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Sunday, August 2, 2009
7:00 - 8:00pm Cocktails
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8:00 - 11:30pm Dinner
Hyatt Regency O'Hare | Chicago, IL
 At this gala event, the industry will join together to honor the legendary lifetime achievements of Conair Founder Lee Rizzuto, Sr. as well as the iconic accomplishments of Paul Mitchell Global Artistic Director Robert Cromeans and Wella Creative Directors Christopher and Sonya Dove.
Importantly, proceeds from the evening – including funds raised from our commemorative journal – will support the important association work of NCA, which includes the administration of the three NCA Cares industry related charities - CUT IT OUT / Salons Against Domestic Abuse Fund, Look Good... Feel Better, and the NCA Disaster Relief Fund.
NCA's 2009 Legends & Icons Ball is co-chaired by NCA President Mark Goodman and CIDESCO USA Chairman and CEO/Founder of Repêchage Lydia Sarfati.
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 Lee Rizzuto, Sr.
Founder of Conair Corporation
Leandro P. (Lee) Rizzuto, a son of Italian hairdresser immigrants Julian and Josephine, was born in Long Island , New York in 1938. His parents came to America in the early 1900s. Lee's dad was a very creative person who perfected the bobby pin, invented pin curler clips, invented the hair curlers and eventually perfected the hand-held hair dryer.
Mr. Rizzuto's company, Conair Corporation, was founded with $100 in 1959 in the basement of the family home with the hair curler as its first product. From this humble beginning, the company has grown to over 4,000 employees and has sales in excess of $2 billion with products sold in 94 countries.
In addition to Conair, the brands that the corporation consists of are: Cuisinart, Waring, Scünci, BaByliss, Forfex, Rusk, Travel Smart and Rusk. There are also other brands under licenses in other parts of the world. The company is a leader in each of its business categories and has created many innovations and holds many patents.
Mr. Rizzuto's charity involvement includes many, but he is mostly involved with St. Jude's Children's Hospital, St. Joseph 's School for the Blind, Cardinal Cushing Centers and St. Peter's Indian Mission as well as support for the veterans. The company has a very strong charity policy with its employees and has donated hundreds of millions of dollars over the years as well as helping with employee educational programs. The policy of the company is to run it as a family business.
 Robert Cromeans
Global Artistic Director - Paul Mitchell
"His mind is as sharp as the razor he wields, his ability second to none, his honed business sense focused and poised for uncompromising success." - Maria Weijers, Salon Business magazine
Hairdresser, salon owner, platform artist, and industry legend – John Paul Mitchell Systems Global Artistic Director Robert Cromeans' charming wit, innovative artistry, and proven business strategies inspire hairdressers around the globe. Few have achieved such international acclaim, and fewer still have worked so hard to share the keys to success with others.
From the platform and in his DVDs, the charismatic Scotsman always wraps his message of artistic innovation and contagious entrepreneurship in a package of encouragement: “If I can do it, you can too.” Voted by the industry a record six times in a row as behindthechair.com's Stylist Choice Awards Platform Artist of the Year, this Glasgow, Scotland native constantly travels with his salon team to motivate and educate.
His latest techniques and discoveries are featured on Paul Mitchell Collections and educational DVDs. And Robert's groundbreaking and timesaving techniques have taught hairdressers worldwide how to have more fun and make more money in their salons.
 Christopher & Sonya Dove
Creative Directors - Wella Professional
Long recognized as two of the industry's leading hairdressers, Sonya and Christopher Dove are among the most sought-after hair experts in the professional beauty industry. Known as “The Doves,” this dynamic duo of hairdressing has been partners for 27 years and has steadily built an astonishing career in hair. Natives of Great Britain, The Doves now reside in California, where they have created a solid reputation for modern and innovating hairdressing based on the ever-changing fashion trends that demand the changing image of hair.
The Doves have won some of the industry's most prestigious awards. They won the 2003 Most Inspiring Hair colorists from Haircolor USA. The years 1999, 2000 and 2002 won them the Haircolorists of the Year presented at Haircolor USA, an event sponsored by the International Beauty Show. Christopher and Sonya were also named 2001 Master Hairstylists of the Year presented by the North American Hairstyling Awards.
As Wella's Creative Directors, they work closely with the Professional Services division, sharing their creativity for the company's extensive educational programs and hair shows. The Doves travel around the globe educating, inspiring, and motivating hairdressers on the latest styling concepts, cutting techniques, and the effective use and of application of all Wella haircolor, styling and care products. The Doves resumé includes a close relationship with Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Salon, where they were in charge of creative direction for the company.
The Doves' creative artistry and technical knowledge, combined with their unique flair for designing diverse fashion looks is constantly in demand at every U.S. and international hair show. Their innovative hairstyling ideas have also been featured in leading hair and fashion publication worldwide. Their British background and European fashion interpretations have helped them gain a reputation for creating progressive trend-setting designs and innovative hairdressings.
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