Prior by moving to Nashville and launching Athena Health Club and Day Spa in 2002, Michael resided in Waterloo Belgium for 2 years (2000 – 2002).

Michael graduated from high school in Detroit, Michigan and he has B.A.  (1972) and M.B.A. (1978) from the University of Detroit. He and wife of 36 years Pamela reside in the LaureBrooke Subdivision in Franklin, Tennessee. Michael and Pamela are proud parents of a son Michael Jr. and daughter Marcya. Both children are graduates of the University of Michigan.

Michael’s last corporate position before launching Athena Health Club and Day Spa was Director of Marketing and Government Affairs with Anthem Alliance, a U.S. Department of Defense Health Care Contractor based in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Michael currently serves on the Middle Tennessee United Way Board of Trustees and Executive Committee (chair-elect); The Day Spa Association (past chair); Nashville Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors and Executive Committee (Vice President of Small Business and Small Business Council Chair); and Middle Tennessee Council Boy Scouts of America Board of Directors and Executive Committee (Vice President of Scoutreach).

Michael A. Carter can be reached by email at mcarter@athenahealthclub.com

Ruth Nuckols Cox,
The founder of Bella Fontana Spa, has a diverse background with expertise in Operations, Finance, Business Process Development and Information Technology. Her Bachelor of Arts degree was earned from Austin College with a concentration in Political Science. Ruth went on earn a Master of Arts in Political Economy from the University of Texas at Dallas.

Her career has encompassed various industries and organizations including a call center, police department, two City Budget Offices, consulting to State and Local Governments, then on to a series of roles for the U.S. Region of a publicly held distribution and logistics company. While Senior Director of U.S. Region Operations, she spearheaded the development of a unique Reverse Logistics process that resulted in a major business initiative for the company and a U.S. patent application. She has brought her process expertise and combined it with a creative sensibility to develop Bella Fontana Spa in 2005.

What makes Bella Fontana Spa unique is the service team that demonstrates special attention to the goal of total hospitality that results in an experience of renewal. We believe we deliver an unparalleled experience because of a strong client focus and customer care concept supported by world class products and technology.  Spa Team Members are Employees, not independent contractors or 'booth renters', and have the opportunity to enjoy full benefits such as Vision, Dental and Medical Health Insurance, 401K and performance based compensation.

In June of 2007, Bella Fontana Spa, Ltd. acquired and merged Laser ReGenesis Medical Spa into Bella Fontana Spa operations. This addition enables the Spa to expand its portfolio and offer treatments that are supervised by a qualified Medical Director and staff.  Throughout her career, Ruth has been involved in both formal and informal mentoring and leadership organizations and programs.  As a Mentor for Vocation Vacations, Vocationers with entrepreneurial desire visit Sherman, TX and Bella Fontana Spa to learn about becoming a Spa Owner and  try on a new hat through www.vocationvacations.com unique program.

Ruth serves in the following Industry and Community Organizations:

Day Spa Association, Advisory Board Member, Chair Legislative Committee
Sherman Noon Rotary, Director Service Projects
Children's Advocacy Center of Grayson County, Officer and Board Member
Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church, Session Member

International Medical Spa Association
Downtown Sherman Preservation and Revitalization
Women of Visionary Influence, Red River Chapter

Ruth can be reached by email at spadiva@bellafontanaspa.com

Monique Iacobacci

Monique developed a passion for the Spa, Beauty and Wellness industry at an early age while working for family and has devoted her entire 16 year career to it ever since.
 
