Letha Barnes, Milady
Letha Barnes is the former owner of three cosmetology schools and served as Vice President of Education for 32 schools in five states supervising a faculty of approximately two hundred. She also served as Accreditation Compliance Officer for the same organization with unprecedented results. In addition, her vast experience includes holding such positions as Chairman of the New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists, having been appointed by three different governors, President of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools, and Vice Chairman of the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences. Letha was the first educator in the United States to be awarded the distinction of Skills Assessor by the City and Guild of London and NACCAS. As Director of The Career Institute, she also teaches regional workshops and Career Institute training seminars for Milady.


Bill Benjamin, The Institute for Health and Human Potential

Bill Benjamin is the CEO of the acclaimed Institute for Health and Human Potential, a successful international business, recently named one of the "Fastest Growing Companies" along with a "Fast 100" ranking in PROFIT Magazine. As a speaker, Bill has inspired and educated audiences of 30 to 2,000 at leadership retreats, sales meetings, IT forums and association events. Over and over again, attendees share what they like about Bill's presentations: he offers practical techniques they can immediately use. Bill understands the barriers preventing leaders from growing profits and nurturing a healthy corporate culture. He struggled early in his career as a leader and applied the same Emotional Intelligence techniques he teaches, enabling him to engage his team members - ultimately growing a computer software business from $2 million in sales to $75 million. Bill has presented to discerning audiences that include surgeons, U.S. Army Commanders and NASA Engineers.


Ed Cramp, Duane Morris, LLP

Ed Cramp practices in the area of complex commercial and employment litigation. He represents and advises businesses on matters relating to employment matters, contract claims, theft of trade secrets, unfair competition, and consumer claims. He has extensive experience working with private postsecondary schools in all areas of operations. Ed served on active duty as a judge advocate in the United States Navy, during which he defended numerous matters before courts-martial convened in the United States Armed Forces. He currently serves as an advisor to and a member of the board of directors of the San Diego Association of Business Trial Lawyers.


C. Jeanine Fulton, Persona Market

Cleo Jeanine Fulton, brings over 12 years of business savvy and creative style to the business and education industry, creating a flavorful harmony that rings success. Currently, Jeanine is the Founder and Director of Operations for Persona Market, a training and publishing company for cosmetic arts professionals and students. Industry In:Site, a workmag for future professionals is Persona Market’s first publication. Pursuing her career as a lifelong educator, Jeanine works as a professor with The University of Phoenix, and teaches Diversity, Organizational Behavior, and Leadership. After completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing in 1994, she pursued a career in the field of cosmetology. She also received a Master of Business Administration degree from Nova Southeastern University in 1999 while working both as a hair stylist and business professional. She was able to combine her marketing, cosmetic flair, creative skills and became a consultant for the world's leading salon services company, Regis Corporation. She worked throughout the United States and Canada with salon owners and staff members of Trade Secret, Great Expectations, Magic Cuts, Cost Cutters, Supercuts, We Care Hair, and Procuts. As a Director of Empire Beauty School, the largest beauty school chain in the US, Jeanine worked closely with instructors and students to promote skills, education and professionalism within the cosmetology industry. As a presenter for Monster.com, Jeanine encouraged thousands of high school students throughout the nationally acclaimed "Making It Count" program.


Barry Glasser, Barry Glasser & Company

Barry Glasser is a Certified Public Accountant and founder of Barry Glasser & Company. He provides west coast proprietary schools with consulting, accounting, tax, financial statement and student financial aid compliance audits and has been active in the industry for over 25 years.


John Halal, Honors Beauty College

John Halal began his career in the beauty industry as a hairstylist over 38 years ago. He has owned and operated beauty salons for 36 years. John is a licensed cosmetology instructor and the president and founder of Honors Beauty College, Inc. since 1992. He is an active member of the National Cosmetology Association (NCA), the Professional Beauty Association (PBA), and the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC). He serves as a President of the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) and is a member and past President of the Indiana Cosmetology Educators Association (ICEA). John is the author of Hair Structure and Chemistry Simplified and Milady’s Hair Care and Product Ingredient Dictionary. He is also a contributing author of the Milady Standard Cosmetology Textbook.


Gregory Jones, Sunstate Academy and Southwest Florida College

Gregory Jones, representing his family's fourth generation in career eduction, is President of Sunstate Academy and Southwest Florida College. His role as a school operative provides a unique perspective that transcends into each of the Key Result Areas of campus management. This perspective is invaluable when implementing a campus-wide, or holistic, growth plan.


Webster Jorgensen, Plattform Advertising

For the last three years, Webster Jorgensen has worked at PlattForm as a Search Engine Optimization Manager exclusively for education based websites. He founded the Search Engine Optimization Association of Kansas City and is currently the Association President. Webster's dedication to online marketing has made him an invaluable team member at PlattForm. Webster is respected by his colleagues and clients who all appreciate the results he is able to generate through SEO.


