^ISPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC , ISPA was planning a talent symposium to take place in April 2020 in California . There , we were going to bring together a think tank of industry professionals , HR professionals and other shareholders in the spa industry to wrap our arms around the looming staffing crisis , or rather the staffing crisis that was already upon us . That symposium never happened because … well , we all know why . But even after the red-hot heat of Covid was waning , and we were all waiting for the great return of workers to fill our business , that didn ’ t happen . Instead , we had the Great Resignation , followed by Quiet Quitting , and all the other labels that have been placed on the fact that people just aren ’ t beating down the doors to get back to work . And of those who have come back , if we are to believe the statistics , only about 30 percent are engaged in their jobs .

We have placed a lot of energy and focus on finding new talent , which is appropriate . We are a labor-intensive industry that is built around the human-to-human connection . We literally touch people . And until AI creates a robot that can intuit what a person needs on a treatment table , we will require regular replenishment of people to execute the promise of Spa . And we will also require retaining the people who have come back . The 30 percent who are engaged — the ones Jeremy McCarthy calls “ the remainers ” in his article on page 26 of this issue , and the ones I think of as “ the engaged .”

How does the conversation change if we start to engage with the engaged ? How does that change our work environments , how does that change our corporate cultures , and how does that change us as leaders ? It ’ s an interesting concept to ponder , right ? I believe where we place our energy is what we will manifest . So , let ’ s be smart businesspeople and continue to address our staffing shortages , but let ’ s also celebrate the light at the end of the tunnel . Those brave souls who came back and stayed in times of uncertainty and great transitions . The engaged .

ELECTED OFFICERS CHAIR

Patrick Huey We Care Spa

VICE CHAIR

Kelleye Martin Trellis , The Spa at the Houstonian

SECRETARY / TREASURER

Immediate Past Chair Todd Shaw Fountain Life

DIRECTORS

Michelle Adams Somerville Woodstock Inn & Resort

CG Funk Massage Heights Corporate LLC

Lynelle Lynch Bellus Academy

Dawn MacLellan St . Andrews Country Club

Barry McCaffrey BABOR

Jay Muller Fountain Life

Foundation Chair Frank Pitsikalis Agilysys

Charlotte Prescott Fisher Island Club Spa Internazionale

Kenneth Ryan Marriott International

Eric Savage Freedom Spa , LLC

Jessica Shea Hilton

Jessica Timberlake Jessica L . Timberlake Consulting

Lynne McNees President International SPA Association

MEDICAL ADVISOR Brent A . Bauer , MD Mayo Clinic

— PATRICK HUEY , CHAIR

2 PULSE ⁿ FEBRUARY / MARCH 2023