We are one year shy of celebrating 40 years of serving the aesthetics industry and yet our passion could not be any stronger. Nor could we ask for a more talented, dedicated group of individuals who strive every day to achieve the goal of our mission statement. From the top down, we are as committed to this goal today as we were when this business was nothing more than the idea of our founder.
Though this organization may seem like a bit of a convoluted mystery to you now, by the time you are done reading I hope to have enlightened you and more importantly inspired you. By way of analogy there are three main parts to a tree; the roots, the trunk, and the branches. If our organization was the tree; Aesthetics International Association (AIA) would be our roots, DERMASCOPE Magazine would be the trunk, while Aesthetics Professional Network (APN) and International Congress of Esthetics and Spa (I.C.E.S.) would be the branches. Oh, lest we not forget the leaves. You, of course, are the leaves of our perennial.

The Roots

Much of this has been written before in one issue or another, but it is how our story unfolds. So, I will try to be brief, but I cannot omit as there are many who are new to this fantastic industry. Aestheticians’ International Association was founded in 1972 by Ron Renee. A hairdresser and school owner by origin, Renee noticed on his numerous trips to Europe the attention that “spas” and skin care were garnering on the other side of the pond. Returning home after one trip he started to take notice of individuals who were beginning to practice and teach skin care in the States. These thoughts were the sparks that eventually led to the beginnings of an association and the bringing together of the founders of skin care in America.
Nearly two decades and many chapters later Renee, ready to retire chose to pass the torch to his final student, William Strunk. When Strunk and his wife, Patricia took over the business the name of the association changed to Aesthetics International Association (AIA). Through the years AIA has been steadfast, sometimes quietly working in the background and others more boldly making its presence known. Today it is proud to be the parent and the roots of our organization, which are firmly planted. Like any good parent, it has raised a healthy child and is enthusiastic about what the future holds, but is always prepared to step in and take command should that need arise.
As I re-read previous articles and pieces of media kits I found it both reassuring and amazing that the more things change, the more they stay the same. For instance the primary basis behind the founding of the association was creating networking opportunities for aestheticians. This is not only a continued focus of our organization, but for the past decade has encompassed a team of individuals who have been silently working to create the future of professional networking. The product of their tireless efforts is what we now call the Aesthetics Professional Network and what you will learn more about in the coming pages. Another piece of history that stood out in my reading was the desire to identify and recognize members of this industry that have been pioneers and thereby earned their place in the Academy of Legends.