Back for its third edition, American Spa’s Women in Wellness Awards honor those who are making an impact in the industry and beyond. These exceptional women are transforming the wellness world with their noteworthy contributions such as serving on related industry boards and organizations, discovering untapped opportunities, giving back, and bringing their unique perspective to all that they do. Nominated by their peers and chosen by acclaimed wellness journalists, these women are showing they’re a force with which to be reckoned.
From August 26 through September 4, American Spa will be announcing one new winner and two finalists of the 2019 Women in Wellness Awards each day. Today, discover the Environmental Leader of the year.
Industry Insider: This award honors a woman known as a powerful connector, serving as an inspirational mentor due to her networking prowess and for connecting members of the wellness world.
WINNER: Kristi Konieczny, founder, The Spa Buzz
A seeker of trails, both in nature and trying to blaze them, Kristi Konieczny is a wellness leader with a wealth of experience. As a former spa director, corporate wellness director, fitness professional, and esthetician, Konieczny now seeks to connect and foster strong community relationships with her company, The Spa Buzz, which hosts spa industry gatherings for connectors, influencers, innovators, and visionaries in key spa markets across the U.S. A champion of wellbeing, she launched the Buzz Bus Tour and Well on Wheels to highlight opportunities for living well across the country. Her latest venture, The W.a.v.e, curates wellness adventures in Ireland. “One thing I’ve learned from Kristi is to not wait for everything to come together before doing it,” says Doreen Young, spa director at The Oxford Club and Spa (Denver). “She has an idea and starts moving and putting things together. She creates things, and magic happens. She doesn’t get bogged down by the what ifs. Kristi is energetic, full of great ideas, and one of the best people in the industry.”
FINALIST: Anna Moine, owner, ALM Consult
Anna Moine, an avowed beauty junkie and polyglot, has worked in all facets of cosmetics marketing but decided to focus on the world of spas more than a decade ago so she could combine her love of beauty products with her affinity for relaxation and indulgence. She entered the cosmetics sector after answering a New York Times classified ad and launched the first natural French haircare line at retail. As the second employee hired, she learned to multi-task from packing boxes to negotiating complex deals with major specialty stores such as Neiman Marcus and Sephora. Sales grew from $100,000 to over $10million in a decade. She developed a reputation as a strategist for niche brands seeking to enter the U.S. market and created her own marketing and branding agency at 25. Today, she is well known for her affinity for business and her passion for the spa industry due to her unique approach to the creation of spa strategy. Her past experiences have greatly influenced her non-traditional style to new development projects or those looking to reach the next level of growth. Highly analytical and yet also creative, Moine offers an intuitive understanding of the market and its targeted customers.
FINALIST: Barbara Vacarr, CEO, Kripalu Center
Barbara Vacarr, Ph.D., is the CEO of Kripalu, North America’s premier center for yoga and health. Her long and varied career exemplifies her deep and abiding commitment to organizations whose missions inspire bold, world-changing work. Trained as a psychologist and adult educator, Vacarr served as president and CEO of Goddard College in Vermont, where she helped reconnect Goddard to its history and surrounding community. At Lesley University, Vacarr founded and directed the university’s Adult Learning Doctoral program, among many degree programs in adult education, human development/mental health counseling, and organizational leadership—fruits of nearly three decades’ dedication to adult and non-traditional students, forging strong connections between education, work and daily life. Her distinguished academic career honed the skills and wisdom needed to advance Kripalu’s leadership position, as a respected source of yoga education and a global vehicle for positive social impact. Vacarr's commitment to conscious, empathic leadership underscores her dedication to amplifying diverse voices and human experiences that enrich the organization and its offerings. A lifelong meditator and avid runner, she is happiest spending time with her family.
Congrats to our winner and finalists of the Industry Insider category. Check back tomorrow for the Philanthropist of the Year. Stay tuned on American Spa online, as well on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more info about the winners and finalists of the 2019 Women in Wellness Awards as well as upcoming Women in Wellness Leadership Conferences.
RELATED STORIES
2019 Women in Wellness Awards: Environmental Leader of the Year
2019 Women In Wellness Awards: PR And Marketing Guru Of The Year
Nominations Open for American Spa's Third Women in Wellness Awards