For me, the beginning of my very long — and rewarding — career in the nail industry began inauspiciously when I got laid off from another magazine job in 1990. I loved the magazine, which was for hairstylists, but the concept never quite took hold, so the company closed the magazine and I lost my job very suddenly. However, I got a call for an interview from the publisher of NAILS before my first unemployment check arrived. So I guess it’s true that when one door closes another opens. All these years later, I’m still counting my lucky stars that I got my walking papers from the hair magazine.

The thing I like best about this magazine and this industry is the PEOPLE — the people out there in the nail business and the people in the office where I spend most days. The nail industry is filled with enjoyable people who believe, like I do, in the transformative power of beauty services. Sure, any nail tech knows that a pedicure can be a pick-me-up for anyone, but a true nail professional also knows that she can actually repair the self-esteem of a nail biter, for instance, when she helps a client break that bad habit.

(Even though I’m more behind the scenes now, I still enjoy hearing from you. So don’t hesitate to e-mail me if you have something to say.)