Pulse September 2019 | Page 86

isPa foundation foundation ISPA foundAtIon BoArd of dIrectorS IT’S AN EXCITING MONTH FOR THE ISPA FOUNDATION! First, the 2019 ISPA U.S. Industry Study will be released at the ISPA Conference & Expo. The offIcerS chAIrmAn frank Pitsikalis ResortSuite generous support of Circadia and Red Door Spas— dIrectorS who recently announced a very exciting rebranding Garrett Mersberger ISPA Chairman as Mynd Spa & Salon—has been indispensable to funding this year’s report, which officially marks two decades of tracking the growth of our industry with this important study. It’s been an honor to play a Scott Duncan ISPA Vice Chairman Lynne McNees ISPA President role in stewarding the Study and ensuring it continues to exceed the highest expecta- tions of our members. Did you know that the first Study was also released when Conference was at the Venetian twenty years ago? medIcAl AdvISor Brent Bauer, M.D. Mayo Clinic Second, of course, is the ISPA Foundation Live & Silent Auction, which will cap off the second day of Conference with live bidding among friends and colleagues. The auction is now the ISPA Foundation’s primary fundraiser, having raised $140,000 last year alone. Its origins, however, are much humbler. The first auction was held at the 1995 ISPA Conference & Expo in Dallas, Texas; there was only a silent auction, no live auction; and it wasn’t for the ISPA Foundation, because the ISPA Foundation did not honorAry BoArd memBerS Ruth Stricker The Marsh, A Center for Balance and Fitness Deborah Szekely WELLNESS WARRIOR yet exist. That first auction, which had less than 100 items, has evolved into the event we know and love today that showcases 300 items! Still, the first auction shared a common purpose with this month’s event: to fund important initiatives for our industry. The funds we raise this month will go to more than just the ISPA U.S. Spa Industry Study, such as the Consumer Snapshot Initiative and the ISPA Foundation Mary Tabacchi Scholarship, and it’s because of you—both the donors and the bidders—that we’re able to do it. community, and we look forward to seeing you soon! —frank Pitsikalis, isPa foundation chairman PULSE ■ SEPtEmbEr 2019 lumInAry Ruth Stricker BenefActor Dr. Howard Murad We thank you for supporting the ISPA Foundation’s mission to enrich the spa 84 The ISPA Foundation wishes to thank the following supporters for their generous contributions: PAtron Red Door Spas ResortSuite Circadia