ISPA FOUNDATION
FOUNDATION
THE ISPA FOUNDATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE
than just the ISPA U.S. Spa Industry Study, although
it’s certainly a big part of what we do. Our larger mis-
sion is to serve the educational needs of the industry,
providing the resources members need to enhance
ISPA FOUNDATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
CHAIRMAN
Frank Pitsikalis
ResortSuite
the value of the spa experience.
This educational bent has taken different forms
over the years, from scholarships and the ISPA
Academy to three full textbooks on the business of
spa—and that’s what I’d like to highlight this month.
Spa: A Comprehensive Introduction, written by
seasoned ISPA members, serves as an all-encompass-
DIRECTORS
Garrett Mersberger
ISPA Chairman
Brennan Evans
ISPA Vice Chairman
Lynne McNees
ISPA President
ing crash course in how to run a spa. I, among many
others, contributed to the book—one of the first ways I became involved with ISPA,
and surely the reason why I started out on the path that’s led me here as ISPA Foun-
MEDICAL ADVISOR
Brent Bauer, M.D.
Mayo Clinic
dation Chairman.
While much of the content in that book is evergreen, there is also a great deal of
content that has lost its relevancy over the past dozen years. Spa: A Comprehensive
Introduction was published in 2008, as the economy was (unknowingly) on the cusp of
collapse and technology was just beginning to truly, profoundly transform the way
that we do business. Today’s spa industry—with advanced spa technology, an in-
creased reliance on hyper-focused marketing and an ever-shifting treatment land-
HONORARY BOARD
MEMBERS
Ruth Stricker
The Marsh, A Center for
Balance and Fitness
Deborah Szekely
WELLNESS WARRIOR
scape—is markedly different.
content on critical issues. We have four dedicated ISPA members—Jennifer Aarons, The ISPA Foundation
wishes to thank the following
supporters for their generous
contributions:
Laura Parsons, Sherrie Tennessee and Robert Vance—who are leveraging their expert- LUMINARY
ise to make smart contributions to this new version. Ruth Stricker
It’s for that reason that the ISPA Foundation is working to update Spa: A
Comprehensive Introduction for the 2020s, featuring crucial updates and all-new
Keep an eye out for the updated version of this textbook later this year—you will
be able to find it on the ISPA Academy and the online ISPA store.
BENEFACTOR
Dr. Howard Murad
PATRON
Circadia
Mynd Spa & Salon
ResortSuite
—FRANK PITSIKALIS, ISPA FOUNDATION CHAIRMAN
FUNDRAISING ADVISORS
Lynelle Lynch
Interested in donating to the 2020 ISPA Foundation Auctions?
Visit experienceispa.com/about/ispa-foundation to learn more.
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MARCH 2020
Yvonne Smith