SPEAKERS

 Ada Polla

 Organics Versus Synthetics: A Friendly Debate

Ada Polla, who was recently featured on the cover of Business Week Small Biz, is the co-creator of the Swiss antioxidant skin care line Alchimie Forever. She launched this 17 SKU line and is the driving force behind the business' development and expansion.

Ada manages an international team of 8, has developed the line's brand and visibility, has established international distribution for the products (securing flagship retailers such as Fred Segal Spa in LA, Henri Bendel in NY, Sephora in France), and has driven the company's double-digit annual revenue growth.

Ada has professional experience in consulting and product management in the medical device industry. She is on the editorial board of PCI Magazine, a committee member of the International Spa Association, a contributor to numerous magazines, and a frequent guest speaker at leading universities and industry conferences. Ada is also the founder of the Network of Entrepreneurial Women (www.new-women.org), an association for women enftrepreneurs in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Ada graduated in the top 5% of her MBA class at Georgetown University in 2004 and received her Magna cum Laude BA at Harvard University in art history and political science in 1999.

Alfredo Carvajal

We Are Family - A Spa and Resource Partner Forum

Alfredo Carvajal joined Universal Companies' executive management team in June 2008. As senior vice president of sales, marketing and product development, he brought 19 years of domestic and international experience in hotel and spa operations, management, service development, and strategic planning to the organization. Alfredo has held management and executive positions with Royal Caribbean Cruise lines, Walt Disney, Ritz Carlton and Canyon Ranch.

 Angee Smithee-Senior

 Balancing Cuts While Maintaining Quality

With over a decade of Spa Management and Development, Angee Smithee-Senior is leaving her footprint in the Spa Industry with her ‘everything is a grey area' approach. She has gained recognition by establishing corporate financial strategies as a Controller, driving guest service initiatives, conceptual development for unique spas that reflect their surroundings and enhancing existing properties by refining current operations. She has worked at notable properties such as The Arizona Biltmore, Caesars Palace and Trump International Beach Resort. Currently serving as the General Manager of The Spa and Fitness Club at South Coast Plaza, Angee oversees a 30,000sq.ft Club Spa with 100 employees and over 600 members. Angee places an equal emphasis on staff development, education and profitability. This has earned her team accolades with Spa Magazine being named a leading spa of the West Coast, listed as a Forbes Super Club, Trump International Manager Award, Voted Best of Citysearch and Voted People's Choice  and Editors Choice in several local publications.

Arthur Swanberg

E-commerce - How to begin (and should you begin?)

Renew, Re Energize, Re Engage

Bertice Berry, Ph.D. not only graduated magna cum laude from Jacksonville University where she was awarded the President's Cup for leadership, she subsequently earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from Kent State University at the age of 26. Dr. Dr. Berry taught sociology and statistics at Kent, and demonstrated that she knew a few things about humor, as well. Dr. Berry left Kent to become an award-winning entertainer, lecturer and comedienne.  Dr. Berry believes that community involvement is not limited to just "writing a check" and has taken a very active role in supporting organizations that benefit those in need.  She has graciously donated all of the royalties from the sales of her books to organizations that help families in transition, raise funds for scholarships and provide resource information to low-income families.

Brenda Helps

Creating Your Future ... 10 Key Actions for Making Your Spa Career Dreams a Reality

Brenda K. Helps is celebrating her 20th year in the Human Resources field within the hospitality industry.  She joined Miraval Resorts in 2005 and serves as Vice President of Human Resources & Organizational Development.  Prior to her current role she was the VP of People Services for First Hospitality Group, a hotel development and management company based in Chicago, as well as National Training Director for Fairmont Hotels; and also served as a contract HR consultant for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts.  Brenda holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts, an SPHR certification, is a certified instructional designer and has a CHRE designation through the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Lodging Association.  Brenda is an active member of the Council of Hotel & Restaurant Trainers and currently a member of AH&LA's National Human Resources Advisory Board. 

Brett Blumenthal

Beyond a Website: Creating an Online Presence that is Meaningful

Brett Blumenthal founded Sheer Balance, an online media company, in 2007 when she realized that many of her friends and colleagues constantly struggled with finding balance in their every day hectic lives. They often didn't have the time to dedicate to cooking and eating healthy, exercising, or taking time out for themselves. Further, she realized that many of these individuals were frustrated by the overwhelming amount of information that was contradicting, unclear and misleading when it came to healthy living.  As a result, Brett saw a need to provide individuals with the right tools and information to make living healthy, easy and fun.  Committed to providing clear and concise information, Brett has single-handedly grown the site to over 145,000 visitors a month, and all without any advertising dollars.

Bryan Williams

 Seven Principles to Fully Engage Your Customers

Bryan Williams currently serves as the founder and Chief Service Officer of B.Williams Enterprise, LLC. His company provides consultation, training and coaching services for companies striving to create a culture of service excellence.  He specifically focuses on service standards, employee engagement and organizational effectiveness. Bryan is globally recognized as a leading expert on service excellence. Over the past several years, he has travelled extensivelfy to work with more than 75 companies in industries ranging from healthcare, hospitality, spa, and banking. Bryan advises, "As long as you have customers-guests, patients, residents, students, etc., you are in the service business." Mr. Williams is the former Corporate Director of Training and Organizational Effectiveness for the world-renowned Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. He was involved with setting and executing the global training strategy for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and its corporate university (The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center). Bryan holds a Master's degree in Adult Education and is currently in the final stages of completing a Doctor of Management degree. He also holds the designation of Certified Quality Auditor awarded by the American Society of Quality and is a member of the Board of Examiners for the Baldrige National Quality Program.  The Baldrige National Quality Program is responsible for administering the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's highest presidential award for organizations.

