meet our team of educators

(Updated as of 5/4/2013 - More educators to be added!)

Millie Haynam	Industry Consultant & Author
	A self avowed ‘beauty biz lifer’ Millie started her career at 16, travelled the world gaining experience, has worked with some top educators at key events in the industry and has finally settled in as an industry consultant, marketing segment producer for Nail Talk Radio and Adventures of a Professional Beauty Girl blogger. Founder of MDBeauty and Wellness, Millie is dedicated to helping other professionals build their brand.	Keynote

Vicki Peters	Independant Educator & Competition Judge
	Award winning professional nail technician, Vicki Peters has wowed the industry with her championship nail expertise and professional authority. As a cover artist and author, her exquisite work has been published worldwide, more than any other nail service professional in the history of the nail business. As a global educator, she has trained technicians in Holland, Russia, China, Germany, Japan, Ireland, UK, Canada, Mexico, Africa, Australia, Italy, Croatia, Prague, Greece, Cypress, Trinidad and the United States of America. She pioneered the first live online educational program, developing effective educational programs and videos for manufacturers, and currently is consulting for the nail industry. For more than 25 years Vicki Peters’ career has taken her from the manicuring table to the competition arenas which led to 15 years of magazine work with Nails, Nailpro, Nailpro Europe, DaySpa, Today’s Image, Nail Biz, Scratch, Nailure, Professional Beauty and Sally Magazines. Her work has been featured on hundreds of magazine covers, TV Guide and the Wall Street Journal. Along with excerpts for the Milady Standard Textbooks in English and Russian, she has written the Nails Q&A Book, Drilltalk, The Competitive Edge and The Nail Healthy Guide for Novartis, makers of Lamisil. As a world-master nail technician, Vicki is a highly sought after brand consultant bringing her “independent voice” to professional and retail with nail manufacturers.

Amy Becker	Masterworks Owner and Nailpro Cup Champion
	Amy Becker is a cover artist, current two year running US Gel Champion, record holding Top 25 Competitor, 2011 Nailpro Cup Champion and has received Nails Magazines coveted "Nail Technician of the Year" award. After years of specializing in acrylic nails, Amy discovered the hidden strength and beauty found in gels. Having developed the techniques used at Masterworks by Amy Becker, she has put her gels to the test in the international competition arena against all acrylics, and won! The original techniques used and taught at Masterworks by Amy Becker not only give you the best looking gel nail enhancements, we will also save you time in applications. She is committed to continuing education, developing new tools and products, and empowering you to further in your career than you've ever imagined.

Tanya Sisson	Educator for CND
	Serendipity brought Tanya to her true calling as a nail professional in 1989. An artist inspired by nature she found a creative outlet in 10 petite canvases winning her international award, recognition and publications. Tanya’s interest in technical & scientific understanding, along with a desire to share & mentor made for a natural progression into education. Early in her professional pursuits she earned the distinction as one of the top 10 educators with a major nail product manufacturing company. Recently Tanya returned to education with the CND family. She enjoys helping other nail professionals find their niche, improve their technical skills and incorporate an artistic style that both compliments and challenges their abilities.

Athena Elliott	Nail Talk Radio!
	Athena Elliott, the owner of SPAthena in Houston and a certified Medical Nail Technician for over 30 years. GlitzyLips was created by AthenA Elliott, President ofSPAthena. Elliott is nationally known as a cover artist for trade magazines, an industry consultant, speaker, educator and host of Nail Talk Radio.

Nicole Hollenbeck	Educator for Akzentz
	Nicole has been full time in the salon for 12 years offering nail services. Her specialty is gel enhancements. She loves working with gel polish and customizing glitter gels. She stays current with products and techniques so she can offer the best service possible to her clients. Nicole is an educator and trade show performer for Akzentz Gels and wants to spread her passion and knowledge for this industry.

Jessica Hoel	Educator & NW Distributor for Akzentz
	Quickly making her way onto the education scene, Jess has been teaching the past 9 of her 11 years as a nail technician. Her passion for gels has helped her create techniques that are easy for beginners and produce nails that are long lasting and keep clients loyal. Signature services like her "30 day manicure," Rock Star toes and Glitter fade techniques excite nail techs passionate about enhancing their careers. In 2009 she won the International Nails Magazine cover contest with a set of nails and taking the photo herself. Jess's Nail Studio, LuvNailz, was featured in Nails Magazine in 2012. Passionate about sharing knowledge,Jess works with a team of other volunteers to put on the NW Nailtech Retreat and she looks forward to educating at the the "Nail Those Profits at Sea" cruise in September 2013!

Ellen Torchia	Educator & Owner of Too Much Fun
	Ellen Torchia is veteran to the salon industry of 24 years. She has been a Top Ten International Competitor as well as international educator. Ellen?s experience in the industry includes both massage and manicuring with experience from salon ownership to working in high end salons and spas. Her focus has been the artistic side representing Badger Airbrush Company, as well as education on the business side of the industry. Ellen has been an electric file safety educator with sanitation and disinfection instruction included. Ellen became the owner of Too Much Fun in 2009 and currently owns a full service graphics shop. She has integrated the nail business into her graphics business coming up with many products directed towards the nails industry.

Carrie Bomar	Founder & CEO of Westmond Salon Designs
	Necessity is the mother of all invention, and from a set-back to a fresh start, it also saved Carrie Bomar’s career and promises to advance the nail industry worldwide. Bomar found great success as a nail technician, winning awards in nail art and even making a guest TV appearance on Seattle’s ABC affiliate for her creative nail art. But years of looking down and poor posture while working, common among nail techs, lead to career-threatening spinal fusion surgery of the C5 and C6 vertebrae. Ultimately, she designed and built a revolutionary ergonomic manicure table with her own two hands. With enthusiastic reviews from orthopedic surgeons, doctors, nail technicians and clients, the Westmond Ergonomic has been featured in the December 2012 issue of Nails Magazine. Bomar herself was a 2012 Yahoo ‘Women Who Shine’ top 200 finalist. And Tammy Taylor even shared the Westmond Ergonomic on her Facebook page calling it, ‘ingenious.’ Bomar is currently working on designs for more innovative new products for Westmond Salon Designs and continues to work as a nail tech at Westmond Etc. Full Service Salon in Sagle, Idaho

Joyce La Silva	Graham Professional Beauty Products
	Come ready to SHOP! Joyce is back with the fantastic products from Graham Professional Beauty. The deals at the NW Nailtech Retreat are unparalled! Nail Tech Favorites including Hands Down Nail Wipes and Soak-OFf Wraps will be on sale all weekend. Joyce has been training for Graham Professional Beauty Products for over 15 years and has owned and operated My Little Room in Chicago, Il for over 25 years.

Colleen Ramsey	Empower Nail Art
	With 7 years of experience as a professional nail artist, Colleen is a competitor and educator. She has worked with companies such as NUBAR and INM and has worked over 20 trade show style events. Colleen’s work has been featured in Nails Magazine, Nail Pro magazine, and various other media outlets and has had nails grace the red carpet at the Grammy Awards.