Left to right: Joan Volpe, Joan Volpe Managing Coordinator - FIT Center for Professional Studies - School of Continuing and Professional Studies, Me in the middle and John-Harvard Reid - Director of Development Services - FIT Educational Foundation for the Fashion Industries, Photo courtesy of Smiljana Peros

When I decided to leave my corporate marketing career and venture out into the new world of image consulting, I think family and friends were a bit taken aback and wondered what I was doing!  However, when they found out I would attend the Fashion Institute of Technology for my certification, just the name “FIT” seemed to put them at ease.  This shows the power of certain brands!

Fast forward to today and here I am, president of the AICI (Association of Image Consultants International) NY Tri-State Chapter and running my own image business.  FIT provided me with the tools and knowledge I needed to jump start my business and follow my dreams.  Because I love and passionately believe in what I do, part of my chapter strategy is to maintain and attract industry talent and what better place to recruit talent than FIT.

For the first time ever the AICI NYTS Chapter is donating an annual gift to be shared with two outstanding students who have completed the Image Consulting Professional Development Certificate Program.  Last month, we donated the first gift to FIT and are in the process of accepting applications to select the first ever recipient of this award.  For more details, visit the Image Award Application

Congratulations to my amazing chapter!  This is an incredibly important initiative and we led the way in establishing this first ever Student Image Award for our industry!