Reinvigorated and renewed… this is how members of the Indoor Tanning Association’s Board of Directors feel after their recent meeting. This is good news for tanning salon owners and the industry as a whole!
September 23, 2014 will go down in history as the day ITA Board made some bold initiatives. The decisions made at that meeting have breathed new life into the organization and renewed its members’ pledge to the engine that drives the indoor tanning industry – the tanning salon owners. The Board voted to create two committees tasked with promoting the ITA and helping it continue its mission along with many other exciting duties. With this and everything else that transpired at this pivotal meeting, the industry can expect some big things from its trade association in 2015!
The ITA is nothing but a “manufacturers organization.” At least that’s what some in this industry believe, and the Board is dedicated to changing that misperception. Said John Overstreet, ITA Executive Director, “Some salon owners mistakenly believe this because the organization has had to step back from many of things it used to do because of serious budgetary constraints. For example, we had to cease fighting proposed legislation at the state level, which led to our opponents’ successes in a number of states.” A “downward spiral” of salon owners withdrawing support is how Overstreet describes the resulting dynamic, and he says the spiral continued for some time.
Overcoming the “manufacturer’s organization” mischaracterization is one of the board’s imperatives, says Greg Henson, Heartland President and ITA Board member. “Unfortunately, this label was placed upon us by outside forces,” he added, “and it doesn’t take into account the fact that salon owners have always played an important role on the Board practically since its inception.” Henson added that he’s excited about being a part of the only tanning organization that represents all sectors of the industry – manufacturers, distributors and salon owners – and he believes that he and the rest of the Board are revitalized and ready to face the challenges of leading the indoor tanning industry. “I was very impressed with the energy and commitment of everyone in the room,” he added.
The group of newly-elected members will play a vital role in the organization’s rebranding, says every veteran ITA member. Those latest additions – Stacy Kaufman (Performance Brands, Inc.), Robert Klem (Superior UV Technologies), Brook Taylor (All Hours) and Bruce West Jr. (Supre Tan) – brought many fresh perspectives during the recent meeting. Commented Robert Klem, “The ITA has been in survival mode for the past couple of years. We all recognize the need to become relevant again and we will do that by rediscovering our mission and how we will go about implementing it.” Klem shared the excitement that was felt by all during the meeting by saying, “There was a lot of positive energy in the room and it was great to see everyone getting fired up about what we’ll be doing.”
Two bold steps toward rebuilding the ITA’s future were taken during the meeting. The first was creating a committee charged with recommending various ways to raise revenue. “The Board also made a commitment to come up with new revenue sources,” Overstreet explained. “If this is successful, the ITA will be more active in some of the state battles and augmenting our Federal profile as well.” The Board also voted to establish a second committee to make recommendations on marketing and promoting the organization within the industry. “In the next few months, we plan to announce some exciting news from both of these committees!” Overstreet added.
Newly-appointed Board member Brook Taylor is excited about her new role as member of the ITA’s marketing committee. She explained, “I believe we have to be more aggressive and appealing when it comes to communicating everything the ITA is doing with the rest of the industry. We have to approach everything with a fun attitude and lots of positive energy, no different than the way a professional salon operator greets everyone who walks through their doors.” Brook also says she looks forward to helping raise funds for the organization, adding, “I’m extremely proud to be part of the association that represents every sector of this industry.”
When it comes to selfless dedication to the tanning industry, every member of the ITA’s Board of Directors deserves to be commended. The honor of serving requires a significant commitment of time, effort and resources, as members are responsible for the management and operations of the ITA, and for fulfilling committee assignments associated with his effort. Each Board member is also responsible for travel and lodging expenses associated with attending at least four annual meetings.
It is a good thing that every member of the ITA Board feels revitalized and excited about their role in defending this industry. In addition to continued battles at the state level, the organization is facing three Federal issues with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Federal Tan Tax, which has been in effect since 2010. As the ITA continues to stay on top of these and other important issues, the group encourages salon owners to get involved with the only organization looking out for their continued interests. To join, contact the ITA today at 703.336.3632, email admin@theita.com or visit theita.com. ■
Executive Director’s Report
At our most recent board meeting in Tampa hosted by Lewis Henry and Devoted Creations, four recent Board appointees attended their first official meeting. The Board welcomed Stacy Kaufman (Performance Brands) Rob Klem (Superior UV Technologies), Brook Taylor (All Hours) and Bruce West (Supre Tan) as our new directors. What a welcome addition these people are!
Perhaps the most important news to come out of this meeting was the Finance Committee’s report that the Association is back on a solid financial footing. This was welcome news after several years of difficult decisions by the Board as they tried to balance obligations against dwindling resources.
Although the first couple of hours were dedicated primarily to a review of our regulatory programs, the FDA, Capitol Hill outreach and examining what we’ve accomplished in the past year, the last half of the meeting was anything but routine.
New energy, new ideas, looking at our challenges from different angles … In short, the final three hours were dedicated to the revitalization of the ITA. The Board created two committees with the overall goals of making the ITA more inclusive, expanding our membership, and making the organization more like it was ten years ago: a vital part of a vibrant industry.
These committees will report to the Board before the next meeting in December. Also at the December meeting, the Board will approve a budget and new programs for 2015. I think it is safe to say the ITA has renewed energy and the future looks brighter. Stay tuned!
Thanks,
John Overstreet
