As a humanitarian who fervently believes that generosity is repaid many-fold, Shami has donated to numerous charities and organizations worldwide. In addition, after many tragedies, including September 11, 2011; Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike and the tornados in Joplin, Missouri, he donated millions of dollars of his own products to help salons get back in business and help their communities, and also donated care packages of personal hygiene products to help citizens recover. Shami and his business partner, John McCall, demonstrated their commitment to ending childhood diabetes by creating a research center at the City of Hope in California in memory of his father, Sheik Mohammed Shami. He also built a school in honor of his father to educate the young women of Palestine in the sciences. Most recently, he visited Haiti and brought medical and hygiene supplies to victims of the earthquake.
In 2009, Shami threw his hat in the primary for the governor of Texas. Although he did not win the election, Farouk made good on campaign promises and created jobs in Houston with the opening of the new CHI USA manufacturing facilities.
In 2010, Shami partnered with Lone Star College to open the CHI School of Cosmetology, and the following year, the partnership sponosred a cosmetology student to assist with hair care experiments sent aboard the last Space Shuttle mission. Shami has sponsored the Latino Leadership Initiative at the Harvard Kennedy School where he was a keynote speaker. A conduit for peace, he has also spoken by request in Washington, D.C. on Diplomacy through Business and srengthening American relations with the Arab and Islamic regions. He sits on the board of directos for the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., whose foundation bestowed him the American Patriot Award. The award recognizes exceptional Americans who have dmonstrated a profound and abiding love of country and whose inspirational leadership and selfless dedication symbolizes our nation's ideas, values and democratic principles.
A celebrity in his own right, Shami raised the profile of the salon industry when he appeared on The Celebrity Apprentice and tasked the contestants to produce a hair show. Last year, he was a judge for the televised Miss Universe Pageant in Brazil, which his company has sponsored for the past 12 years.
You still have time to register for ISBN's 2012 conference and congratulation Shami in person. The conference also features a keynote by social media guru Peter Shankman (The New PR is Spelled "Customer Service"; economist Alan Beaulieu discussing how to Make Your Move to Maximize the Future; panels covering the state of the industry and government relations; breakouts on online reputation management and "A Window into the Consumer's Mind;" a special "2 to 10 Project" workshop; ISBN's signature Speed Meetings with sponsors, the golf outing at nearby Trump National Golf Course and plenty of time for networking. CLICK HERE to learn more or register.
The International SalonSpa Business Network is comprised of more than 50 top companies, owning two to 12,000 salons and/or spas each, with combined gross sales of more than $10 billion annually. the membership represents more than 25,000 salons and employs more than 250,000 people licensed in the cosmetology field, who facilitate more than 500 million client transactions per year. Call 866-444-4272 or visit salonspanetwork.org for more information on joining and on attending and/or exhibiting at ISBN's Conference.
Stacey Soble has been involved in the conversation of 
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