MISSION, VISION & VALUES
Florida Spa Association network of spa professionals is unified by the desire to promote Florida as the finest destination for wellness and beauty experiences in the country.
We are an association built around the trust and professionalism of peers that works to contribute through education and networking in a united effort to build a successful and thriving spa industry.
Embracing this mission, the Florida Spa Association follows a more progressive approach towards wellness by launching an educational wellness series featured not only on our website but also promoted on our social media platforms as well as shared within special events.
Join the FSA and become woven into the fabric of the Florida spa community. Those who are considering an FSA membership should have an interest in bettering the experience of guests, employees, management, as well as their affiliates. This organization was not created solely for the purpose of linking merchants with vendors, nor for social interaction alone. Our mission is to improve the environment of the industry as a whole.
If you believe in values-driven business and want to do more and get more out of your role in the Spa industry, call 954-475-1246 today and become a part of an organization that delivers just that.
Code Of Ethics
Here at the Florida Spa Association we are committed to our code of ethics. Each member, as well as its board members, adheres to them in order to promote the organization in a professional manner. Our codes of ethics are as follows:
- Members are expected to operate using the highest standards of business and personal relationships.
- Guided in all activities by truth, accuracy, fairness and integrity.
- Member pledges loyalty to the Association and agrees to pursue and support its objectives.
- Member pledges to keep informed on the latest techniques, developments and knowledge pertinent to professional improvement.
- Member will help fellow members reach personal and professional fulfillment.
- Member will utilize every opportunity to enhance the public image of the spa industry.
The FSA and its Board of Director’s pride themselves in maintaining these professional standards and business environments. Our goal is to uphold positive experiences and environments for their guests and team members respectively. Review of any membership incidents, complaints, violations or infractions is at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, all decisions are final.
The FSA Team
Ilana Moses | FSA Founder & CEO
Founder, Florida Spa Association, LLC
Ilana began her selling career in New York City working with major department store chains and affiliated corporate buying groups in 1984. After moving to Florida in 1999 Ilana formed her own company as an Independent Sales Representative and established herself within the Florida Spa Market, having pioneered and developed skincare brands such as MD Skincare by Dr. Dennis Gross, which she built into a highly recognized brand. As President of IM Beauty Sales, she continues to develop strong relationships with Spa Directors as a Consultant, representing skin care and luxury spa brands. Also the Founder of the Florida Spa Association, in 2008 Ilana created the FSA in effort to promote the Florida Spa Industry and unite spa and industry professionals by offering unique networking experiences and education to help build a successful and thriving Florida Spa Market. Today the FSA is known for its successful events and relationship building platform.
Board of Directors
Charlotte Prescott – President
Director of Spa & Fitness, Fisher Island Club
Linda Higgs | Advisory Board Chair
Director of Spa & Wellness, Auberge Beach Residences & Spa
Linda is the Director of Spa & Wellness at the new Auberge Beach Residences & Spa in Fort Lauderdale. Prior to this, Linda was with Shula’s Hotel for 21 years. Linda was the Spa Director running a highly successful day spa since 2008 and formerly as the Director of Sales for Don Shula’s Hotel & Golf Club for nearly 10 years. Linda has put her talent for sales and marketing to work, keeping the business fresh and ever-changing with continual growth in revenue, profit, retail product sales and service offerings. Linda also handled promotions, events and social marketing for the Spa at Shula’s. As a board member of the Florida Spa Association for the past 3 years, Linda continues on as Vice-Chair of the FSA Advisory Board.
Suzanne Holbrook | FSA Senior Advisor to the Board
Senior Director of Spa Operations for the Americas – Marriott International and Starwood
With more than 30 years experience in the industry, Holbrook is seen as an industry leader and widely credited for her vision in moving forward The Ritz Carlton spa brand, producing outstanding financial results. As executive spa director for The Ritz-Carlton Spa in Orlando, she increased revenues by $2M in two years. At The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Plantation Spa she orchestrated the first partnership with Medical Spa, creating the company’s first holistic and medical treatment spa.
