Mary Wisnom Receives the ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award
The International SPA Association (ISPA) will present Dr. Mary Wisnom, professor at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), with the 2017 ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award at the 27th annual ISPA Conference & Expo at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. from Oct. 16 – 18, 2017.
“Dr. Wisnom’s passionate commitment to nurturing future spa leaders and developing valuable educational resources will have a lasting impact within the spa industry and beyond. She is the true definition of a dedicated contributor and we are grateful she is a member of the ISPA community,” said ISPA President Lynne McNees.
Wisnom boasts more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry as a practitioner and educator. Her employment encompassed a variety of resorts and private clubs, including destination resorts, yacht, athletic, country and residential clubs in Michigan, Colorado and Florida. Her work focused mainly in amenity management; overseeing spa/wellness, fitness, social/conference events, aquatic, and sports/recreation facilities and programs.
In the early 1990s, she began her teaching career at Central Michigan University. In 2006 Wisnom joined the FGCU faculty, where she pursues her research interests of resort amenities, spa management and quality of work life practices. In 2012, Dr. Wisnom co-authored the textbook, Spa Management: An Introduction.
“I am truly honored and delighted to receive the ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award. As I see it, without ISPA, its people, its research and resources, as a spa management educator, I couldn’t do my job. What ISPA contributes to the spa industry is exceptional. My contributions have just been a way to return the favor; a way to give back to a group that has given me so much,” said Wisnom.
An ISPA member since 2006, Wisnom most recently served as the lead on the ISPA Academy project, a consolidated area for all ISPA resources. In addition, she developed and edited a searchable spa offerings encyclopedia within the ISPA Academy. She has served on various task forces, edited ISPA textbooks and in 2013 received an ISPA Innovate Award.
The ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award is given to an active ISPA member who has contributed significantly to the growth of the association. The recipient will have demonstrated leadership and commitment to ISPA and has extensively assisted in the promotion of the association, as well as its mission and vision.
More information about attending the 2017 ISPA Conference & Expo can be found at attendISPA.com.