With the induction of a new board of director at the Nails Industry Association Annual Convention, NIA is poised for a year of activity and change, says the new president and second-term board member Nilsene Privette. If the annual convention offers any evidence, “activity” is an understatement Saturday, June 15, was a day of planning for the new board which includes Privette vice president Debbie Krakalovich, secretary/treasurer Shan Finger and Maggie Boyd. In a marathon session, the new board members reviewed a number of potential new benefits for member nail technicians including local chapters, a nail technician certification program, educational material discounts, car rental discounts, and a group health insurance plan. They also reviewed NIA’s new promotional and advertising campaigns and offered several good ideas for recruiting new NIA members.

After the board met, the meeting was opened to NIA members for the annual general membership meeting. There attendees voted in the new board learned the details on NIA’s acquisition of NNTG and previewed NIA’s new membership materials and ad campaign.

The conventions first day concluded with the new committees meeting to set goals for 1996. The Business Resources, Education, Governmental Affairs and Technical committees chairpersons report the long-awaited nail technician certification program is on schedule to be introduced in 1997. Though the program is still in the planning stages, the chairpersons say it will involve a core curriculum of several classes in addition to electives.

Because hard work shouldn’t go unrewarded, NIA members were invited to enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at a party sponsored by NAILS Magazine.

On Sunday, June 16, NIA members and non-members alike packed the NIA-sponsored business classes at the NAILS Show. The classes, which were designed and taught by the NIA Education Committee, covered issues relevant to nail technicians and salon owners alike, compensation, service pricing, avoiding burnout, hiring and firing retailing client retention, chemical safety, financial planning, and salon owner issues.

For more information about NIA and the exciting programs planned for 1996-1997 call (800) 84-NAILS.

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