Amy McDonald Principal
A 28-year veteran of the spa and hospitality industries, Amy McDonald is widely recognized as an industry expert in environmentally and economically sustainable practices and as an innovator in transformational spa programming. Her recent roles included Spa & Program Director of El Monte Sagrado Living Spa in Taos New Mexico as well as Spa Director of the award-winning Miraval Resort in Tucson Arizona. Today Amy’s sustainable experience and sensibilities are sought after around the world by international hotels and resorts, developers and industry press from Organic Spa Magazine to the New York Times. Based in Tucson, Arizona.
Edward Moffett Program Consultant
A fifth-generation Bodyworker and second-generation Yoga Instructor with over 30 years of experience, Ed brings an extraordinary level of visionary innovation to the world of Spa Programs and Specialties. Noted as one of the world’s top therapists in Luxury SpaFinder’s Therapist Hall of Fame in 2006, Ed was much sought after for his work at El Monte Sagrado in Taos and Miraval in Tucson. Today he travels to powerful natural sites to develop unique methods to create energy and balance with
our body, mind and planet. Based in Tucson, Arizona.
Janna Auger Business Operations Director
As the Spa Manager at the award winning Living Spa at El Monte Sagrado Living Resort in Taos, New Mexico, Janna managed the pre-opening and opening and assisted in the design of the spa's expansion. El Monte Sagrado's revolutionary commitment to environmentally sustainable practices provided a unique opportunity to develop treatments and operational protocol that honored and protected natural resources, supported the well being of staff and raised guests' level of awareness for safe, transformative treatments and programs. Janna continues this commitment in her collaborations with AM&A by developing environmental standards for spa operations and researching spa equipment, products and protocol that conserve, renew and protect natural resources. Based in Boulder, Colorado.
Lisa Kelleher Retail, Design & Communications Consultant
With over 23 years in communications and design, Lisa brings together conceptual development, strategic thinking, branding, design, and marketing for a wide array of clients in the health and hospitality industries. From competitive research to program development and marketing Lisa has collaborated closely with clients creating products, services and destinations across North America. As Creative Director of Communications at one of Toronto’s leading design companies Lisa led a multi-disciplined team of writers, designers and architects contributing to many award-winning projects. Based in Toronto, Canada.
Michael Lahm Spa Development & Creative Consultant
A spa professional with diverse talents and a refined sensibility, Michael's portfolio of work spans a broad spectrum of the spa landscape; from developing a resort spa concept for Sundãri in Miami Beach, to executing an integrated spa, fitness and grooming model for the Core Club in New York City. As the original Managing Director of Bliss, Michael engineered a major transformation in the industry, creating the archetype for what is now known as the urban day spa. Michael applies his talents to strategic and concept development, facility planning, treatment design, operations, service models, staffing and training. Based in New York City, New York.
Suzanne Kaiser Integrated Wellness Consultant
A leader in spa wellness for 15 years, Suzanne’s “guest driven” approach inspires differentiated and innovative wellness programming that is truly integrative. She has created clinical and spiritual health and wellness programs at award-winning destinations including Canyon Ranch and the Miraval Resort and Spa. With an extensive spa background, she has access to well known experts in energy and herbal medicine, nutrition positive psychology, massage, Chinese medicine, mind body fitness, skin health, sleep, sexuality and integrative medicine. Suzanne has been interviewed by USA Today, Fortune Magazine, TIME, O Magazine and Fast Company. Based in Tucson, Arizona.
Gregoria Moran Sustainable Design & Marketing Consultant
Gregoria has over 17 years experience in the promotions, special events, marketing and publicity for the sustainability, architecture, spa and hospitality markets.
