John Heffner (center) with David and Jan Arnold at a formal affair for the beauty industry.

When I got the call from John Heffner saying, “I have some news I think you’ll be interested in” I knew it probably wasn’t about Shellac. Something told me it was personal...and it was. After 14 years with CND, Heffner is stepping down to pursue what he called “other dreams” in his phone call.

I met John when most of the industry did, when CND (then Creative Nail Design) launched SpaPedicure. He seemed a little “corporate” compared to the rest of the highly stylish Creative team, but he immediately set about the work of getting to know the industry. In no time, he was mixing with all the industry’s top brass, hair and nail companies alike, was heading up boards, and ultimately receiving the City of Hope’s Spirit of Life Award in 2007. Although he’s as corporate looking as they come, John has a sense of adventure, a wickedly good sense of humor (even when the joke is on him, as it often was), and the biggest iPod library I have ever seen.

He says he’s going to be spending some extra time with his two teenage boys and his lovely wife Christine, doing some travel, and, I would assume, thinking about the next big thing. I’ve enjoyed working with John, and wish him all the best.

– Cyndy Drummey