Green Spa Network is directed by a team of enthusiastic and highly recognized spa professionals who are working to promote natural connections and transform the spa industry.

Board of Directors

Michael Stusser, founder, Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary
Michael’s early career was in organic gardening. He helped found three training centers still in operation today including the Agroecology program at UC Santa Cruz. His discovery of the Japanese Enzyme Bath was a life-changing experience that led him to create Osmosis, a unique day spa in Northern California. In recent years he has been an organizer of the effort to bring social and environmental consciousness to the spa community.

"The spa industry is nothing short of remarkable, providing over 110 million spa services annually. People are being touched in deep ways and the possibilities of how we can influence culture are profound. Green Spa Network is a place where like minded people who have come to the spa business with a sincere intent to make the world a better place are gathering to usher in a new era. I am excited by the amazing opportunity we have to help to bring about a more earth-friendly spa industry."

Cici Coffee, founder, Natural Body Spa & Shop
Cici Coffee is the quintessential example of a successful business professional. She founded the company in 1989, and has since successfully expanded her idea into over 22 locations in seven states. Not only does Natural Body boast an impressive number of spas, the company has continued to develop its original concept with the addition of the innovative 10Ten Nail Bar. Through Cici’s vision, the business is also exceptionally committed to community and sustaining the environment. (more)

"When given the opportunity to become a vital part of The Green Spa Network, we jumped at the prospect of being able to help others in our industry green their operations. Our participation in GSN provides another vehicle for us to educate our industry and clients on the importance of environmental stewardship, much the same way we empower our spa clients to take care of themselves."
Natural Body Spa & Shop partners Celia Tully and Cici Coffee

Tara Grodjesk, President, Tara Spa Therapy, Inc.
Tara has been in the wellness field for 25 years. Certified as a Massage Therapist, Wholistic Health Educator and Ayurvedic Practitioner, she was the first to introduce Ayurvedic treatments to the spa industry, bringing a more integrated approach to healthy lifestyle programs in spas. Based in Carmel, California Tara Spa Therapy programs are found in world-class spas nationwide and internationally. Tara has been an active participant of ISPA for 16 years and has served on the Education Committee and Conference Committee. She was most recently Chairwoman of ISPA’s first taskforce on Greening and Sustainability.

"There has been tremendous development in the hotel and spa industry. As I have traveled to world class resorts for the past 18 years, I’ve been amazed at how much this development has lacked a conscience. Today, we stand at the vortex of a huge shift in consciousness and I believe Green Spa Network can be at the forefront of this ground swell."

Rhana Pytell, Director and Co-Owner, Gaia Spa LLC., President, Amethyst Systems
Founder and director of GAIA Spa LLC, a company committed to the finest in personal care and wellness. Opening in La Jolla CA in 1997 as an oasis for skin and body care GAIA continues to be a leader in industry trends. In 2007 GAIA became a seed member of the Green Spa Network, an organization whose purpose is to bring sustainable operating practices to the spa industry, and to promote the natural connections between personal wellbeing, economic sustainability, and the health of our environment.

Amethyst Systems provides spa management tools in a web-based format. Based on systems thinking, the software platform enhances organizational structure, information delivery and quality improvement.

Nozomu "Nez" and Donna Tokugawa, founders,  Chado-En  and The Wellness Gardens

Nozomu "Nez" and Donna Tokugawa spent 30 years in the financial industry in executive and board level positions. Using gardening, and tea as their medicine to survive and thrive in this high pressure environment before “escaping”. Now with a keen eye on making a life not only a living they study horticulture therapy, tea and Asian culture. Traveling to Japan, Taiwan and China every year they are importers of premium teas, the Co-Founders of Chado-En an online educational site, the publisher of The Tea Lifestyle Journal and the founding directors of the non-profit The Wellness Gardens. (more)

