Cortney Cox has been a licensed esthetician since 2001. Additionally, she has a degree in human services and decades of office management and bookkeeping experience. She has worked in salons, in her own home studio and in a suite. Cortney started her own business, renting a suite, for 9 years.

Cortney specialized in waxing, spray tans, lash lifts, brow henna, brow, and lash tinting. After falling in love with Elleebana Lash Lifts, she became an educator with Elleebana. Cortney eventually became a distributor and a Master Trainer with Elleebana, all while continuing her clients in her suite. Moreover, Cortney also held the position of General Manager for Elleebana USA. She has since returned to her passion of being an esthetician, working with her clients and redirecting her focus with B.A.B.E.

Nevertheless, after years of experience, the educator in Cortney couldn’t stop there. Cortney created her long-held dream of this educational community. As an educator and owner of Brilliance Advanced Beauty Education, she is dedicated to helping others in our industry. Above all, Cortney wants nothing more than to give back and help make the beauty and wellness industry stronger.

Paige Thompson has been part of the beauty industry for over a decade. Paige’s experience varies from working at boutique day spas to owning her own beauty education and training business. Her love for the beauty world began as a high school student and has only expanded and flourished since then.

As a Georgia licensed esthetician, educator, and business owner, Paige has unquestionably experienced many ups and downs of the industry. She is dedicated to helping other beauty professionals succeed without going through unnecessary stress and confusion. Importantly, Paige attributes her accomplishments to finding her industry niche and passion. Undoubtedly, Paige knows, with a little help, every beauty industry professional can develop their own success story, too! 

Ashley Jackson has been in the beauty industry as a licensed hair stylist since circa 2007. She has worked in salon atmospheres for the majority of her career. Starting at Ulta to build the client base and then creating a more intimate setting by working in boutique salons. Additionally, Ashley is also licensed in the State of Illinois as a Cosmetology Educator. She isn’t currently practicing in a beauty school. Nevertheless, Ashley still prides herself in sharing her passion of knowledge continuously with former students, other professionals, and her clients. Undoubtedly, her passion for educating herself and others is a quality that is non-negotiable and almost second nature.

In 2017, Ashley found a niche in doing permanent makeup.  Unquestionably, this shifted her role in the beauty industry as a Hairstylist and Cosmetology Educator to an eyebrow addict. After receiving permanent makeup, herself, she quickly realized this was the transition she needed in her career. Being able to still make one look, feeling great about themselves by creating a shift in the way they looked.

Furthermore, in August 2021, Ashley Jackson Beauty opened doors in downtown Freeport, IL. There, Ashley offers multiple eyebrow and lash services to meet everyone’s needs. These services include: brow waxing, brow tinting, Henna, lash lift and tints, and permanent makeup.

Mandy Frick is a licensed Massage Therapist in IL. She opened her business, Massages By Mandy, in 2003 out of her home. At that time, providing complimentary chair massage in her community was her marketing strategy. 20 years later, she still has some of those same clients! Apart from this, she has worked at several chiropractic offices. Mandy has found that working from home suits her and her family the best. Additionally, she has a degree in Recreational Therapy, which led to several caregiving positions.

Mandy specializes in Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue, Pregnancy Massage, and Face Toning Massage. She enjoys meeting new clients. Without a doubt, Mandy loves being able to treat a variety of ailments while being focused on the clients’ needs. She enjoys mentoring massage therapy students and talking with other bodywork professionals to exchange ideas, too. Since being in the business since 2003, she attributes her longevity in the business to being her own boss. Importantly, this has allowed her to make her own schedule. Giving back to her community has been a priority since opening her business.

Sunshine Social Media specializes in Organic Social Media Marketing. They offer Social Media Management and Coaching. Meghan Cox is the owner of Sunshine Social Media. She has a combined 10 years of experience working in television / advertising at NBC & Leo Burnett. Meghan has experience working top television shows such as the Today Show, & Saturday Night Live. Additionally, she worked on some of the world’s top brands including McDonald’s, Kellogg’s, Hallmark, and Coca-Cola to name a few.

