Team Bios
Alaura Wood
Registered Massage Therapist
Qualifications: Diploma of Massage Therapy
Favourite Service to Provide: Myofascial release, manual lymphatic drainage, general Swedish massage.
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: An American misto and the almond croissant.
Hobbies/Interests: The gym, hiking, camping, snowboarding, watching Maddox (my son) play hockey.
Fun fact: I also teach in the massage therapy program at MRU.
Amanda Casey
Spa Manager
Favourite Thing About Working at The Willows: A few of my most enjoyed services to receive as a client at The Willows are pedicures with a charcuterie board of course, and brow lamination.
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: My go-to drink at The Willows is a vanilla latte or a London Fog, and jalapeno cheddar scones are a favourite treat.
Hobbies/Interests: Some hobbies outside of work include baking, camping, travelling, colouring and spending time with my family.
Fun fact: I am a new mom to a beautiful baby girl Sloane Casey.
Amelia Cracknell
Support Staff
Favourite Thing About Working at The Willows: My favourite thing about working at The Willows is the amazing crew I get to be a part of. Providing exceptional service to our clients is our main focus and being part of a staff working towards a common goal is both motivating and inspiring.
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: Favourite drink is a London Fog and any bakery item.
Hobbies/Interests: I love paper crafts and puzzles, reading books, and embroidery projects. In the summer, I live for paddle boarding and playing at the beach with my girls.
Fun fact: Teaching students with diverse learning needs is my passion! I'm addicted to learning and have taken many courses in my specialty.
Amelia Sobry
Owner
Favourite Thing About Working at The Willows: As a co-owner, my favourite thing about working at The Willows is being part of an incredible team. I truly enjoy the camaraderie and dedication of our staff, and it's a joy to work with such a wonderful group of people. Providing exceptional service to our loyal clients is at the heart of what we do, and it's something I am deeply passionate about. Being involved in the day-to-day operations allows me to ensure we consistently deliver the high standards our clients expect and deserve.
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: Although I don't have a specific favourite, I love that we offer a variety of drinks, baked goods, and charcuterie to our clients during their spa services. Additionally, I take pride in the wide range of products available for purchase, including locally sourced items. It's a wonderful bonus for our clients when they visit our business.
Hobbies/Interests: As a co-owner, I bring over 30+ years of experience as an Executive Assistant to my daily work. This background has equipped me with invaluable skills and knowledge that I apply to ensure our operations run smoothly. Outside of work, I love attending local sports team events, enjoy drives in our convertible Mustang and most of all spending time with my family.
Fun fact: I'm Italian and speak fluent Italian! I can also read and write in Italian, which connects me to my heritage and brings a unique touch to my interactions.
Anna Moisieieva
Senior Esthetician
Bio Coming Soon
Bianca Ashe
Registered Massage Therapist
Qualifications: Registered massage therapy diploma, BHSc, rehabilitation and disability management certificate
Favourite Thing About Working at The Willows: The calm and relaxing environment and working with a great team.
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: The teas.
Hobbies/Interests: I love being outside especially love trail running.
Fun fact: Massage has always been a big part of my life and I married a massage therapist.
Brenda Fullerton
Support Staff
Favourite Thing About Working at The Willows: I love the peaceful atmosphere and the flexibility the Spa provides me.
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: I love a good Latte, and of course all the cookies.
Hobbies/Interests: I love spending time with my family, skiing and Orangetheory.
Fun fact: I have lived in 5 different cities in Canada & the USA.
Cheri Romanow
Senior Esthetician
With over 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, Cheri is a dedicated professional who specializes in women’s Brazilian waxing, creating a gentle and comfortable experience that helps her clients feel beautifully cared for, refreshed, and confident. Her expertise extends to makeup artistry, lash lifting, pedicures, and manicures, allowing her to bring a well-rounded approach to beauty and self-care.
Beyond her professional life, Cheri is a loving mom of two, devoted to guiding her children to become the best versions of themselves. She finds balance and inspiration through meditation, yoga, and creative crafts, and she deeply values both meaningful connections with others and her quiet moments of reflection.
Elina Levytskaya
Favourite Thing About Working at The Willows: Meeting so many amazing people.
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: The latte with brown sugar syrup.
Hobbies/Interests: On my weekends, I like to spend time with my family ouside the city. Usually, we go on a picnic, where I gain new strength and energy from the beauty of nature.