Headed straight into the then untapped territory after graduating from High School, she immediately became a New Jersey State licensed Cosmetologist and graduated from Christine Valmy School of Esthetics in New York City.
Following her graduation her career has been a remarkable journey and has lead her in many different and amazing directions .Advancing her skills in the field of para-medical esthetic, she began working with well-known, respected Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons, and became the National Educator for Rose Skin Care Microdermabrasion Systems.
Throughout her career she has been featured in a variety of publications such as Bridal Magazine, interviewed by Day Spa Magazine, Skin Inc. Magazine, Spa 20/20, and is a contributing author of two consumer publications, “Spa Basics, A Consumer Guide to Day Spa Services” and “Wake-Up, Live the Life You Love … in Beauty”.
She has successfully consulted in numerous business enhancement projects for day spas on the US East Coast in the areas of conceptual design, hands–on training and curriculum, policy and procedure manuals, sales and marketing strategies, and website design.
Her involvement with the Day Spa Association started in 2000 and has engaged her in educational panel discussions, speaking at trade shows; being nominated to the DSA Board of Advisors chairing the Charity and Events Committee, and was appointed Spa Person of the Month April 2005. She is also an active member of the NJ Metro Beauty Advisory Council.
Monique’s last corporate position was working for a national Spa and Health Club management d company, managing Experience Life Spa in the Financial District of Jersey City, New Jersey. Her expertise was focused on Spa Operations and cultivating their Corporate Wellness Component. Her creation and implementation of a “Corporate Employee Wellness Program” has influenced and served numerous Fortune 500 Companies such as Dow Jones, N.Y., Pershing Corporation, and Citi Group.
Her latest endeavor is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Non-profit organization SPAcare, the industries first organized charitable resource. Her goal is to unify and support the Philanthropic efforts of the Spa, Wellness and Medical communities. Recently she was the proud recipient of SPAcare’s coveted “Healing Hearts Award”, and is also recognized for her consulting work with various charitable organizations such as Battered Women’s Shelters, Dress for Success, The Hudson County Chapter of The American Cancer Societies “Look Good feel Better” program. She is presently working on SPAcare’s “Healthy Skin Campaign 2008” in collaboration with The Melanoma Research foundations
Monique is also pursuing to obtain her BA in Business at Essex County College in West Caldwell NJ.

Eric Light can be reached by email at
Strawbryhillgrp@aol.com

Erika Mangrum
President, Iatria Day Spa
After 12 years as a corporate marketing executive for Sprint and Bell & Howell, Erika Mangrum opened Iatria Spa and Health Center in 1999 and serves as the firm's President. With four locations in the Raleigh area, Iatria has received the Pinnacle Business Award for Steady Growth and Profitability for two consecutive years and was included in the Triangle Business Journal’s 2004 and 2005 Top Women-Owned Businesses list, as well as being named a 5 Star Destination by Beauty Magazine and one of the Top 20 Salons and Spas in America by Launchpad Magazine. Just recently Iatria Spa and Health Center was awarded First Place for Mid-Size Businesses as Best Places To Work by the Triangle Business Journal, Best Place to Pamper and Best Day Spa by Cary Magazine’s Maggy Awards and Top Day Spa/ Medical Spa Chain by DAYSPA magazine. Iatria’s most recent award was Distinguished Day Spa of the Year Award presented by the national Day Spa Association.
In 2004, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) named Erika Woman Business Owner of the Year and was also awarded Business Leader Magazine’s Women Extraordinaire. As a recognized expert in the industry, Erika is a sought after speaker and mentor. She has been featured on the cover of Business Leader Magazine, appeared four times in Entrepreneur Magazine and has been interviewed locally, regionally and nationally by such publications as The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Triangle Business Journal, News & Observer, Fortune Magazine, Health Magazine, SpaFinder and Health, with articles featured in Pulse Magazine, American Spa and Skin Care Inc.
In addition to her appearances in magazines, Erika was also featured weekly on News 14, Time Warner, as part of the Morning Makeover Television Team and has multiple television appearances including MSNBC, CNN, The WB, ABC, NBC and CBS.
In 2000, Erika formed Corporate Health Fairs, a consortium of Triangle female business owners, which provides health fairs for regional businesses free of charge. These health fairs teach employees about health, fitness, stress reduction and chronic pain management. She is a founding member of the Triangle Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), a non-profit organization whose members are a diverse group of entrepreneurial women presidents who have guided their businesses to generate at least $2 million in gross annual sales or $1 million for a service-based business. In 2003, she was named one of the 25 Most Influential Women In Business by the Triangle Business Journal. She was named to Top Business People Under 40 by Triangle Business Journal in 2004.
Erika has served on the Board of Directors for the Assistance League of the Triangle, whose charity projects include Women in Need, Kids’ Place at Wake Med and Operation School Bell. Her firm is actively involved in supporting a number of other civic and charitable organizations. Erika says that community activism is important to her.
Erika has been named to the Executive Committee and Vice Chair of Small Business for the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and serves on its Board of Directors. She served as Corporate Partner Chair of the Raleigh Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and is an active member of the Women’s Forum of North Carolina Inc.
She serves on the Advisory Board of Solana MedSpas, Inc. in Irvine, CA, and The Castleton Group, Inc., and numerous charitable organization boards. Last year, Erika Chaired the Speaking of Women’s Health Conference, a national conference held in Raleigh, NC. Through Iatria, Erika provides spa gifts each year to regional public and private school teachers and speaks frequently
on the topic of health awareness and provides complimentary health services at many events and conferences.
Erika has a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC, and has completed executive education programs at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell University. Erika is currently on the faculty of the University of California-Irvine where she authored and teaches Spa Marketing and Retail Management for the institution's Spa and Hospitality Management Program and also serves on the university’s Advisory Board. Erika says that her proudest achievement is her six year old daughter Heather with whom she enjoys spending her spare time.  

