303-670-4444
eam Management & Leaders
TallGrass owner, Gail Ridings, made a career and lifestyle change in 1995 that proved to be a success, both professionally and personally. Following a downsizing trend that continues to be popular among fast-track executives, Gail made the move from high-profile Chicago advertising executive to spa owner in peaceful Evergreen, Colorado. That's how she created balance in her life and, because she believes it is a critical element in everyone's life, she offers balance to TallGrass guests and staff. Through the relaxation and rejuvenation of specialty spa services that pamper body and soul, the use of Aveda products that promote health and wellness, and a philosophy of life that appreciates the beauty of nature and the time to enjoy it, Gail encourages guests and staff to integrate balance into their lives, too. For Gail, a balanced lifestyle is built around running a thriving spa business, becoming involved in community projects, and enjoying friends and family. Some of her very best times are spent with husband, Chuck, their dogs (Pepper, Nutmeg and Lilly), cats (Jake and Leo), and foxtrotter horses (Duke, Jet and Jack Flash) enjoying the beautiful Rocky Mountain landscape on horseback, hiking trails and golf course. You can contact Gail directly at 303-679-4466 or sharpgail@aol.com
“Creating memories and giving outstanding customer service is important to me,” says Spa Director, Susie Siebert. Given her passion for the spa industry and 20 years experience, Susie's intention is to create memorable experiences for guests every time they visit. She understands that each guest is an individual who wants to be treated specially. Susie has high expectations for her team, too. She looks for staff with a positive and friendly attitude, extraordinary customer service skills and willingness to go the extra mile for TallGrass guests. She calls her philosophy “Hire hard and manage easy.” Susie is a certified massage therapist who also teaches the art of massage and has a fitness background as an aerobics instructor and personal trainer. Before becoming Spa Director at TallGrass, she spent 12 years at the Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, California, during a time when her spa won numerous awards. Overseeing the TallGrass Leadership Team, Retail, Hair Salon, Guest Relations, Maintenance, Education and Staff Development departments, Susie is a visible manager with a hands-on style. "I like to be right out there with staff and guests to ensure a quality experience," she says. "It's been so much fun and the time has flown by. I can't believe it's going to be 9 years in January."
"This is a great job for me because I love to cook," says Laurie when she talks about her role as Team Leader of the Catering Department and manager of a staff that serves lunch to guests. "It's also a chance to learn more about how the spa operates and I'm so happy doing this." Laurie makes sure that guests are well-cared-for and well-fed. She and her staff plate and serve a choice of four different salads and three different sandwiches to guests who have reserved lunch service in advance. Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies in the winter and mango-raspberry sorbet in the summer add that extra touch of sweetness. Six years ago, Laurie and her husband moved to Evergreen from the Bay Area in California and are enjoying getting to know their mountain community. Completing a personal goal she began many years ago, Laurie recently graduated from Metropolitan State College and now, with a little more free time, she and her husband love to take their dogs for walks and also see their favorite baseball team, the San Francisco Giants, when they come to town.
A former teacher and a retired flight attendant, Jane Faulkner found her niche in retail, having worked part time at Nordstrom’s. She figured she had a knack for it. Hearing about TallGrass from friends who encouraged her to zero in on her dream job, she applied to head up the Retail Department. “I have always used Aveda products,” she says “and I appreciate the company’s philosophy of working with communities throughout the world.” Her goal is to make sure everyone has knowledge of Aveda and its mission to recycle, reuse and regenerate. When she is not working at TallGrass, Jane likes to be outdoors – running, hiking, biking. From the time she went to camp in Colorado at age 16, she knew this is where she was meant to be.
Heather graduated from the Aveda Marquis Institute in 1998. Since then, her penchant for continued education in natural skin care, new waxing techniques and advanced aromatherapy has helped her provide her clients with world-class services using the latest techniques and products. "Nurturing and educating my clients are my passions at TallGrass," says Heather who, as supervisor of the Esthetics Department, is enthusiastic about sharing her vast knowledge of natural skin care and the regimens that make skin look and feel great. In her free time, Heather works as a makeup artist for photo shoots and modeling events. Her work has been featured in national publications.
