Unbreakable Culture: Transforming Your Business From the Inside Out 

Renowned culture expert and bestselling author, Brant Menswar, has delved into the minds of more than 10,000 employees to uncover the secrets of building a resilient, adaptable, values-based culture. His extensive research, coupled with his experience helping top organizations like Microsoft, Netflix, and NASA improve employee satisfaction, has resulted in a comprehensive keynote on creating an unbreakable culture.

In this high-energy engaging presentation, Brant shares the insights gleaned from his research through real-life examples, powerful videos, and interactive exercises. Participants will discover the importance of knowing your non-negotiables in driving organizational performance and leave with actionable strategies for establishing an unbreakable culture within their own organization including:

- The 5 Binding Values of an unbreakable culture.

- How to discover your non-negotiables and use them to quickly pivot during times of change.

- How to foster vulnerability and courage within your team.

General Session
Marketing for Small Businesses 

With more than 20 years of experience leading marketing and brand strategies, Kris Marsh is an accomplished strategist, educator and coach. During her keynote address, Kris will dive into the fundamentals of building and nurturing your brand as a salon leaders. Attendees will be guided in identifying their salon's unique value proposition and get equipped iwth the tools to stand out in a crowded market. She will unveil a comprehensive four-step, 90-day plan tailored specifically for buildilng a recognized and valued salon brand. 

Breakout Workshops (limited capacity) 
Salon Branding Glamping Getaway

Building on her Salon Brand Camp keynote, join Kristina Marsh in an intimate breakout glamping session to dive further into the 4 steps to building your standout brand. Seating is limited for this 45-minute immersive session, where you will connect with other salon leaders and explore what makes your salon brand unique. At the end of our glamping session, you will leave with a head start on your own Salon Brand Camp map.

The New-School Approach to Attracting and Retaining Stylists

In today’s fast-paced salon industry, attracting and retaining top talent requires more than just a good reputation—it demands a modern, innovative approach. Gone are the days of outdated systems and rigid structures. It’s time to embrace new-school strategies that not only draw in talented stylists but also keep them engaged and committed for the long haul.

In this class, we'll dive into:

● In Depth Interview Systems: Learn the 5 step interview process that allows you to hire slow and ensure you find the right stylists for your brand

● Modern Hiring Systems: Learn how to stand out and attract the best talent with fresh, innovative approaches.

● Retention Through A Well Defined Culture: Discover how to cultivate a stand out salon culture with a detailed culure framework and that makes stylists want to be a part of your salon long term.

● Bonus- The one thing salon owners often overlook when it comes to to retaining top talent

By the end of this class, you'll have a clear, actionable plan to build and maintain a team of passionate, dedicated stylists who are excited to be part of your salon’s future. Let’s modernize your business and create a space where talent flourishes!

Boosting Salon Success Through Employee Recognition & Engagement

Discover how to transform your salon’s atmosphere and boost team morale with employee recognition programs and engagement strategies. In this 45-minute session, Jwe will talk through practical methods to build camaraderie within their teams.

Learn how simple, everyday actions can enhance employee satisfaction, reduce turnover, and drive salon success. With actionable takeaways that require no additional budget, this class is perfect for those looking to foster a positive work environment and motivate their staff.

Join us and start implementing these strategies immediately to see a lasting impact on your salon’s performance!

Michael is presenting two great breakout sessions:

Setting Boundaries - Eliminate Feeling Like the Bad Guy

Nobody likes to be the bad guy, but we can feel like that when we need to address an action or behavior that falls outside of our company expectations. Setting boundaries is the key to creating a win for everyone.

We will walk, step by step, through a 3-step simple system that allows for clear communication, accountability, and the time to create change. The goal is to create a win for all involved and not leave anyone feeling like the bad guy. Setting boundaries = positive outcomes.

Unlocking Limitless Growth

Growth of 20%, 30%, 40% or more is sitting right inside the four walls of your company. Imagine the opportunities for all involved with that type of growth. The key question is how do we unlock it?

While this breakout is certainly grounded in the numbers, we will be using a key interactive tool to unlock your limitless potential, you will quickly see that the power of limitless growth lies in the ACTIONS.

What are the key actions that will allow your business to achieve the limitless growth? You will have to attend to see! The answer is different for everyone.

About Michael Yost

As a part of the beauty industry since 1991 and a business owner for 16 years, Michael now has the honor of serving as President of Strategies - a company that he sought out when he first became a business owner. That experience fundamentally changed this thinking, actions, and behaviors toward building a healthy business and culture.

That experience also changed the course of his life. He needed to share the solid business principles learned with an industry. Working as a coach and educator then moving to Director of Education and now President of Strategies have allowed him to interact and be inspired by many great leaders and team members. This interaction keeps fueling the passion for an industry he loves. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

Michael has a beautiful wife, Christine. Two awesome boys – Matthew and Benjamin and one crazy dog Maverick. He is also terrible at golf but enjoys it anyway.

Inward Reflections: Cultivating 5-Star Team Experiences in the Salon Industry

As salon owners and managers, we often focus on coaching our teams to deliver a 5-star experience for our guests. But what about the experience we create for our employees? In this keynote, we take a hard look at ourselves as leaders, exploring how our actions, decisions, and culture shape the day-to-day lives of our teams.

Learn how to elevate your leadership approach to ensure that the employee experience is as extraordinary as the one you expect your staff to provide to clients. By fostering a 5-star environment for your team, you empower them to deliver unparalleled service and drive your salon’s success.

Financial Fitness - 5 Surefire Ways to Increase Your Profitability Today

Making more money means learning how to turn top line sales into more bottom-line results! This is usually easier said than done until now. This workshop for salon, spa owners and independent salon, spa owners will break down 5 critical areas that you can identify to help you give your bottom line a boost.

