I've just spent the 4 days at the AICI Global Conference in Chicago along with 300 other image professionals from around the globe. It's a time for learning and growing and connecting with others in my industry, many who have become friends over the years. These women and men have become my AICI family. When you work alone in your own business it can get lonely and it's wonderful to have others who share the same passion as I do, to connect with, bounce ideas off and share the entrepreneurial journey with.
Not only did I get to attend some inspiring educational sessions at the conference, I also presented a session to a packed room of 100 image professionals on 16 Style Types.
On Saturday night was the annual gala conference dinner, and during this dinner a few very special awards are presented, including the most prestigious award given by AICI - the Jane Segerstrom award.
In typical award show fashion, the winner's identity is revealed slowly. I sat at my table between two queen's of the industry, Sue Donnelly and Brenda Kinsel. As the President of AICI International Board Riet de Vlieger gradually revealed the winner's identity, Sue reached out and held my hand and said "It's you! It's you!" and a few moments later when the information became specific as Riet mentioned my work in creating the ground-breaking 16 Style Types, I knew that she was correct.
This award is named in honour of the late Jane Segerstrom, an AICI Houston Chapter and AICI International Board member, whose vision and association work set the foundation of AICI's international growth. The Jane Segerstrom Award is bestowed upon a person who has helped to further our worldwide association/industry vision and was first awarded in 1997. The recipient of this award is selected by the AICI Board of Directors.
My award reads For actively supporting and promoting a positive image in our society and it's my work here on Inside Out Style, empowering you to use the tools of colour and style, to find your own personal style and express yourself through your image, that has garnered me this award. So I'd like to share it with you, my wonderful readers who support this blog and are engaged to learn more day after day! Thank you for reading.