Bridget Nolan, Director, is a former elementary school teacher. She graduated from Drake University, along with a Masters & Reading Specialist Certificate from Olivet Nazarene University. Subsequently she went on to teach in the surrounding Chicago suburbs for over 10 years. Bridget taught 5th & 6th grade as well as a reading specialist & interventionist for grades K-5. It’s Bridget’s background that makes her a unique asset to SSM! Unquestionably, both classroom & social media management require content creation, creativity, management skills, communication, coaching & more.

Alicia has had a passion for beauty and skin her whole life. It started with her love of makeup and its ability to transform, lift spirits, and change attitudes. She was quick to add a love of skincare and its ability to create that ideal canvas.

Before making beauty and skin her career, Alicia graduated with her BS in Psychology and Sociology from North Dakota State University. Although psychology was fascinating to her, she was pulled back to her love of everything skin. In 2007 she obtained her skin certification from Atelier Esthetique in NYC, and her license from NY state. In 2010 she took part in their advanced esthetics program. This included her international certification through the European program ITEC which certified her to work in 38 different countries.

Alicia decided to move back to her home state of Minnesota, where she got married. She decided eyelash extensions was a great way to be able to stay home part time with her family. Through her love of lashing, she found Elleebana. She took their training course and fell in love with the brand. Client education about skin and makeup has always been a passion of hers. So, becoming a trainer for Elleebana was something she was so excited to do. There is so much to learn about in the industry. Alicia loves to be able to be a part of that learning process for others.

Reid Ryan is the owner of Polymorph Beauty, founder of Bow and Beam Basics, and a Certified Trainer for Elleebana. Over her career, Reid trained extensively with, and for brands including Aveda, L’occitane, Loreal Professional, Benefit Cosmetics, Smashbox, and Dermalogica. During this time, she worked with over 400 salons and department stores. Reid held trainings for over 800 salon and retail employees.

After 15 years of training/account management in the cosmetics/salon industry, Reid left the corporate life to start a new career path. She had one goal- perfecting brows, lashes, and skin for anyone and everyone she met. Thus, Bow and Beam Basics Beauty Studio was born.

Reid currently splits her time between her training locations in Reno, Nevada, and Santa Barbara, CA. Additionally, Reid offers online training and mentorship programs. She is a firm believer that our passion for our industry drives us all to become better artists. Without a doubt, Reid brings this passion and philosophy to every service and class that she trains.

Scarlett Valin has been an Esthetician for 26 years. She has worked in spas, med spas and also runs her own salon at home at this time. Additionally, Scarlett has been teaching Esthetics for 13 years. She has taught at a private beauty school and alternatively taught a beauty program at a community college. Scarlett loves what she does. She has lived in DeKalb, Illinois for 22 years and raised three boys, and now has 3 grandsons. Scarlett also loves her 3 girl doggies, too.

A passion for all things beauty and a struggle with acne inspired Tiffany to choose skincare as her lifelong career. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree, she attended the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis. Subsequently, Tiffany graduated with honors in Esthiology Science. There she also learned ancient wellness rituals, including yoga and meditation, which she still practices today. Tiffany opened her boutique skincare spa in the Chicago suburbs 17 years ago. Thanks to her loyal clients, she is booked solid months in advance.

Throughout her 24 years in the industry, Tiffany has continued her esthetics education and honed her craft to exceptional standards. It should be noted, her specialty is designing curated and unique services for her clients. Nevertheless, in 2018 Tiffany felt drawn to her roots in alternative wellness. She certified as an energy healing practitioner, including Usui and Karuna Reiki, chakra alignment, gemstone therapy and a meditation guide.

Undoubtedly, Tiffany enjoys being a supporter and mentor to her fellow beauty professionals. She hopes that the courses she offers here can be a useful contribution to the industry she loves and is proud to be a part of.