Stonewater CEO Elected President of ISPA Education Foundation

By Editorial Staff
May 29, 2009

Stonewater CEO Elected President of ISPA Education Foundation

By Editorial Staff
May 29, 2009

Stonewater founder/CEO Francis X. Acunzo has been named president of the International Spa Association (ISPA) Education Foundation for 2002-2003. Mr. Acunzo, an ISPA member since 1996, joins the foundation with a wealth of experience in the spa industry, including prior service as owner and operator of Le Pli Spa, Salon & Club in Boston, Massachusetts, and general manager of the Norwich Inn and Spa in Norwich, Conn. He currently serves on the advisory board of the Day Spa Association; the board of the Medical Spa Society; and chairs the International Health, Racquet and Sportclub Association's Day Spa Advisory Board.

The ISPA Education Foundation is a nonprofit entity established in 2000 to "serve the educational and research needs of the spa industry." Commenting on his selection as foundation president, Mr. Acunzo noted, "One of my visions is to educate and entice America's youth to seek careers in the spa industry, and to accommodate the rising number of spa-goers with trained and experienced professionals."

Connecticut-based Stonewater recently announced its intention to become the leading day spa company in the nation. (Editor's note: See "Stonewater Pursues Day Spa Consolidation" in the December 2002 issue: www.massagetoday.com/archives/2002/12/15.html.) According to Mr. Acunzo, the company's goal is to acquire medium-to-large day spas in the top 40 U.S. markets. As we go to press, Stonewater has acquired 17 day spas, including four in the previous two months: The Green Door Spa (Frontenac, Mo.); Antoinette Day Spa & Salon (Chester County, Pa.); Essentiels Spa (Boulder, Colo.); and Charles Grayson European Spa & Salon (Charlotte, N.C.).