Joe Knutte, Knutte & Associates

Joe Knutte has sixteen years of accounting, auditing, and tax experience. Joe manages K&A's career college practice and has contributed significantly to K&A's growth in this area of the practice. He also serves as a consultant to numerous publicly and privately-held school groups, with regard to compliance issues as well as merger, acquisition, and sales assistance. Joe speaks to numerous association and trade groups directly related to the career college sector. Additionally, Joe meets with prospective clients and is the partner-in-charge of all marketing and sales activities. Professional affiliations include membership in the Illinois CPA Society and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics.


Dr. Steven McClure, Family Business Consulting Group

Steve is a principal of The Family Business Consulting Group, Inc. a multi-national firm based in Atlanta. Steve specializes in family communications and decision making, succession planning and implementation, and governance and management in family firms. His work often involves family and non-family employee teamwork, implementing advisory boards or boards of directors, family governance, successor development and management practices, such as compensation and strategic planning, tailored to family businesses. Dr. McClure has worked with family businesses for over 25 years.


Mike McHugh, Plattform Advertising

Mike McHugh is the Chief Interactive Officer at PlattForm, a full service enrollment company for the school industry. Mike has been with PlattForm for nine years. Mike began his career in traditional media, but for the last three years has specialized in Interactive Marketing, first as VP of Interactive Marketing and now as CIO. He has worked with a number of different clients in the proprietary school industry and is responsible for new business ventures to find opportunities for lead development. He is a faculty member for MaxKnowledge and has been a speaker at investment conferences as well as at the CCA conference, leading discussions on Interactive Marketing for the school industry.


Gregg Meiklejohn, Enrollment Resources

Gregg Meiklejohn specializes in strategic marketing. He is an expert in branding a business through public relations and developed an award winning program, known as Knowledge Communities, which have consistently given clients massive returns at pennies on the dollar (when compared to advertising). He has been involved in marketing for over 20 years and frequently delivers workshops and teaching sessions.


Tom Netting, Jefferson Government Relations

Tom Netting has more than 19 years of experience in the public policy arena with specific expertise in issues related to higher education and workforce development, health care, and veteran affairs policies and the procurement of federal appropriations. Prior to joining Jefferson Government Relations, Tom served as Corporate Director of Government Relations for Corinthian Colleges, Inc., a publicly traded group of over 90 institutions of higher education located in more than 26 states. His background and experience have afforded him the opportunity to view the development and implementation of federal higher education and workforce development policy in their entirety - from the development to enactment of policy on Capitol Hill, through development and promulgation of regulations by the Department of Education, to institutional policy revisions and implementation at the institutional and corporate level.


Milton Pierce, The Admissions Doctor

Milton Pierce has had the pleasure of working with Admissions Representatives for over 2 decades. He's held positions such as National Trainer, Director of Admissions, Campus Manager, Internship Coordinator, and Placement Director with both "Mom and Pop" schools as well as large school groups. He is an Associate Member of AACS and has conducted National Admissions Training seminars for both national and state associations. He specializes in "Mom and Pops".


Sherry Rappaport, Milady

Sherry Rappaport, MSc joined the team at Milady and is a leading expert in the development and implementation of creative processes focused on rapidly acquiring and implementing new knowledge. She was awarded a Master’s degree in the Science of Creativity Research and Change Leadership program at the International Center for Studies in Creativity at the State University of New York in Buffalo. Sherry has an acute ability to partner with team members to diagnose system obstacles, then with leaders and stakeholders to create learning environments designed to have an immediate and significant positive impact on the organization’s bottom line. Sherry empowers organizations with the flexibility and tangible vision necessary to achieve their business goals on or ahead of plan.


George Schaeffer, OPI Products Inc.

George Schaeffer built OPI Products Inc., the worlds leading professional nail care company, through an acute business sense and an extraordinary commitment to the Professional Beauty Industry and its needs. He has also built the American Dream. OPI began its journey in 1981 in a tiny two-room office. Today, OPI products are enjoyed in over 100 countries, and its corporate headquarters encompass 17 buildings on over seven acres of land in Hollywood, California. In addition to providing beautiful nails for millions of consumers, OPI offers a tremendous business opportunity for salon professionals and distributors.


Brenda Scharman, Cameo College of Essential Beauty

Brenda Scharman is a second generation beauty professional and director of Cameo College of Essential Beauty. She has devoted 29 years of service to the beauty industry. She embraces and reflects positive motivation and self development – Zig Ziglar and Wayne Dyer are just a couple of her favorites. She is an advocate for charitable organizations encouraging and helping others with ongoing events and special activities. Brenda has participated in both State and National Exam writing. As a true fan of AACS, she is often referred to as the "Listserve Queen".