Advisory Board Members
Jill Barron | FSA Advisory Board
Spa and Salon Director, Ocean Reef Club & Spa
Recently appointed to the FSA Board, Jill is the Spa Director for Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo. Jill has been in the Spa and Wellness industry in a variety of roles for more than 18 years. Jill began her career as a makeup artist. After completing 1000 hours for her esthetic license at the International School of Skin Care in Atlanta, Jill worked as Spa and Marketing Director for a top Cosmetic Dermatology practice in Atlanta for over 10 years. Jill made a career change when she joined award winning Miraval in Tucson Arizona, as Assistant Spa Director and then promoted to Spa Director. Her next move was to the Big Island of Hawaii to join “The Spa Without Walls” at Fairmont Orchid as Spa and Fitness Director where she worked for 2 years. In September 2017 Jill took on the role of Spa Director at Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, an exclusive private club, where she takes pride in serving her members.
William “Bill” Toth | FSA Advisory Board
Director of Spa and Activities, Somewhere Spa and Salon, Margaritaville Resort Orlando
Bill Toth brings more than 25 years of professional and executive experience in the hospitality, wellness, spa, salon, recreation, and fitness industries. Entering the field initially as a massage therapist, personal trainer, and sports nutrition counselor, he expanded his education to include becoming a certified Consulting Clinical Hypnotist, Life Coach, and Master Practitioner of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming). He also holds certifications as an NLP Results Coach, a Timeline Coach and Regression Specialist, in Hypnosis for Pain Management, Hypnosis for Weight Loss, Handwriting Analysis and in Dynamic Public Speaking. He has dedicated his professional career to wellness and to quality of life improvements.
Currently, Bill is the Director of Spa and Activities, running the St Somewhere Spa and Salon, Fitness, Pool Operations, Recreation, and the Kid’s Club for the Margaritaville Resort Orlando. He was a part of the opening team for the resort which opened in 2019. He has also worked for Canyon Ranch, Starwood, Marriott, Westgate, WTS International, and Steiner Leisure as a Director in one of their esteemed spas.
Kris Hiskey | FSA Advisory Board
Spa Director for The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota
Kris started her career as a Massage therapist in 1994. Holding a Florida and New York Massage Lic. Kris started at Canyon Ranch Spa club at the Gaylord Palms in December of 2004 as an on call massage therapist. Working hard and having a true passion for the industry Kris worked hard to become a trainer, Lead and eventually the Assistant Spa Director at Canyon Ranch Spa Club. After a name change to Relâche Spa Kris became Spa Director in February of 2014. In January of 2018 Kris moved to sunny Sarasota as Spa Director for The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota. Later that same year Kris joined the Marriot Spa Advisory Council to further her commitment and passion for the industry. Kris is married with 3 children: Samantha, Kaitlyn and William.
Kimberly DeOrsey | FSA Advisory Board & Wellness Advocate
Kimberly DeOrsey is a Spa Operations and Marketing expert with decades of experience at the helm of some of the most notable spa resorts in South Florida such as: nSPA @ The Delray Beach Marriott; The Henderson Resort & Spa, Boca Raton Resort and Club, The Spa at Mar-A-Lago and many more. Known for her Wellness, media and marketing savvy, DeOrsey’s profile in the wellness industry has also grown in the past five years since being tapped as on-air expert for a series of forty-three different Wellness Exchange Segments with the local NBC Today Show on WPTV in Palm Beach and one Wellness Exchange segment for ABC’s WPBF. Since 2016 she has also served as one of 83 Global Wellness Day Ambassadors from around the world, orchestrating educational community wellness events on the second Saturday of June each year. In the first quarter of 2020, DeOrsey – a mother of three – also: launched Amrit Ocean Resort & Residence’s Facebook Live Series, helped field produce the second season of the Global Wellness Summit Podcast and continues to serve as a Family Camp Ambassador for Experience Camp, a free one-week camps for boys and girls who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver.
