About the Style and Image Institute
The Style and Image Institute was formed in 2013 as a collaborative effort of professional Stylists, Image Consultants, beauty experts and business professionals. This collaboration was developed with the following goals:
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To train, certify and support those wanting to begin a career as a Wardrobe or Personal Stylist / Image Consultant
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To provide a training resource for businesses (boutiques, salons) in an effort to increase customer service and offer additional training to employees
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To be a resource for businesses and organizations wishing to have a highly trained team with unparalleled experience of stylist and image professionals. This includes being image consultants for television stations, on-air talent, reporters, news groups, sales teams and political candidates.
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To offer the production of high-end fashion shows to organizations through a complete-package. This includes model calls, model training, styling fashion shows, event production, emceeing, and a complete behind the stage stylist, hair and makeup team.
Kathy Friend
president / founder
senior lead wardrobe stylist
Kathy Friend is a nationally known Stylist , Image Consultant, founder of KathyFriend.com, and the President-CEO of the Style and Image Institute.
Her background includes helping individuals and corporations. As a Fashion Psychologist, she has a unique ability to merge one’s true personality to their image. Her methods come from countless hours of training with leaders in the image, style and fashion industry and obtaining numerous certifications. Kathy’s career includes working on both sides of the camera and on the runway. Her resume includes; design team associate for a leading American designer, sales rep for a Los Angles based women’s clothing brand, fashion show production, commercial styling and retail cosmetic management.
Kathy has worked on styling projects for Redbook Magazine, Wal-Mart and Kenmore. She has been a part of several ventures in Hollywood; styling looks for the red carpet and with reality and talk TV shows. Most recently, she has been asked to train with Stacy London from the famed television show “What Not To Wear”. Kathy writes for several magazines and has appeared on radio and television shows as a fashion expert; she served as a TV news segment reporter for WSBT TV, WNDU TV and FOX59, and had a regular weekly fashion segment with WFRN radio.
Maxin Koontz
vice president / style director
lead wardrobe stylist
Maxin Koontz began her career in fashion while working one of her first jobs out of college, at the Lane Bryant headquarters. There she was able to gain valuable knowledge of the fashion industry as a business.
Her experience has included time as a rep for a jewelry designer, a valued assistant to Kathy Friend Stylist and Image Consultant, and a stylist with Keaton Row. Her style has made her a fashion icon in her community; she is often stopped at the grocery store, complimented on her unique style and asked foradvice.
As the Fashion Director at SII, Maxin is responsible for assisting with Trend research. She also acts as part of the SII Runway Team, producing and styling several fashion shows annually.
Kerri Spencer
lead senior hair stylist
Rachal Opaczewski
lead makeup artist
Rachal joined the Style & Image Institute team in 2016 as the lead senior Makeup Artist. Rachal comes to SII from over 10 years as a licensed MUA and Esthetician. Rachal leads the MUA team for all of our big production fashion shows, acts as the teams personal makeup artist and assists with our certification and ROCK program.
Rachal's studio is in South Bend at Amore Salon and Spa. She also acts as an independent makeup artist with NBC Sports.
Kerri joined the SII team in 2013 as our lead senior hair stylist. As such, Kerri leads the hair styling team at all of our big fashion show productions, and assists in education with our certification and ROCK! program. Kerri is also part of the SII 'on the road' Style Makeover and Consultant team.
Kerri has been a hair stylist for over 20 years. She has been an educator, salon owner, product rep and now concentrates her time on helping private VIP clients one-on-one. She meets with clients at Splish Splash Salon.
Angie Catron
senior wardrobe stylist
assistant fashion director
Angie has been with the SII team since 2015 following her certification training as a Stylist and Image Consultant. Angie comes to our team with extensive experience in the beauty industry.
Angie is part of our fashion show production team, ROCK! What You've Got team and our 'on the road' Style Makeover team. She also is the Director of Dress for Success Lafayette.