The Professional Beauty Association'sPBA Executive Summit 2014 to be held Dec. 4-5 at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia in Scottsdale, Arizona, has filled up quickly but there's space for some more executives, the PBA told Beauty Store Business Nov. 17.
"We are thrilled with the response and the amount of support we’re receiving for this event," said Jessi Marshall, director of the PBA's education & industry programs.
"Our goal is 125 with a maximum capacity of 150, and we are close with currently 131 registered attendees," stated Marshall. "Since this is the first year for the PBA Executive Summit, we wanted to create a more intimate experience to allow for networking and brainstorming opportunities. We felt that if we went over 150 we might lose the personal feel and the networking opportunities we're striving to create for the event as well as for the attendee’s experience."
According to Marshall, current attendee representation cuts across numerous professional beauty-industry sectors (manufacturers, manufacturers reps, distributors, schools, salons, beauty stores and others). Currently, 67 companies are attending. The vast majority of attendees—about 70%—are manufacturers and maunfacturers reps. Current beauty retailers are ULTA Beauty and Sally Beauty Supply. Current distributors are CosmoProf Beauty, SalonCentric, Beautyscope, DePasquale Salon Systems, Neill-TSP and Salon Innovations. Current confirmed trade press are BSB/Creative Age Publications, CEW Beauty Insider, GCI Magazine, Salon Today/Modern Salon, American Salon and The Beauty Industry Report.
Casual business attire is recommended for attendees at the Thursday-Friday event. "We want all attendees to feel comfortable so they can take as much away as possible from the event," she noted. "Plus, it's a gorgeous time of year in Scottsdale, so casual business attire might lend itself well to the weather.
"The Montelucia is a beautiful resort in the heart of Scottsdale with a Mediterranean feel," she added. "The location is within minutes of Camelback Mountain trails that locals and visitors flock to for hiking. While it might be a bit chilly for locals to be in the pool, hotel guests enjoy the pool year-round."
The venue itself doesn't have a golf course, but there are several award-winning courses nearby. Due to a high level of interest in golf among attendees to date, the PBA is arranging tee times on Saturday morning, Dec. 6, for those who have expressed the desire to play a round.
A decision has not been made yet about a PBA Executive Summit in 2015, commented Marshall. "The idea for this event was a direct result of the industry’s request. So we are going to wait and see what our attendees have to say before we commit to anything. Attendees will receive a survey at the conclusion of the event, and we will make a decision for 2015 based on their feedback."
For any questions about the new event, contact Marshall, jessi@probeauty.org, 480.455.3424. The PBA may be contacted at 800.468.2274, 480.281.0424. The Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia may be contacted at 888.627.3010, 480.627.3200. For more information about the event, visit www.probeauty.org/execs/.
[Image courtesy of the Professional Beauty Association]