Faculty & Board

Faculty & Board

Each member of our faculty has successfully completed the 264 hour ASTECC curriculum and has a minimum of ten years of professional experience. They are joined by a select group of ‘Spa Masters’ who specialize in one or more ASTECC spa modalities. Actively engaged and with a blend of experience and expertise, ASTECC’s Board of Directors provides lively discourse, humor and wise council.

 

Anne Bramham · ASTECC Founder

A respected industry mentor with more than thirty years of professional experience as a consultant, designer, and trainer of spa therapies, Anne Bramham is the founder of ASTECC and an instructor for the Dr. Vodder School of North America. Anne has introduced ASTECC training to top spa destinations throughout the US and is a frequent speaker at industry events.

 

Leah Carver · Instructor

Specializing in esthetician training and Spa Yoga Bodywork, Leah a graduate of CIDESCO and Champneys College of Health and Beauty in London. The former Director of the Bramham Institute and head  trainer for Spa Technoligies , Leah earned full ASTECC Instructor certification in 2005. She resides with her husband and  two children in Jupiter, Florida.

 

Diane Okamura Vasquez · Instructor

A certified Dr. Vodder MLD therapist and a graduate of California State University at Fullerton with a degree in Kinesiology, Diane serves as the in – house ASTECC instructor for the award winning Spa Montage properties based  in Laguna Beach, California. 

 

 

Hugh Jones · Spa Management Instructor

A spa management instructor at Florida Gulf Coast University,Hugh has extensive experience spearheading and directing spa operations in five star resort environments. Specializing in turnaround challenges and rapid growth situations. His expertise entails fitness, beauty, spa services and P&L accountability.

 

 

Board Of Directors

Mary Bemis

Mary Bemis is passionate about wellness and healing spas and is a major voice for natural products and sustainability in the spa industry. A founder and former Editor in Chief of both American Spa and Organic Spa magazines, Mary is also a founder of the D.C.-based Washington Spa Alliance. Her mission is to educate the consumer about healthy lifestyle choices and to make modern spas less about industry and more about healing. A respected expert, Mary has served on the boards of the International Spa Association (ISPA) and the New York Spa Alliance (NYSPA).

 

Kristi Dickinson

Kristi Dickinson joined Montage Hotels & Resorts in August, 2010 and was an integral part of the Spa Montage Deer Valley opening team. Prior to Spa Montage, she was Spa Director at the Golden Door Spa at The Peaks Resort in Telluride, CO. Kristi holds a Masters degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a B.A. in Marketing and Management from the University of Iowa. She is  passionate about bringing the abundance of wellness and healing the spa lifestyle can offer to the guest experience as well as educating spa consumers on how to make informed decisions and actively participate in their own wellness plan.

 

Nancy Griffin

Nancy Griffin has been a recognized leader in the spa industry for more than fifteen years. She was introduced to the business of spa in the early 90′s, when she completed Graduate Management studies at the prestigious Cornell School of Hotel Administration. Accomplishments include founding SpaTrade.com and the SpaExec networking events. She also directed the educational programs for IECSC from 2005 to 2010.  She is currently the principal of the marketing and internet strategy firm Contento Marketing Group. Contento creates integrative communication strategies for wellness and spa marketing.

Loren Kornreich

Loren Kornreich, Spa Executive professional, most recently served as opening Executive Spa Director for the 35,000 sq. ft. Spa Montage at Montage Deer Valley Five Star property. Prior to the Montage, Loren served as a Task Force Spa Director in Hawaii for Starwood Companies as well as daily operations as Director of Spa, at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, at Agave the Arizona Spa, in Scottsdale Arizona.  Before joining the Starwood team and Westin, Loren was the Director of Spa Operations for LXR properties. Loren has a passion for mentoring future up and coming spa directors.

 

Julie Raistrick-Tao

Julie Raistrick-Tao joined Spa Montage in November 2003 and has played an integral role in assisting Spa Montage garner seven consecutive Forbes/Mobil Five-Star Awards including the first one ever awarded  to a spa. She is responsible for day-to-day operations, programming and of a team of 100 associates and serves on the Advisory Committee for the Spa and Hospitality Management Program at University California Irvine. She’s a certified Health Fitness Instructor through the American College of Sports Medicine. Mrs. Raistrick-Tao received a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from Ohio University and a Master of Science degree in Exercise Science from Georgia.

 

Diane Trieste

Diane Triesre has been involved in the health and wellness industry over the past 19 years. While at Canyon Ranch Health Resorts, she held a corporate management position and was a member of  the development team responsible for operational start ups including Canyon Ranch SpaClub Vegas, Canyon Ranch SpaClub at the Gaylord Palms & Canyon Ranch SpaClub on board QM2. In 2009 Diane co-founded  StrategicSpaSolutions. Diane has served as a Board of Director for the International Spa Association (ISPA) and is a frequent guest lecturer and contributor of articles to spa, hospitality and massage trade publications.