It all started with a single haircut + Style at the Horst & Friends Salon, Minneapolis, 1985. Through the excellent service delivery of her Stylist, Sheryl Sikora, Linda found an integral lifestyle product line with a mission she could get behind. Three years later, Linda moved to Texas In 1988, Linda North Thomas not only embraced Aveda and its mission, she sought out a sales position at Neill Corporation in Hammond, Louisiana. Training in the early days included travel with Horst and management of the Retail Areas for his shows all over the United States. Linda was the first exclusive Aveda sales representative for Neill Corporation. Selling Aveda’s plant-based, eco-friendly salon products in the Deep South in the late ‘80s was not for the faint of heart. The need for “big hair” often overshadowed the company’s vision for greater life balance and well-being.
By 1992, Linda had progressed to the role of Regional Coach at Neill Corporation. Her family moved to Minneapolis where Aveda by Progressive recruited her for a similar role. A professional shift from distribution to salon operations occurred in 1999, when Diane Keller invited Linda to join her salon, New Reflections. Together they opened three Aveda Lifestyle Spa Salons in the Twin Cities. Linda is currently the Vice President of Operations and Marketing for the company.
Linda North Thomas has experienced nearly every aspect of daily operations at Aveda Lifestyle Spa Salons, including: the recruiting and retention of salon talent, creation and implementation of salon systems, and the management of an exceptional service delivery model.
Linda’s first-hand knowledge of the whole Aveda story makes her a passionate ambassador for the brand and lifestyle. In 2005, Linda won the Earth Month eco trip to Guatemala. She views such travel as the best opportunity to connect with Aveda partners, and to ensure the culture and service quality at her spa salons exceed industry standards as well as her guests’ expectations.
HELLO GORGEOUS!
Everything beauty and cancer with some inspiration sprinkled in. I want to leave my listeners wanting more. I am hoping to give them 1 take away that will stick with them until the next show
My idea is to create a safe space to discuss anything beauty and cancer while providing valuable information that is actionable for our listeners.
Kim Becker is a motivational and inspirational speaker and an award-winning author of two books about beauty, cancer and the amazing scope of the human spirit. Kim is a dynamic communicator with an incredible story of faith, hope and service to others, and the founder of Hello Gorgeous! of HOPE, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides Red-Carpet Experiences for women battling all cancers across the United States,
Kim has been a hairdresser, business owner and national educator for more than 30 years. Through her many experiences in the for-profit and non-profit business worlds, Kim has become a business woman, fundraiser, event planner, educator, public speaker, author and the face of Hello Gorgeous! Kim received the Mom`s Choice Award for her first book, “Hello Gorgeous!: A Journey of Faith, Love and Hope”. Kim received the 2011 Spirit of Women award, an American Cancer Society 2014 Coaches Verses Cancer Inspirational Award and Kim recently received the prestigious George H. W. Bush, Points of Light award in 2015.
Hello Gorgeous! is a non-profit organization founded in 2005 in South Bend Indiana by Kim and Mike Becker. Hello Gorgeous! of Hope, Inc provides Complimentary, professional makeovers and cosmetic education to women battling all cancers. These makeovers are provided in their Mobile Day Spa or in one of their Affiliate salons. Currently the Hello Gorgeous! Program is in 34 salons in 15 states.