Guest Speakers
At each of our quarterly socials we have three guest speakers. We invite anyone that has something to offer freelance makeup artists to improve their business. Many of our Guest Speakers also bring a "Door Prize" to give away at the social they are speaking at; however, that is optional. Below are some of the guest speakers that have spoken at our previous social events:
Sheila McKenna, President and Founder of Kett Cosmetics
Sheila is an industry veteran with over 20 years experience in makeup artistry. Her work has been seen in film, television, print, theatre and runway. In the year 2000, after hi-definition cameras forever elevated the standard of digital video, she developed a line of professional airbrush cosmetics. Relying on a hi-def camera as her microscope, she created Kett Cosmetics with the needs of the modern artist in mind. Kett’s entire range was produced in the lab and tested in the studio in front of high-definition and digital cameras. To this day, Kett’s airbrush and compressor system, known as the Kett Jett, is the only system in the world developed by makeup artists for makeup artists.
For over ten years, Kett Cosmetics has supplied the film and television industries with products able to stand up to the unforgiving lens of the high-definition camera. Today, Kett’s line of highly effective airbrush foundations, liquid pigments and setting powders provide long-lasting, flawless coverage with the flexibility to create endless looks. And most importantly, Kett Cosmetics are created with the health of its wearers and the earth in mind—these products are vegan, and never tested on animals. Today Kett Cosmetics is globally recognized and considered an essential brand for professional artists, makeup academies, studios and television networks.
Alison O'Neil, The Beauty Becomes You Foundation
In 2005, Ms. O’Neil founded The Beauty Becomes You Foundation (BBYF) a nonprofit aesthetic health initiative that embraces a holistic approach to addressing senior hygiene needs. The mission of BBYF is to preserve the dignity and self respect of senior adults through the provision of aesthetic health products and professional services in a safe, accessible, and familiar environment. Aesthetic hygiene services including basic hair, skin, and nail care as well as massage are provided by volunteer licensed cosmeticians and aesthetic professionals in safe, convenient locations for seniors. We’re changing the way society looks at Senior Adults, our most undervalued National Treasure. Click here to read her very impressive Resume!!
Kris Cole, Image Consultant
Kris Woodard, member Association of Image Consultants International (AICI), is the founder of KRIS COLE Image Consulting. Ms. Woodard is an internationally certified image consultant and trained at the London Image Institute with industry leader and current AICI president Lynne Marks. She has also trained with AICI board members and industry leaders Sonya Barnes, Kelly Machbitz, and Atlanta AICI Chapter President, Sarah Hawthorne in the areas of media, etriquette, and color analysis.
Ms. Woodard has extensive experience in fashion, sales, speaking, and training. As a former fashion model, high end boutique manager, and buyer for several elite fashion retailers Ms. Woodard is able to tap into an array of designers, fashion chains and experts to keep abreast of latest trends and provide clients access to the best services and products available. Ms. Woodard’s dual experience in fashion and corporate worlds gives her unique insights into the skill sets and requirements for success - credibility, confidence, and charisma. In addition, Ms. Woodard has a Bachelor’s degree in Education and Sociology and has several years experience developing and delivering educational training and motivational products to a wide array of audiences. This enables Ms. Woodard to bring professionalism, creativity, and passion to any image presentations. Ms. Woodard has worked with renowned television costumers as well as various entertainers, professional basketball and football players, and corporate executives. Her clients and mentors say they can always depend on her for an honest opinion, accurate knowledge, and impeccable eye for detail. They also trust her to make them look and feel their best in any given situation. Ms. Woodard takes pride in the work that she creates for all of her clients and if given the KRIS COLE stamp of approval, it is sure to SHINE. Ms. Woodard is also passionate about making others feel confident, whole and beautiful, while giving back to her community. She has provided various motivational speaking sessions to non-profit organizations and is developing her own non-profit which will debut in 2010. The focus will be on a world wide initiative to increase self esteem, refine image, and improve economic status. She will work with youth and adults who may be struggling to find the financial resources and the inner beauty that we all abundantly possess. Ms. Woodard is currently a Fulton County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and provides a professional voice for abused and neglected foster children.
Synthe - professional airbrush makeup artist, body painter and educator.
Synthe’s not your ordinary artist. She is the Vicenza, Italy born talent capable of creating virtually any look imaginable. She has airbrushed the most celebrated entertainers and body painted the most imaginable works of art. Her extensive experience in the cosmetic profession began while working with the public through leading retail cosmetic companies. She is a self‐accomplished, conceptual airbrush makeup artist, educator and body painter. Though she left retail for corporate America, she continued her career as a free‐lance makeup artist. In June of 2003 before air brushing makeup, Synthe began body painting. It was when she received so many requests from beauty professionals who wanted to learn the innovative technique that she expanded to the instructional side of this art.
Visit www.Syntheonline.com for upcoming Airbrush and Body Paint classes.
