Massage Envy Spa's CG Funk Recognized With ONE Concept Lifetime Achievement Award

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Massage Envy Spa, the largest employer of massage therapists and estheticians in the United States, is pleased to announce that CG Funk, vice president of industry relations and product development, was recently recognized with the ONE Concept Lifetime Achievement Award at the American Massage Conference in San Diego, Calif. The Lifetime Achievement award is presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the massage therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture and spa professions over a sustained period of time.

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"Receiving the ONE Concept Lifetime Achievement Award is truly an honor," said Funk. "I am so humbled by the recognition and will treasure it always. I received my first massage in my early 20s and although it was several years before I went to school and became a massage therapist, I see that first massage as one of the most defining moments of my life."

Funk has a long and rich history within the massage and spa industries. Her massage therapy profession began in 1992 at the Utah College of Massage Therapy (UCMT) in Salt Lake City. Her experience includes years of practicing massage and bodywork specializing in therapeutic massage and cranial sacral therapy. She was an instructor at UCMT for 10 years during which she developed curriculum for several courses, and was instrumental in the design of UCMT's master bodyworker program.

As UCMT's corporate faculty trainer, Funk developed and implemented training programs for a faculty of 350 members throughout seven campuses. She was also responsible for creating educational policies and procedures, training manuals, course curricula, new and revised program outlines, and faculty assessment guidelines and documents.

In 2002, Funk moved to Arizona as the Arizona School of Massage Therapy Tempe campus director. Under her leadership, the campus continually set records for performance and gained the reputation of graduating the best massage therapists in Arizona.

Funk joined Massage Envy Spa, in 2005 as vice president of industry relations and product development.  Since joining the corporate team, she's worked relentlessly in creating and maintaining relationships with national associations and schools, developing therapist recruiting and retention programs, training franchisees on massage therapy and skin care industries, and developing, testing and launching new service offerings. She also creates and implements training materials, policies and procedures for the brand's 21,000 massage therapists and hundreds of franchisees. Funk is also editor of Massage Envy Spa's national therapist newsletter, "Hands & Hearts".

"My 21-year career has been a wonderful journey," she said. "I started in the days before massage was embraced by the masses as a valuable form of complementary medicine and have stood witness to the ever-growing acceptance of hands-on therapy. My career has given me many opportunities to manifest my passion for this work through educating on the benefits of massage therapy and the validity of massage therapy careers."  

The 2013 American Massage Conference was held in mid-September at the Town & Country Resort in San Diego. Over the three-day event, Funk and her team from Massage Envy Spa, which served as the Smart from the Start program student day sponsor, also interacted with 250 massage therapy students from several schools in the Southern California area. The award was presented during the ONE Concept Gala and Awards Ceremony.

Bob Benson, chairman of Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, said the award was well deserved.

"CG has a restless energy and amazing stamina. Add a can-do mentality, combine it with an ability to cut through the clutter and overcome obstacles; CG gets needed things accomplished ... and not just any things: CG possesses an ability to grasp the big picture, to discern what needs doing to meet the needs of both the profession and the individual massage consumer," Benson said.

"I am very proud of the work I have done and it has been a privilege to contribute on a national level to this industry, and its sustainability and growth," Funk said.  "However, I also believe that great accomplishments are never a solo act.  Throughout my career, I have had many mentors, supporters and friends along the way that helped shape my career. Today, there are an ocean of folks made up of dozens of colleagues, hundreds of Massage Envy franchisees and tens of thousands of Massage Envy therapists who make this huge wave beside and behind me, holding me up and pushing me forward."

Today, there are more than 900 Massage Envy and Massage Envy Spa locations in 48 states, making it the largest system of franchised massage clinics in the industry. Massage Envy Spa therapists perform 16 million massages a year to a total of more than 1.4 million members. 

Massage Envy Spa offers a variety of massage treatments including Swedish, Trigger Point, Deep Tissue, Sports, Prenatal and Geriatric. The proven benefits of routine massage include improved circulation, joint flexibility and posture, relief from pain and swelling caused by arthritis, reduced blood pressure, fatigue, migraine pain and stress, as well as improved sleep, concentration and overall sense of well-being. Additionally, Massage Envy Spa offers facials designed by Dr. Murad, the leader in skincare science. Guests and members can choose from four different Murad^® Healthy Skin facials including Environmental Shield^® Vitamin C, Clarifying Enzyme Acne, Anti-Aging and Sensitive Skin.

To learn more about Massage Envy Spa careers, visit www.massageenvycareers.com.

About Massage Envy Spa
Massage Envy Spa, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a national franchisor, and through its franchised locations, is the leading provider of therapeutic massage in the United States. The national franchise is dedicated to providing professional and affordable therapeutic massage and spa services to members and guests with busy lifestyles at convenient times and locations. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy Spa has more than 900 franchise locations in 48 states and 1.4 million members.  In addition, the average unit volume for a franchise location is $1.3 million. Through its national partnership with the Arthritis Foundation, Massage Envy Spa has raised more than $2 million in three, one-day Healing Hands for Arthritis events. The company was recently ranked #88 in Franchise Time's Top 200, #81 in Entrepreneur's 2013 Franchise 500 and #29 in its Fastest Growing Franchise rankings. Massage Envy Spa is a member of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and was named a 2013 Military Friendly Franchise. For more information, visit MassageEnvy.com.

Contact:
Amanda Delprete
954-893-9150
[email protected]

SOURCE Massage Envy Spa