Erin Johnson
Support Staff
Favourite Thing About Working at The Willows: Great team of ladies to work with, amazing clients to meet, greet and service everyday - it fills my cup being there, it is simply rewarding, and we hope our clients leave feeling the same.
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: Large caramel almond milk latte, and Peanut butter oat bar (gluten free), once I tried them, I can't stop eating them!
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, bike riding, chilling at the lake & spending time with friends & family.
Fun fact: I can day captain a sail boat and have my motorcycle license.
Kelsey
Registered Massage Therapist
Favourite Thing About Working at The Willows: I love the positive and warm atmosphere that is felt in the spa everyday! Everyone is welcoming and supportive and it’s a wonderful space to take care of ourselves with the range of different services available.
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: My favourite drink is definitely a London Fog and I am loving the loafs of sourdough from French 50.
Hobbies/Interests: Outside of work I enjoy spending time with family, baking, reading, watching comfort shows, and spending time outside (skiing, camping, hiking!)
Fun fact: I am a dog mom to a 145-pound cuddly boy named Kevin
Leslie Burger
Registered Acupuncturist and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Leslie is a Registered Acupuncturist and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine offering both facial cosmetic acupuncture and full TCM diagnosis and treatment. Her approach recognizes that external radiance is a reflection of internal balance - addressing the underlying patterns that influence skin health, aging, and overall vitality. Through Traditional Chinese Medicine, Leslie supports concerns such as stress, sleep, digestion, pain, hormonal balance, and emotional wellbeing. Each treatment is tailored to restore harmony in the body and mind, enhancing both natural beauty and long-term wellness from within.
In addition, Leslie is a Registered Massage Therapist with over 16 years of experience in wellness and therapeutic care. She specializes in treating musculoskeletal conditions such as tension headaches, migraines, strains, sprains, and joint dysfunctions, and also incorporates myofascial cupping to enhance treatment outcomes. Leslie’s treatments promote deep relaxation, improved mobility, and overall balance, helping clients feel restored and at ease in their bodies.
Macy Hall
Support Staff
Favourite Thing About Working at The Willows: I love meeting new people and making coffee!
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: My favourites are the iced chai tea latte and lemon poppyseed muffin.
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy art, watching films, playing bass guitar, and camping with my family.
Fun fact: I am currently studying to become an elementary school teacher!
Favourite Thing About Working at The Willows: Being part of an amazing team, providing exceptional service to our clients and connecting with everyone at the spa.
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: Favourite drink is a London Fog or Vanilla Latte and a sweet scone.
Hobbies/Interests: I love reading, movies, trivia and reality TV.
Maria Collins
Support Staff Team
Maryna Kurylo
Senior Nail Technician/Esthetician
Nail care has always been my passion, and over time, my hobby turned into a profession. I earned a degree in economics and worked with documents for many years, but I realized that I wanted to do something that truly inspires me. That’s how I entered the beauty industry and fully dedicated myself to nail services.
Throughout my 6 years of experience, I have gained valuable expertise working in very busy salons serving many clients daily. I specialize in e-file manicures, nail extensions, gel strengthening, gel polish (shellac) application, and pedicures.
I am continuously improving my skills by attending courses and following the latest industry standards. My goal is not only to provide high-quality nail services but also to ensure a comfortable experience tailored to each client’s needs.
Maxine Cross
Senior Esthetician
Favourite Service to Provide: Pedicures and facials.
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: My favourite food is cranberry white chocolate scone.
Hobbies/Interests: Hobbies would be baking, walking, spending time with family and friends and drinking wine! 😜
Fun fact: I come from the south of England and moved here in 2007 with my husband and two children. I have two Siamese snowshoe cats. I chase auroras at night when they are about no matter what time. And I love going for drives to the mountains.
Melissa Verde
Senior Clinical Esthetician
Qualifications: Fully licensed esthetician, advanced clinical esthetician, brow specialist, holistic facial treatments
Favourite Service to Provide: Dermaplaning, lash lifts & brow lamination! I enjoy the instant results I get to send clients away with!
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: A lactose-free latte sweetened with honey and cinnamon powder and an oatmeal cookie.
Hobbies/Interests: I love going on new adventures with my daughter!
Fun fact: Every year I travel to a place I have never been before, and I try a new activity I haven’t done before
Morgan Atkinson
RN - Aesthetic Nurse Injector
With over six years of diverse medical experience in critical care, medical psychiatry, and post-operative care, Morgan brings a deep understanding of patient care, safety, and precision to the world of medical aesthetics. Her strong clinical background ensures that every treatment is performed with the highest standard of expertise and attention to detail.