Jody Heaney has been a Nail Tech for 21 years and that's a lot of polish changes! "Twenty-one years ago, I went to nail school with a girlfriend and thought about doing it just part time because I already had a bookkeeping license," says Jody. As it worked out, she realized how much she loved the profession and her life took a different path. "When I sit down at the nail station, I am more relaxed and feel more like myself," she says. "I'm in my comfort zone and I love what I'm doing." Making friends and getting to know her clients is a big part of the appeal. As head of the TallGrass Nail Department, Jody works to help the members of her team grow professionally and personally, to support them to be the best at what they do, and to offer guests the most awe-inspiring service of any day spa. Jody is married and is the mom of two youngsters — 7 year-old Brooke and 5 year-old Thomas. They love going on outings together to the movies and the zoo.
Kylee Hoffner fell in love with TallGrass just the way everyone does. "It's the environment," she says. "I love the mountain meadow, gorgeous views, warm and caring people, amazing staff and Aveda products." Kylee went into the massage therapy field at the suggestion of her doctor. She researched the idea, liked everything she found out and then went on to discover what she loves most is meeting different people and working with them to relieve their tension and stress. She also talks about emotional issues. "Muscles hold tension and also memory cells that bring up issues, like trauma, that I focus on and work to resolve," she explains. She recommends regular massage once a month and, for those who are super-busy and tend to feel stressed-out, every week is better. A tri-athlete - she participated in the Steamboat Tri last year - Kylee also plays basketball and volleyball and she spends a lot of time in the park with her dog.
As the “Queen of Clean,” Ruthie O’Brien works at the very foundation of TallGrass, literally and figuratively. She spends most of her time downstairs overseeing the Laundry Department, making sure robes, slippers, towels and blankets are clean, soft, fluffy and up to TallGrass standards for luxury. She oversees a staff of ten, mostly high school students, who operate an industrial washer and dryer that run from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. every day of the week. Prior to becoming Team Leader of the Laundry Department, Ruthie worked in the Guest Relations and the Finance Departments and before that she had a 33-year career as a flight attendant. “A lot of us retired as the travel industry began to change,” she says. “Until then it was the best full time/part time job you could have. When it’s all said and done, though, right here is the best place on the planet.” “Compassion” is a word you'll hear Melissa use frequently. It's her approach to life and to her job at TallGrass. As head of the Guest Relations Department, Melissa oversees the front desk crew that greets and takes care of guests. “It's all about finding a way to work together, create a great first impression, be compassionate, and take care of everyone no matter what,” she says. Her goal is to make sure that every interaction with each guest counts towards making a difference in their lives. Melissa worked at TallGrass for six years, running the private Sage Room for groups and organizing a host of special projects, then leaving for seven years and recently returning. She feels like she is back home, experiencing the same TallGrass heart and soul and spirit that she remembers and getting reacquainted with people who are still around after all the time that has passed. “The 'old school' people are still here,” she says. “It feels so good getting up and coming to work.” In the ensuing years, Melissa and her husband, Jason, welcomed two sons. Noah is now 5 and Jackson is 5 months old. Being a parent of small children reminds Melissa to focus on being present. “Breathe and, if everything goes nuts, remember your humanity,” she says. “Move through it with grace and compassion.”
Jen Schapiro always wanted to be a hair stylist and started design school while she was in high school. Twenty years later, she still loves it. "I feel so fortunate to have passion for my career, even after all this time," she says. Her passion leads her to be a motivator and set an example for the salon staff, like coordinating the annual Transitions Hair and Fashion Show or organizing everyone in the salon to attend Aveda Master Classes to learn about the latest looks for upcoming seasons. "Continuing education is the driving force," she says, "that keeps us fresh and excited." Jen loves the feeling she gets being at TallGrass. "People can just be where they're at," she says, "in a caring, nurturing place in a beautiful valley with wildlife all around." Besides the usual deer and elk, a few uncommon creatures are sometimes sighted and Jen loves to tell about the day she shooed away a flock of turkeys who tried to get in the salon door. |
Gail Ridings 
Susie Siebert 
Laurie Davey 
Jane Faulkner 
Heather Glenn 
Jody Heaney 
Kylee Hoffner 
Ruthie O’Brien 
Melissa Rackliff 
Jen Schapiro