Carol Phillips

Six Key Recession-Proof Business Builders

Carol Phillips is one of the most acclaimed professional speakers to surface within the beauty industry. Carol's sole (or soul) focus is directed toward boosting salon and spa sales through retailing and merchandising. As the "Diva of Retail" she has helped thousands of beauty businesses make their sales soar. She is famous for her brilliant, incisive programs with professional audiences nationwide. Ms. Phillips has a presentation style that is definitely unique. She has been gifted with a special audience appeal, heartfelt motivation, no nonsense insight and a lecture style that is truly inspiring. She shares tons of practical material that can be used in your business the very next day.  Ms. Phillips is the founder of EncompassOne Marketing Group, which offers full service marketing, branding, spa development, product development and sales programs. Her group has done work for John Paul Mitchell Systems, Nexxus, Redken, MD Formulations, Jane Iredale, Peviona, Golden Moor and SAMPAR. Carol has had the pleasure of training spas like Canyon Ranch Resorts, Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salons, Glen Ivy Hot Springs, Grove Park Inn and JCPenney. Carol's company designed the original prototype spas for Estee Lauder's ‘Origins Spa' and General Nutrition Centres.

Crystal Gryniuk

Retail Techniques To Help You Work Smarter, Not Harder

It's hard to describe what Crystal Gryniuk's day-to-day office might look like. Sometimes, it's the back lot of a major movie set, maybe a prestigious doctor's waiting room, a tiny makeup room just off a television sound stage, or at a restaurant sitting across from a celebrity.

A self-described Colorescience addict, Gryniuk joined the company 2004 as National Marketing and PR Director. Her enthusiasm for the beauty industry started much earlier.  First, at Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa in Dallas, Texas, as the Retail Manager and then Assistant General Manager.   From there she was recruited to the Four Seasons Resort and Club, also in Dallas, as the Assistant Spa and Salon Director.  Ready to come home to her native Southern California, as the Retail Manager position for the world-renowned Montage Resort & Spa in Laguna Beach.  It was a massive undertaking, but the first month out of the gate, they sold upwards of $95,000 in retail.  After leaving Montage, she went out on her own as a brand and merchandising consultant.

Crystal Poe-Cabatbat

The Spa View- Maximizing Strategies, Building Relationships & Increasing Profits

Crystal Poe-Cabatbat is spa director of the newly opened 30,000 square foot Kapalua Spa on the island of Maui. She was the opening spa director of Hyatt Regency Maui's Spa Moana and the iconic Mauna Lani Spa on the Big Island of Hawaii. Crystal was also spa director of the Kohala Spa at the Hilton Waikoloa and oversaw a spa retail business with over $900,000 annual revenue. She has successfully maneuvered the challenges of dealing with vendors, consultants and staff members who possess with varying points of view on what it takes to achieve success.

 Darlene Fiske

WEB 2.0 - Twitter and Facebook and Webinars, OH MY!

Darlene Fiske is a self-proclaimed spa enthusiast and the owner of The Fiske Group: Public Relations and Marketing Strategies, a boutique firm that specializes in positioning luxury goods to the affluent consumer through a variety of results-driven techniques.  Ms. Fiske worked on-site at the award-winning Lake Austin Spa Resort for 10 years as the director of sales & marketing and guided the efforts of a complete re-positioning and branding after a multi-million dollar renovation in 2004.  In 2006, she started her own business and represents a small collection of very unique destinations.  Clients include Lake Austin Spa Resort, a 40-room destination spa in Austin, Texas and Mohonk Mountain House, a National Historic Landmark resort and historic hotel in upstate New York.  Her writing has been published in top industry publications such as Skin Inc. and Pulse.

Debra Koerner

Turning Massage Into Gold:  Proven Ways to Generate More Spa Revenue

Debra began her career in the often turbulent waters of the corporate world.  She held top positions in sales and marketing, but found true happiness when chosen to lead a Fortune 250's customer experience.  Bringing these skills to her consultancy practice, she works with companies who are willing to do the work required to "truly" understand their customers and employees and using this information to strategically deliver a flawless experience. As one of the founders of imassage, Inc., Debra has also co-created a company focused on extending the careers of massage therapists.  imassage accomplishes this through on-site training, national workshops and published writing.  She loves the fact that her work contributes to other's long-term success. In her spare time she serves on the ISPA Focus Task Force, writes on her business book and helps her two teenagers stay out of trouble....hopefully.

 Debra Roberts

WEB 2.0 - Twitter and Facebook and Webinars, OH MY!

Debra Roberts is the Vice President of Marketing for Acara Partners. An award winning designer and marketing expert, Debra has over fifteen years in her field. Ms. Roberts has managed national healthcare, retail and medical spa accounts.