Roberto Arjona, Chief Executive Officer, Rancho La Puerta

Roberto Arjona heads a staff of over 400 at North America’s first “destination spa,” Rancho La Puerta—founded in 1940 in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico. From the beginning, the resort’s mind/body/spirit fitness emphasis has included maintaining a major organic farm on the premises, energy conservation, eco-friendly waste management, and other sustainable methods of providing service to over 6,500 guests a year, all of whom stay one week or more. Prior to Rancho La Puerta, Roberto held executive positions at The Lodge at Pebble Beach, California, and The Lodge at Torrey Pines, La Jolla, California. Between ranch time and family time, Roberto is heavily involved in community services--whether it is working in Tecate’s community gardens, or organizing efforts to help school children conserve water and recycle. In an effort to improve living conditions and increase education Roberto has introduced English and computer classes as well as environmental and sustainable programs and workshops for the more than 400 staff members. Roberto's primary goal is to be able to provide his staff with additional knowledge and tools so they can assist their families and communities. Currently he is working with the community’s environmental project, The Tecate River Project. Additionally he is working with the local and state governments and the private sector to place Tecate as the leader in alternative energy creation in the region. Roberto serves on the Board of Fundacion La Puerta, and is an active member of Destination Spa Group, International Spa Association, Slow Foods and LOHAS.    

Jim Chenevey, Chief Executive Officer and co-owner of EarthLite and Living Earth Crafts

EarthLite/Living Earth Crafts is the world’s leading supplier of spa and massage treatment tables whose founding core philosophy includes a profound respect for nature and the environment.   Mr. Chenevey joined EarthLite / Living Earth Crafts in 2003 and under his leadership Living Earth Crafts has seen unprecedented growth in markets around the world.   Jim’s personal commitment to ensure EarthLite and Living Earth Crafts continually evolves and grows their sustainability practices have led to many noted industry milestones.  FSC® certified manufacturing facilities, low-voltage factory lighting, intensive recycling, managed forest hardwoods, water-based lacquers and glues, CFC-free cushioning systems, biodegradable fabrics are some of the many ways EarthLite and Living Earth Crafts demonstrates its commitment to Environmental Sustainability.  Mr. Chenevey holds or has held a number of private and public sector board positions including Electra Bicycle, La Costa Youth Organization, Alp-n-Rock Apparel, Callaway Golf Japan and Europe, and The Harvard Club of San Diego.

Lara Davidson, Spa Director, The Spa at Pebble Beach

Lara began her spa career at the Peaks at Telluride as a Spa Attendant. Working with Spa professionals like Sylvia Sepielli, Tracy Lee and Gayle Brady, she discovered that she loved the Spa world and has been in it ever since. After five years, Lara was fortunate to open the first Golden Door Resort Spa, battling hurricanes and customs in Puerto Rico.  She has been at Pebble Beach for 9 years as the Spa Director.  Pebble Beach Company has been championing sustainability since the early 80s.  Their most recent project was a $68 million dollar water treatment plant that allows us to recycle ALL of our water to use on our golf courses. This year, as the resident vegan, cyclist and recycler, Lara was tasked to head up the “Green Team” for Pebble Beach Company, and is looking forward to learning and fostering positive change.

Advisory Board Members

Clifford C. Bast, SustainGroup, LLC.
Cliff established SustainGroup in 2002, drawing from 20 years’ experience as Global Manager of Hewlett-Packard’s corporate environmental leadership program, and another 10 years’ environmental management experience in government, industry and consulting. Cliff offers extensive knowledge of the business and technical aspects of sustainability; has consulted with a number of businesses and non-profits on sustainability-related initiatives; and has developed a collaborative business model for accelerating progress in sustainability for businesses and their suppliers.

"Upon leaving HP, I was really interested in helping advance sustainability within and across an entire industry. GSN has proven to is the best possible manifestation I could have imagined for this aspiration. Not only are the spa owners embracing sustainability and GSN's platform, but all the people involved in getting GSN established are an incredibly talented and authentic community of people to work with. I am honored and proud to be involved with such an important mission and to work with such incredible and dedicated people!"

Janice Gronvold, founder, Spectrec
Janice specializes in business development and strategic marketing communications for the spa, resort, medical and hospitality arenas. Over 20 years’ of national and international spa industry experience includes executive positions with world-renowned health resorts and spas. Her work specializes in projects promoting spa and wellness services such as day spas, medical facilities incorporating integrative modalities; hospitals offering therapeutic spa treatments; hotels providing spa and medical services, and healthy lifestyle residential community developments. Integrating the convergence of the spa, medical, and hospitality industries in her work, she was a contributor addressing the subject in a new book released in 2007 titled Whole Person Health Care.

Janice is a frequent guest speaker at industry conferences addressing current spa, health care, and sustainable business topics. She is a contributor to UK based Spa Business Magazine and an advisor and instructor for the Spa and Hospitality Management Certificate Program at the University of California, Irvine.

