Fun Flashback: Three Decades of AICI

#FUNFLASHBACK: THREE DECADES OF AICI

BY MARIA MONICA F. PRADO, M.A.

AS WE CELEBRATE THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF AICI, WHAT CAN BE MORE FUN THAN DOING A FLASHBACK WITH SOME OF OUR FOUNDERS AND PAST PRESIDENTS? THEY TAKE US DOWN MEMORY LANE AS THEY SHARE WITH US HOW IT ALL BEGAN AND REMINISCE THEIR FAVORITE MOMENTS IN THE PAST YEARS. PLUS, THEY HAVE SOME EXCITING AND INSIGHTFUL ADVICE FOR FUTURE INDUSTRY MEMBERS.

AND NOW, WE INVITE YOU TO LOOK BACK AT THE PAST THREE DECADES THROUGH THE EYES OF THESE REMARKABLE LEADERS WHO HAVE PLAYED A BIG PART IN AICI’S HISTORY. ENJOY!

DIANE PARENTE, AICI

Founding President of Association of Image Consultants (AIC), San Francisco from 1983-1985 Style and Wardrobe Consultant for Women 55 Plus Transitioning Wardrobes for New Beginnings

Take us through the history of AICI from your point of view?

The impetus to start a professional organization began in 1981. This was a new exciting business. Men and women were entering the field without any background in the fashion and retail field and charging high fees and not producing positive results.

The four other founding members (Jeane Johnson, Coralyn Lundell, Joan Hales, and Suzie Woodward Morris) and I realized that in order to protect the reputation of a new career, it would be necessary to establish a professional association to define the profession and set standards.

What was your most fun and memorable experience during your time as an AIC founding president?

My most memorable experience was serving as the founding president of AIC and working with the founders and dedicated board to set the standards for a professional association that we can all be proud of.

What is your message to future industry members?

First, be open and receptive to new ideas. Avoid letting your business get stale. You always want to keep moving forward and to have fresh new ideas and concepts.

Second, what makes your business stand out? What makes you different? Why would anyone hire you? Once you learn the concepts and take the training, it is up to you to take the information and create your own spin on it to separate you from others.

In the music world, my favorite phrase is “You can play the notes; however, the true musician is someone who knows how to interpret the notes to make it stand out and be different from others.”

ALYCE PARSONS, AICI CIP, CET, CIHM

Founding Member of the Association of Image Consultants International 1990 Co-Director and Director of AICI from 1988-1990 President of AICI San Francisco Chapter 2002-2003 President of AIC (Association of Image Consultants) 1985-1986 Founding board member of AIC 1983 Universal Style International

Take us through the history of AICI from your point of view?

I was a founding member of the Association of Image Consultants (AIC), which preceded the merger in 1990 by seven years. I was on the founding board which was formed in 1983. I was the Education chairman and writer. I was president the second year, and meetings were held in San Francisco. The organization was forming chapters throughout the country, including New York and Los Angeles.

AIC connected with Jennifer Parkinson, who was with AFIC on the East Coast. Six members from AIC and six from AFIC came together to form AICI, which was a “labor of love”.

We always had a big vision that this was going to spread.

What was your most fun and memorable experience during your time as an AIC founding member and AIC president?

In addition to the first AIC Conference in 1986 in San Francisco being fun and memorable for me, the most personally satisfying and important time for our profession was the two years (1988-1990) during which the six of us from each coast met to form the foundation of the new association, AICI. We developed our mission statement, goals, objectives, and bylaws. Without this strong foundation, we would not be the vibrant and relevant organization we are today, celebrating its 30th anniversary!

What is your message to future industry members?

We have a noble profession. We are a source for good in this world. We help people communicate between the outside and inside, and help them develop a vision of who they are. Follow your passion and do what you love.

We are more than consultants; we are teachers and therapists.

DOMINIQUE ISBECQUE, AICI CIP

Founding Member of AICI AICI President from 1998-1999 Image Resources Center of New York

Take us through the history of AICI from your point of view?