As Vice President of Marketing, Debra develops all MedSpa marketing strategy, planning and implementation. She oversees branding, design and advertising for each location, including: name and logo design, website, promotional campaigns, business collateral, on-line marketing and strategic marketing programs.

Clients have included over 50 medical spas, and Pilot Pen, Gerber Scientific, The Greater Hartford Open, Arrow Pharmacy, The Department of Children and Families and Momentum Fitness.

Debra regularly shares her expertise via industry webinars as well as tradeshows. Ms. Roberts graduated magna cum laude from Moore College of Art and Design, where she earned her BFA in Graphic Design. and Communication.

DeLores Pressley

 Signature for Business Success. Strategy, Vision and Action

DeLores Pressley has a B.S. in Education from the University of Akron and spent 27 years teaching. She is the recipient of many honors, including Top Ten Business Owners by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) & Key Bank Corporation, Outstanding Community Service Award from the University of Akron (where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree), and ATHENA Finalist sponsored by Inside Business Magazine.  She is also the author of "Clean out the Closets of Your Life" and "Believe in the Power of You."

Denise Vitiello

How to Preserve Quality in a Shifting Economy

For the past six years, Spa Director Denise Vitiello has helped pave the way in making The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York one of the top spas in Manhattan and North America.  As director, one of her key responsibilities is to ensure that the spa's gold-standard service and top notch treatments are maintained, while also ensuring that the spa and its team of 65 stay on the cutting edge of new treatment development and continuously create new experience-enhancing services and amenities for its guests. Denise started her career at the Arizona Biltmore and has opened five spas over the course of her 10 plus years in the industry.  She is actively involved with the Board of Spa Directors in New York City and is a sought-after advisor, teacher and speaker.  Since 2003 when she joined Mandarin Oriental, New York as part of the opening team, Denise has played an integral role in keeping the spa consistently ranked among the top spas in North America, maintaining profitability and achieving revenue goals.

 Diane Trieste

 How to Preserve Quality in a Shifting Economy

Diane Trieste is a member of the ISPA Board.  She has been in the spa industry since 1992, starting as a massage therapist/manager at Canyon Ranch Health Resorts in Tucson, AZ and advanced to become the Director of Spa & Product Development.  In 2005, her passions for education lead her to leave spa operations and join a new business venture creating a national massage therapy school, Cortiva Institute, as V.P. of Alumni & Employer Relations.

In March 2008, she branched out on her own and created Strategic Spa Solutions, LLC in partnership with Group West Companies an architect & interior design firm. Strategic Spa Solutions offers an integrated turn-key approach for spa concepts, design and development, operations and management, training and education. 

Over the past 16 years she's opened many spa facilities and created standards for training programs catering to lead trainers and spa professionals. She's been a consultant for operations at various day and resort spas; and, she has traveled the world interviewing and recruiting spa professionals for employment.

As a licensed massage therapist, she has been very active educating massage schools and therapists on how to be successful working in a spa environment. Diane, an AMTA member, has worked with the American Massage Therapy Association to develop her presentation about working with massage therapists in spas.  She has a passion for education and creating a synergistic relationship between massage professionals and spa management so therapists can be successful in their careers and spas can be successful & prosperous.

Donna Hutchinson

Putting the Wow Back into Customer Service

Donna Hutchinson is a passionate educator and deeply committed to the growth and development of business professionals. Over the span of her career Donna has had the pleasure of training and educating thousands of emerging and veteran leaders. In 2005 Donna was nominated for BCRPA Program Director of the year and in 2007 she was nominated for a Women of Excellence award. She is the author of the How to Guide to Starting Your Own Personal Training Business and has created over a dozen other resources manuals.  Donna travels extensively throughout Canada the United States and abroad consulting and speaking about business growth and development. She shows how individuals and organizations can improve their business by creating innovative and creative work environments for employees to take charge and reach their full potential.

Dr. Brent Bauer

Spa + Integrative Medicine: The Future of Health and Wellness

Dr. Bauer is board-certified in internal medicine, an associate professor of medicine and has been on staff at Mayo Clinic for 17 years. His main research interest has been the scientific evaluation of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies that patients and consumers are using with increasing frequency. He has authored several book chapters and papers on this topic, and is the medical editor of the "Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine." He is a member of the NIH-NCCAM special emphasis review panel and is currently collaborating on over 20 studies being conducted at Mayo Clinic evaluating CAM therapies ranging from acupuncture and meditation to massage and valerian. His work is at the forefront of the emerging field of integrative medicine which combines the best of conventional medicine with the best of evidence-based complementary therapies.

Eric Stephenson

Turning Massage Into Gold:  Proven Ways to Generate More Spa Revenue

As the Director of Education for imassage, Inc., Eric Stephenson, LMT, is a national presenter passionate about elevating the guest experience within a spa setting. He is nationally certified (NCBTMB) to provide continuing education for massage therapists and designs customized in-house training for some of the nations top spas.

In a field prone to injury and burnout, Stephenson assists spa management in developing healthy, happy practitioners while focusing on hiring and retaining great people. Eric is an active member of the American Massage Therapy Association and a frequent contributor to Massage Magazine. He secretly fantasizes about calling a residential spa home.  