Sheri Brown, Web Designer, BeansLive.com
Sheri graduated from Georgia Tech in 1984 with a B.S. in Math and began her career in technology as a database administrator for a major regional bank. She then went on to become a national database consultant for IBM and lead a regional client server consulting practice until she started her own IT consulting firm in 1993. Since that time, she has lead numerous large scale development projects for fortune 100 companies and developed a staff of IT professionals that still work with her today.
In 2007 she was joined in business by her husband Dave Brown and they refocused the business to bring their skill and expertise to small businesses. Dave is a retired independent publisher of yellow page directories throughout the southeast. He brings over 20 years experience marketing small businesses to the table and provides leadership to a dedicated sales team. Dave is graduate of Furman University and began his entrepreneurial career 30 years ago with his first independent yellow page directory. He successfully built and sold his directories to major Yellow Page publishers over six times before joining Sheri at BeansLive.
Today they jointly lead a team of dedicated professionals helping small businesses gain an internet presence for an affordable price and offering their business experience to help other entrepreneurs grow their own businesses.
Thay Carmichael, Lash Stylist and Instructor
Thay, a Jamaican native and Georgia resident, is an Aesthetic Specialist with a passion for eyelashes and skin. She uses innovative products and procedures to achieve beauty. Thay has trained as an Aesthetician at the International School of Skin (Atlanta), with formal lash training in New York and Georgia. She holds a license in Aesthetics and several advance certifications in Chemical Peels, Laser Hair Removal and other aesthetic disciplines. Thay loves lashes, family, travel, hair accessories and tiaras. She believes in working diligently, giving to others, and client satisfaction. Email Thay with your skincare and eyelash questions at Thalene@yahoo.com.
Jessica Truesdale, CEO and Creative Director of True You Cosmetics
As a freelance makeup artist, Jessica's vision has been established to provide innovative, trendy, and luxurious cosmetic products that are inspired by the company’s theme and tagline…True...Timeless...Beauty... In coming months, True You Cosmetics will launch a full collection highlighting vintage and historical makeup trends that have inspired our current generation. The upcoming seasonal collections will include a series of eye shadow shades, concealers, a full face product line, and an array of extensive beauty items. True You Cosmetics firmly believes in giving consumers a flawless and innovative approach to color choices and high-end beauty products all surfacing around accentuating an individual’s “signature look”. True You Cosmetics exemplifies simplified beauty and producing the most socially responsible beauty products that are available for women of all ages and skin tones.
Just launching in October, the new ICONIC Lip Collection features a series of trendy colored, antioxidant, and vitamin enriched lipsticks, lip glosses, and lip palettes, all named after old Hollywood greats and icons, such as Marilyn Monroe, Josephine Baker, Dorothy Dandridge, and more. The Old Hollywood inspired collection illustrates the beginning of the beauty evolution. Jessica also tells a story of her own beauty genealogy throughout her cosmetic line which includes her two great grandmothers, who were fashion and beauty business legends between 1940 and 1960. Since October, True You Cosmetics has been featured in many publications, television shows, and beauty blogs including: TheFashionList, examiner.com, makeuptalk.com, Fox 8 News, CBS News 2, News 14 Carolina, WXII News 12, Skirt Magazine, Yes! monthly, Beauty Packaging Magazine, Fearless Magazine, Be Entertained Magazine, Rolling Out Magazine, Charlotte Style Magazine, and more!
For more information about Jessica Truesdale and True You Cosmetics, please visit www.TrueYouCosmetics.net
Candace Morrow, Communications Specialist
Candace is a communications specialist who helps business owners develop key media messages to reach the right clients, sponsors and partners. A social media marketer now, Candace started her journalism career in 2004 writing news and feature stories about business professionals making positive impacts in their communities. She has held various editorial positions in the fields of aviation, beauty, boating, health and higher education. She has written for Atlanta Tribune, The Magazine, Boating World Magazine, AutoPILOT Magazine and SouthComm Publishing Co. Today, Candace offers a range of media services using both new and traditional media to connect with target audiences. To contact Candace, click here to e-mail cmorrownow@gmail.com
Jonathan Mason, Attorney, Mason Law Group
Jonathan Mason began his legal career in 1992 as a litigator in the Winston-Salem, North Carolina office of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice. In his early years, Jonathan worked on a variety of litigation matters for major corporations and insurance companies such as Ford Motor Company, Wachovia Bank, The Travelers, and Chase Manhattan Bank. As a young litigator, Jonathan was able to gain significant “hands-on” experience by handling motion hearings, depositions, bench trials and even jury trials. Jonathan experienced his “fifteen minutes of fame” in 1995 as a member of the team that represented a Winston-Salem-based screenwriter who was subpoenaed to testify during the criminal trial of O.J. Simpson. That representation culminated in a nationally-televised court hearing opposite Johnnie Cochran and F. Lee Bailey. Jonathan’s foray in entertainment law began with his representation of Luther Vandross, Ltd. and Bad Boy Entertainment in separate litigation matters in North Carolina. Thereafter, he began representing “talent” in entertainment-related transactions. Since relocating to Atlanta in November 1998, Jonathan’s practice has expanded to include representation of independent record labels, music producers, songwriters, production companies, concert promoters, visual artists, and fashion models. Jonathan’s practice also includes entertainment-related litigation, including royalty and commission disputes, copyright infringement, and trademark infringement matters. He has been involved in matters involving Luther Vandross, Kirk Franklin, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Rickey Smiley, and Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. Although Jonathan enjoys working with well-known clients, the heart and soul of his practice is dedicated to assisting unsigned artists in positioning themselves to reach the next level, or advising start-up record labels and production companies on the legal issues associated with start-up entertainment companies. In early 2004, Jonathan founded the Mason Law Group, P.C. to capitalize on his array of experience in and passion for music and the arts.
