about

Based in the nation’s greater capital region, Washington Spa Alliance (WSPA) was launched on June 17th, 2010, by a group of spa industry professionals who recognized a need for a regional spa organization. WSPA acts as a knowledge center that raises awareness of Washington’s thriving spa community while connecting spa professionals and serving as a catalyst for discussion and action.

 

WORKING BOARD

 

MARY BEMIS
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Organic Spa Magazine

 

LAURIE DIETTER
Director of Communication Design
Glen Ivy Hot Springs

 

MARY GENDRON
President
Middleton & Gendron

 

SUSAN GWALTNEY
Owner
Essential Spa Consulting

 

KATHLEEN JO
Director of Ecommerce
Kathleen Jo Consulting

 

MARY PILCH
Spa Director
Aura Spa and Salon

 

ERIC SOMERVILLE
General Manager
MINT Fitness and Spa

OFFICERS

 

SHARILYN ABBAJAY, Co-Chair
Vice President, Global Spa & Retail
Marriott International

 

BERNARD BURT, Co-Chair
Author, Editor, Founder
SpaGoer.com

 

MARY-ELIZABETH GIFFORD, Vice-Chair
Senior Advisor
Island Outpost

 

PENNY KRIEL, Secretary
Spa Director
Mandarin Oriental

 

ADA POLLA, Treasurer
President & CEO
Alchimie-Forever

HONORARY BOARD

 

DEBORAH SZEKELY
Founder of Rancho La Puerta, Tecate, Baja Californiaand Golden Door, Escondido, California
Chair of the Honorary Board of Directors

 

Brent Bauer, M.D.

Director, Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine
Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona

 

PHILIPPE BOURGUIGNON
Vice Chairman of Revolution Places, Washington, D.C.and CEO of Miraval, Tuscon, Arizona

 

Jerry Cohen

Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Canyon Ranch

 

Susie Ellis

President, SpaFinder Inc., New York, New York

 

Gary Henkin

President & Founder WTS International, Rockville, Maryland

 

Martha Honey

Executive Director, Center for Responsible Travel, Washington, D.C.

 

Sheila Johnson

Founder and CEO, Salamander Hospitality, Middleburg, Virginia

 

Ted Ning

Director, LOHAS, Louisville, Colorado

 

Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, FACP

Owner, Peeke Performance, Washington, D.C.

 

Mary H. Tabacchi

Professor, Food & Beverage Management Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, Ithaca, New York