Larry H. Oskin, President of Marketing Solutions, Inc. & Art Beautique, Inc. ~ Fairfax, Virginia

Larry Oskin has often been referred to as a "Marketing ChangeMaster" and a "Guerrilla Marketeer". He is a creative professional beauty industry executive with excellent development and strategic planning capabilities. He shares over 30 years of professional marketing and management experiences in service-oriented retail industries such as fine art, food, supermarket, bank, real estate and sports team marketing with a primary focus in the professional salon, day spa, medical spa, medical services, salon chain and beautycare industries.

Larry Oskin is founder and president of Marketing Solutions, Inc. where he leads a team of multi-talented professionals. Marketing Solutions remains respected as the premier full-service marketing, advertising, graphic design, public relations and consulting services agency. Now celebrating over 17 years of success, Marketing Solutions specializes in the professional beauty, spa, medical spa, medical clinic, salon, cosmetology school and image enhancement businesses with clients from across North America. Marketing Solutions offers a full service in-house boutique style agency approach with services to complement any entrepreneurial venture including: Strategic Marketing Programs, Advertising & Marketing Campaigns, New Business Venture Development, Retail Sales Enhancement Programs, Namebrand Product Development, Graphic Design, Photography, Art Direction, Local, National & International Public Relations.

Oskin formerly served as a Vice President at Steppes Beauticians, Regis Corporation and Creative Hairdressers, three of the largest salon chain companies in North America where he successfully helped launch and lead numerous salon chain companies. Larry Oskin is often a featured speaker at national and international beauty, salon, spa and medical spa conferences.

Oskin is Chairperson of the PR & Media Relations Committees for the Day Spa Association and the International Medical Spa Association, while actively serving on the Advisory Boards of Both associations. Oskin capably sits on numerous national and international editorial advisory boards, inclusive of both beauty trade and consumer magazines. Many hundreds of his feature articles on marketing, advertising and media relations for the professional salon, spa industries as well as many consumer publications have been published across the globe. Oskin is a graphic designer, fine artist, photographer and journalist.

Marketing Solutions offers expertise in marketing, management and consulting experiences with a diverse client list of major regional, national and international companies. Clients range from manufacturers, distributors, publishers, cosmetology schools and associations to salons, day spa salons, medical offices, medical spas, wellness centers, publishers and salon chains. Due to many years of experience and many success stories with numerous national salon chains, Oskin has also become known as the industry's 'Salon Chain Expert' while the Marketing Solutions agency has also become known as 'Salon Chain Specialists'. Visit www.MktgSols.com for more information.

In 2007, Larry Oskin founded Art Beautique, a publisher of limited edition, collectable and original fine art with unique specialties in spa, salon, beauty and medical related subjects.

Larry Oskin may be reached at 703-359-6000 EXT: 22, via email at LOskin@MktgSols.com.

THIS PROFILE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY THIS MONTH'S SPA PERSON AND IS BEING PRESENTED AS GIVEN TO THE DSA. STATEMENTS AND CLAIMS MADE DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE DAY SPA ASSOCIATION AND WE DO NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENTS.

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Rhonda J. Wilson is executive editor of DAYSPA magazine. She is passionate about serving the spa community and helping spa owners/managers run their businesses more effectively. Under her guidance, the publication continues to be the industry's go-to resource for management and marketing strategies, building and retaining clientele and identifying the latest trends, products and services, with a focus on the recent green/organic and wellness movements.

In her one-year service with the magazine, she has strengthened its standing as the No. 1 business-to-business publication and website for the spa/salon market by introducing more investigative reporting. One recent groundbreaking piece, "Rubbed the Wrong Way," uncovers the growing problem of female clients filing sexual misconduct claims against male massage therapists and the devastating effects these allegations can have on a day spa. It also provides preventive measures to protect spas from becoming a target.

As a journalist for more than 15 years, Ms. Wilson has served as an editor and a writer for several health and wellness publications. Her articles have appeared in Self, Shape, Redbook and Good Housekeeping. She has received numerous honors for her published work, including several Maggie Awards and a prestigious Jesse H. Neal Award in 2007.

Ms. Wilson is a member of Day Spa Association and ISPA. She can be reached through dayspamagazine.com, myspace.com/dayspamagazine or by email at rwilson@creativeage.com.

THIS PROFILE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY THIS MONTH'S SPA PERSON AND IS BEING PRESENTED AS GIVEN TO THE DSA. STATEMENTS AND CLAIMS MADE DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE DAY SPA ASSOCIATION AND WE DO NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENTS.

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Eric J. Light is one of the founders of the Strawberry Hill Group (UK) Limited, a 27 year old business development and design firm in England with a major interest in the hospitality, spa and wellness industries. While residing in England, Mr. Light was responsible for the business design and development of spa and wellness projects in England, Greece and Spain.

Mr. Light left The Strawberry Hill Group in 1980 to join Procter and Gamble as a Senior Manager. During his career with Procter and Gamble, Mr. Light worked on a number of national and international health and beauty projects. In addition, he worked on the development of a global strategy for Procter and Gamble's involvement in the spa industry. Mr. Light has visited 87 different countries and talked with over 2,000 consumers about their spa experiences.

In 2001, Mr. Light rejoined The Strawberry Hill Group of Companies as President of North and Latin American operations. The Strawberry Hill Group, Inc. represents the company's first venture into the North and Latin American marketplace and is currently working with clients in Florida, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, and Mexico on the design of new businesses or the revamping of existing facilities and programs.