Fred Hoffman

Does it Fit? Successfully Integrating Fitness Services into the Spa

Fred Hoffman is the director of international services for the Club & Spa Synergy Group. A registered respiratory therapist, he holds a master's degree in health education and is certified by ACSM and ACE. In 2005-2006 Fred was the fitness and lifestyle director for Buddha-bar Spa, where he played an integral role in the development of the company's first spa. In 2004 Fred completed a seven-month mission in Moscow as the fitness director for the Reebok Sports Clubs in Russia. A consultant and master trainer for companies such as Reebok, Body Bar, BOSU, Beamfit and Savvier Fitness, he has presented at conferences and trained staff in nearly 50 countries on six continents. An advisory board member and published author, he has appeared in over 90 international publications. Fred received the 2007 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year Award and in 2001 was elected to the International Who's Who of Professionals.

Gina Farley-Preziosa

The Spa View - Maximizing Strategies, Building Relationships & Increasing Profits

Gina Farley-Preziosa is currently working with Aromatherapy Associates as director of sales for the United States, Mexico and Caribbean.  She also spent 10 years in the cosmetic industry as a sales manager and conducted training sessions on selling and personal self esteem. She was a speaker at the United Nations to a group of International Women on Beauty and Fashion Trends in the United States.  While director of retail at the Boca Raton Resort and Club, she was responsible for an extremely profitable multi-million dollar retail operation.  In the last three years she has been a retail consultant specializing in buying, merchandising and design of retail spaces for hotels and spas. She was an ISPA speaker in 2007 on "The Art of Retail Merchandising" and has spoken twice at The Country Club Spa and Fitness Association annual meetings.  Her varied experience, along with a candid and passionate approach to the spa industry, will offer fresh insights and real working knowledge that can be implemented immediately to positively affect your spa.

Holly Stiel

 SILK - Service in Love and Kindness.  Creating a Service Environment

Holly Stiel is a trailblazing service philosopher who innovated a method of training based on the practices and principles of the world-class concierge. Her clients include Disney, Nordstrom, AVEDA, American Express, VisaSignature card and Auberge Resorts, to name a few. Through the partnership with her team at StielMedia, Stiel has developed the corporate training programs for the new Hyatt Place Hotels, Hilton Garden Inns and Hampton Inns, Hilton and DoubleTree Hotels as well as three award-winning interactive DVD programs. In 1976, Stiel became the first female concierge in the country when she created the desk at the Grand Hyatt Union Square in San Francisco. Two years later she was the first American woman to be admitted to the exclusive Les Clefs d'Or Association for concierges. She recently received the association's Lifetime Achievement award for her broad contributions to her profession. Stiel was the first female and non-corporate executive to receive the "Distinguished Visiting Professor" Chair from Johnson and Wales University. She is the author of three books including "Ultimate Service, The Complete Handbook to the World of the Concierge," "Thank You Very Much - A Book for Anyone Who Has Ever Said, ‘May I Help you?'" and "The Neon Signs of Service." Now, she is taking her teaching to a deeper level, from the boardroom to her own backyard, translating the service program into a path for personal development.

Jaime Huffman

If You Can Measure It, You Can Manage It! Achieving Maximum Profitability and Productivity

Jaime joined The Spa at The Grove Park Inn Resort in January 2001 to assist in opening the $50 million, 43,000 square-foot facility.  The Spa has consistently ranked among the top spas in North America.  The spa is widely recognized for its unsurpassed guest service and phenomenal profitability. Jaime earned a masters degree in health policy and administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Jaime serves on the executive committee of ISPA and has become a sought-after advisor, teacher, writer and speaker in the hospitality industry.

Jennifer Steinhart

WEB 2.0 - Twitter and Facebook and Webinars, OH MY!

As the Communications & Public Relations Coordinator for Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa, Jennifer Steinhart has catapulted the spa into the realms of the social media world through a blog, Facebook and Twitter.  With fans and followers on the rise, Steinhart's goals for social media success are simple: interact with spa guests and enthusiasts, community partners, and friends in an authentic, real way.  Learning to craft and deliver the spa message in the social media language is a day-by-day, ever evolving process which she enjoys. 

According to Steinhart, Glen Ivy's most successful social media campaigns have been those focused on the guests.  Earlier this year a photo contest on the blog garnered votes from 243 people in 14 different states, a true feat considering the three Glen Ivy Spas are all located in Southern California.  Not only engaging guests, Glen Ivy's social media efforts were recently featured in Pulse and American Spa magazines.

Since earning her B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from California State University, Fullerton, Steinhart has worked in-house and for an agency, bringing the best of both worlds to Glen Ivy Spas with public relations and marketing experience in the hospitality, entertainment and tourism, and public administration fields.  

 Jim Croghan

 How to Preserve Quality in a Shifting Economy

Jim Croghan, a 13-year spa industry veteran who has worked for numerous high-end resort spas and day spas, including those at the Four Seasons, The Ritz-Carlton, the Spa at South Coast Plaza and The Balboa Bay Club and Resort. Jim also serves as an advisory board committee member for the spa and hospitality management program at the University of California, Irvine and is currently the president of the Southern California Spa Director's Association.

