<span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;">From our very own Cassandra Pena, on Congress:
Over Halloween weekend, 13 K. Charles &amp; Co. stylists and our Stone Oak salon manager had the opportunity to attend the 17th AVEDA Congress celebration in Minneapolis, MN., the birthplace of AVEDA. This years’ celebration was dedicated to AVEDA founder Horst Rechelbacher, who organized the first AVEDA congress celebration in 1987. After an amazing opening segment by the Aveda Global Artistic Team, including Allen Ruiz (Hairstyling), Ian Michael Black (Hair Color), Ricardo Dinis (Hair Cutting), Tippi Shorter (Textured Hair), and Janell Geason (Makeup), we were treated to two amazing days of presentations and performances by Aveda Team Canada led by Ray Civello; Aveda Men led by Master Barber Kurt Kueffner with Darren Potter and Stel Nicolaou; Gary Manuel; Steven Laudat; Lupe Voss; Gila Rut Salons led by Keri Davis; Bastian Casaretto, Artistic Director, Aveda Germany, Austria &amp; Switzerland; Textured Hair Master Charlotte Mensah; and Michael Baker, Aveda Guest Artists Jon Reyman, Ana Karzis, Van Michael Salon Team led by Van Council, Heggy Gonzales, Jo McKay and the Aveda Team Japan, Bruno Elorriroroz. During the two days we also had the opportunity to browse in the retail experience center and purchase AVEDA merchandise, special limited edition products, and be the first to experience and learn about upcoming product launches such as new expanded color for our Full Spectrum Deep color line, the new Invati Hair System for Men, and the new Daily Light Guard Mineral Derived SPF 30 lotion. We also had the opportunity to purchase and experience the new launch of the AVEDA Love Composition Oil inspired by Horst, which will hit the shelves next spring and have $4 of each sale go towards the National Audubon Society to help with climate change initiatives. This certified organic aroma contains sandalwood, vetiver, jasmine and frankincense. </span>

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On day three attendees had the opportunity to take hands-on workshops with some of the presenters from Congress. From our Stone Oak salon - Roxanna Martinez, Cassandra Peña and Larissa Uniacke took Learn AVEDA hair cutting curriculum with Ricardo Dinis and Tristin Morrison. And Angelique Cardenas took Textured Hair with Tippi Shorter.

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Overall, it was an amazing experience that really inspired us and expanded our horizons with new techniques and tips from the masters of AVEDA education. Being able to take part in such a huge gathering of AVEDA tribe members from all across the world was truly such an awesome feeling and the energy inside the Minneapolis convention center was electric! To be aligned with a company that has placed such importance on sustainability and environmental leadership and responsibility and that has formed such beneficial partnerships with the Yawanawa tribe of Brazil, the people of Nepal who make our holiday packaging, the Audubon society, and the Honey Bee project - to name a few - makes you proud to be an AVEDA tribe member. I think we all left with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication to live out the AVEDA mission in our daily lives and sharing our ignited passion to our guests behind the chair. We can't wait for AVEDA Congress 2017!