Conference 2009 Wrap Up

This year's Association of Image Consultants International (AICI) conference was a grand success. Knowledge was shared, strategies were created and fun was had! The annual end of conference gala was a definite highlight. Since we were in sunny California, the evening had a Hollywood theme complete with red carpet and "stars". We were also treated to a Dancing with the Stars type competition where the audience served as the voters.

Each year several awards are given out. Outgoing AICI President Karen Brunger (my good friend and mentor) was given the Image Makers Merit or Industry Excellence (IMMIE) award. Karen deserves this honour more than anyone I can think of since she has been integral to the growth of the industry as well as the association is countless respects.

Additional memorable moment of the night: Many of us experienced our first earthquake! During one of the acceptance speeches the ceiling went right as the ground went left and the thousands of tiny chandeliers hanging from the ballroom ceiling rattled back and forth for added drama. Nothing fell and no one was harmed by the earthquake. The elevators stopped working though so some very exhausted guests had to walk up 14 flights of stairs at the end of the night, shoes in hand I imagine.

Conference 2010 is officially set to take place on May 20th at the Renaissance Hotel by the waterfront in Vancouver Canada!

photo: Zayna Mosam, Joseph Rosenfield, Karen Brunger

International Image Consulting Conference

I am currently in sunny Orange County, California attending the annual Association of Image Consultants International (AICI) conference. Every year hundreds of image consultants and professionals in related industries meet to learn, to get inspired and of course to socialize! When you have a profession that is lesser known, it is always interesting and exciting to be with so many people who do what you do.

There are consultants here from all over the world: Japan, France, Italy, Africa, Singapore, China, Mexico, Chile and more. It is always a pleasure to make new friends from different cultures and share out experiences and insights.

It is a busy time as I am working on my new website as well as on my AICI positions: Human Resources Chair and AICI Radio Chair. I am organizing a great lineup for future broadcasts so stay tuned...

For my readers that are interested in possibly pursuing this profession, I highly recommend you consider attending conference next year. I hear a rumour that it will be in Vancouver, Canada!

My First Radio Show

Today, I produced and hosted my first show for AICI (The Association of Image Consultants International) on Blog Talk Radio.

I interviewed eyewear image expert Wendy Buchanan of Perceptions Eyewear on the topic: Look as Good as You SEE - Choosing eyewear to frame your image. We covered the following topics and answered some additional questions from listeners.

1. The 5 frame styles: Categorize and select eyewear frames according to one’s personality, profession and clothing style

2. Working with different face shapes: Choose frame styles that suit the width of the face & the bridge of the nose

3. What’s hot in eyewear in eyewear right this season: Current trends for 2009

I had a great time hosting and Wendy was a pleasure to work with as she is knowledgeable, relaxed and humourous. Thank you Wendy for being a fantastic inaugural guest!


Click this link to listen to the show: AICI Live on Blog Talk Radio

You can also visit www.blogtalkradio and search 'zayna mosam'. Then select the appropriate show (title above)

Original air date: May 5, 2009