Gregoria began her career in public relations in Washington, DC marketing for the Environmental Protection Agency and volunteering for United Nations Environment Program and Friends of the Earth. After years in DC, she moved westward to Scottsdale, Arizona to develop marketing strategies for architectural firms. Together with founder and architectural visionary A. Paul Moran, Gregoria helped establish Moran Architects as a preeminent leader in sustainable and regenerative design and spa architecture. As President of this world-renowned architectural firm, Gregoria furthered the cause and legacy of Paul Moran, working to find solutions that meet the needs of today’s generation without compromising the requirements of the future. Today, Gregoria sets her sights on advancing the guiding principal of sustainable design for healthy living in spa and hospitality architecture worldwide. Gregoria concentrates her efforts in promoting sustainable spa existence in the hospitality, health and wellness arenas. She remains committed to campaigning for reducing the environmental impact of design while enhancing the living experience through design.
Based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Alisa Spirit of the Wind LEED® Accredited Interior Design Consultant
With a deep passion for sustainable design practices, Alisa contributes a varied and rich background to the team. Graduating Summa cum laude in Interior Design with a Sustainable Design emphasis, Alisa brings advanced technical and design skills to Amy McDonald & Associates projects. She is an Allied ASID member and a LEED® Accredited Professional. With an attention to detail and local culture, Alisa has a breadth of knowledge in indigenous cultures and sacred architecture, marrying ancient cultural wisdom into modern interiors in a sustainable and conscientious manner. Prior to practicing interior design, Alisa received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She has over 10 years experience working with a diverse national and international clientele that spans the global marketplace. Adept at organizing people and projects to maximize teamwork and achieve business goals, she carries this diverse background forward into the field of design to create interior spaces that are functional, aesthetically pleasing and sustainable. Based in Boulder, Colorado.
Joanne Gogarty Spa & Wellness Operations Consultant
A seasoned business professional with over 20 years of experience in the spa and wellness fields, Joanne’s career has taken her from practitioner to manager to a consultant involved in all levels of the wellness industry. She was a member of the opening team for The Sonoran Spa at the Boulders and The Golden Door at the Boulders in Scottsdale, AZ; the eco-resort Living Spa at El Monte Sagrado in Taos, NM and most recently, the multi-award winning Mayflower Spa in Washington, Connecticut, named the number one destination spa by Condé Naste in 2007. As a nationally certified massage therapist and Reiki Master, Joanne has worked with over 5,000 clients in spa and medical settings and in her own private practice. In conjunction with Amy McDonald & Associates, and on her own, Joanne has consulted on a wide variety of spa projects in the United States and internationally.
Based in Paramus, New Jersey.
James McGee Consultant
James has eighteen years of experience helping clients create more compelling health strategies, products, and experiences. As Staff Vice President of Corporate Strategy & Development at WellPoint, James led strategy and product innovation efforts in several categories, including on-site health destinations, next-generation primary care, medical tourism, and retail / onsite clinics. During his time at WellPoint, James was instrumental in launching and operating California Health & Longevity Institute, an integrated health destination. Adept at business modeling, product innovation, and creating transformative customer experiences, James is committed to helping create a customer-centric, integrated health system.
Based in Ventura, California.
Elba Moreno Patiño Financial Analyst: Mexico and Latin America
Elba provides solid Financial & Marketing Analysis to Spas and wellness service projects in a way that assures environmental and economic sustainability. She has led market research and statistical analysis for organizations in the health care (Merck Mexico), hospitality (Finisterra Resort) and real estate (Inmobiliaria del Cabo) industries among others, and has conducted financial feasibility studies since 2002. She has been particularly influential in promoting local biodiversity through exploratory market research and multivariate analysis report generation for eco-tourist & natural tourism developments. Having graduated Summa cum laude in Marketing, Elba is currently pursuing an MBA, with a specialty in Finance, from Pepperdine University, while simultaneously participating in a course on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by Bloomberg International in Seoul, Korea, and has participated in the Trade of Commerce Forum at WOT in Geneva, Switzerland. Elba’s rich experiences on Asian, European and Latin-American culture merged with her abilities on marketing & financial brings an unique vision to Amy McDonald & Associates projects.
