Marilyn and her team are active in the community, with the team raising $90,000 in 2008 for community projects. Marilyn was voted 2008 Oklahoma Small Business Person of the Year by the Small Business Administration and represented the state nationally. Marilyn invites you to visit her on her website at www.ihloffspa.com.
Harlan Kirschner
Kirschner Group
Valencia, CA
leadership@probeauty.org
Harlan Kirschner started in the professional beauty industry in 1979 working for a master distributor. He started The Kirschner Group, Inc in 1984 by acquiring the Powers Group and has expanded their business to be a worldwide sales organization. The Kirschner Group has acquired some of America's premier sales rep companies like The Wild Company, The Perlman Group, Rogers and Jones along with Hass-Ury sales associates. The Kirschner Group, Inc covers all 50 states with a staff of 37 sales representatives. Five years ago The Kirschner Group, Inc launched their international division and now covers all of Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Harlan has had the privilege to serve on previous BBSI boards of directors for many years along with being the treasurer for the Western Beauty Rep Association for the last 15 years. Harlan has also served on numerous panels and committee's for the American Beauty Association, the current Professional Beauty Association and the past Beauty and Barber Supply Institute. Harlan is married with two grown children, one of which has now entered into the beauty business.
Cary O'Brien
Cary O'Brien's Design & Color Spa
St. Charles, MO
leadership@probeauty.org
Cary O'Brien has been involved in the salon industry all of his life. With a hairdresser mother and apprenticing at the age of 15, he has grown and evolved just as the industry has. Cary opened his first two-chair salon at the age of 21. In 1990 after opening a larger salon, he began working as a part-time educator for Rusk and quickly moved up the ranks as educator, stage presenter, platform artist and finally National Education Manager. This new position required him to develop and train part-time educators across the country.
With his young family growing, Cary resigned from his position and opened a new and expanded salon and spa with his wife. Cary and Talisa's goal and vision included having a highly trained team that not only performed their craft well, but also was also able to grow their career so that they could live an extraordinary life.
Cary has served on the Leadership Council for the salon section of the Professional Beauty Association since 2002.
Grace Santiler-Nowik
Hair Base Salon & Spa
Chicago, IL
leadership@probeauty.org
As Co-Owner of a Hair Base Salon in Chicago, a family run business for more than 30 years, Graciela’s job is multi- faceted. Receiving a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, her primary goal is to use her educational background in marketing to grow, manage, and use strategic public relations to grow her business. Graciela still works behind the chair three to four days a week because of her love for her craft and takes her responsibility for her 12 employees very seriously. She has served in multiple industry associations throughout the years, giving her the opportunity to share her passion and knowledge of the working professional with the many facets of beauty industry.
