Registration will be open from 9:00am-3:00pm and you can pick up your badge onsite to join the fun! Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to meet new people and learn new things!

Grab a coffee, customize your parfait with fresh toppings, and enjoy light continental favorites while sparking conversations to kick off the day.

Let's kick off MODERN SALON Boot Camp! This session will set the stage for an exciting day of business building with beauty professionals.

Speaker:
Anne Moratto, MODERN SALON

Clients don’t just buy services—they buy connection. In this class, we’ll unpack how keeping the human element front and center builds trust, boosts retention, and fuels long-term success behind the chair.

Speaker:
Nina Tulio, Oligo Professionnel

Blake Reed Evans (he/him/his) is an award-winning hairstylist, salon owner, and global educator based in Tampa, Florida. With over a decade of experience in professional education, Blake is known for delivering high-impact classes that blends technical excellence with real-world strategies stylists can actually use.

Blake is going to talk to us about AI in the salon—how to use it to save time, and how to make friends with AI.

Speaker:
Blake Reed Evans, Shear Art Salons

Whether you're an owner or a valued team member, this panel is for you. Join us as we explore the journey of recognizing where you are in your career today and identifying when it's time to take the next step towards thriving. We'll bring together industry professionals to discuss crucial decisions, like expanding your space or adding new services, and how to spot a lasting movement versus a fleeting trend. Walk away with practical advice and empowering insights to help you make strategic choices for your own professional growth.

Moderator:
Kelly Westbrook, MY SALON Suite

Panelists:
Karen Norwood, Her Health, PLLC
Liv Paige, Curl Coven
Sarah Vondracek, Beauty Marked Salon Suite

Fuel up with a delicious lunch while connecting with top industry vendors!

If you’re anything like the majority of salon and spa owners, including me, you probably drag your feet when it comes to social media. Instagram? TikTok? Facebook? Bleh. But you also know that social media is a must in today’s industry. Here’s why you need this class:

• Learn how to create a content plan that makes knowing what to post next a breeze

• Create a constant stream of new clients on social 

• Discover the top money-making strategies of social media 

• Make social media a regular part of your business (and maybe even learn to love it a little)

Speaker:
Ashley Mitchell, Empowering You Consulting

Erin Kuhn Bhansali—President of Qnity companies and host of the MONEY O2 Podcast—will expose the money mindset challenges plaguing beauty professionals and give you the tools to break through them.

In 30 minutes, you'll discover:

• How your own beliefs about money could be holding you back

• Eye-opening industry data that will shock you

• The 5 core money metrics every solopreneur must know

• Immediate action steps to transform your financial reality

Leave with a fresh money story, tactical tools, and the confidence to master the numbers that drive your business success.

This isn't theory—it's your financial breakthrough in 30 minutes.

Speaker:
Erin Kuhn Bhansali, Qnity

Laura Watkins will share her deeply personal and inspiring journey of mental health recovery, business leadership, and creative resilience. As the author of Something Feels Off: Thriving in Life & Business Beyond a Mental Health Crisis, Laura opens up about her struggles behind the scenes while showcasing how vulnerability can fuel strength. Her session will be a reminder to everyone that when 'something feels off' you are not alone, and there is always help. 

Speaker:
Laura Watkins, Pure Salon Spa

It can be easy to blur the lines between personal and professional, and sometimes “yes” becomes the default. But without clear boundaries, burnout follows quickly. In this candid panel, industry professionals open up about how they’ve learned to set and maintain healthy boundaries with clients, colleagues, and even themselves. Hear how they protect their time, preserve their energy, and create a more sustainable, successful career.

Moderator:
Nicole Johnson, Bobit Business Media

Panelists:
Ali Yanez, Life Time
Erin Mills, Theory Salons
Jalia Pettis, 3Jay Productions
Unique Johnson, @curlsofcolor

Your talent can take you further than you ever imagined. In this session, award-winning makeup artist, hair stylist, educator, and creative director Jalia Pettis shares her journey of building a multi-hyphenate career that goes far beyond the salon. From collaborating with major brands and celebrities to creating editorial work and directing creative projects, Jalia has transformed her skills into opportunities across film, television, fashion, and more.

She’ll reveal practical steps for beauty pros who want to broaden their careers, whether that means getting noticed by brands, breaking into editorial, or simply exploring new ways to showcase your artistry. You’ll leave inspired with strategies to position yourself for what’s next, while staying rooted in the work that started it all.

Speaker:
Jalia Pettis, 3Jay Productions

Let’s raise a glass to an unforgettable experience! Join us for a celebratory champagne toast sponsored by MY SALON Suite.

A perfect send-off to connect, celebrate, and toast to the future!