At that time in the mid 80s there were two associations - AIC (California) and AFIC (East Coast). We decided to merge to create AICI which was about a three-year process. Our goal was to create one association for professional image consultants so that we could gain credibility, establish standards and more effectively grow our businesses by creating a reputable profession.

It was the biggest growth event in my life, in terms of leadership development. I also learned skills in facilitating meetings and communication skills for mediation and negotiation. It also helped me realize my personal vision of spreading image transformation worldwide. I witnessed first-hand the power of a vision, when it is clear, in alignment with goals and a realistic action plan. And now, I could not be prouder to see AICI flourish with chapters internationally.

What was your most fun and memorable experience during your time as an AIC founding member and AIC president?

After an all-day work meeting of the merger committee in either San Francisco or Washington,

D.C., the 12 of us always celebrated our efforts with cocktails and a fabulous dinner. Any disagreements from our workings of the day were left behind. We played as hard as we worked.

What is your message to future industry members?

Always focus on what is best for the client and their personal, professional, or social goals and aspirations. Be mindful of what they say they are seeking to uncover what they really want that may not be articulated openly. Develop an artful dialogue to partner with clients. Out of that partnership, professional relationship longevity is possible. See what is relevant to and for the client.

ELAINE STOLTZ, AICI CIM

AICI President from 1999-2000 Stoltz Image Consulting and Institute

Take us through the history of AICI from your point of view?

Starting my consulting business in January 1989, I attended the first AICI conference in San Francisco in 1990 as a charter member. AICI was a small organization and most of the attendees were from U.S. The focus of the organization was education and marketing the new image industry. Personally, I joined AICI because the general public was not aware that the image consulting industry existed. I needed a bigger organization than myself to educate the public about our services.

AICI offered an educational conference every year until about 2014 when it changed the conference to every other year. AICI certification started with the CIP (Certified Image Professional) certification level. The founders of AICI were grandfathered in as CIPs. CIM (Certified Image Master) was added about 2001 and CIC (Certified Image Consultant, originally called First Level Certification) started about 2008. Certification has become a major benefit internationally.

What was your most fun and memorable experience during your time as an AIC president?

Having our first management company run our conference made my board’s job so much easier. It was a great investment.

What is your message to future industry members?

I recommend that future image consultants become experts in a particular area of image instead of trying to be a consultant with all services. Our future reputation is dependent on the quality of service we provide our clients. The industry has been hurt in the past with consultants working in the industry with very little professional training.

ANNA SOO WILDERMUTH, AICI CIM, ACC

AICI President from 2003-2005 Personal Images, Inc. Executive Coach and Consultant for Leaders and Organizations

Take us through the history of AICI from your point of view?

There has been an amazing amount of growth and globalization. The certification process was also developed.

What was your most fun and memorable experience during your time as an AIC president?

Conferences continue to bring folks together. I loved my travel to the Tokyo Chapter and the Asian influence in our organization.

What is your message to future industry members?

Always be learning. Be open-minded, kind, and honest in your practice.

MARION GELLATLY, AICI CIM

AICI President from 2005-2007 Powerful Presence

Take us through the history of AICI from your point of view?

On May 10, 1990, a completed merger between AIC (San Francisco) and AFIC (New York) became AICI (Association of Image Consultants International). The first AICI convention was held in Costa Mesa, California in November 1990.

I joined AICI in 1990 during its formative years and became a very active member and leader in the San Francisco Chapter. Our chapter was proud to be on the leading edge of industry development and several of the founders of the San Francisco Chapter were also members of the AICI merger committee.

As the organization grew, we hired an outside management company in 2001 to manage the association and handle the day-to-day operational details so we could expand AICI’s growth.

What was your most fun and memorable experience during your time as an AIC president?

