Experience
1988: Attended John Amico School of Designs, Downtown Chicago, IL (Completed)
1993-2003: She began her one woman “Wrapbraids” show style perfection look.
1997: Roundtable discussion with Vitale Hair Products Company to help create natural hair products
1998: Attended the International Academy Of Designs- Chicago, IL
1999 Received Chicago Public Schools Vendors #
1999: Developed WB Traction Alopecia Prevention workshops for Chicago Public Schools (CPS)
2000: Produced the #1 Braid Video: Wrapbraids VHS Technique Video
2002: Founder of A Better Tomorrow for Today’s Teens (ABT) 501 (c)3 org.
2003: Systematic Proper Procedure (SPP)
2004: Received contract from CPS for braid workshop
2004: SPP Wrapbraids Workshops Pivot Point Academy Schools Chicago, IL
2007: Became the author of Wrapbraids…The Formula to Success manual
2007-2015: Partnered with Youth Guidance inside CPS – ABT Youth Development Program (YDP)
2009-2014: Partnered with After School Matters – YDP Hair Expression Career Training CPS Students
2010: Became a member of the Illinois Association of Hair Braiders; Pioneered with other experts to create the curriculum for Illinois-Hair Braiders License (IHBL)
2011: IDFPR Received Hair Braiding Teacher’s License
2011: Became member of Chicago’s Inventors
2013: Board member IL chapter, National Beauty Culturist’s League
2014 VP of the Natural Hair Professionals (NHP)
2014: Owner, WB Natural Hair Institute
2014: Incorporated WB Natural Hair Institute, PC
2015: Opened ABT Youth Employment Facility; Young And Ready Project YARP Pre-Apprentice Program
2016: First Apprenticeship WB Natural Hair Therapy Salon
2016: Pioneer/Organizer for Illinois Beauty Coalition of Professionals (IBCP)-Illinois
2017: YARP first Pre-Apprentice Program One of the highlights- Braid Technician Analyst (BTA) training
2017: ABT was Awarded Dept. of Planning and Development | City of Chicago TIFWorks Grant, for their YARP Beauty & Construction Train For Hire Curriculum
2018: Received Master of Professional Cosmetology (MPC) at the National Institute of Cosmetology; Washington, DC
2019: Received NPI Prosthetics Case Management; P2P Certification & Training Institute, Birmingham, AL
2020: Received Copyrights & Trademark “So You Think You Can Braid” United States Patent and Trademark Office
2022: President/Founder & Organized beginning stages for the Illinois Beauty and Barber Coalition (IBBC) Illinois membership recruitment Summer of 2023
2022: Received Trichology Certification, P2P Certification & Training Institute, Birmingham, AL
2022: Became a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner; (Member) American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP)
2023: Frances Simmons Ellis, LLC; Business Incubator-Chicago IL