Pulse August 2025 | Page 34

THOUGH ANGELA CORTRIGHT co-founded Spa Gregorie’ s in Orange County, California, near the big blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, her career began at a different Big Blue.“ I started working for IBM straight out of college,” says Cortright,“ then I was on the ground-floor of a computer company called AST Research.” She and her husband were“ serial entrepreneurs,” but when their final tech venture went public, the stress became unbearable.“ I was a big, tight bundle of stress,” she says,“ and then my husband introduced me to spa.”

After experiencing the therapeutic benefit of massage, the Cortrights decided to open a day spa of their own. The two knew how to run a business but needed help with the particulars of spa. At that time, research meant good-old-

Scott Duncan, Angela Cortright and Sarah Miller

“ Being fortunate enough to have known Angela as both a partner and a friend since 1998 has been a huge blessing in my life. Her passion and dedication, fueled by an unwavering desire to serve the community, are genuinely inspiring. Angela will always hold a special place in my heart and the heart of the community.”

— SCOTT DUNCAN, PRESIDENT, SPA GREGORIE’ S

fashioned reading:“ I had dozens and dozens of

Dayspa magazines,” laughs Cortright. The two talked to anyone they could, attended ISPA Conferences, and“ made it up as we went,” she adds.

Above all, the Cortrights built a spa that they would want to go to.“ It was very warm and comforting,” she says, adding that“ many spas were pretty clinical back in those days.” Spa Gregorie’ s ambience and inviting atmosphere— representative of a cultural shift in attitudes toward self-care and balance— gave it a leg up as the Orange County spa scene boomed around it. Spa Gregorie’ s also led the way in positioning the local day spa as a community pillar( rather than as an isolated retreat) by offering treatments to local cancer patients at no charge.

FOUNDER’ S PLAYBOOK l

l

l

l

Angela Cortright attributes much of the spa’ s success to Scott Duncan, who was their first employee and now owns Spa Gregorie’ s.“ We just hired the right people, built the right place, and many of our employees are still with us 28 years later,” she says.“ Treat your staff like gold, because they are your gold.” n

ADVICE FOR YOUR YOUNGER SELF:“ Don’ t be so selfcritical. Allow yourself to make mistakes.” PERSONAL MOTTO:“ Your destiny goes where your energy goes.” BIGGEST MENTOR:“ My dad. He was a man of very high standards and principles, and he provided so much love and support.” ALTERNATE CAREER:“ My fantasy career: a singer or a dancer.”

The spa community is fortunate to have leaders who have elevated the spa experience and shaped the industry ' s evolution.

PULSE n AUGUST 2025 20