Intercoiffure America Canada (ICA) proudly gathered 40 leading salon leaders in Atlanta for its Summer Salon Owners’ Forum. An intimate gathering designed to strengthen the community, deepen connections, and encourage meaningful collaboration, the event was hosted by ICA Member Candy Shaw and her team at Jamison Shaw Hairdressers and was attended by some of North America’s leading employment-based salon owners.

The weekend offered attendees a unique opportunity to step away from the day-to-day demands of salon leadership and engage in open conversation, shared learning, and peer-to-peer exchange.

The forum opened Friday evening with a warm and welcoming gathering at Shaw’s home, where members enjoyed dinner, conversation, and an opportunity to reconnect with longtime friends while building relationships with new members. In his opening remarks, ICA President Scott Buchanan emphasized the growing importance of these intimate Forums hosted by salons as a complement to ICA’s larger national events.

"These gatherings bring the ICA mission to life," Buchanan shared. "They create space for meaningful conversation, honest dialogue, and the kind of relationship -building that helps members return home stronger and better equipped to lead."

Saturday's program shifted into a full day of business education and leadership development at Shaw's Sunlights Academy. The agenda relfected the wide range of challenges and opportunities facing salon owners today, with sessions spanning leadership, legal considerations, culture, education, and long-term business strategy.

Presentations included Candy Shaw’s inspiring “Butterfly Effect” framework, operational insights from COO Jamison Shaw Codner, leadership guidance from Bonnie Bonnadeo, and an employment law session led by Stan Wilson, Esq. A lively panel discussion featuring ICA members and industry leaders further reinforced one of ICA’s core strengths: the willingness of members to openly share both wins and challenges for the benefit of the broader community.

Throughout the weekend, one theme emerged repeatedly: the power of collective wisdom.

For many attendees, the greatest value came not only from formal presentations but from the conversations between sessions, over meals, and during informal networking moments. These exchanges—grounded in trust, candor, and shared experience—continue to distinguish ICA as a community unlike any other in professional beauty.

The forum concluded Sunday with a creative behind-the-scenes tour of Jamison Shaw Hairdressers’ recently renovated salon, giving attendees an up-close look at the operational thinking, culture, and design strategies that support one of the industry’s most recognized salon brands.

Related: Candy Shaw talks about leveraging new technology to host the Data-Driven Salon Tour

As ICA continues to expand its Owners’ Forum series—with Chicago up next—these gatherings remain an important reminder that in a rapidly evolving industry, community is more than a value. It is a competitive advantage. "When salon owners come together to share knowledge, support one another, and collaborate around the future of the industry, everyone moves forward," Buchanan says.

ICA thanked Candy Shaw and Jamison Shaw Hairdressers for their extraordinary hospitality, as well as to Wella, whose generous sponsorship made complimentary member registration possible.