ISPA elects 2016 board of directors
by Jane Kitchen | 13 Jan 2016
Michael Harmsworth, CEO of ESPA International, is one of three newly-elected ISPA board members / ISPA
The International Spa Association (ISPA) has announced the 2016 ISPA board of directors and officers, which includes newly-elected members Michael Harmsworth, CEO of ESPA International; Garrett Mersberger, director of Kohler Waters Spa & Development, and Dawn Tardif, president of BodiScience Wellness Center & Spa.
They join re-elected incumbent directors Blake Feeney, principal at Feeney & Co.; Todd Hewitt, senior spa director at Four Seasons Toronto; Julie Oliff, director of operations, residences at St. Regis Aspen Resort; and Todd Shaw, director of spa, fitness, tennis and wellness at La Quinta Club and Resort.
The 2016 ISPA board of directors will be led by elected chairm Michael Tompkins, co-chief executive officer of PALM Health.
The board’s term will begin at the ISPA board meeting later this month.
“ISPA is fortunate to have a diverse group of dedicated leaders, who are working together to advance the spa industry and support ISPA members around the world,” said ISPA president Lynne McNees.
This slate of candidates will join the group of spa industry leaders in addition to the current directors:
• Sharilyn Abbajay, senior vice president operations, Red Door Spas (serving as ISPA Foundation vice chair)
• Noel Asmar, president and chief executive officer, Noel Asmar Group, Inc
• Kristine Huffman, president, Huffman Hospitality Concepts
• Laura Parsons, director of operations of ESPA International (US) Ltd. (serving as secretary/treasurer)
• Frank Pitsikalis, founder and chief executive officer, ResortSuite (serving as ISPA Foundation chair)
• Eric Stephenson, director of massage education, Well World Group
• Ella Stimpson, director of spa, The Spa at Sea Island (serving as immediate past chair)
• Todd Walter, chief executive officer, Red Door Spas
• Lynne McNees, president of ISPA
• Dr. Brent Bauer, director of complementary and integrative medicine programme, Mayo Clinic, will continue to serve as ISPA’s medical advisor.
Jeff Kohl’s tenure on the ISPA board of directors has expired after he served more than 20 years of volunteer work on various ISPA boards and committees.
Each person was selected from a pool of candidates following an extensive nomination and interview process.
The application process for the 2017 ISPA board of directors will launch this summer. At that time, a call for candidates will be announced to all ISPA members.
ISPA international spa association ESPAMore news
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