Board of Directors

Lynelle Lynch

President, Founding Member

Lynelle, an accomplished visionary and entrepreneur, took over as President and Owner of Bellus Academy in August of 2005. Lynelle’s fresh perspective on the beauty and wellness education business allowed her to revolutionize beauty education offering advanced education that was unprecedented in beauty school education and career development. Today the Bellus Academy offers 17 programs and an articulation agreement for a Health and Beauty Associate Degree. Throughout Lynelle’s career, she has been active in numerous civic and charitable causes serving on 16 Boards of Directors, including the American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) executive board and is the president and a founding member of BCL.

Jan Arnold

Secretary, Founding Member

Jan is the Co-founder and Style Director of CND® and the daughter of Dr. Stuart Nordstrom, the brilliant dentist and organic chemist whose discoveries launched the company in 1979. Her experience as a brand engineer has contributed to the success of CND® as a worldwide company and her personal sense of style makes her the high-fashion face behind the brand. One need only look to New York Fashion Week to see Jan and CND’s many accomplishments. CND’s top nail pros have manicured runway models and started trends during Fashion Weeks in cities such as New York, London, Paris and Sydney for more than 18 years. CND® has collaborated with some of fashion’s most desirable designers such as Alexander Wang, Creatures of the Wind, Jason Wu, Phillip Lim and The Blonds just to name a few. As a result, nails have become the ultimate fashion accessory for women around the world.

Robert Passage

Founding Member

Robert is Chairman, CEO & Global Ambassador of Pivot Point International Inc. He has been active in cosmetology education for more than 22 years, 46 years if you consider he was born and raised in the business. He is a licensed cosmetologist, licensed cosmetology instructor and holds a degree in business from Loyola University in Chicago. Robert has served on the AACS board since 1995 and has served on numerous committees during his tenure. He has also served on the IACS (IL Association of Cosmetology Schools) board as past president and continues to serve his state association today. He is also involved on numerous industry committees including CC (Cosmetologists Chicago), PBA (Professional Beauty Association) and ACCRED (Advisory Council on Cosmetology Relations and Education).

Phil Horvath, Treasurer

Phil Horvath was named President of Floyd’s 99 Barbershops in March of 2021. Floyd’s is the largest premium barbershop group in the United States with 120 locations in 13 states. Phil has more than 25 years of beauty and salon industry experience, having worked as President and COO of Ratner Companies (dba Hair Cuttery) the past 4 years. Prior to that he worked as an Operations executive at Ulta Beauty for 17 years. Phil has experience in leading aggressive growth in both the service and retail sides of the hair salon business. Prior to Ulta Beauty, he held positions in the Supercuts division of Regis Corporation. He began his professional beauty career at Denver-based Calco Hair, Inc., serving President of the family business. Phil was raised in a family of hair salon professionals. Phil’s vast knowledge of all aspects of the salon business and his ability to think strategically has made him a sought-after executive in the Beauty industry. His experience and results-oriented approach with both small and large companies has driven positive results for each company for which he has worked. Phil has a passion for this industry. He understands the importance of focusing on the development of its people and holds the core belief that we can help others achieve their dreams and goals. For Phil, business has to be about purpose and people and then prosperity will follow. Phil and his wife live in Ashburn, VA. He has three teenaged sons. Having grown up in Colorado, he is an avid skier.

Mary Atherton, Director

A passionate supporter of Beauty Changes Lives from its founding, Mary Atherton is Director of Communications for Wella Company North America. In a career spent largely in Professional Beauty, Mary has had the opportunity with work with some of the industry’s most influential individuals including Leo Passage at Pivot Point International and Sydell Miller at Matrix as well as with virtually every storied hair artist in the world in her role as long-time editor in chief of Modern Salon. Marybelieves that a unique transformational power lies in the hands of every beauty professional and is committed to sharing that power with the next generation.

Charles Brown, Director

Charles is a visionary entrepreneur renowned for transforming the beauty industry. As the CEO of CLICS, he, and the CLICS team, introduced the first computer-controlled hair color dispenser and mixable color line for professional salons. Charles’ innovative approach revolutionized salon operations, enhancing precision and efficiency in color formulation. With a background in technology and business leadership, he has not only pioneered groundbreaking beauty solutions but also holds a track record of success in founding and managing technology ventures. Charles continues to inspire innovation in the beauty sector, leveraging his expertise to drive advancements that redefine industry standards.