Passionate about helping clients look and feel their best, Morgan pursued specialized training at The Esthetic Institute in Calgary and has spent the last two years refining her skills under the guidance of an advanced aesthetic medical director in Cochrane. She takes pride in staying at the forefront of aesthetic innovations, offering personalized treatments that enhance natural beauty while prioritizing skin health and overall wellness. Her favorite treatments include a double brow lift and PRP Biofiller!
Beyond injectables, Morgan has a keen interest in functional nutrition, evidence-based skincare, and empowering clients through education. She believes that self-care is a journey, and her goal is to help you feel confident in your skin with treatments tailored to your unique needs.
When she’s not in the treatment room, you’ll find her exploring the great outdoors with her fiancé and her two beloved dogs. A true Calgarian at heart, she loves calling this vibrant city home and is excited to help her community look and feel their best—one glowing result at a time!
Support Staff Lead
Samara Lain-McCarthy
Favourite Thing About Working at The Willows: I get to work alongside a very talented group of women every single day, it’s truly inspiring! Plus the smell of fresh ground coffee every morning is a bonus!
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: My current drink obsession is an extra sweet London Fog and the charcuterie boards are delicious!
Hobbies/Interests: I’ve got a passion for all things aesthetics! Things like interior design, creating content, organizing and efficiency. Equally, I love spending quality time with my family. Whether it’s camping or playing a board game together, it always fills my cup!
Fun Fact: With three nieces, three nephews and one more on the way, I’m currently in my Auntie Era and loving every minute of it!
Sarah Ducharme
Support Staff Team
Favourite Thing About Working at The Willows: My favourite thing about working at The Willows Spa is being able to connect with clients and making them feel good about themselves.
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: My favourite drink is a London Fog , unless it’s Christmas time then I love our egg-nog lattes! My favourite snack is a ham and cheese croissant.
Hobbies/Interests: Interior design, cycling and singing karaoke. (Which I’m not very good at haha). I love spending time with my daughters doing anything outdoors and I enjoy travelling with my husband to Montreal to watch F1.
Tanis Jaras
Support Staff Team
Bio Coming Soon
Tegan Mysyk
Podologist (BscPod)/Senior Esthetician
Qualifications: Bachelor of Science in Podology, Double certified in ingrown toenail treatments, B/S brace & onyfix hard/soft , Trained on toenail reconstruction with pedique and nanoflex technology, Certified Master Pedicurist (CMP), Infection Control in the Salon Environment, Comprehensive Foot and Leg Evaluation, Advanced Skin and Nail Pathologies, and Bachelor of Science in Podology, Residency program. Dermalogica Expert trained status, Waxing, tinting, lash lifts, dermaplaning, microneedling, chemical peels, microdermabrasion. Educator at MC College for skin care technician program.
Oncology Esthetics (coming soon) treatment for clients currently being treated with cancer therapies as well as pre/post cancer treatment services.
Favourite Service to Provide: I love all different services; the variety of each day is what makes it fun.
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: Seasonal drink, hands down eggnog latte for winter, vanilla iced coffee with lactose-free sweet foam for summer.
Hobbies/Interests: Roadtrips with my husband, or just spending time with him, doesn’t matter what we are doing. I love to read, mostly non-fiction but love pretty much any kind of book. Learning of any kind from taking classes on drawing to welding and anything in between. If education was free, you wouldn’t be able to keep me out of a classroom. Being a dog mum to the two most neurotic high-maintenance rescue dogs, Drax and Nebula.
Fun fact: I have been a Dermalogica expert for 10 years. I have taken over 90 continuing education seminars/classes with Dermalogica over 13 years of working with the skin care line.
Tracy Hodgson
Registered Massage Therapist
Favourite Thing About Working at The Willows: I love being part of the Willows team because of the people that I work with, the management is flexible with my teaching schedule and we truly have the best clientele!
Favourite Drink/Snack from The Willows Coffee Bar: You will usually find me drinking an Americano with a swirl of whipping cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. On occasion though, I do enjoy a Saskatoon Berry Fizz cocktail!
Hobbies/Interests: Love being at the lake with my family back home in Ontario. Always trying to expose my boys to new and fun experiences.
Fun fact: I enjoy creating and crafting things and feel like I am always on the search for the best cinnamon buns!
Adrienne Wilson
Registered Massage Therapist
Bio coming soon
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