Cindy Ann Peterson Recognized by Worldwide Branding for Excellence in Global Philanthropy

Peterson utilizes fashion and image to benefit others

WASHINGTON, DC, August 11, 2014, Cindy Ann Peterson, current Vice President of Communications of Image Impact International, 2013-2014 AICI International Executive Board of Directors and 2013-2014 AICI International Philanthropy Chair was recently named a VIP member of Worldwide Branding. This special distinction honors individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to achieving personal and professional success.

Peterson, also a DC style and fashion editor and critic, is a couture designer, author, speaker and certified image consultant in the greater Washington, DC, area. She combines these skills to create a unique synthesis of fashion and image transformation for her broad base of clients from government to industry and academia. She has also been recognized for her custom works for competition skaters as well as the disabled.

For her subject matter expertise, Peterson was requested by the American Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, to be the tailor-on-call to then President Clinton during the Asian Pacific Economic Conference in 1994. In media, Peterson is an author, radio and television spokesperson on custom sewing, civility, effective and active listening, posture, and scoliosis, most recently speaking on Hawaii Public Radio on The Golden Rule in thought, word and dress. In 2011, she was featured in the Dutch style magazine Kleur & Stijl as one of The Big 7 image consultants in the DC area. Her works have been featured in Vogue Bridal, Country Living, Palm Beach Post, (Minneapolis) Star and Tribune, World News, Alexandria Times, Clarke Daily News, AICI Global, promoted by the Wall Street Journal, American News, Bloomington Sun, Leader-Telegram, Examiner and others. In the future, Peterson is currently working with Image Impact International to obtain certification for all Image Impact International programs in accordance with the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). She also intends to teach at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she received her certification in Image Consulting, and work on a line of blouses and continue writing. Peterson is the co-author of  My Style, My Way and The Power of Civility, published by Thrive Publishing.

Peterson has been in the industry for three decades, and has demonstrated expertise in professional image management, as well as design and tailoring. For the past two years, she has been the Vice President of Communications of Image Impact International, served on the AICI international executive board and as the AICI international philanthropy chair. 

Peterson is also a founding member of the Image Impact International’s Civility Council who launched the 31 days of civility quotes in May of 2013 to help people start civility conversations and monthly meetings with the council members to discuss topics of civility. Image Impact International is the international sponsor of May Global Civility Awareness Month in Chase’s Calendar of Events, a McGraw Hill publication, the global media guide for events for 194 countries since 1957.

Peterson attributes her success to her loving and inspirational parents. She was born in Aberdeen, South Dakota and raised in Bloomington, Minnesota. From a young age, she had to wear a back brace due to scoliosis and developed her sewing skills to create garments to fit over her brace. When she was 27, she had an accident that was likely the cause for the collapse of her spine at 30. This became her inspiration to help people with disabilities and promoting a positive image. Her work has garnered several awards, including two consecutive honors as Chapter Member of the Year for the AICI Washington DC Metro Chapter (2010, 2011), and the Civility Star Award in Vancouver BC for her work as the Civility Ambassador to the city of Alexandria, Virginia as part of the Civility Counts Project (2010), both from the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI). Peterson served on the Washington DC AICI executive board 2010-2012, on the AICI international executive board of directors for 2012-2014 and as the AICI international philanthropy chair for 2012-2014. In 2014 Peterson lead the launch of the graphics campaign with Coca Sevilla for the AICI Image for a Cause | AICI Gives Back program, honoring and recognizing the programs of giving by AICI chapters and AICI members around the globe. AICI members give back around the globe with projects and are making a difference with caring, compassion, community, passion and purpose.

Peterson was the author and presenter of the international proclamation acknowledging from this day forward that November 23, is now known as International Image Consultant Day, honoring the science and acumen of all consultants serving in the myriad of fields in the Image Industry. The International Image Consultant Day proclamation was read by Peterson at the AICI Global Conference in Glendale, Arizona on May 19, 2013 and signed by the 2012-2013 AICI international board, Hildeberto Martinez and all conference attendees. International Image Consultant Day (IICD) is now held annually and celebrated globally every November 23.  The image industry is influential in inspiring and encouraging professional confidence by serving others.  It also promotes the highest standards of those serving in the fields of appearance, behavior and professional communication skills to help clients reach their next level. This special image day was the inspiration of the AICI Mexico City members Manolo Trujillo and Hildeberto Martinez on November 23, 2012 and was approved to honor the date of November 23 by a vote of the 2012-2013 AICI international board of directors. Peterson submitted International Image Consultant Day to Chase’s Calendar of Events as a global annual event and on July 10, 2013 was granted acceptance for inclusion into the 2014 Chase’s Calendar of Events and renewed for acceptance on June 13, 2014 for the upcoming 2015 Chase’s Calendar of Events with AICI as the international sponsor.

To learn more, visit http://www.aici.org/?page=IICDMediaCalendar #ImageDay

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Peterson earned a Bachelor of Science in Apparel, Textiles and Design. She also holds an Image Consultant Certificate from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) - State University of New York in New York City, AICI FLC certification from the Association of Image Consultants International and Universal Style Certified by Alyce Parsons. Peterson has served as a top Regional Sales Manager for Husqvarna/Viking, Educational Consultant and media spokesperson. Peterson was part of the global launching the first computerized sewing machine and team creating the 6690 Viking Owner Handbook (VOH), the book that was awarded the best in the sewing industry for training and instruction. Peterson created the first Sewing Expo in the United States. Recently inducted into Worldwide Branding, she also maintains an affiliation with the American Sewing Guild. For more information about Ms Peterson, visit http://www.cindyannpeterson.com.

Image Impact International (III) is a global philanthropic non-profit community of trainers.  We empower students to successfully transition into the workforce, by equipping them with leadership, communication, and presentation skills.  Turning hopes and dreams into reality by training the next generation to compete in the new global economy. We inspire, involve and impact the world for good.

For more information about Image Impact International, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Image-Impact-International/568246663189123 or http://www.linkedin.com/company/image-impact-international

www.imageimpact.org

The Association of Image Consultants International (AICI), the leading and largest professional association of image consultants worldwide and is known globally as “The Source for Image Professionals®” with three levels of professional certification promoting education, experience and excellence.  Whether you are considering image consulting as a career, are already an established image professional or want to hire an image consultant – AICI can help you.

For more information about AICI, visit http://www.aici.org

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