Julie Morse-Patuleia

 WEB 2.0 - Twitter and Facebook and Webinars, OH MY!

As a native New Englander, Julie Morse-Patuleia holds an Associates of Arts, and Bachelor of Science degree.  In addition to her college education she is a Certified Master Nail Technician, Reiki Practicioner and Certified Spa Supervisor.  Julie's long career began in 1994 at Yolanda's in Waltham, MA.  In July 2002 Morse-Patuleia made the move to Maine where she was appointed Spa Director of the new 25,000 square foot Spa at the Cliff House Resort.  In May 2007 Morse-Patuleia and her family moved to the Bahamas where she served as Executive Director of Spa at Four Seasons Resort, Great Exuma. In September 2008 Morse-Patuleia decided to take a break from spa operations and has begun phase two of her multifaceted spa career as a Branding and Business Development Consultant.  Currently Morse-Patuleia is working on business development for Osea International out of Malibu California.  Osea is the industry innovator in luxury marine based skin care.

Always on the forefront of the latest spa trends, Morse-Patuleia has appeared on several televisions spots, has been quoted in major consumer publications and served for five years as Co-Chairman of the International Spa Associations Membership/Implementation Committee. Morse-Patuleia currently serves as Vice President of the New England Spa Association.  Dedicated to promoting spa and wellness through education and shared knowledge, Morse-Patuleia has become an industry trendsetter developing new techniques and treatments to enhance the wholeness of the mind, body and spirit of spa enthusiast.

Kay Cannon

Coaching Secrets for Spa Directors:  Keeping Attitudes Positive and Performance Strong During Tough Times

Kay Cannon helps Fortune 500 leaders, entrepreneurs, government and non-profit executives create more profitable businesses, more satisfying careers and more fulfilling lives. With 25 years of leadership experience, this internationally -recognized coach has consulted with individuals and institutions from NASA to health care organizations, professional athletes to the International SPA Association. As the President of Kay Cannon Inc. and the creator of The Diamond IngenuityTM Mastery System, Cannon's writings, workshops and speeches help business audiences reclaim their core values and find greater effectiveness, grounding, and personal power in their workplaces. Cannon is in the top one percent of the coaching profession and is one of less than 700 coaches worldwide to earn the International Coach Federation's highest distinction, the Master Certified Coach credential. A well known coaching expert, Kay has been quoted in the media around the world, including The New York Times, Forbes, The Financial Times, CIO Magazine and Training and Development.  Cannon's interest in global leadership is further reflected by her service as the 2007 President of the International Coach Federation, the largest professional association for coaches with members in more than 80 countries.

Keith West-Harrison

Media Panel: Insider Tips From Leading Journalists: How to Get Their Attention

Keith West-Harrison is a sought after motivational speaker on wellness and healthy aging. He writes for entertainment guides, magazines, Frommers, Fodors, USA Today, American Spa Magazine, Day Spa Magazine and Spa Management Journal. His small business and entrepreneur articles through AOL reach 24 million people each month. His experience in the business world has been featured on FOX News, CNN, AOL, MSN, and through the Small Business Administration summits.

Currently in Albuquerque, NM, he works with skincare clients at his new store Great Face & Body and manufactures natural private label skincare as My Sacred Fig. His award-winning New Orleans spa was featured for two seasons on the AOL online reality show "The StartUp." He is often interviewed by media sources about trends in the entrepreneur and day spa field.

Laurie Erickson

Wellness Cuisine - The Missing Link in the Spa Experience

Chef Laurie Erickson is a sought-after wellness cuisine consultant to spas and resorts around the country.  During her three-year collaboration with the Sea Island Company, she served as Wellness Chef, developing healthy cooking classes as well as wellness-cuisine menu options for Sea Island, Georgia's five-star resort and spa.  Prior to her tenure at Sea Island, Chef Laurie served as both a pastry and demonstration chef during her six years on the culinary team at the famed Canyon Ranch Resort and Spa in Lenox, Massachusetts. Her cooking classes and demonstrations have changed the lives of many, with practical, simple and economical ways to prepare nourishing meals.  Chef Laurie has inspired and mentored several students from the Culinary Institute of America, Johnson and Wales Academy and New England Culinary School.

 Lenny LaCour

 We Are Family - A Spa and Resource Partner Forum

Lenny LaCour specializes in building dynamic solutions that bridge the gap between vendors and buyers. He concentrates his talents on branding and matching identities, on creating successful industry relationships. Lenny has hands-on experience in both the ownership and management arenas. His company, LH Connects, features corporate and entrepreneurial positions in the spa, fitness, salon and retail fields. Lenny and his LH Team have conceptualized and designed spa solutions on many levels including space, functionality, service operations, budget, retail, team development and marketing. Always in the eyes of the press, Lenny has been a consultant for the Seventh on Sixth New York Fashion Collections, the Miss America Pageant and The Oprah Winfrey Show. Lenny also acted as director of backstage Green Room production including wardrobe, hair and make-up for five political conventions and media events for presidential inaugurations and inauguration balls. He is an ongoing contributor to many industry and consumer magazines including ISPA's Pulse magazine.

Lisa Starr

Proven Client Retention - Loyalty and Rewards Programs that Work!

