NTTI Shines On The Arizona Desert

NTTI Shines On The Arizona Desert
John Abate, SUN Ergoline Sponsor Training Program

The National Tanning Training Institute (NTTI) hit the desert April 21 to offer its comprehensive training program to salon operators in Arizona. Salon operators from Holly's Foxy Lady in Yuma traveled the farthest to take part in the NTTI certification program.

The NTTI Training kicked off at 8:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast at the Resort Suites in Scottsdale, Ariz. More than 70 salon operators and employees were in attendance, many of whom were visited during the Phoenix Tanning Tour earlier in the week.

After a brief introduction from NTTI Technical Training Director Rick Mattoon, SUN Ergoline's John Savoca discussed the current trends in indoor tanning equipment.

Next, John Abat International's director of salon education, Anthony Tesoriero, took the podium. He explained some of the latest lotion developments and described how JA has made an impact in the industry.

Mattoon then got to work with the educational portion of the day. He walked through NTTI's 70-page training manual, which includes sections on skin and skincare, lamps and the tanning process, photosensitivity and overexposure risks, equipment and safety, and state and federal regulations.

Afterward, he administered a test to confirm the salon owners and employees understood what they had learned.

The NTTI's decision to make a stop in Arizona was mainly due to the state's regulation changes expected to be announced later this summer. For the state regulations section of the training, Mattoon introduced John Lamb, a state health physicist for the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency. Lamb detailed the current and proposed rules and regulations and fielded questions regarding the state's requirements. He provided his contact information to the salon operators and encouraged them to get in touch with him for questions about current and future regulatory issues.

After finishing the test, everyone in attendance was invited to visit the John Abat International headquarters and manufacturing facility.

The tour of the John Abat facility proved to be worth the wait. John Abat himself met with visitors to chat and answer questions. His son, Frank, and others in the JA staff led personal tours of the facility.

The open house gave operators a unique look into each step of the lotion manufacturing process. Each attendee was treated to a gourmet lunch, free lotion samples and a special purchasing discount for the day.