activities · 14
what they do
direct service · 8
- Industry Recognition and Awards Cosmetology Scholarships and AwardsRecognizes excellence in the beauty, barber, and wellness education sector through awards such as the Golden School Awards (across nine categories), the N.F. Cimaglia Educator of the Year award, and the AACS & L’Oreal PPD Student Stylist of the Year awards.
- Industry Recognition and Awards Cosmetology Scholarships and AwardsRecognizes excellence within the beauty, barber, and wellness education sector through various awards, including the Golden School Awards, the N.F. Cimaglia Educator of the Year award, and the AACS & L’Oreal PPD Student Stylist of the Year awards.
- Industry Recognition and Awards Cosmetology Scholarships and AwardsRecognizes excellence within the beauty, barber, and wellness education sector through various awards, including the Golden School Awards across nine categories, the N.F. Cimaglia Educator of the Year award, and the AACS & L’Oreal PPD Student Stylist of the Year awards.
- Member Governance and Networking Member Meetings and ConventionsConducts an Annual Business Meeting for members to vote on Board members and Bylaws amendments. Hosts networking events and socials, including a Masquerade Ball and celebration lunches, to foster connections among members.
- Member Representation and GovernanceRepresents over 250 school-owner members, comprising nearly 700 schools across the U.S., and conducts an Annual Business Meeting for members to vote on new Board members and Bylaws amendments.
- Partner and Vendor EngagementOrganizes Exhibit Halls and Quarterly Partner Expos to showcase industry partners and solutions, providing tabletop exhibit opportunities for partners. Also facilitates special offers and discounts from partners to AACS member schools.
- Partner and Vendor Engagement Beauty Industry Networking & Trade EventsOrganizes Exhibit Halls and Quarterly Partner Expos to showcase industry partners and solutions to beauty, barber, and wellness school owners. Facilitates special offers and discounts from partners to AACS member schools.
- Partner and Vendor EngagementFacilitates connections between member schools and industry partners by organizing Exhibit Halls at conferences, hosting Quarterly Partner Expos, providing tabletop exhibit opportunities, and listing special offers and discounts from partners on its website.
advocacy · 1
- Advocacy for Beauty and Wellness Education SectorMonitors and influences state and federal legislation and regulations, including student loan policies and FAFSA updates, to protect and promote the interests of the beauty and wellness education sector. This includes organizing meetings with congressional representatives and hosting an annual Congressional Summit & Hill Day for members to advocate directly.
capacity building · 5
- Educational Webinars and Workshops Professional Webinar & Workshop SeriesProvides free educational webinars ("Webinar Wednesdays") and interactive "Lunch & Learns" for school owners and educators, covering topics such as admissions, marketing, financial aid, accreditation, compliance, and operations. Also offers Virtual Roundtables for moderated discussions and best practice sharing.
- Educational Webinars and Workshops Professional Webinar & Workshop SeriesProvides free educational webinars ("Webinar Wednesdays") and interactive "Lunch & Learns" for school owners and educators, covering topics like admissions, marketing, financial aid, accreditation, compliance, and operations. Also offers Virtual Roundtables for moderated discussions and best practice sharing.
- Educational Webinars and Workshops Professional Webinar & Workshop SeriesProvides free educational webinar series ("Webinar Wednesdays") and interactive "Lunch & Learns" for members, covering topics such as admissions, marketing, financial aid, accreditation, compliance, operations, and teaching strategies. Also offers Virtual Roundtables for moderated discussions and best practice sharing.
- Professional Development Conferences and Seminars Industry Conference & Networking EventsOrganizes and hosts multiple annual events, including the AACS Annual Conference for school owners and administrators, the CEA Conference for educators, and other seminars and conventions, providing professional development, networking opportunities, and workshops on various topics relevant to the beauty, barber, and wellness education sector.
- Professional Development Conferences and Seminars Industry Conference & Networking EventsOrganizes and hosts multiple annual events, including the AACS Annual Conference for school owners and administrators, the CEA Conference for educators, and other seminars and conventions. These events provide professional development, networking opportunities, and cover topics such as school operations, teaching strategies, and industry trends.
strategies · 9
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Advocacy for the Beauty and Wellness Education Sector policy_advocacyThe organization protects the rights and interests of beauty, barber, and wellness students and school owners by engaging in advocacy at federal, state, and accreditation levels. This involves utilizing a dedicated Government Relations Committee, public policy advisors, and direct engagement with elected officials through events like congressional summits and "Hill Day," as well as supporting members in their own advocacy efforts.
- Advocacy for the Beauty and Wellness Education Sector advocacyThe organization protects the rights and interests of beauty, barber, and wellness students and school owners by engaging in advocacy at federal, state, and accreditation levels. This involves utilizing a dedicated Government Relations Committee, public policy advisors, and an Executive Director, as well as mobilizing members to contact elected officials and participating in congressional events to influence legislative priorities.