Tate Holland, Director

Tate is the President and CEO of Make-up Designory. He has worked in make-up education and cosmetic sales, manufacturing, and distribution for the last 25 years. For the past 19 years, he has been the President and CEO of Make-Up Designory (MUD). While at MUD, he has overseen the successful implementation of the company’s two highly regarded vocational schools for professional make-up artistry, in Los Angeles and New York. While under his watch, the company has developed and distributes a full line of color cosmetics, and developed an educational program shared with over 50 MUD Studios and MUD Partner Schools around the world. Along with his work responsibilities, Mr. Holland is active in local community affairs. He is a past President of CAPPS, the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools, a former member of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce, the Newhall School District Measure K oversight committee, and a founding member of Burbank Arts for All. Mr. Holland holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the American University in Washington, DC.

Teresa Lopez, Director

Teresa López was appointed to the Executive Committee and General Manager of Mizani in March 2015 where she repositioned the brand as a leading professional texture brand by modernizing the brand expression, making strategic distribution choices, and leaning on the strength of the Mizani Artist community to deliver best in class education. She subsequently elevated her responsibilities to include the Pureology brand in 2020, where she transformed the brand performance across all channels by focusing on a pillar assortment strategy, innovating content creation, and emphasizing diversity and inclusion in the communication and product portfolio to represent a broader consumer base. Teresa has enjoyed an exemplary 20+year career in the beauty industry, starting as a marketing intern at Maybelline New York in the Consumer Products Division of L’Oréal USA.

Katelyn Macy, Director

Katelyn Macy-Sandoval is an accomplished COO with a wealth of experience in the skincare industry. As the COO of Circadia, she oversees the company’s day-to-day operations in all departments, including financial, strategic, marketing, sales, formulation and general operations. As a thought-leader, Katelyn’s primary mission is to foster innovation, ensure operational efficiency, and drive growth, solidifying Circadia as an authority in the skin care industry.

Katelyn’s passion for skincare started early in her career when she worked as a licensed esthetician. Her extensive knowledge of skin and science combined with a deep understanding of esthetician needs have made her an invaluable asset as an educator, mentor, and industry leader. Her ability to translate customer needs into actionable strategies has enabled Circadia to continuously improve its products and services, earning its’ position as one of the most respected names in the industry.

Under Katelyn’s leadership, Circadia has grown and expanded significantly, gaining a solid foothold in the global skincare market, allowing Circadia’s products to get into the hands of skin care professionals worldwide. Her strategic vision and commitment to international relations has allowed her to drive the company’s success abroad, while her innovative approach to product development and education has perfectly positioned Circadia as a leading brand domestically.

April McCoy, Director

April spent over twenty-five years with DBE/CosmoProf Beauty and still gets ridiculously excited about new products. She developed strategies for chain salon and school partners to improve efficiency and profitability while positively impacting the student and stylist community. April is particularly proud of joint efforts that have raised large sums for charitable organizations. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley. In her free time you can usually find her on the back of a horse or traveling the world with a beloved circle of family and friends.

Megan Murray, Director

Megan Murray, Senior Director, Field Operations at Ulta Beauty, is a versatile multi-unit management professional with a proven track record of driving results for some of the world’s largest and most innovative retail organizations. Megan has a +13-year executive career trajectory building and managing multi-million-dollar, enterprise-wide programs with significant impact on tactical expansion, salon/store-level and national sales improvement, P&L management, recruiting and team engagement.

Megan has a love for the beauty industry and is known for infusing her work with energy, passion, and a competitive edge. She currently leads Ulta Beauty Field Operations while also supporting in the creation and execution of the Beauty Changes Lives – Mentorship Matters program, where she supports a group of industry leaders as they mentor service professionals at different stages of their careers.

Prior to Ulta Beauty, Megan served in leadership positions with the salon and Sephora inside JCPenney, as well as in various roles with Target Corporation.

Megan has a MS, Marketing and a BA, Communications from the University of Alabama where she also played volleyball. She currently resides in Florida with her husband and two children.

Edwin Neill, Director

Edwin Neill, CEO of the Neill Companies is responsible for the overall strategy and business of Neill, including the primary businesses of Aveda Distribution, Aveda Arts and Sciences Institutes, Neill Fulfilment and Paris Parker Salons. Active in all areas of the business, his previous roles with Neill have included Distribution Management, Executive Vice President and CFO.