Lisa Starr has almost 30 years of experience in the beauty industry and is currently the senior East Coast business consultant to new and existing spas and salons for Wynne Business, a leading spa consulting company in the US.  Her knowledge and experience include business operations and finances, marketing and advertising, inventory management, human resource development and business process improvement.  Lisa also leads regular Wynne Business educational programs, including the Spa Directors Management Intensive and The High Performance Spa.  Consulting clients throughout the U.S. and in Southeast Asia include day spa start-ups and turnarounds, medi-spas and hotel spas, hospitals, fitness clubs and beauty salons adding spa services.  She is a frequent presenter at industry trade shows such as the IECSC, ISPA and the Spa Asia Wellness Summit and a regular columnist at American Spa magazine.

 Loren Stone

WEB 2.0 - Twitter and Facebook and Webinars, OH MY!

Loren Stone is the managing partner of Sovereign Hospitality, a developer and property management firm of resorts, hotels and spas (www.sovereignhospitality.com). Stone is currently spearheading the launch of TheSpaMarketplace.com, the largest online distributor for spa products and essentials creating a successful environment for buyers and suppliers to do business.

With over eighteen years of international and domestic experience in management, strategic planning, sales and marketing Loren continues to be an industry leader as business evolves. Loren's professional experience includes; managing a $22mil expansion and renovation of a luxury spa resort project in Breckenridge, Colorado; receiving the coveted award as the #1 eco-spa resort of a managed Mexican property; consulting on marketing initiatives and implementation; an accomplished speaker at industry conferences worldwide; serving on multiple ISPA task forces and contributing regularly to publications on varying topics of ‘how to maximize your profits' to ‘incorporating social media into your mainstream tactics.'

Lori Hutchinson

Creating Your Future ... 10 Key Actions for Making Your Spa Career Dreams a Reality

Lori Hutchinson started her career in hospitality human resources at the Mobil Five-Star Stanford Court Hotel in San Francisco.  After four years she opened Four-Star Campton Place Hotel as director of human resources.  Four years later, she accepted the director of human resources position at Four-Star Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, where she worked for the next eight years.  In 1993 Lori founded Hutchinson Consulting and now Lori and a staff of five people, plus her husband/partner, Bill, of 31 years provide spas and resorts/hotels with management recruiting services.  Lori was certified in 1999 as a senior professional in human resources; she has a bachelor's degree in Social Work and Sociology from the University of Iowa.  Lori currently serves as a Board Member on the ISPA Board of Directors.

Mark Machilis

Finances In Real Time. How to Implement Change that Impacts the Profitability Of Your Spa

Mark Machlis has been involved in the business world since 1976.  He has been involved with hospitality, food manufacturing, strategic financial consulting, real estate development and brokering and as a partner in Wellness Capital Management.  All of these have been essential components of forming who Machlis is professionally. During his career in food manufacturing he created a number of vegetarian products, including Tofurky.  Finding the obvious humor in business while at the same time knowing how to take financial knowledge very seriously, Machlis has cut to the core needs of a business and teaches the concept to his clients.  Asked for the most important aspect of financial planning; "Be true to the reality of the numbers (know what they are) and your dreams (hang on to them tightly)."

Marvin Karlins

Romancing the Clock. Minutes Count: Taking Control of Your Day Through Effective Time Management

Marvin Karlins received his bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota (Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude) and his Ph.D. from Princeton University in psychology.   He is the author of 28 books, international business consultant, featured speaker and guest on radio and television talk shows worldwide.  His areas of expertise include: time management, non-verbal communication, interpersonal effectiveness and excessive stress management.  Dr. Karlins is senior professor of management at the University of South Florida's School of Business Administration.  

 Mary-Elizabeth Gifford

 Organics Versus Synthetics: A Friendly Debate

Mary-Elizabeth Gifford is a spa industry expert known for her work in organic luxury, natural beauty, and global sustainability issues.

She is principal of the Farm at Pantrepant skin care collection, a botanically-based beauty project in Jamaica now under development. Mary-Elizabeth comes to the Farm at Pantrepant from the organic and biodynamically-grown natural beauty pioneer, Jurlique, where she served both as Global Creative Director and Vice President Global Brand Communications.

An award-winning former journalist, whose reportage has appeared in the pages of Vanity Fair, the Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, and elsewhere, Mary-Elizabeth has worked as Creative Director and spokeswoman for some of the world's leading destination spas, including Rancho La Puerta in Baja California and the original Golden Door.

A native of New York City, she graduated from Brown University with honors and had a year of post-graduate study at Harvard University, where she was an Affiliate of Harvard's Nieman Foundation of Journalism and studied with Professor Anne Harrington, founder of Harvard's Mind-Body-Brain Initiative.

In addition to her work in Spa and Botanicals, Mary-Elizabeth collaborates closely with sustainability and stewardship movements, advising Demeter-USA, the Biodynamic agriculture movement that is considered beyond organic,  and LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) which brings together thought leadership in the areas of sustainable living, green initiatives and commitment to social responsibility.

