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Twenty (something) years ago, I began plans to become licensed in aesthetics. I had been doing bodywork while Patricia practiced skin care. Together we were building our practice in the beautiful west Texas town of San Angelo. Pat and I had a nice business called Derma Care Clinic (it was the 80s). We were raising our first born, WES and wanted to have a second child, close in age. I reasoned it was the perfect time to become licensed in aesthetics and temporarily take on Pat’s clients during and after her pregnancy.
I had previously been educated in several bodywork modalities having studied for my massage license at the Dallas Institute of Aesthetics. While there, I was trained and befriended by one of the foremost industry leaders and an incredibly passionate teacher, Ron Renee. Ron was the founder of Aesthetics International Association (AIA) and DERMASCOPE Magazine. He instilled a passion in me that has only grown through the years. After a couple of years of working at Derma Care, I was ready to become an aesthetician. The events about to unfold would shape my destiny. The only school available to me was a cosmetology school. I was appalled when I discovered the “educational” standards of the industry. It was nothing like the education I had been exposed to at the Dallas Institute of Aesthetics. The following year, we had a girl. We named her Amanda.
While we continued practicing for the next few years, I became increasingly passionate about the state of our industry. When the opportunity presented itself in 1993, I became the publisher of DERMASCOPE Magazine and began carrying the torch handed to me by Ron Renee through AIA: to raise the standards of education and consumer awareness of the aesthetic industry. Since ours has always been a family affair, our children have traveled with us every step of the way. From the trade shows, through AIA, to DERMASCOPE, WES and Amanda have been raised within the industry. I am proud to announce that both have joined the DERMASCOPE team. WES, while continuing his training in computer technology, now manages our network and our websites. Amanda, after having worked as Assistant Editor for some time, has now been appointed Editor and plans to continue her education in journalism and aesthetics.
As we steer into the future together, the entire DERMASCOPE family has become ever more energized and committed to our long term mission, focusing our energy on AIA and the National Certification Program. Patricia has been amassing an army of Ambassadors from the pool of industry leaders to rally behind this cause. We have scheduled events at each of the four International Congress of Esthetics & Spa and are building state chapters to create a grass roots campaign. We ask for your voice by joining AIA and getting involved in the direction of our future. We as aestheticians, can best create our own standards and govern our needs. Just as our children have grown up… so has our industry. Through AIA, we can ban together and take our future into our own hands. Call us today and get involved. AIA needs your voice.
Sincerely Yours,
Will Strunk
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