FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2026
Contact: Matt Simeon
American Association of Career Schools Concludes 2026 Career Educators Alliance Conference in Anaheim
Educators from cosmetology, barber, esthetics, nail, and massage programs across North America gather for advanced training in a skilled, licensed profession that builds careers, businesses, and stronger communities
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The American Association of Career Schools (AACS) concluded its 2026 Career Educators Alliance (CEA) Conference on July 20, bringing together hundreds of educators from cosmetology, barber, esthetics, nail, and massage programs from across North America for three days of professional development in Anaheim, California.
CEA is the most respected education symposium serving cosmetology, barber, esthetics, nail, and massage instructors from across North America. This year’s program featured 20 concurrent breakout sessions, three foundational methodology classes, and hands-on demonstrations that sharpened the way educators teach the technical foundations their students must master — from the chemistry of professional products and the safe handling of the materials and processes used behind the chair to sanitation, client safety, and the state licensing standards that govern the profession.
Headlining the weekend was a keynote from Winn Claybaugh, founder, co-owner, and dean of Paul Mitchell’s school division and one of the most recognized names in beauty education. The author of Be Nice (Or Else!) — with a foreword by CNN’s Larry King, who called him “one of the best motivational speakers in the country” — Claybaugh has built a nationwide network that has raised more than $27 million for charitable organizations and earned honors including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and American Salon’s recognition as one of the top five “Industry Leaders Who Helped Revolutionize Education.” That a figure of his standing anchors a conference for educators speaks to how much the profession invests in the people who teach it.
AACS leaders said the weekend underscored the opportunity these careers create: skilled, hands-on professions that cannot be automated and that offer a clear path from student to practitioner to business owner, along with the flexibility to build a career that fits a person’s life — whether behind the chair, in the classroom, or as the owner of a Main Street business.
“CEA brings together the educators who prepare the next generation of licensed professionals, and few investments matter more to the future of our industry,” said John D. Russell, JD, AACS Executive Director. “The professionals our schools train master real, technical skills — the science of the products they use, the safe handling of the processes they perform, and the standards their state licenses demand — and they build skilled, hands-on careers that cannot be automated and that communities everywhere depend on. We remain grateful to the Department of Education for the recent implementation delay, and we look forward to working with the Administration, Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle, and industry leaders to ensure this industry continues to provide the highest quality education and training to professionals who provide the highest quality services to their communities.”
“The energy in these rooms this weekend showed what our profession is capable of when we invest in the people who teach it,” said Garrett Shuler, AACS Board Chair and Vice President of Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology. “Our educators are preparing skilled professionals and future small business owners. When we give them the tools to succeed, we strengthen careers, schools, and communities across the country.”
“Every educator who came to CEA left with practical tools and renewed purpose,” said Stacy Wells, AACS Board Vice Chair and co-founder of L’esprit Academy. “This is highly skilled, hands-on work, and the students our members train go on to careers that offer real mobility and flexibility — the chance to grow, to lead, and to build something of their own.”
The weekend also honored standout talent in the profession. Milady and AACS named Lynnette Garrett of Milan Institute in Bakersfield, California, the 2026 NF Cimaglia Educator of the Year. AACS and L’Oréal recognized the winners of the 2026 Student Stylist of the Year competition:
- Best Overall: Jessena Fields, Tricoci University of Beauty Culture (Libertyville, Illinois)
- Best in Color: Kayelyn Weaver, The Salon Professional Academy (Evansville, Indiana)
- Best in Texture: Kadijah Smalls, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology (West Columbia, South Carolina)
- Best in Finishing: Tristan Leger, Ogle School of Hair, Skin & Nails (Hurst, Texas)
The conference followed the U.S. Department of Education’s June 29 final Title IV accountability rule, which granted a minimum one-year implementation delay for cosmetology, barbering, and massage therapy programs and similar programs serving predominantly tipped-wage professions. The delay will allow the new earnings measurement to reflect the federal No Tax on Tips policy for these occupations. AACS has credited the delay to the thousands of professionals, educators, students, and small business owners who made their voices heard throughout the rulemaking process.
Click here for footage of the event.
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About the American Association of Career Schools (AACS)
Founded in 1924, the American Association of Career Schools (AACS) is a national nonprofit association representing privately owned schools of cosmetology arts and sciences. For over 100 years, AACS has been advancing beauty, barber, and wellness education through education, networking, and advocacy. The association’s membership includes cosmetology, skin, nail, barbering, and massage schools that have educated and advanced millions of students into the beauty and wellness industry. AACS is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