Mel Kleiman, CSP

30+ Tools, Tips, and Techniques for Hiring and Retaining Top Talent in Today's Turbulent Times

Mel Kleiman is recognized as today's most influential expert on how to hire and retain the best frontline employees and their managers. Mel founded his company, Humetrics, in 1976, when he realized that while there was an abundance of books and systems on the market to help hiring managers recruit and select professional staff, there were few, if any, resources for those who hire frontline hourly employees. Mel's subsequent success is a result of his passion for helping employers minimize costly employee turnover, his extensive research work and his development of effective tools that solve common problems. His speaking, training and consulting work keeps him on the cutting-edge of today's best practices for hourly employee recruiting, selection and retention. Mel has authored five books including the bestselling "Hire Tough, Manage Easy," and he regularly contributes articles to trade and professional journals worldwide.

Monte Zwang

Finances In Real Time. How to Implement Change that Impacts the Profitability Of Your Spa

Monte Zwang is passionate about helping people reach their full potential.  With more than 25 years of business development, money management and financial consulting experience, he works with spa, medical, beauty and wellness entrepreneurs to develop sound cash flow strategies. He speaks a language business owners understand.  Mr. Zwang has developed budgets and financial strategies for spas, salons, physicians and wellness centers.  He teaches business valuation and financial management at banks and many of the national spa and esthetics conventions.  Mr. Zwang's experience in financial analysis and business turnarounds has enabled hundreds of businesses a fresh start and guided them in a clear direction towards profitability. Mr. Zwang is a graduate of the University of Denver.  He has been named a "Five Star Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Manager" by Seattle Magazine.  Mr. Zwang is an active member of ISPA and Committee Chair of the Research and Studies Committee of the Day Spa Association.

 Noah Rickun

 Sales Session

Noah Rickun has always worked tirelessly for himself, his family, and his businesses.  Having seen firsthand the success of Jeffrey Gitomer's training principles in his own companies, Noah has now partnered with Jeffrey to become a Gitomer-certified speaker.  He now spends time sharing those same lessons with corporations everywhere.

Noah is a player and a coach.  He's as student and a teacher.  Noah talks because he can walk.  Actually, Noah walks circles around the competition every day!  He has started, operated, and sold three successful small businesses.  He built a $20 Million division within a major automotive remanufacturer, and he currently leads a staff of 120 employees.  In short, Noach doesn't preach what he doesn't practice.

Paige Megna

The Spa View - Maximizing Strategies, Building Relationships & Increasing Profits

Paige Megna has been the lead consultant at Sylvia Planning And design (SPAd) for the past 10 years. With combined experience in operations and consulting, Paige has nearly 20 years experience in the spa industry. Paige's role at SPAd includes working on all aspects of a project, with a predominant focus on research, concept development, design, equipment, treatment and menu development, operations and training.  Some of Paige's best developmental work can be seen at Mii amo, a destination spa at Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona, La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California and The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg at the Williamsburg Inn in Williamsburg, Virginia. Knowing that spas can truly make a difference in people's lives, Paige's objective has been to further the spa mission through the development and operation of unique, prestigious spas that provide an exceptional guest experience.

Peggy Stevens

The Architecture of a Leader

Peggy Stevens is the founder and president of Louisville, Kentucky-based Peggy Noe Stevens & Associates.  Her company specializes in professional brand assessment and strategy for both people and places.  Ms. Stevens's approach conveys powerfully targeted brand messaging through environments while building confidence, self-awareness, leadership skills and professional presence in employees. Ms. Stevens's career began in the hospitality and events business where she learned the importance of leadership and customer service. She parlayed those skills to the field of experiential marketing where she managed hundreds of people while directing an impressive portfolio of global brand destinations including Jack Daniel's and Fetzer Vineyards personifying their cultures and people. Ms. Stevens's career has also allowed her travel globally to observe the strengths and weaknesses of many brand cultures and leadership styles. Author, global speaker, media spokesperson and prominent experiential brand strategist, Ms. Stevens brings a gracious, fresh and relevant approach to leadership development.

 Pete Hillman

We Are Family - A Spa and Resource Partner Forum

Peter is President and Owner of SIR Spa, Inc.  In 2005, SIR became Chicago's first day spa for men, providing a modern, masculine, destination spa experience within an urban setting; offering massage, skin care, and nail grooming services tailored to the needs of professional men. Peter leads operations of the spa with a staff of more than 30 therapists, technicians, and guest service representatives.  In three years, he has grown the spa to achieve nearly one million in annual sales.  Peter's fifteen years of prior sales, marketing, and management experience in the advertising field provided the extensive business background requisite to concept, establish and successfully grow SIR Spa to where it is today in the Chicago marketplace.  A proven leader in sales growth, relationship building, customer service, team motivation, marketing and management, Peter finds success is achieved through customer focus, team orientation, and leadership with strategic vision.

 Peter Kerr

Media Panel: Insider Tips From Leading Journalists: How to Get Their Attention

Peter A. Kerr is founder and CEO of KerrCommunications, providing world-class training for media engagement, public relations, crisis planning, public speaking and leadership improvement.  He is also program director and assistant professor of Communications at Asbury College in Wilmore, KY.  He holds a B.S. in Human Factors Engineering and Human Behavior/Leadership from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Master of Arts in Communications from the University of Washington, and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary.

