Pulse August / September 2022 | Page 66

CONNECT WITH ME ON FACEBOOK OR LINKEDIN : LYNNE WALKER MCNEES
IT ’ S CRAZY TO THINK the last time I sat down to write End Notes , the ISPA headquarters team , our board of directors and thousands of our incredible spa and resource partner members were preparing to descend on Las Vegas for the 2022 ISPA Conference .
Anticipation within our team was at fever pitch , and we were all so eager to reunite with the ISPA community after so much time apart , but the truth is that we also didn ’ t know what to expect , not really . Like so many of our members , we had spent much of the last two years doing more with less . There were times when we wondered whether it would be possible to pull off an event that met the expectations for what an ISPA Conference should be with a team about half its previous size — and with several Conference first-timers playing important roles .
But during moments where we felt overwhelmed and uncertain , our amazing members across the industry gave us the confidence to keep going . Seeing firsthand the creativity , dedication and innovation spas and
resource partners alike showcased time and again throughout the ups and downs of the last couple of years made it easier to cast our doubts aside and press on in our efforts to deliver the kind of
Conference we had envisioned for so long . We ’ re grateful for the example they set and so proud of the overwhelmingly positive response we ’ ve received in the weeks following Conference . With tremendous leadership from our volunteer Board of Directors , we ’ ve rallied together and made it through so many challenging moments since 2020 . That unity has been our ISPA superpower , and as we continue the important work of elevating our industry and pushing it to heights that we couldn ’ t have dreamed of when ISPA was formed more than 30 years ago , it ’ s what we will continue to rely on .
Thank you for having such confidence in our team and for the amazing example you have set for us and everyone around our industry . We are grateful ! n

— LYNNE MCNEES , ISPA PRESIDENT superpowers

“ You are not in this industry by accident . The superpowers and skill that you have were given to you for this moment right here , to do work that is even more impactful than you thought .”

— JADE SIMMONS , 2022 ISPA CONFERENCE
64 PULSE n AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022