You will learn:
- Key financial performance indicators and how to improve them
- How to become more financially organized
- How to price your services for profit
- Why increasing retail profit will make your money work for you!

Steve’s experience as a business coach and trainer spans over 30 years. He has coached over 650 salons to accelerate growth & profits! He has delivered over 900 trainings and seminars to over 400,000 people in the United States and internationally in countries like Ireland, Russia, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Colombia and Puerto Rico to name a few. He annually served as judge of the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) Salon MBA category and was recently nominated as one of this year’s NAHA 2024 Educator of the Year Finalists. He has written two eBooks, Financial Fitness: Systems to Increase Profitability in Your Salon or Spa and Interdependent Leadership: Creating a Salon Culture of Inclusive Growth. His new book, The Service Cycle: How to Exceed Client Expectations & Drive Loyalty, comes out spring of 2025.

Driving Salon Culture through Accountable Leadership
- an interactive workshop for leaders

Strap up for a packed idea exchange from 3 powerful salon owners. Bonnie Conte, Maggie DiFalco and Gayle Fulbright have owned employee-based salons for decades. Collectively they represent salon ownership on the West Coast, Midwest and East Coast!

Surviving and thriving through salon ownership ups and downs has given them wisdom to ignite ideas for positive change. Walk away with an action plan to create a successful 2025 in your business!

Dive into actionable takeaways to grow your company through….
• Building consistent communication flow with your team.
• Flexibility when necessary for the benefit of your business and the long-term commitment of your individual employees.
• Non-negotiables and accountability for your team and YOURSELF that will lead to respect, growth and love for your company’s culture.

Fill Your Gaps by Filling Your Funnel 

Join Kati Whitledge for this dynamic workshop designed for beauty industry business owners aiming to fill appointment gaps for their team members. Learn cutting-edge digital marketing strategies to effectively fill your sales funnel and maximize the impact of Facebook ads. Empower your team with actionable insights and proven techniques to attract and retain clients, ensuring your salon's success.

Kati Whitledge is a marketing guru for the beauty and wellness industry who equips owners with no-fluff business and marketing strategies. She's a speaker, podcaster, and the Founder and CEO of mya--a client recruitment and marketing software for the beauty industry.

Crafting Your Brand Identity

Get ready for a whirlwind tour of visual branding! We’ll be guided by Amanda Smith as we explore building and nurturing your brand identity with examples to light the way.

Here's the plan: define your brand, gather inspiration, create with mood boards, and watch real examples come to life!

Amanda Smith serves as the Brand Design Manager for the Professional Beauty Association, bringing 27 years of design and branding experience to the table. She’s worn many hats in the graphic design world – from Graphic Designer to Art Director, evening sliding into the role of Creative Director.

Amanda has an innate grasp of branding and visual communication that’s taken her through all sorts of industries, but for the past 10 years, she’s been diving deep into the beauty and wellness scene.

Building and Sustaining a Salon Team in the Age of Suites

Yene is an Ethiopian-American salon owner, business mentor, brand consultant, hair loss practitioner, and hairstylist. With nearly a two-decade-long career, she has made quite an impression on the industry. She is most notably known for being the hairstylist to the Obama Family, but she has always known that what she’s doing is bigger than hair – it’s about impact. With that in mind, she is on a mission to make one that will span generations through her 360 approach to beauty, combining business, education, and hairstyling.

While in Cosmetology school, she found flaws within the curriculum and is now dedicated to teaching and mentoring the next generation of stylists, both in styling and business. She owns and operates two Aesthetics Salon locations in Arlington, VA where the focus is on hairstyling with the client’s hair needs as the top priority. Through Aesthetics, she has created an inclusive community of top-rated stylists that fully embrace the concept of connecting and educating the everyday woman on haircare.

A sought-after voice in the industry, she has been featured in major publications including, Allure, GQ, NPR, and Vogue. She was also named as a Hair Raiser on Ulta Beauty’s inaugural Muse 100 list which celebrates inspirational Black voices in beauty. Yene has a tremendous career and still has a lot more to accomplish. At this point in her journey, she is interested in diversifying into lifestyle spaces with a vision to continue making an impactful change in hair. Her overall goal is to work with her team to uplift her clients and bring more inclusivity to the industry.

Lead with Confidence

Sharing how she went from a devastating salon walkout to being recognized as one of the top 200 salons by Salon Today in the category of leadership, you'll love Heather Spencer's story. She'll share actionable steps for salon owners to confidently lead their team and their salon to success and profitability. 

Heather Spencer is a licensed cosmetologist and co-owner of A Spencer Gellise Salon in Bay City, MI. In 2022, she retired from behind the chair to empower her team, invest in the continued growth and development of her salon company, and to inspire the professional beauty industry.

She is a certified John Maxwell speaker, coach, and trainer, and is passionate about sharing leadership development for salon owners.

Salon Profit Boost: A Conversation on Maximizing Revenue and Cutting Costs

Join us for an engaging conversation with successful salon owners Oliver Steinnagel and Bobbi Springer, as we explore practical strategies to enhance your salon's profitability. Learn how to leverage technology to save money, implement effective pricing strategies to increase your revenue, and gain a deeper understanding of credit card fees to keep more of your hard-earned income. Discover innovative approaches and insider tips to boost your bottom line and take your salon business to the next level.

Tax Tips for EntrepreneursStarting and Operating a Business

Tired of being a backseat driver with your small business taxes? It’s time to take the wheel! Join Sheri Sales, Public Affairs Specialist at the IRS, to revolutionize your tax handling with expert strategies and insider tips. Navigate tax challenges with confidence and steer your business toward a profitable, tax-trouble-free future! We will also discuss knowing the difference between an employee and a contractor!