NCA To Honor Paula Kent Meehan and Leo Passage at 3rd International Legends Ball

The International Legends Ball honors individuals for creative ideas, progressive thinking and overall contributions to the highest standards of the professional salon industry. The 2008 honorees are Paula Kent Meehan, Founder of Redken and Creator of the Salon Global Business Awards, and the Leo Passage, Founder of Pivot Point International. “As the NCA welcomes our international visitors to Chicago for the 2008 OMC HairWorld Championships of Beauty, we are proud to recognize two of our most influential beauty entrepreneurs,” says NCA President Marlene Bridge. “Both Paula and Leo have touched many people throughout the industry here in the United States and around the world. It’s going to be a memorable evening as we celebrate beauty’s past, present and future.”

Honoree: Paula Kent Meehan, Founder of Redken and Creator of the Salon Global Business Awards
Paula Kent Meehan helped pave the way for women entrepreneurs when she founded a small California-based company called Redken Laboratories in 1960 with an initial investment of $3,000. At the time, women had yet to establish their leadership in what had been traditionally viewed as a ‘man’s world.’ Paula forged her success through an entrepreneurial spirit that demonstrated the power of making a difference by meeting consumer demands. Her creativity and scientific approach to beauty included designing programs and training hairstylists to successfully market Redken products in the salon, as well as teaching chemistry to stylists, thereby enabling them to better serve their clients. Through her initiative, determination and innovative efforts, she built the company into a multi-million dollar enterprise, and more than 30 years later, she sold Redken Laboratories to L’Oréal. In 2004, she initiated the Global Business Awards to honor the business achievements of salon professionals around the world and established the B.E.S.T. Foundation to support the continued growth of the global salon industry through recognition, publicity, advanced business education and resources.

Honoree: Leo Passage, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Pivot Point International
The name Leo Passage has become synonymous with innovative hair design education. As Founder and Chairman of the Board of Pivot Point International, he is credited with changing the concepts behind cosmetology education by shattering the myth that successful designers must be born with artistic ability. His “scientific approach” to cosmetology is rooted in the Bauhaus Theory and based on a unique harmony between science, technology and art. In 1962, Leo founded Pivot Point International with five students and one classroom. Today, there are 2,000 Pivot Point Member Schools in 50 countries. Leo began his hairdressing career at age 15 in Holland and won over 100 international awards including Champion of Holland before immigrating to the United States in 1958. In 1959, he joined the NCA and began competing, earning a number of prestigious titles including World Supreme Hairdresser of the Year. He has been a supporter of hairdressing competition, convincing the OMC in 1980 to allow student competitions and has worked with the NCA as Competition Chair since 2000 to build interest in the contests with younger stylists.

Members of the NCA President’s Advisory Council will serve as The International Legends Ball Committee and include:
Jan Arnold, Creative Nail Design
Brook Carlson, Matrix
Dee Deluca-Mattos, Avancé
Beth Hickey, EOH Beauty Brands
Sara Jones, Joico
Lori Justice, OPI Products
Nina Kovner, John Paul Mitchell Systems
Judie Maginn, Innersense Organic Beauty
Cheryl Markham, PureOlogy
Ann Mincey, Redken 5th Avenue
Lydia Sarfati, Repêchage
Susan Walker, Sally Beauty Company

For more information on the 3rd Annual International Legends Ball, the Chicago Midwest Beauty Show or the OMC HairWorld Championships of Beauty, visit www.ncacares.org or www.chicagomidwestbeautyshow.com.

The National Cosmetology Association (NCA) is the largest organization of salon professionals in the world. Its mission, since its inception in 1920, has been and continues to be to ensure that working salon professionals have the tools and resources available to create career success with integrity. For more information on NCA, visit www.ncacares.org.