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Paola P. Hinton is the owner of Five Senses Spa and Salon, which she opened in 2006 to offer hair, makeup, nail and spa services to both women and men. Her relentless focus on business planning and execution has enabled annual sales and revenue to grow by 62 percent in just six years.
Hinton has been nationally recognized for her efforts as both a business owner and a philanthropist. Earlier this year, Five Senses was recognized as a Top 200 Spa and Salon in North America by Salon Today, which represents more than 25,000 salons and spas across the country. For years it hosted monthly cancer support group meetings, and it currently supports and offers pampering services at a variety of cancer-related events. She and her staff also offer a private styling station for those suffering from hair loss due to medical, genetic or hormonal conditions.
Both through her business and outside of it, Hinton has lended support to an extensive number of worthy organizations, including the American Cancer Society, Cancer Center for Healthy Living, Children with Hair Loss, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Children’s Hospital of Illinois, Children’s Home, The Center for Prevention of Abuse, Peoria Humane Society and more. She is also a member of the Ridgeview Elementary School PTO Board, Sommer Place Neighborhood HOA Committee, St. Jude Choir, and the Hope Skip and Jump Benefit Committee.
Last year, Hinton celebrated the fifth anniversary of her business by organizing a “Pay It Forward Charity Challenge,” in which families from Easter Seals, MS Society, Children’s Hospital, St. Jude and Cancer Center for Healthy Living received free pampering services. The community was urged to post words of encouragement to the families on Facebook, and the family with the most posts won a $500 donation.
Outside of work and volunteering, Hinton enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, always striving to teach them the value of hard work and giving back to the community. iBi