Spa People in the News
ISPA to Recognize Edwin Neill II
as a Visionary for the Spa Industry
LEXINGTON, Ky. - An entrepreneur, innovator and inspiration
for the spa industry will be honored during the 2004 International SPA
Association Conference & Expo, Nov. 8-11 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United
States. The late Edwin Neill II (Aug. 2, 1939 - Feb. 28, 2004), former
chief executive officer of Neill Corporation and a past member of both
the ISPA and ISPA Foundation boards, is the recipient of the ISPA 2004
Visionary Award.
Edwin's wife Debra will accept the ISPA Visionary Award
on behalf of her late husband on Tuesday, Nov. 9. "Even though
Edwin Neill II successfully founded and led many businesses throughout
each sector of the spa industry, he never stopped learning and promoting
progressive thinking to shape the industry for generations," said
ISPA Chair Jeff Kohl. "His ultimate legacy will be that of leading
by example and encouraging others to transform words into actions."
Neill was the CEO and owner of Neill Corporation, the
largest independent distributor of AVEDA products in the world. The
company covers 10 states in the Southeast and is a major force in the
beauty industry. Neill Corporation encompasses several other businesses,
all of which support the growth and development of the beauty industry.
Other corporate companies include 10 Aveda concept salons, seven Aveda
Institutes and cosmetology schools in Texas, North Carolina, Georgia
and Louisiana.
Twenty years ago, Neill was one of the pioneers to address
the need for a specialized software for the salon and spa industry which
resulted in SalonBiz® and SpaBiz®. Neill also launched etopa,
a salon and spa resource. His passion for learning can be measured in
accomplishments including the establishment of Neill Quality College,
dedicated to groundbreaking learning methods that included team building
and rope courses, as well as basic business principals. Additionally,
Neill formed ededge, a book summary club that featured author interviews
with some of the most revolutionary thinkers of our time.
The 14th annual ISPA Conference & Expo is the spa
industry's proven resource for education and networking. For additional
details on the Conference, visit www.ispaconference.com. Information
on Conference registration is included on the site.
ISPA is recognized worldwide as the leading professional
organization and voice of the spa industry. Founded in 1991, ISPA's
membership is comprised of approximately 2,000 health and wellness facilities
and providers from 66 countries. ISPA strives to advance the professionalism
of the spa industry by providing invaluable educational and networking
opportunities, to promote the value of the spa experience to society
and to be the authoritative voice of the spa industry.
Spas are entities devoted to enhancing overall well-being
through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal
of mind, body and spirit.