"Human and environmental health are inseparable, and intelligent resource management policies are critical for an industry promoting healthy lifestyle services, programs, and products. The spa industry has an opportunity to expand its role as an incubator that revolutionized spa and healthy lifestyle themes into a global industry to now also serve as an incubator for carbon reducing business models and healthy planet themes. To be an authentic, viable and relevant industry in the future, we need to work together to prepare the industry for the emerging paradigm of tomorrow’s business landscape. A new cultural narrative that embraces but goes beyond renewable energies and carbon neutrality has emerged, providing a revolutionary blueprint with tools and models for replacing unsustainable systems and infrastructures with new models linking profitability with efficient, innovative, and restorative use of resources. The Green Spa Network is founded upon the natural connection between human and planetary health. We have before us a tremendous opportunity to integrate fundamental healing principles of our spa culture heritage with contemporary adaptations that will contribute to the intelligent ecological, philosophical, social, and economic evolution of our industry and collective future."

Celia Tully, Natural Body Spa & Shoppe
Celia is Managing Director of Marketing and one of the partners for Natural Body Spa and Shoppe, the operator of 17 day spas in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. In addition to branding, product and concept development, she leads Natural Body’s environmental initiatives, which have been the cornerstone of the company’s mission since it’s inception in 1989. Celia has spearheaded employee contribution campaigns with Earth Share and has coordinated fundraising initiatives with Georgia Organics and other environmental non-profits, positioning Natural Body as a leader in educating employees and consumers about environmental awareness.

"When given the opportunity to become a vital part of The Green Spa Network, we jumped at the prospect of being able to help others in our industry green their operations. Our participation in GSN provides another vehicle for us to educate our industry and clients on the importance of environmental stewardship, much the same way we empower our spa clients to take care of themselves."
Natural Body Spa & Shoppe partners Celia Tully and Cici Coffee

Mark Wuttke, Principal, Wuttke Group LLC Born and raised in the Barossa, the heart of South Australia’s old-growth vineyard region, Mark has long understood the importance of sustainable agriculture and that has strengthened his commitment to plant-based medicines, plant-based skin care, and the emerging category of Organic Luxury. Global in outlook, Mark’s experience includes 14 years as President/CEO in the USA and Australia within the wellness industry and over 20 years strategic and tactical management experience in operations, marketing, and sales. He has served over 12 years on numerous boards in green industries.

Active in the international luxury spa market, Mark is a regular speaker at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and on the editorial advisory board of Organic Spa Magazine. Mark is a founding board member of the Global Spa Summit and works closely with the International Spa Association, LOHAS, Natural Beauty Summit, and the New York Spa Promotion Alliance. He has worked with spas ranging from Arizona to the Middle East, and the Pacific Rim, including Australasia.

“For conscious consumers to take our spas seriously, we need to take a leadership role in the migration of change and avoid any form of green-washing. The spa community has the opportunity to be green alchemists for the future, but first we need to reframe our thinking. Sustainability is often not embraced within a spa because leadership does not know where to start. The task feels too large in most parts, overwhelming to say the least. We may not regret what we have done, but we may end up regretting what we didn’t do. It is not important where we start, but as long as we start. This is why I feel extremely excited about my involvement in the Green Spa Network. Through the Green Spa Network we have the ability to provide the tangible tools and leadership so spas can be green and sustainable in all facets of its meaning including people, planet, product, and profit. As with all things in life, the pain of discipline is better than the pain of regret but until sustainability becomes part of our consciousness, it will never become part of our spa culture.”

GSN Staff

James R. Morrin (GSN General Counsel), The Morrin Group
Jim Morrin specialized in environmental regulatory law for 30 years. He practiced environmental engineering and design for several years before returning to law school. Mr. Morrin was a prosecutor for the Environmental Protection Agency, where he enforced clean water and hazardous waste laws. He later joined Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon in Chicago and established that firm’s first Environmental Practice Group. He and his wife are now developing a health and wellness destination spa near Chicago.

"Revolutionary changes always start out small and then build. This country and the world is finally beginning to realize that environmental stewardship means a lot more than simply not polluting the environment. The business world is now ready to move beyond that, to minimize waste production, and to turn to sustainable resources for countless uses, from building materials to floor coverings to cleaning compounds. Green Spa Network and the spa industry will be part of the groundswell of people who together will stem the needless dissipation of Earth’s resources while giving human health the first chair that it has always deserved."