One memorable experience was hosting the AICI Board at my home in California for our annual 2004 Strategic Planning Retreat. We had so much fun getting to know one another, cooking together, hanging out, and getting serious work accomplished at the same time. It was a wonderful bonding experience, and it set the stage for what was to come in 2004 and 2005 as I took on my role as president-elect of AICI.

What is your message to future industry members?

Participate and partner with AICI. Together, we can build a stronger future for our profession and accomplish great things.

KAREN BRUNGER, BHEC, AICI CIP

AICI President from 2007-2009 International Image Institute Inc.

Take us through the history of AICI from your point of view?

In 1986, I heard about the two associations in the U.S., but being Canadian, I thought there was no point in joining.

In 1993, Donna Chevrier, the only Canadian member of AICI, called a meeting of all the image consultants in Ontario that she could find. In March of 1994, we became a chapter, and this year we are celebrating 25 years.

I was the first non-American to serve on the International Board and the first non-American president.

We went through a few growing pains as we grew internationally – with board members from various countries and in various time zones.

What was your most fun and memorable experience during your time as an AIC president?

My most memorable experience is the connection, friendship, acceptance, love and FUN at our international strategic planning retreats, as well as at our conferences. This was epitomized in our 2006 dancing after the Las Vegas conference.

What is your message to future industry members?

As image consultants, we help our clients move through limitations so that they can be, do, and have what they desire. We enhance both inner and outer beauty. The more we work on ourselves, the more we are able to be of service to others.

LYNNE MARKS, AICI CIM

AICI President from 2009-2011 London Image Institute

Take us through the history of AICI from your point of view?

I “used” AICI to grow myself up personally and professionally. At the time I was on the board in the mid 90’s, I owned an image company and knew a lot about clothing, body language, and fashion but nothing about managing people and teams, leadership, sales, marketing or business development. I learned a lot from the conferences. Moreover, I learned tons of skills from being on the board as VP Education and president. The joy of the job came from watching others grow around me as well and visiting and meeting people in many other countries. Both times I was on the board, it was an enriching experience.

From my point of view, AICI has given me the opportunity to grow and develop from a personal and professional standpoint.

What was your most fun and memorable experience during your time as an AIC president?

When I was on the board the first time, we had a terrific group of women who were all so keen to see AICI succeed as we worked our tails off. The most memorable occasion was at our annual retreat. We were having a meeting late into the evening and we were all wearing our night wear. Somebody broke out the wine and of course, it became a pajama party! It was really fun, and miraculously, we got some work accomplished.

I would like to honor the work so many great people have done for AICI.

What is your message to future industry members?

Have no doubt that the importance of image training will continue to expand in every country. It is and will continue to be included in academic courses, business and civic organizations, government, and political communities. It will become as critical as any other soft skill and will always be vital for people who need a competitive presence, confidence and credibility.

Truly, AICI has achieved countless milestones and celebrated many victories in the last three decades. This is due to the hard work, commitment, time, and talent of all the leaders and members behind it. And while it has been great to do this #funflashback to the past thirty years, it is also just as exciting to see what lies ahead as we #moveforward!

MARIA MONICA F. PRADO, M.A. is a communication and image consultant, speaker, author, and writer. In 2010, with her background in the fields of communication, media and corporate training, Monica established Communicare Training and Development, a communication training firm. She has developed and conducted trainings for thousands of individuals and various local and multinational corporations. Monica is also the author of the children’s book, How Lisa Learned to Listen.

INCEPTION OF AICI 1990

AFIC - Association of Fashion & Image Consultants: Back row (L-R): Lisa Cunnigham, blocked, Dominique Isbecque, MJ Barnes, Bobbie Jean Thompson, Carole Jackson Front row (L-R): Donna Silliman, Jennifer Parkinson, Angie Michael

AIC San Francisco Charter members: Standing (L-R): Jeane Johnson, Joan Dahl, Coralyn Lundell, Paula Wilhelm, Markie Brown Seated (L-R): Sharon Parsons, Diane Parente, Alyce Parsons

AFIC-AIC Full Merger Committee

75 DPI