Pivot Point International, a Leader in Beauty Education, Honors Alumni With Prestigious L.E.O. Award

Named for Influential Hairdresser and Pivot Point Founder, Leo Passage, the L.E.O. Award Recognizes Passion and Excellence Among Pivot Point Alumni

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Pivot Point International

Apr 09, 2010, 05:35 ET

CHICAGO, April 9 /PRNewswire/ -- At the recent American Beauty Show, Pivot Point International, the world-wide leader in beauty education, presented five of its outstanding alumni with L.E.O. Awards.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100409/AQ84046)

Conceived in 2008, the annual L.E.O. Awards represent Leadership in the salon industry, Excellence in hair designer education and Outstanding Pivot Point alumni, while also honoring Leo Passage, Pivot Point founder and chairman. From celebrity stylists and savvy salon owners to enlightened educators, this year's award recipients represent the passion and dedication integral to artistic principles driving Pivot Point's beauty education.

The 2010 L.E.O. Awards recipients:

Robert Aubin, CEO, Pivot Point Australia and New Zealand
	Globally recognized for his accomplishments in beauty education, Aubin's Pivot Point training supported his efforts to establish two major American beauty brands "down under."

Ann Bray, The Masters, Huntsville, Alabama
	Ann Bray is a treasured teacher, artist and mentor to hair designers worldwide. She trained the only USA Women's Team to win Gold in the World Championships of Hairdressing. Today Aquage products utilize her extraordinary talent.

Rahni Michael Flowers, Van Cleef Hair Salon, Chicago, IL
	Known as the longtime hair designer for First Lady Michelle Obama, while she lived in Chicago, Rahni and his salon staff continue to provide African-American women with a sophisticated and professional environment to relax and enjoy top-of-the-line beauty treatments.

Gretchen 'Gretta' Monahan, Beauty and Fashion Entrepreneur, Boston, MA
	She is one of Rachael Ray's daytime TV Buddies, dispenses advice to countless consumers, all the while managing Grettacole, her Boston salon and spa, Gretta Luxe fashion boutique, and G-Spa, a beauty and fashion hot spot.

Diana Schmidtke, Men's Style and Hair Care Specialist, Los Angeles, CA
	Styling the hair of George Clooney, Viggo Mortensen and Matt Damon is just a day in the working life of Diana Schmidtke. Diana's expertise and attention to detail have led her to work on numerous films and magazines from coast-to-coast.

"Pivot Point is proud to recognize our talented alumni," notes CEO Karen Wilkin-Donachie. "When students graduate from Pivot Point our partnership with them continues. Education is a lifelong process and our L.E.O. Award recipients beautifully embody what education, creativity and determination can achieve. Congratulations."

SOURCE Pivot Point International