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NEWS
ISPA elects 2016 board of directors
POSTED 13 Jan 2016 . BY Jane Kitchen
Michael Harmsworth, CEO of ESPA International, is one of three newly-elected ISPA board members Credit: ISPA
Michael Harmsworth, CEO of ESPA International, is one of three newly-elected ISPA board members Credit: 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.
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  ISPA study shows demand high for US spa staff


With an estimated total of 360,000 employees in the US spa industry – a record high – the demand for US spa staff does not appear to be slowing down, according to The International Spa Association's 2015 US Spa Industry Study.
  ISPA report: US spa industry surpasses US$15bn mark


The International SPA Association (ISPA) has released its annual findings of US spa industry financial indicators, reporting the industry continues to grow as it surpassed the US $15bn (€13.3bn, £9.7bn) mark.
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NEWS
ISPA elects 2016 board of directors
POSTED 13 Jan 2016 . BY Jane Kitchen
Michael Harmsworth, CEO of ESPA International, is one of three newly-elected ISPA board members Credit: ISPA
Michael Harmsworth, CEO of ESPA International, is one of three newly-elected ISPA board members Credit: 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.
RELATED STORIES
Attendance up, mood positive at 25th annual ISPA Conference & Expo


The 25th annual ISPA Conference & Expo was held in Las Vegas last week, and organisers report that attendance was up, with more than 2,300 people at the event, along with 243 exhibitors and sponsors.
ISPA study shows demand high for US spa staff


With an estimated total of 360,000 employees in the US spa industry – a record high – the demand for US spa staff does not appear to be slowing down, according to The International Spa Association's 2015 US Spa Industry Study.
ISPA report: US spa industry surpasses US$15bn mark


The International SPA Association (ISPA) has released its annual findings of US spa industry financial indicators, reporting the industry continues to grow as it surpassed the US $15bn (€13.3bn, £9.7bn) mark.
MORE NEWS
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai creates Global Wellness Day programme rooted in nature
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day (GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Lithuanian care operator Addere Care has launched a new “wellness care hospital” in Vilnius.
Rainer Maelzer joins Therme Group as chief entertainment officer
Rainer Maelzer, an experiential entertainment innovator, has been appointed chief entertainment officer by Therme Group.
Global Wellness Summit announces 2026 theme: the science, art and soul of wellness
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
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FEATURED SUPPLIERS

Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. - bespoke means moving beyond the catalogue to delivering contextual design responses
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness environments. [more...]

Longevity in spas: a strategic choice, not a default setting
Longevity has become one of the most debated concepts in contemporary wellness. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
Lovinfit Group

Lovinfit Group was founded in Parma, Italy in 2016 by a team of doctors, wellness and sports profess [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
09-12 Jun 2026

W3Spa EMEA

Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa, Portugal
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS