It’s the holiday season and I’m sending my thank you notes out early. Of the gifts I have received in my career I must say that the editorial team I work with now at NAILS tops my list of favorites. I work with a team of talented and creative editors and they make this job as rewarding and fun as it can be. I’m thankful just knowing that every day Hannah, Patty, Erin, and Judy will be here.

Hannah runs the show. Although my name tops the masthead there isn’t anyone who doesn’t realize that it’s Hannah in charge. Hannah came to NAILS five years ago from the laced up business of retail merchandising. The last time I saw her wear anything that resembled “dress for success” was at her interview. Despite being a transplanted Californian she’s still the person even the locals go to when they want to know where the fun is. She guides this magazine with assuredness and isn’t afraid to push any of us past our comfort zone if it means bringing our readers fresh material. She just got back from a trip to Japan where she was inspired by new work that she’ll share in the coming months.

Patty (Patricia to most of you) is our serious news reporter, the lone journalism degree in the group. Patty knows more about the state regulations in cosmetology than she ever wanted to know. She’s become our resident expert on all matters legislative. If you need clarity on the file controversy in California, ask Patty. If you need a high level contact in, say, Alabama, check Patty’s Rolodex. She’s also our most prolific On the Road writer, taking any chance she can to isit a salon while traveling and share her experiences.

Erin, whom we affectionately call “the little one” because she might be a size 1, joined us right out of school and I remind her that in the “real world” you can’t get your nails done on company time or file your nails at your desk. Erin is our artist (her most recent work ran in the Dream Workstations article in August). But her real creative outlet is clothes; she can put a skirt over a pair of jeans and look like she stepped out of the pages of Vogue. She brings the same flair to her writing, whether it’s about new products, fun service trends, or a recent tradeshow.

Finally, Judy started at NAILS almost 10 years ago, helping out while I was on maternity leave. She liked it and we needed her so much that she stayed. She’s the quiet one who rarely ventures out, but she has her finger on the pulse of the nail industry and empathy for nail professionals that the rest of us rely on. She is a soothing presence in the often chaotic, deadline-crazed world of publishing.

So, to the team, I say THANKS. Thanks for a great year and for making this the best job in the industry.

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