2018 ISPA CONFERENCE & EXPO
WEDNESDAY’S GENERAL SESSION
SEPTEMBER 26, 2018
DAYMOND
JOHN
HE WHO
DARES, WINS
Saying Goodbye and Celebrating
Entrepreneurship
“WHAT A WEEK!”
With that, ISPA Chairman Garrett
Mersberger took the stage on Wednesday
for the final General Session of the 2018
ISPA Conference & Expo. Along with
ISPA Foundation Chairman Frank
Pitsikalis, Mersberger shared the results of
the ISPA Foundation Silent and Live
Auctions—for more on that, flip to
Frank’s monthly column on page 68 of
this Pulse.
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PULSE
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November 2018
Mersberger shared his
highlights from the week
and celebrated the newfound
connections that he made. He
also thanked everyone involved in
making ISPA what it is: the Volunteer
Committee, the Speaker Selection Task
Force and the Exhibitor Task Force, all
comprised of ISPA members. He also
formally introduced 2019’s four new board
members: Michelle Adams, Jill Carlen,
Yvonne Smith and Jessica Timberlake.
The final day was also a celebration of
innovation and entrepreneurship across
the industry. The presentation of the 2018
ISPA Innovate Awards saw 15 companies
recognized for their innovations in the
industry, as well as the announcement of
the 2018 Overall Innovation of the
Year winner: Four Seasons Resort
Lanai.
The closing half of the General Session
was dominated by two legendary
innovators. First, the spa industry’s own
Deborah Szekely delivered a speech urging
us all to partake in local charitable causes
and give back to the community. She then
introduced this year’s winner of the ISPA
Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award,
keynote speaker Daymond John.
KEYNOTE: DAYMOND JOHN
Daymond John took the stage and
dazzled ISPA attendees with a multimedia
presentation about his latest book, Rise
and Grind, and his personal journey as