2006 Artists and Visionaries Award Winners Announced
(Las Vegas) - Nails Magazine announced the winners and runners-up of its annual Artists and Visionaries Awards (AVAs) at a cocktail reception held during the Las Vegas Hair & Nail Conference. Nail technicians and salon owners vied for the Nail Technician of the Year or Salon of the Year title.
Mary Seitzinger of Columbus, Ohio, was named Nail Technician of the Year. Portage, Mich.- based Studio 24 Salon and Spa, owned by Kathy Brown, was named Salon of the Year for salons with 1-4 nail techs. For salons with 5 or more nail techs, VIP Salon & Spa in Riverview, MIch., owned by Renee Borowy, was named Salon of the Year.
First runner-up in the Nail Technician of the Year category was MaeLing Parrish of Columbus, Ohio. Lorena Marquez, of Watsonville, Calif., was named second runner up.
First runner-up for Salon of the Year with 1-4 nail techs was Allure Salon & Spa in Algona, Iowa, owned by Kimberly Setzer. Second runner-up honors went to Havana Nights in Chicago, Ill., owned by Sandra Casanova.
First runner-up for Salon of the Year with 5 or more techs went to M&M Nails & Wellness in Silver Spring, Md., owned by Maisie Dunbar. The second runner-up for this category was The Nail Lounge in Costa Mesa, Calif., owned by Cassie Piasecki.
The winner of the Miss Congeniality award for superior customer service went to Sandra Casanova from Havana Nights. Educator of the Year was awarded to the team of MaeLing Parrish and Mary Seitzinger of Nail Sensation in Columbus, Ohio. MaeLing Parrish also won the distinction of Nail Artist of the Year. Posh Nail Salon in Oklahoma City, Okla., owned by Kim Chung, was honored as Best Salon Atmosphere.
Winners received a $500 cash prize and a beautiful plaque. The Nail Technician of the Year will also be flown to California to do a cover for an upcoming issue of NAILS. Runners-up received $250 and a framed certificate. All nine finalists and the four superlative category winners received gift baskets courtesy of award sponsors Creative Nail Design and OPI Products.
The awards honor outstanding salons and nail technicians that exemplify professionalism, business achievement, and overall excellence in their field. Entries were judged by NAILS editors as well as prior AVAs winners and nail industry figures.