Committee Members
Mitchell Berkman | FSA Events Committee Chair
Director of Spa & Wellness Operations, Porto Vita
Mitchell Berkman is a Los Angeles native who has called Miami his home since 2002. He is the Director of Spa & Wellness Operations at Porto Vita, a private residential community in Aventura, Florida. Previous achievements include opening Turnberry Ocean Colony & the Spa at The Standard, Miami. His philosophy is, “Be sincere, successful, & make it fun.”
Prior to calling Florida his home, he traveled to more than 55 countries working with the Golden Door’s Spa at Sea, Rancho la Puerta, and the Aerobics & Fitness Association of America (AFAA). Mitchell moved to Italy fresh out of high school where he taught aerobics, co-starred in a TV fitness show, won a Media Arts Award, and ate fantastic food.
He is an AFAA certified personal trainer, aerobics instructor, and teaches yoga and mat Pilates. At age 37, Mitchell earned his B.S. degree in Organizational Management in the year 2000. He speaks Italian, Spanish, and French, and enjoys writing and performing as a SAG-AFTRA voice actor when the opportunities arise. Helping others maximize their potential is his passion and life focus.
Katrina Kalkowski | FSA Social Media & Creative Content Committee Chair
Director of Spa, Fitness, Pool & Beach at Turnberry Ocean Colony
Katrina has been in the hospitality industry for over 10 years starting in Food & Beverage but ultimately found her passion in the Spa world, where she worked her way up the ranks from Spa Concierge, to Spa Manager and then Director of Spa and Wellness. Properties Katrina has had the opportunity to oversee were Spa Serenity at Turnberry Ocean Colony, The Spa at The Setai Hotel, Ciel Spa at SLS Lux, Iconbrickell Spa, Enliven Spa at The JW Marquis, The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, where she started her spa career. Katrina is a successful hands-on spa leader with over-all direction and day-to-day oversight of spa, fitness, pool & beach and wellness. Katrina served as Administrator for the Florida Spa Association for 2 years and then a Co-Chair for the Events Committee for 2 more years. Katrina continues her relationship with the FSA as Chairperson, Social Media and Creative Content while still assisting with membership, events and education. Katrina is dedicated to the spa and wellness community and believes in looking to explore new opportunities to learn innovative concepts and ways of managing spas. “Educating yourself…means that you are intelligent enough to know that there is plenty left to learn.”- Melanie Joy
Ashley Spurlock | FSA Regulatory Committee Chair
Director of spa and fitness for Heavenly Spa at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort
Ashley is the director of spa and fitness for Heavenly Spa at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, where she has worked since 2016. Prior to joining the resort, she held positions as group sales manager with PGA National, national sales manager for Sun Coast Salts and opening spa director for Spa Evangeline at the Epicurean Hotel in Tampa. Prior to moving to Florida in 2013, Ashley began her spa career in Arkansas, where she served as business development manager for a medical spa and later spent five years as spa director for Spa Botanica at Embassy Suites, the region’s only hotel with a spa! Ashley holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism, and spent her early career years working in television news as well as non-profit fundraising, PR and event planning. Her career passions are marketing, sales and retail buying. Her ultimate passion is spending time with her 14-year-old son Grayson who lives with his Dad in Arkansas.
Albert Jimenez I FSA Committee Member
Spa Supervisor and Lead Therapist at Ocean Spa at Playa Largo Resort
Malory Garcia I FSA Membership Committee Member
Assistant Spa Director – Ocean Reef Resort & Spa, Key Largo
Malory is the Salon and Spa Manager with the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo for nearly 4 years managing daily operations for their 11, 000 square foot private and exclusive members only community and club in the Florida Keys. Being associated within the spa industry for over 11 years, Malory worked at PGA National Resort and Spa as Spa Sales Manager for nearly 2 years before joining Ocean Reef Club. She held several positions in the hospitality industry dating back to 2007 where she was a Professional Training and Coaching Spa Consultant at the Breakers in Palm Beach. Malory holds a Bachelors Degree from Florida International University in Hospitality Management and an Associate’s Degree at Johnson and Wales University in Culinary Arts. Malory has recently become an FSA Committee Member overseeing Membership. Malory is known for her talent and compassion as a spa leader and has earned the admiration from Ocean Reef Club members and her spa peers .