Sage Sessions: Roundtable Discussion
Sunday, October 5, 2025 from 1-4pm
Join us at Studio Sage Salon for Sage Sessions!
This is an intimate roundtable discussion with local beauty and business professionals who have created sustainable careers with great success, all while staying true to their passion!
FEATURING:
Jessica Stokes - Salon Owner, Hair Stylist
With 25 years in the beauty industry, Jessica has transitioned through a myriad of business frameworks and now co-owns and operates Studio Sage, a full service beauty destination in Jax Beach, offering collaboration opportunities for beauty professionals at any stage in their career. Sage’s growth has afforded a home for multiple business models under one roof, truly embracing the salon’s culture of collaboration.
Erica Keelen - Salon Owner, Hair Stylist
Erica is a globally recognized, award-winning hairstylist, creative visionary, and educator with over two decades of experience in the beauty industry. Known for her bold, artistic color work and magnetic presence behind both the chair and the camera, Erica has carved out a reputation as one of the industry’s leading voices in creative expression and innovative business strategy. Her journey began in a small town in North Carolina, where a passion for hair and self-expression first took root. That early spark evolved into a dynamic career that has taken her around the world, working with top brands, leading education platforms, and influencing thousands of stylists through her content and salon coaching. Erica is the co-founder of Studio Sage Artistry Space, a forward-thinking salon concept built to foster creativity, mentorship, and collaboration. Under her leadership, Studio Sage has become more than just a salon—it’s a hub for artistic growth and business evolution. Deeply committed to empowering fellow stylists, Erica offers coaching and education designed to help beauty professionals break out of the traditional mold. Her approach blends technical mastery with entrepreneurial insight, helping stylists expand their creative potential and build sustainable, fulfilling careers. Join Erica as she shares her journey, unpacks unconventional business strategies, and helps you unlock your own creative path in the ever-evolving world of beauty.
Carrie Wilson - Makeup Artist & Business Owner
Carrie leads the beauty conversation in North Florida and beyond. With over 25 years in the makeup industry, she’s worked coast-to-coast — New York, Miami, L.A. — training, leading, and creating looks for everything from national TV to high-fashion shoots. She’s the expert behind glowing brides, polished professionals, and camera-ready talent. Carrie is especially known for her work with women over 40, helping them look like themselves — only better. She simplifies beauty routines, teaches timeless techniques, and curates looks that are modern, fresh, and easy to replicate. Her experience also includes men’s grooming for national television, commercial shoots, and high-level branding work, where her clean, natural style delivers polish without ever looking overdone. Her work has been featured in Marie Claire, Ponte Vedra Life, and Jacksonville Magazine, and she’s appeared on-air for First Coast Living, River City Live, and FOX30.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIE RYAN
Sara Jane Maples - Business Owner & Educator
With a love for all things beauty that began over 15 years ago behind a makeup counter, Sara Jane started her journey working for iconic brands such as Bare Essentials, Estée Lauder, and Bobbi Brown. What began as a spark quickly grew into a deep passion, inspiring her to enroll at the Aveda Institute in Jacksonville, Florida. It was there she met her mentors and discovered a true love for hair styling. After graduating in 2013, she immediately began working with brides, and over the years, her passion for hair sculpting only intensified. Her creativity and dedication to the craft quickly gained recognition. In 2017, she was named one of Modern Salon’s Top 100 Game Changers and was nominated for Behind the Chair’s One Shot Award for Best Braid of the Year. The following year, she won 1st place in Pravana’s “Show Us Your Vivids” competition, and in 2019, she was honored as the NAHA (North American Hairstyling Awards) winner in the “Styling and Finishing” category. She works independently with top industry brands AIIR, Pulp Riot, and now Goldwell helping others grow into their creative potential just as she once did. Despite her accomplishments, she remains grounded and deeply grateful for a career that allows her to do what she loves every single day.