- Building a Collaborative Network for the Beauty and Wellness Education Community network_buildingThe organization facilitates connections and collaboration among various stakeholders in the beauty, barber, and wellness education sector, including school owners, directors, educators, vendors, and consultants. This network serves as a platform for sharing ideas, best practices, and mentorship, and provides access to resources and opportunities for engagement.
- Building a Collaborative Network for the Beauty and Wellness Industry network_buildingThe organization facilitates connections and collaboration among various stakeholders in the beauty, barber, and wellness education sector, including school owners, directors, educators, vendors, and consultants. This network serves as a platform for sharing ideas, best practices, and mentorship, and also connects suppliers with decision-makers.
- Connecting Vendors and Suppliers with Education Decision-Makers network_buildingThe organization builds a network that connects vendors and suppliers directly with school owners, directors, and decision-makers within the beauty, barber, and wellness education sector through a partner membership program, facilitating business relationships and resource access.
- Fostering Peer-to-Peer Learning and Professional Networking peer_to_peer_learning_and_networkingThe organization facilitates peer-to-peer learning, shared problem-solving, and the exchange of best practices among leaders, owners, directors, educators, vendors, and consultants in the beauty and wellness education sector through workshops, discussions, and a formal network, thereby enhancing professional development and educational quality.
- Fostering Professional Development and Peer Learning professional_development_and_peer_learningThe organization enhances the quality of beauty, barber, and wellness education by providing platforms for educators and school leaders to engage in peer-to-peer learning, shared problem-solving, and professional development. This includes workshops, discussions, and resources aimed at uplifting educators and improving student outcomes.
- Fostering Professional Development and Peer Learning professional_development_and_peer_learningThe organization enhances the quality of beauty, barber, and wellness education by providing platforms for educators and leaders to engage in peer-to-peer learning, shared problem-solving, and professional development. This includes workshops, discussions, and access to educational resources to uplift educators and improve student learning outcomes.
- Supporting and Uplifting Educators through Professional Development and Resources professional_developmentThe organization aims to enhance the quality of education for students by educating, supporting, and uplifting beauty, barber, and wellness educators. This is achieved by providing access to resources such as educational webinars, a digital community, and discounted event rates through membership programs.
named programs · 5
what they call their work
AACS Annual Conference
A yearly conference for members and partners, providing networking, educational sessions, and industry insights.
AACS Connect
A digital community for members to network and access resources year-round.
CEA Conference
An annual education symposium for cosmetology, barber, esthetics, nail, and massage instructors focusing on innovative teaching strategies, demonstration techniques, and earning CEU hours.
Congressional Summit & Hill Day
An annual event bringing together industry leaders to advocate for the beauty, barber, and wellness education sector on Capitol Hill, including meetings with Members of Congress and legislative updates.
Quarterly Partner Expos
Tabletop exhibit opportunities for AACS partners during NACCAS workshops, allowing interaction with attendees and showcasing industry resources.
relationships · 20
who they work with
- AACS Premier Partners Partner — Present webinars for AACS members.
- Horseshoe Hotel & Casino Partner — Hotel venue for the September 2025 Las Vegas Partner Expo.
- Hyatt Regency Orange County Partner — Host hotel for the CEA Conference, offering a reduced room rate for attendees.
- Hyatt Regency Orange County Partner — Hotel venue for the 2026 CEA Conference.
- InterContinental New Orleans Partner — Hotel venue for the December 2025 and December 2026 New Orleans Partner Expos.
- James Bergeron Government — Acting Under Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education who spoke at the 2025 Hill Day.
- L’Oreal Partner — Co-hosts the Student Stylist of the Year Competition.
- L’Oreal PPD Partner — Co-sponsored the AACS & L’Oreal PPD Student Stylist of the Year award and provided a presenter for methodology courses at the CEA Conference.
- Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Partner — Hotel venue for the 2026 Annual Conference.
- Milady Partner — Co-sponsored the N.F. Cimaglia Educator of the Year award and provided a presenter for methodology courses at the CEA Conference.
- NACCAS Partner — Holds Quarterly Partner Expos during NACCAS workshops.
- NACCAS Partner — Holds Quarterly Partner Expos in conjunction with NACCAS events.
- Pivot Point Partner — Provided presenters for methodology courses at the CEA Conference.
- Planet Hollywood Partner — Hotel venue for the September 2026 Las Vegas Partner Expo.
- Renaissance Seattle Hotel Partner — Hotel venue for the March 2026 Seattle Partner Expo.
- Thompson Coburn LLP Partner — Chris Murray, Roger Swartzwelder, Hope Watson, and Ben Grove from Thompson Coburn LLP are listed as speakers/lobbyists.
- Tysons Corner Marriott Partner — Hotel venue for the June 2026 Tysons Corner (VA) Partner Expo.
- U.S. Department of Education Government — Acting Under Secretary James Bergeron and other staff from the U.S. Department of Education speak at events.
- US Department of Education Government — Monitors and comments on proposed rules and regulations from the Department of Education, including student loan regulations and FAFSA updates.
- Walt Disney World® Resort Partner — Partnered to provide specially priced tickets for CEA attendees.