Sally Samuels, FAME

Sally is one of the country's leading authorities on Federal financial aid administration with more than 28 years of "in the trenches" experience. As a respected industry leader, she is frequently called upon to speak at accrediting, regional and state conferences as well as to act as school liaison during program reviews and state compliance audits. In addition, Sally's style makes the sometime complex topics easy to understand and audiences always come away with practical knowledge that they can apply to their everyday situations. Having processed, reviewed and taught financial aid for over 28 years Sally's experience includes representation at over 200 program reviews and certification visits for postsecondary institutions. Sally is a member of the Board for PCCS Region IV, a member of NASFAA and is a member of FAME's Senior Management Board.


Jared Sanders, Pace & Company, Ltd.

Jared is a Computer Consulting Manager, with six years experience in public accounting. He serves as the firm's computer and technology administrator in addition to his accounting, auditing and tax responsibilities. He is a member of the Mississippi Society of CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs, and the AICPA Information Technology section. He earned his Bachelors degree in Accounting from Boise State University and he has been with Pace & Company, Ltd. since August 2000.


Angie Shuler, This Works! A Company with Classroom Solutions

Angie Shuler began her educational pursuits and quest for teaching expertise over 30 years ago when she entered graduate school at the University of South Carolina. Upon completion of her Masters Degree in secondary education, she entered public schools in South Carolina and taught there for over 26 years. Thirteen years ago she met and married Kenneth Shuler who introduced her to the cosmetology industry. She has been presenting at the CEA Annual Convention every year since 2003. An energetic and motivational speaker, she has the reputation for telling it like it is with a touch of Southern magnolia drawl. Currently, Angie is the founder and CEO of This Works! A Company with Classroom Solutions, an educational consulting and advisement business focusing on educational improvement at all levels.


JP Smith, Celsius Marketing and BRS Consulting

JP Smith is a partner of both Celsius Marketing and BRS Consulting. His accomplished career in the education and marketing arena includes success at every level of both admissions and marketing. He is one of the foremost authorities on generational marketing and communication and internet marketing in the career education industry.


Shane Sparks, Enrollment Resources

Shane Sparks specializes in developing measurable, effective advertising programs. He is one of the top working copywriters to the career education industry and an award-winning graphic designer. His ads regularly generate double, triple, even as much as 10x the response for clients.


Calvin Stovall

Calvin Stovall, is President and CEO of The Professional Advantage, Incorporated and nationally recognized as the MAN of Customer Service! Calvin earned his Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Chicago State University and his Master's degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration. With more than 16 years in the hospitality industry, Calvin served as vice president of marketing with Hilton Hotels Corporation where he was responsible for the brand marketing and public relations efforts for more than 150 Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels. Homewood Suites by Hilton was voted best in class by numerous consumer advocacy publications, including Consumer Reports and recognized four times by J.D. Power and Associates for its unwavering commitment to product and customer service quality. Calvin has been quoted in numerous publications including Travel Weekly, Hotel & Motel Management, Hotel Business, Brand Week, Business Travel News and almost The Wall Street Journal.


Rick Thomas, Salmon Sims Thomas

Rick Thomas, CPA, is an owner and director at Salmon Sims Thomas. He manages the firm's Audit Department as well as the Career School Focus Group. Rick has been with the firm since 1990. Prior to joining the firm, he worked for Ernst & Young for two years on their audit staff. Rick also spent several years as controller in the real estate syndication industry during the mid-80s. Rick earned his CPA license in 1984 and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of CPAs. Rick has been a speaker at several state and national conferences.


Jim Yates, Nuts & Bolts Training

Jim Yates is a well respected beauty industry consultant, author, lecturer and expert in change management. He is on the cutting edge of personal & business development systems for schools that is considered by salon and spa owners to be the missing ingredient in many schools today.


David Yocum, American Academy of Cosmetology

David, is owner of the Pivot Point Member School American Academy of Cosmetology and the American Academy of Massage Therapy located in Manhattan, Kansas. Originally from St. Marys, Kansas, David started his business career working for the Goodyear Corporation in the field of Safety, Health and Environmental. Trained in Business Management (Emporia State University) and Human Resource Management (Friends University) he soon found his calling for education when he became a Professional Trainer for safety and health team leaders in the 1990's. "I found a great satisfaction in teaching others and this passion grew into a bigger life calling when I found the beauty industry." David started his beauty career as a manager of a small cosmetology college and from there started on a career path that led him to opening his own colleges in 2005 located in Manhattan, Kansas.


Keith Zakarin, Duane Morris, LLP

Keith Zakarin is one of the few lawyers nationwide whose practice is exclusively the representation of private postsecondary schools and colleges. He counsels and represents schools in student claims, employee claims and HR risk management, purchase and sale transactions and regulatory and accreditation matters. He is legal counsel to the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools (CAPPS), and is a frequent presenter to the sector. Keith and his wife Jo, herself a school director for over 20 years, own a school in Southern California. Keith is a graduate of the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California at Berkeley.