Mr. Light attended the University of Mexico, Temple University in Philadelphia, and Trinity and All Saints Colleges, England. He holds degrees in anthropology, communications and perceptual psychology. Mr. Light has lectured extensively in the United States, Europe, and Latin America about the business development process, techniques for concept and vision creation, and consumer perceptions. He has been interviewed by numerous print and broadcast media outlets in the United States and Europe, and is a member of the Day Spa Association.

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

THIS PROFILE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY THIS MONTH'S SPA PERSON AND IS BEING PRESENTED AS GIVEN TO THE DSA. STATEMENTS AND CLAIMS MADE DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE DAY SPA ASSOCIATION AND WE DO NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENTS.

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Felicia Brown, LMBT-Spa Consultant & Trainer - Spalutions!

Felicia Brown, LMBT is the owner of Spalutions!, (www.spalutions.com) a firm that provided business solutions for spa professionals through business consulting, marketing coaching and staff training programs. She has written for numerous trade publications including Massage Therapy Journal, Massage Magazine, Massage & Bodywork, Spa Management Journal and Dermascope and has also released her first CD, "Just Breathe: Guided Meditations for Inner Peace." Felicia has been a licensed massage therapist since 1994, founded Balance Day Spa in Greensboro, NC (which she sold in 2005), and is a licensed commercial real estate broker.

Felicia currently serves on an advisory board for the Massage Therapy Journal, a publication of the American Massage Therapy Association and reviews trade-related textbooks, manuscripts and other materials for MiladySalonovations and Health Positive Inc. She is also the Assistant Editor for the Day Spa/Medical Spa Bible 2nd Edition, a publication which is being put out by the Day Spa Association (DSA) and the International Medical Spa Association (IMSA). Felicia also provides free business and marketing advice and resources for spa ad wellness professionals on her blog at http://blog.spalutions.com/ and through a regular teleseminar series.

Felicia has won numerous awards for her business skills and accomplishments including the 2005 Small Business Person of the Year (Greensboro Chamber of Commerce), 2004 Women in Business (The Business Journal), 2003 Forty Leaders Under Forty (The Business Journal), 2003 Best Places to Work (The Business Journal for Balance Day Spa), and 2005 Best Spa in Greensboro (Triad Style for Balance Day Spa). In 2007, she was also given an award for Volunteer (committee) of the Year by the American Massage Therapy Association.

Felicia is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina and has lived there her whole life except for a three year stint in Crested Butte, Colorado where she taught kids skiing. Prior to her career as a massage therapist, she also taught figure skating and worked in the hospitality industry as a staff trainer, waitress and bartender. In her free time, Felicia enjoys running, yoga, reading, cooking, travel, and spa/travel adventures of most any sort. She also enjoys volunteer work and has worked in the past with the Melanoma Research Foundation, Greensboro Jaycees, Mobile Meals, Triad Health Project, The MS Society, and MDA to name a few. Felicia is married to David Clayton, and together they have a houseful of pets - 3 dogs and 1 cat - all of whom are rescued.

Felicia Brown can be reached by email at Felicia@Spalutions.com

THIS PROFILE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY THIS MONTH'S SPA PERSON AND IS BEING PRESENTED AS GIVEN TO THE DSA. STATEMENTS AND CLAIMS MADE DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE DAY SPA ASSOCIATION AND WE DO NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENTS.

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March/April

Larry Donahue is one of the founders, and COO & Corporate Counsel for SpaBoom, the leading provider of Instant Gift Certificate functionality for over 1,700 spas and salons across North America. At SpaBoom, he provides business development, project management, operations and customer service experience and support; helping SpaBoom become one of the fast growing technology companies in the industry.

Larry’s career includes over 18 years of Internet business development and information technology management. Formerly COO and Corporate Counsel for FatCow Web Hosting, Larry managed that company to profitable, triple-digit growth rates and oversaw the sale of FatCow for a higher-than-average valuation.

Prior to FatCow, Larry held leading positions with Baker Robbins & Company, and Leapnet, Inc., and founded Practice.com, Inc. As a seasoned high-tech professional, Larry complements the SpaBoom team with his extensive business management and building experience. His successful track record designing, developing and leading complex IT initiatives for multiple businesses serves as a springboard for designing and deploying SpaBoom’s web-based software and services.

Larry is licensed to practice law in the State of New Mexico, the State of Illinois, is a registered patent attorney, has contributed to multiple Internet-focused publications and has presented on topics associated with cyber communication, the Internet and computer technology, both from a legal and technical standpoint. Larry also serves on the board of directors for the New Mexico Spa Association. Larry appeared on the New Mexico Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” in 2003 and 2004.

Contact Larry at Larry.Donahue@spaboom.com

THIS PROFILE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY THIS MONTH'S SPA PERSON AND IS BEING PRESENTED AS GIVEN TO THE DSA. STATEMENTS AND CLAIMS MADE DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE DAY SPA ASSOCIATION AND WE DO NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENTS.

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THIS PROFILE HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY THIS MONTH'S SPA PERSON AND IS BEING PRESENTED AS GIVEN TO THE DSA. STATEMENTS AND CLAIMS MADE DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE DAY SPA ASSOCIATION AND WE DO NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENTS.

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