“ Don ’ t be quiet . Don ’ t wait for someone to reach out to you . Swallow , reach out and introduce yourself , and you ’ ll find a whole new community .”
Ella Kent with ISPA President Lynne McNees ( top ), with a four-legged friend ( middle ) and enjoying the seaside ( below ). eventually led her to serve on ISPA ’ s Board of Directors , on which she served for six years , two as chairman . But once again , Ella wondered if she belonged . “ I felt wholly inadequate to be around these giants in the industry . So board service was eye-opening for me , to see these icons and get to know them as people and know that we were all working toward that same goal .”
During her time on the board , ISPA and the spa industry at large faced one of its most challenging periods : the Great Recession . Kent and her fellow board members were faced with a difficult choice : continue with plans for ISPA ’ s annual Conference & Expo , or scale back amid the recession ’ s financial uncertainty . Ultimately , Kent and the board chose to go forward with the event , seeing it as an opportunity to deliver value to members in a time of great need .“ We felt very strongly that the reason people came to [ Conference ] in the first place was for that education , for that networking ,” says Kent .“ While we had cut expenses , what we did not cut was the member value and the different benefits to members , and we felt really good about that investment .”
As we approach another ISPA Conference & Expo being held in uncertain times , Kent says she ’ s proud of the ways ISPA has continued to serve members during the pandemic .“ I have complete optimism that because of what we ’ ve done this year and what we ’ ll continue to do until things are more normal will make the difference in the industry . People will be able to point to ISPA and its tools as having made that difference .”
Still , as Kent acknowledges , many of this year ’ s attendees will likely have a lot in common with the overwhelmed , newly appointed spa director who stepped nervously onto the floor of her first ISPA Conference & Expo nearly two decades ago . If you fit that description , Kent has some advice for you : “ Don ’ t be like me ! Don ’ t be quiet . Don ’ t wait for someone to reach out to you . Swallow , reach out and introduce yourself , and you ’ ll find a whole new community . It wasn ’ t really until I connected with people like me that I realized I could do this , that there were resources out there for me and I was going to be okay .”
A lot has changed for Ella Kent since her introduction to ISPA , but her belief in and commitment to the spa industry has remained steadfast . For that , and for her outstanding service and leadership , ISPA is thrilled to recognize her as this year ’ s Dedicated Contributor Award winner . Oh , and if you see her at Conference , please reach out and say ‘ Hello !’ n
WHAT : 2021 ISPA Conference & Expo WHERE : Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix , Arizona WHEN : May 10-12 , 2021 ACCOMMODATIONS : Sheraton Phoenix Downtown
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2021 ■ PULSE 27