Joliet Native a National Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics

Susan Hohlman left her career in corporate America 32 years ago to sell Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Today, the Joliet native and Naperville resident is one of only 199 national sales directors in the company in the United States. A lot of her job now involves training, but she still sells the product herself.

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"I'm a leader, not a manager," she said. "I'm not going to ask my girls to do something I'm not going to do.

"When you are successful, your people are successful."

Hohlman believes in the company and the product. She warns people that Mary Kay is not a multi-level marketing company. Rather, each consultant is her own independant contractor. But she also stresses that being with Mary Kay has built more than just a company for her. It has built her own sense of self and she has seen it do the same in others.

"I was entrepreneurial, but I did not realize I was," she said.

To that end, 15 years ago, Hohlman began a beauty center. Currently, the center operates out of Tamarak Golf Course in Naperville. Every Monday night, consultants gather for trainings and awards for achievements within Mary Kay.

Hohlman has added a community outreach of sorts. Anyone invited by any consultant gets a makeover, a free gift and a fun time. The event is free for the guests.

"We want everyone to have the abundance of what we have to offer," she said.

Sometimes the beauty center will have a theme. In April, for example, it was all about Cinderella. On May 13, the program will feature a runway event with fashions from Dress Barn.

As for Hohlman, she is grateful for that fork in the road that led her to Mary Kay.

"It's gone by very fast," she said. "It's been an abundantly blessed lifestyle."

For more information on the event or on Mary Kay, call Hohlman at 630-922-8909.