Prior to rejoining his family business, Edwin practiced commercial litigation at the New Orleans law firm of Stone Pigman. He served as the Chairman of the Louisiana Board of Cosmetology and is a past president of the International Spa Association Foundation and past board member of the Professional Beauty Association. He is also a director and officer of the Salon and Spa Relief Fund.

Chelsea Riggs, Director

Chelsea Riggs is the CEO and founding member of amika, one of the largest independent premium haircare brands in the U.S. Over her 15-year tenure, Chelsea’s entrepreneurial approach has propelled amika to become the #5 US Prestige Haircare Brand (Circana/NPD) & #4 US Salon Brand (Kline Pro).

At the core of Chelsea’s leadership is a deep commitment to building a brand that embodies authenticity and purpose. She has shaped amika into a champion for hair, hairstylists, people, and the planet—earning it B Corp certification and Clean+Planet Positive status at Sephora, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. Since 2016, Chelseaand amika have also supported HairToStay, raising over $1 million to help those undergoing chemotherapy, and Chelseaserves on its board.

Her leadership has earned amika accolades such as Great Place to Work in 2023 and 2024, and recognition as an Ad Age Breakout Brand Leader in 2023. The brand also secured a spot on the WWD Power Brands list in 2020, 2023, and 2024.

Chelsea is passionate about creating opportunities for underrepresented voices in beauty, directing over $500,000 annually into scholarships, grants, and mentorship programs. She led amika through its acquisition by Bansk Group in 2022, ensuring the brand’s continued growth while staying true to its mission of inclusivity and positive impact.

Karen Short, Director

Karen is Chief Operating Officer for Universal Companies, a wholesale distributor, who for more than 35 years, has served thousands of spa and wellness professionals in 47 countries. Prior to assuming the role of CEO, Karen was SVP Sales & Marketing, responsible for all direct sales, marketing and education initiatives. As CEO, Karen’s objective is to foster a culture of entrepreneurial change and growth with primary focus on the customer. She leads a team of professionals who continually identify products and solutions for spa and wellness professionals and leverage digital technology to deliver customer value. Prior to joining Universal, Karen had an extensive background in executive leadership in the hospitality industry and built a successful track record of executing aggressive growth strategies ranging from sales-focused and market-driven organizations to growth through mergers and acquisitions. She has held executive positions with a range of customer centric organizations including President and Chief Hospitality Officer of Quintess Collections, Founder and Chair of InnPerspectives Inc., Director of Sales and Marketing Meadowood Napa Valley, and Vice President of Sales Aspen Skiing Company. She has also served on number of Boards including Beauty Changes Lives, Past Chair for the Green Spa Network, Napa Valley Visitors and Conference Bureau and Aspen Resort Association.

Jana Westerbeke, Director

Jana Westerbeke, daughter of Pam McNair-Wingate, grew up in the hustle and excitement of the beauty industry. As Gadabout SalonSpa’s first intern, Jana discovered her true passion in life. Through the creativity of hairdressing, she found she could touch people’s lives in many ways and as a Gadabout stylist, educator, director, and Co-President/CEO she knows that the more she gives back, teaches, inspires, and shares her knowledge and gifts, the more she learns and receives in life.

Working side by side with her mother, Jana helped to create the vision and philosophy that is Gadabout SalonSpas. In 2005, the torch was passed from mother to daughter, and today, as Co President / CEO at Gadabout SalonSpas, Jana carries on the high standards of excellence instilled in her by her mother in those early years. Under her leadership and passion, a second salon brand, VerVe Salons, was created as a more organic approach to beauty and wellness. Legendary guest experiences continue to keep this award-winning company with 6 diverse locations strong. Jana inspires and helps to develop customer service programs and standards that create the Gadabout experience. She empowers her team to achieve their maximum potential in every aspect of their lives and to realize the positive difference they can make in other people’s lives through their work. Jana is inspired every day by their success. “I am here to coach and lead so others can succeed. When others reach their goals, it is my hope that they will want to “pay it forward” to continue the growth cycle in this world we are blessed to live in.”

President’s Council members serve as advisors for Beauty Changes Lives and enhance our impact through direct support and strategic expertise.

Winn Claybaugh

Former Board Member & Current President’s Council

Reuben Carranza