Team Management & Leaders

Gail Sharp
TallGrass Owner

For Gail, a balanced lifestyle is built around running a successful spa business, becoming involved in community projects, and enjoying friends and family. Some of her best times are spent at her Lucky Penny Ranch with three dogs, a couple of cats, four Nigerian dwarf goats and three horses. She enjoys the picture-perfect Rocky Mountain landscape on horseback and hiking trails while espousing a personal philosophy that asserts there are reasons to celebrate life in big and small ways every, single day.

Melissa Rackliff
Spa Director

You can contact Melissa directly at 303-679-4477 or Mel@TallGrassSpa.com

Melissa is a TallGrass veteran, so her feel for what our guests want and need is innate. All told, she has been working here for more than 13 years, with a few breaks in between. Over that time, she's picked up on the inner workings of the spa, inside and out, upside and down. That makes her the resident problem-solver. She's our go-to expert, beloved by our staff and the leader of the pack!

Nicole Algien
Team Leader, Laundry Department

Towels. Robes. Sheets. Bath Mats. Slippers. There's something very satisfying about pulling them out of the dryer, all warm and soft and fluffy. "That's what we love about being in the Laundry Room," says Nicole. "Folding towels is very therapeutic."

Though the team keeps a low profile in a quiet corner behind-the-scenes, Nicole's goal is to make sure everyone feels a part of the inner workings of the spa. Making regular trips upstairs to check hampers and re-stock supplies, she says: "The spa is not well run without the Laundry Department."

Michele Alton
Lead Manager

Michele's move to Colorado and choice to join the TallGrass team was purely a quality of life decision. "Colorado is where I belong," she says. "And, the people at TallGrass feel like a family." Her leadership role is a perfect fit because, having grown up in a military family, she is well acquainted with the challenges of responsibility, duty and integrity. Michele gladly shares her secret to taking care of oneself: "Who knows better than you where you need to be?"

Bonnie Chwala
Team Leader, Hair Department

Bonnie leads a small but mighty team of three stylists, working together in the hair salon that's set off – just a bit apart – from the main spa where the four of them thrive, working together in a stylish, creative, up-to-date atmosphere with a family feel that puts everyone at ease. And now, with the completion of a recent remodeling project, the salon is quite the luxurious space for these TallGrass stylists doing what they do best – consulting with guests to create attractive styles, colors and cuts.

Alesia Forrest
Team Leader, Accounting

Alesia is convinced the stars were perfectly aligned on the day she came to work at TallGrass. With 29 years of accounting on her resume, she'd be a great addition to any staff. But, when she walked into the TallGrass universe, she found the right fit at a place with an impeccable reputation that lights up people's lives. Even though accounting is a black and white business, Alesia is not your typical accountant. She's a colorful people person who loves to cook, entertain and take good care of people.

Heather Glenn
Team Leader, Esthetics Department

Nurturing her guests and educating them about natural skin care are Heather's passions at TallGrass. An esthetician since graduation from the Aveda Marquis Institute in 1998, Heather continues her professional education by seeking out new skin care techniques and advanced aromatherapy protocols. In her free time, she works as a makeup artist whose work has been featured in national publications.

Jody Heaney
Team Leader, Nail Department

Yeah! She's baaaack! This is Jody's third tour as team leader of the nail department.

Is this a case of third time's a charm? Nope. Jody is a champ every time she steps up to take the reins. She is clearly so well-suited to the role. "I like to have my team around me," she says, "when we're all going in the same direction, doing great things."

This time around, Jody's direction is back to basics, steering away from industry fads that can sometimes be a bit off-center. She's emphasizing organic ingredients, natural aromas, and quality of services. "That's what people so love about TallGrass," she says. "Everyone wants to feel good and be healthy."

Shannon Marinos
Team Leader, Guest Relations Department

She calls herself "Mama Bear" and not just because she's the parent of three youngsters. Shannon is a Mama Bear at work, too. Super-protective of her Guest Relations team, she's always there for them. "No judgment," she says, "just a positive direction, setting goals together and moving forward."

Because she knows people will be more confident, stay in the job longer and the team will be happier together, she puts emphasis on training. Her strategy aims to make the Guest Relations team a happy crew, all together, all the time. "It's my big thing," she says, "I always want to give people the tools to be great."