“Mentorship programs are vital to the
growth and sustainability of the spa
industry.”
month program with bimonthly face-to-face or video conference
calls. The responsibility for setting the meeting agenda is set by
each mentee based on key competency skills that they want to
focus for their personal career growth. These skills are outlined
in “ISPA’s Body of Knowledge for Spa Management
Professionals.” The mentorship program is not about receiving
free consulting advice, or being directed to pursue one course of
action versus another. It is the job of the mentors to be active
participants and caring listeners, to help mentees develop their
critical thinking skills and to see a third way to approach a challenge in place of a simple polarity.
Back then when you were starting out in the industry, how did you
build connections with potential mentors?
There were no formal mentorship programs in the spa and
wellness industry to take advantage of back when I was starting out in this industry. There weren’t many anywhere in the
corporate community. However, many of us made lifelong
friends and the occasional acquaintance of a mentor through
the small and intimate community of ISPA (then known as
the International Spa & Fitness Association). We helped each
other grow and stayed in touch. We met interesting speakers
and industry leaders at our Conferences, and many of us benefited from these types of relationships.
Laurence Roptus
Spa & Health Club Manager
Fallsview Casino Resort
Niagra Falls • Ontario • Canada
As one of the mentees, what key takeaways have you learned from your Global
Pilot Mentorship Program mentor?
There are three valuable takeaways I’ve
gained: inspiration, mutual benefits and
networking. My mentor, The Grand Del Mar Director of Spa &
Recreation Jim Croghan, has expertly navigated his career
path and has a wealth of knowledge and experience. Jim
inspires me to be my best self and to do my best work.
The Global Pilot Mentorship Program also provides a
mutually beneficial relationship for both mentors and mentees
because both are able to challenge their preconceptions, offer
a different perspective, and perhaps ev