Pulse September-October 2026 | Page 74

BOARD BRIEFINGS

Leadership That Keeps Giving The ISPA Leaders Circle preserves experience, strengthens today’ s association and shows how every member can help shape what comes next.

ISPA’ S PROGRESS HAS ALWAYS DEPENDED ON MEMBERS willing to contribute their time, knowledge and perspective. The ISPA Leaders Circle recognizes those who have served in some of the association’ s most significant leadership roles, and keeps their experience connected to ISPA’ s continuing work.
The group brings together current and former association leaders and recipients of ISPA’ s highest individual honors. Collectively, they represent decades of experience leading businesses, guiding the association and navigating change across the spa industry.
Who Belongs to the Leaders Circle?
l Current and former members of the ISPA Board of Directors l Current and former members of the ISPA Research Foundation Board l Members of the current ISPA Board Elect l Recipients of the ISPA Visionary Award l Recipients of the ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award l Recipients of the ISPA Humanitarian Award l Recipients of the ISPA Distinguished Service Award
Together, they form an ongoing network of leaders whose service, insight and industry experience remain connected to ISPA.
Leaders Circle members now receive association news and organizational updates from the ISPA Team throughout the year. ISPA may also seek their perspective when a strategic question, emerging opportunity or period of change would benefit from experienced voices.
That gives ISPA access to something every healthy association needs: institutional knowledge paired with a willingness to look ahead.
For members, the benefit is an association that does not have to approach every challenge from scratch. Past leaders can provide context about what has been tried, what has endured and what lessons may help ISPA respond thoughtfully to new workforce pressures, technologies, consumer expectations and business conditions.
The Leaders Circle keeps the experience of ISPA’ s past leadership connected to the association’ s future. Colin McIlheney, Taylor Fields and Jana Koebrick( top photo), and Barry McCaffrey and Michael Tompkins( bottom photo), are among the leaders whose perspective can help illuminate what has worked before and what has lasted, and how lessons from the past can inform the challenges ahead.
But the value of the Leaders Circle extends well beyond those who belong to it.
Experience in service of today’ s members In its early years, the Leaders Circle met alongside the ISPA Conference for facilitated discussions about the association’ s future. Members considered emerging trends, industry challenges and changing member needs, offering guidance informed by both business leadership and ISPA service.
The format has evolved, but that connection remains.
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