2014-03-04 21:43:39

FIT Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Its Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing Program

2014-03-04 21:43:39

 By Jamie Matusow, Editor

(L-R): Virginia Bonofiglio, associate chair, Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing; Peg Smith, first coordinator of the FIT Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing Program; Annette Green, longtime president of The Fragrance Foundation, and for whom The Annette Green Fragrance Foundation Studio — the only fragrance lab on a U.S. college campus — is named; and Dr. Joyce F. Brown, president, FIT

Attending the 25th anniversary of the Fashion Institute of Technology’s (FIT) Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing baccalaureate program on February 11 was quite a treat in many ways. 

The evening’s program was run by such an impassioned group of leaders, that it was easy to get caught up in their incredible enthusiasm for the industry and the contributions they had made to it as individuals. And the venue—the spectacular New York Yacht Club, home itself to impassioned individuals of a different type—provided an inspiring backdrop with its beaux art architecture and thousands of models of craft and hulls. 

The event was hosted by Jenny B. Fine, editor of Beauty Inc,

Peg Smith, first coordinator of the FIT Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing Program, and Annette Green, longtime president of The Fragrance Foundation, and for whom The Annette Green Fragrance Foundation Studio—the only fragrance lab on a U.S. college campus—is named, spoke about the start of the program.

Green said she had stepped in and “saved” The Fragrance Foundation, bringing it to the influential power that it became.

(L-R): From left to right: the evening’s honorees Shaunda Swackhamer, vice president, Global Product Innovation, Estée Lauder Companies; Orrea Light, vice president, product development, global cosmetic marketing, L’Oréal Paris; (center) FIT’s Virginia Bonofiglio, associate chair, Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing; honorees Bettina O’Neil, vice president, divisional merchandising manager, cosmetics and fragrance, Barneys New York; and Tennille Kopiasz, senior vice president, U.S. marketing, Coty Prestige

Later, she saw the need for a place where young women could become educated about the industry so they could achieve leadership roles, and was instrumental in developing the FIT program. Professor Peg Smith became the undergraduate program’s first coordinator. A master’s degree program was established in 2000. Today, the degree programs feature numerous mentors from the beauty industry. 

Green, a self-proclaimed “fragrance fanatic,” said she had always been passionate about fragrance. She became a master fundraiser for FIT back in the 80s, which allowed Smith to provide students with innumerable experiences, traveling abroad and learning from industry executives. 

Over the 25 years of its existence, the program has produced many of the industry’s most accomplished players.

On Tuesday, four talented professionals who had gone through the program, praised FIT for providing them with the skills they needed to prosper in the field.

The honorees were: Shaunda Swackhamer, vice president, global product innovation, Estée Lauder Companies; Orrea Light, vice president, product development, global cosmetic marketing, L’Oréal Paris; Bettina O’Neil, vice president, divisional merchandising manager, cosmetics and fragrance, Barneys New York; and Tennille Kopiasz, senior vice president, U.S. marketing, Coty Prestige.

Dr. Joyce F. Brown, president, FIT, said, “The unique partnership between industry and education is the bedrock of FIT.”

Green, who is wrapping up a book about her career, said, “I loved every day of those 40 years.”