Erikai can be reached by email at
erika@iatria.com

Stephen M. Schleicher, MD   Bio

Dr. Schleicher brings over twenty years of experience in the field of dermatology. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Rutgers University, received his medical degree with academic honors from the Hahnemann Medical College and completed his dermatology residency at the Temple Skin and Cancer Hospital. The author of two books and over fifty journal articles, Dr. Schleicher serves on the Medical Board of Emergency Medicine magazine and has co-hosted the cable television show, Skin Sense, and the radio show, Speaking of Your Skin.  Founder and director of the DermDx Centers for Dermatology, he has travelled throughout Europe investigating skin care products as a consultant to the health and beauty industries. A pioneer in the field of teledermatology, his medical columns are viewed on a monthly basis by over 150,000 family practitioners. With offices in northeastern Pennsylvania, Dr. Schleicher is clinical instructor of dermatology at Kings College and Arcadia University.

Prior to entering the spa industry Rosemary had a distinguished career as a nurse and as the Vice President of operations and a partner/owner of a Fortune 500 national health care cost containment company. She used her medical background and business acumen in developing the policies, procedures, treatments, culture, and philosophy that are the cornerstone of The Brass Rose and a model for the industry.

Rosemary has a long standing commitment and is no stranger to quality professional standards.
During her nursing career she served on the Professional Standards Advisory Board of the State Medical
Society. She was Vice President of the Central New Jersey Professional Review Organization, a federal
program that monitored the standards and quality of care for all Medicare patients and the hospitals within
four counties in New Jersey.

During her nursing career, she also served on the Governors’ Health Care Financing Task Force for New
Jersey and was a consultant to the New Jersey Hospital Association and numerous hospitals and medical
societies throughout the US, with respect to quality assurance standards and programs. She conducted
national seminars on the subject of cost containment and quality care and authored two books on the
subject of quality assurance and health care financing. She was the keynote speaker for the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Resources national conference on Medicare funding of health care and
quality assurance issues.

In addition to the DSA Advisory Board, Rosemary currently serves on the advisory board of several
esthetic schools and is a member of the Northwest New Jersey Beauty Advisory Council .

Rosemary Weiner may be reached by email at
rose@rtonline.net

Skip Williams, the author of “The Reluctant Spa Director and the Mission Dream”, and the recipient of the Spa Person of the Year award for 2006, is a recognized speaker and author in the spa arena, with over thirteen (13) years of experience in the Management, Financial Development & Operational fields, mostly in the Spa and Hospitality Industry as Spa Director, Controller and Business project Consultant.  He brings his previous years of analytical business experience in a broad variety of manufacturing, retail and service businesses to studying Resort Spas, Day Spas, Medical Spas, Wellness Centers, and Salons: their profitability, how they operate, and what makes them successful.

Mr. Williams has been involved in the development of well over 400 Spas throughout the US, Canada, and the Caribbean working with owners, planners, operators and potential owners. His approach is to study, analyze, educate, implement and cultivate both small and large-scale projects.

Well known for his a unique Computerized Business Model called "Build-A-Spa" that allows financial analyses and feasibility studies, he has taken Spa business modeling to new heights with “Financial Blueprint™ Feasibility Consulting.”  

Mr. Williams’ experience as a Spa Director and his direct involvement in various capacities in the opening of several Day and Resort Spas results in a combination of expertise and experience beneficial to any organization. In addition he is very active in the continuous education efforts and research in the industry.  He presently sits on the advisory board, for the Day Spa Association where he contributes time to our industry through published studies and education.

Mr. Williams has been a recognized contributor to trade journals such as Spa Management, Dermascope, Les Nouvelle Esthetique and Dermasthetic.  Additionally he has participated as a speaker-educator for Spacifically, International Congress of Esthetics, Face & Body, and Day Spa Expo educational programs.  Professional and consulting experience includes, but is not limited to such companies as; Mount View Spa, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, H.E.A.T. Spa-Kur Therapy Development Inc, Mirbeau Inn & Spa, Spa Hibiscus at Embassy Suites, Waters Edge Medical Spa and The Lodge at Eagles Nest.

Skip Williams can be reached by email at skip@vom.com