Peter has worked with nearly every large national and international media outlet (CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, BBC, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, NPR, London Times, Der Spiegel, Aljazeera, etc.) and was responsible for all media relations in Washington D.C. during the 2004 Ronald Reagan State Funeral.  He led the media training team at the Pentagon for two years, and has media trained hundreds of leaders including White House officials, politicians, military generals, CEOs, communications directors and non-profit leaders.  He recently served as the Chief Media Liaison Officer in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics.

Having traveled extensively to six continents, Peter speaks eight languages at different levels of proficiency.  His experiences include presenting the $110 billion U.S. Air Force budget to the D.C. press corps, negotiating with U.S. embassies and foreign military leaders in the Middle East, and being published in numerous newspapers, magazines, and academic journals.

Richard Leider

Living and Leading On Purpose in Uncertain Times

Founder and Chairman of The Inventure Group, a coaching and consulting firm in Minneapolis, Richard has a worldwide practice working with leaders from organizations such as Ameriprise, Caterpillar, Ericsson, Habitat for Humanity, MetLife, Pfizer and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Richard is the author of eight books, including three best sellers, and his work has been translated into 21 languages. "Repacking Your Bags" and "The Power of Purpose" are considered classics in the personal development field. "Claiming Your Place at the Fire" and "Something to Live For," have been touted as breakthrough books on "positive aging." He is a contributing author to many leading edge coaching books, including "Coaching for Leadership," "The Art and Practice of Leadership Coaching," "Executive Coaching for Results," "The Leader of the Future" and "The Organization of the Future." Richard holds a master's degree in counseling and is a nationally certified master career counselor. He is a Senior Fellow at the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality and Healing where he is a founder of The Purpose Project. As a commentator on work/life issues, Richard appears in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and USA Today, and on PBS public television, NPR public radio and other media sources. Along with his professional pursuits, Richard has led Inventure Expedition walking safaris in Tanzania, East Africa for 25 years.

Suzie Foote

Integrating Spa Services in the World of Medicine

Suzie Foote, RN BSN, CSS, HT1 is the Coordinator of The Spa at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. Suzie grew up all over the world with her Navy family and has been a life-long spa aficionado. She was given the opportunity to blend her two passions, wellness and spa, four years ago by opening the Spa at St. Dominic. She is certified in Level One of Healing Touch and is also working on her Board Certified Holistic Nurse certification.

 Tammy Pahel

How to Preserve Quality in a Shifting Economy

Tammy Pahel is the President of Spa Management Solutions, Inc.  Ms. Pahel is well known within the 4 & 5 Star Resort Industry due to her accomplishments, business strengths, Industry contributions and devotion to her clients.  Ms. Pahel's accomplishments include creative floor plan design; revenue generation and profitability; creative marketing; public relations recognition, operator improvements, and increased customer satisfaction. Visionary instincts to develop World Class Spas with unique amenities.  These strengths have earned her the respect and gratitude of her clients; The Spas at: The Arizona Biltmore, The Spa at Caesars Palace, New York Hilton & Towers Spa, Aroma Wilshire Spa, Turnberry Isle Resort & Spa, Loews South Beach Hotel, St. Andrews Country Club & Spa, La Torretta Del Lago Resort and Spa, Cinzia the Spa at North Beach Plantation.

Tina Berger

We Are Family - A Spa and Resource Partner Forum

Tina Berger, President and thought leader of Berger and Associates, is a senior transformational hospitality executive with over thirty years experience and a recipient of the Waldorf-Astoria Distinguished Alumni Award. She is successful in building and strengthening multi-million dollar businesses. Tina is a seasoned corporate level project manager whose career has led her positions of Senior Vice President of WTS International and serving both domestic and international clients including Aqua Spa at the Beverly Hilton, The Spa at Colonial Williamsburg and The Spa at the Conrad Miami. Berger and Associates provides theme development, design overview, pre-opening services including product and equipment procurement for luxury spas and hotels. She has been a visionary for developing brand strategy, demonstrating strong conceptual and strategic skills. Tina is known as a conventional thought buster and puzzle master.

 Wendy Furrer

Media Panel: Insider Tips From Leading Journalists: How to Get Their Attention

Ms. Wendy Furrer's most recent exposure was on CNBC's highly rated "High Net Worth" program where she reported on-air about investing in art and real estate, fashion and beauty trends, food and wine, travel, celebrities and their philanthropies, and how the economic downturn has affected the luxury market.  She has covered lifestyle and business stories, and interviewed celebrities such as Derek Jeter, Howard Stern, Andre Agassi, Donna Karan, Russell Simmons, and business leaders including Richard Branson of Virgin, Daymond John of FUBU,Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines and W.L. Gore's CEO Terri Kelly.  At CNBC she also field produced business news reports and hedge fund and private equity profiles.  Prior to joining CNBC, Ms. Furrer produced for a range of programs at CNN, including Lou Dobbs Tonight, CNN Special Projects, CNN en Espanol and CNN Financial News.  She has covered a wide range of business, political, travel and lifestyle topics, along with consumer and finance related issues.  Before her career in television, Ms. Furrer worked as an analyst at Credit Suisse in global foreign exchange.  She holds an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain, and a Bachelor's degree in both International Affairs and Spanish from Lafayette College in Easton, PA.