Mary Williams, Executive, NuSkin Enterprises
Mary graduated from the Loreto College in Dublin, Ireland, and after working in Dublin for a couple of years decided to go to Heidelberg, Germany to learn German. Mary then worked in the Graphic department of a German company. After two years with this company Mary went to Hawaii and worked in Hawaii until she returned to Stuttgart, Germany. There she worked for the Managing Director in an American company. After that Mary went to Denver, Colorado and worked for an I.T. company called Mohawk Data Sciences. After eighteen years of raising her children, she entered the work force again, and worked for an International Fashion Company called Weekenders, USA. There she achieved her goal of being #1 in the United States with this company for sales and growing a successful, dynamic sales team. Now Mary is working with Nu Skin Enterprises because of their breakthrough technology called ageLOC in the Anti Aging Industry. This technology that goes to the source of aging at the gene level and resets the genes back to their youthful state is also in the treatment gels that work with Nu Skin's handheld Galvanic System. Mary is growing a strong team with this new technology.
James Wealthy, Lash & Brow Designer, Wealthy Systems
A naturally gifted, self-instructed barber/stylist who began cutting hair at age 15, he spent most of his time cultivating his art, perfecting his techniques and mastering trends. By the young age of 19, he had a burgeoning clientele. He then enrolled in the Pivot Point International Academy founded by global icon Leon Passage and completed his undergraduate training in 1992. Shortly thereafter he opened his first concept salon named Signs and Wonders in Bloomington, IL. Tailored suits, polished shoes, and humble, yet charismatic personality easily identify him. He is JAMES WEALTHY and he is truly redefining the beauty industry. James Wealthy has become a positive fixture and beauty mogul on the U.S. beauty educational circuit. He passionately teaches his techniques to eager salon professionals at the Bronner Brothers Show, Premiere International Beauty Show, Proud Lady and American Beauty-Mid West Show.
His first celebrity client was his childhood friend, R&B vocalist, Carl Thomas. His high profile clientele consists of entertainers and athletes. He is responsible for the hair images of Josha Washington of Like Mike 2, Avieon Cason, NFL running back, "Big Mike" of Making the Band 4, and the new R&B group Day 26. He also styles Donnie Klang, a solo artist who is signed to Bad Boy Records. Wealthy was the stylist for The Sean John Fall '08 Runway Show during New York Fashion Week. Well known for being a Master Barber/Stylist, but also a Tonsorial Specialist, Brow Practitioner, Lashologist, Consultant, and Motivational Speaker, and has threaded the eyebrows of legendary motivational icon Les Brown.
Mr. Wealthy known as a celebrity Stylist yet is also recognized for his distinctive abilities to remove unwanted hair using the ancient art of threading, apply flawless lashes, deliver meticulous haircuts, color cutting, and polished finished looks. "I make a divine connection with all of my clients. I suggest ways of making their hair and skin function in proper condition. They trust and believe in me and that motivates me to always deliver a quality product and service", says Wealthy. Wealthy also mentions his favored verse Duet 8:18 "To always remember the Lord your God who gives you the power (ability) to get (create) wealth". This approach is what makes him unique. His uniqueness and professionalism is exactly why day spas, salons and trade show producers seek him out to implement innovative techniques in the marketplace.
Kat Flynt, Flynt Makeup Academy
Besides being a working Professional Makeup Artist and Instructor, Kat Flynt is also a Licensed Esthetician. Kat got her start applying makeup for an Atlanta area studio's Glamour Shoots in 1993. From there she began receiving requests to do bridal makeup and entire wedding parties. In 2002, after nine years of successfully proving her natural talent and self taught skills, she chose to continue her education and become a licensed Esthetician (Skin Care Specialist). Kat continues to enhance her God-given talent with ongoing education as well as teaching advanced makeup classes at local Aesthetic and Cosmetology programs as an Independent Contractor. Her talents as a makeup artist were featured on the Atlanta television show “Home & Style” in 2006.
Kat specializes in media makeup (makeup for commercial photography, fashion shows, magazines, television commercials, television appearances, video productions, industrial videos, infomercials, news programs, advertising, catalogues, newspapers, brochures, etc...) as well as makeup for weddings and other special occasions and has been teaching advanced makeup classes since 2006. Due to her busy schedule working as a freelance makeup artist full-time Kat teaches only one 3 or 4-Day course per month (with a limit of 10 students per class) and accepts only two of the private one-on-one makeup artist training appointments per month. Click here to view scheduled dates for this year.
