MEET EVELINE CHARLES 

Eveline Charles, founder and CEO of EvelineCharles Salons|Spas|Beauty MD|Academy, is one of the most recognized names in the Canadian salon and spa industry. Driven by the words of her favourite poem, The Winner, "Think big and your deeds will grow", Eveline Charles has grown her privately held business from a one-woman operation to a multimillion-dollar corporation bearing her name.

Eveline Charles began her career in the beauty industry in 1974 when she chose to study hair design. Ten years later, her passion and determination led her to open her first salon, Bianco Nero, in Edmonton, Alberta. Her extensive knowledge of the industry and affinity for business allowed Eveline to expand Bianco Nero and create the EvelineCharles Salon|Spa in 1999. By 2005 she had turned one salon into an empire of nine... becoming a household name in cities around Canada.

Soon Eveline's innovative ambition inspired her to step outside the confines of salons and spas. Determined to become the market leader, she expanded her empire in 2005 to include the EvelineCharles Academy: a state-of-the-art facility where budding beauty industry professionals could harness and perfect their trade. Now with two fully established facilities in Edmonton and Calgary, EvelineCharles Academy is the largest and most renowned hair and esthetic school in Canada.

Throughout her 40 years in the beauty industry, Eveline Charles has been honoured for her leadership, innovation and remarkable business accomplishments. Amongst countless entrepreneurial awards including Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women of 2011 and Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year, Eveline Charles' salons and spas have won Consumers Choice awards for seven years in a row.

Eveline's generous nature is the foundation for her company's extensive involvement in the community and its commendable corporate social responsibility. Eveline is determined to give back and raise awareness for the causes she is passionate about. She has instilled these beliefs in her staff, and the generosity flows through all aspects of her business. EvelineCharles Salons|Spas|Beauty MD|Academy actively participates in fundraising, charity and awareness events throughout Edmonton and Calgary, and Eveline is an active board and committee member of several Edmonton charities. Eveline was a founding board member of Run for the Cure, and received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award from the Edmonton Rotary Club for community service in 2008 and 2010. Over the past few years Eveline has contributed over $125,000 to local charities and has donated hundreds of volunteer hours to support the community that fostered her success.
EvelineCharles' participation in the annual Hair Massacure for the Stollery Children's Hospital along with donations and volunteer support for the Youth Emergency Shelter, Sorrentino's Compassion House, Suit Yourself (an organization that helps women with an unfortunate past re-enter the work force feeling beautiful and confident), Relay for Life, Cystic Fibrosis, Treasure Life, and Junior Achievement of Alberta are only a few examples of Eveline's involvement within her community. In October 2012, EvelineCharles showed its support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by initiating a month long "Mani & PediCURE" fundraiser. Accepting donations at all locations and donating all proceeds from pink polish sales and applications, the company raised $1,500 for the Alberta Cancer Foundation in three short weeks. EvelineCharles also partners with The Boys and Girls Club every summer for Beauty Boot Camp: a weeklong summer camp for girls aged 11-15 that focuses on building confidence while creating a healthy body and mind. Donations are accepted throughout the summer months at all EvelineCharles locations for the Boys and Girls Club in order to sponsor the attendance of young ladies.

Throughout her career, Eveline Charles' determination, energy and creativity have allowed her to conquer all aspects of the beauty industry. From a small town girl to a world-renowned businesswoman, Eveline's success story is an infinite source of inspiration for beauty industry professionals and Canadians alike.