Meet The Team

Leah Hertenstein
Licensed Massage Therapist
Leah has been a Massage Therapist for over 6 years and “has the privilege of helping people slow their minds, reconnect with their bodies, and release stress.”
Leah worked at Journey for a short time before staying home with her kiddos and then rejoined our team a few years later. Leah is a wonderful Massage Therapist who is easy-going, funny, and loved by her guests!
Leah’s favorite massage to perform is our Head in the Clouds Massage – it’s such a great way to relieve the pain and tension that so many of us carry in our upper back, shoulders and neck, and this massage can have a wonderful impact on pain and stress reduction.
When Leah is not giving massages, she loves to receive our Spa Pedicure.
Leah specializes in our Signature, Deep Tissue, Pregnancy and Head in the Clouds Massages.

Lexi Gerding
Licensed Massage Therapist
Lexi has been a Massage Therapist for a short time, but once you receive a Massage from her you would think she had been in the industry for years! Lexi has a way of making you feel relaxed with her calming presence, and she utilizes special techniques that expertly relieve pain and tension.
Lexi finds great joy when she can help her guests feel relaxed and less stressed while she works out all of the kinks and knots. She loves being able to help guests move their bodies easier and finally find relief from pain!
Not only does Lexi love giving massages to her guests, but she believes in the importance of regular massages and loves to receive Journey massages herself!
Lexi specializes in our Signature, Deep Tissue, Hot Stone, Pregnancy and Head in the Clouds Massages.

Julien Haines
Licensed Massage Therapist
Julien is one of our very talented Massage Therapists, who despite only having been at Journey for less than a year has quickly developed a loyal following of guests who love his massages!
We often hear from guests that Julien is great at listening to them, making sure they feel comfortable, and using just the right pressure. So many guests have told our Front Desk Team that they were originally hesitant to schedule with a male Massage Therapist, but then they were so glad they did!
Julien likes being able to help people relax, while also helping them manage pain caused by tight muscles. Two of his favorite massages to give are Hot Stone and Deep Tissue. No matter which massage you choose from Julien, we can almost guarantee you will love it!
Julien specializes in our Cold Stone, Signature, Deep Tissue, Hot Stone, Pregnancy and Head in the Clouds Massages.

Emily Laffin
Esthetician + Licensed Massage Therapist
With 15 years of experience in the industry, Emily is truly a seasoned professional who is extremely passionate about what she does!
Emily has been an Esthetician for years, and recently graduated from Massage Therapy school as well! One of her favorite services to perform is a Massage + Facial combo service because it brings together two incredible services to provide an ultimate relaxation experience. Wedding Makeup has also been one of Emily’s favorite services to perform throughout her career.
Emily gives her mother the credit for her becoming an Esthetician and Massage Therapist. As a teenager, her mother helped her to seek good skincare that was effective and that utilized high-quality and safe ingredients. Emily also discovered how beneficial Massage therapy has been for her, her mother and others – many who struggle with anxiety and chronic pain.
When Emily isn’t in her treatment room caring for others, she enjoys receiving a haircut, massage, facial and infrared sauna session. She loves that every service at Journey has a special touch!
Emily specializes in our Signature, Hot Stone, Pregnancy and Head in the Clouds Massages.

Courtney Markley
Hair Stylist + Nail Expert
Courtney is one of the most talented and caring Stylists you could ever meet! With 6+ years working as a Stylist, she has the experience and passion to help her guests achieve the look they want, and the listening ear to make their day even better!
Courtney excels in all hair services, as well as manicures and pedicures, but her favorite services to perform on her guests are definitely highlights and pedicures. She loves learning new techniques for both hair and nails to bring her guests the best!
Courtney loves making a positive impact on someone’s day—whether that be helping them relax after a long day of work or making them feel better about how they look. She also loves that at Journey we give people a relaxing space outside of their life to decompress.
When not pampering others, you might find Courtney receiving her favorite services – a Signature Facial + Signature Massage.
Courtney specializes in all color services, haircuts and nail services.

Ruthie Markley
Esthetician, Licensed Massage Therapist + Nail Expert
We often hear from guests that Ruthie is one of the sweetest people they have ever met! Not only is Ruthie sweet, she is super talented at all that she does and she does a lot! Ruthie is a Massage Therapist, Esthetician and Nail Expert!
Ruthie started at Journey as an intern while still in Cosmetology school and has now been working in the industry for two years, continually perfecting her skills.
Ruthie loves all of the services she performs at Journey, but she especially loves giving massages and even received extra certifications while in Massage Therapy school for advanced massage types. Ruthie loves getting to see the before and after transformation for guests! She loves how much more comfortable and relaxed they become because of their service (regardless of if it’s a facial, massage, or getting their nails done) and from stepping into the relaxing atmosphere of Journey in comparison to the outside world.
When Ruthie has some free time (which isn’t often!), she loves receiving one of Journey’s relaxing facials!
Ruthie specializes in our Lymphatic Drainage, Cupping, Signature, Deep Tissue, Hot Stone, Pregnancy and Head in the Clouds Massages.

Allie Paramore
Hair Stylist
Allie’s 9 years of experience as a Hair Stylist show in everything she does! Allie is extremely talented and is always immersing herself in all the learning she can get her hands on to bring her guests the latest techniques and trends. Allie’s guests always have the greatest comments about their haircuts, colors, and highlights with her!
Allie is a very artistic + creative person, and she loves that she can express that creative side through her hair color services. She genuinely loves making guests feel relaxed and helping them feel confident in their appearance. She says that “seeing their satisfaction is a huge reward.”
While balayages and lightening services are two of the services she excels at, she also loves to receive services at Journey. When she’s not busy giving someone the hair of their dreams, you might find Allie receiving a relaxing massage – which she definitely deserves!
Allie specializes in all color services and haircuts.

Melissa Reed
Licensed Massage Therapist
Melissa has been a Massage Therapist for a year and a half now, but it seems like she’s been one for much longer than that! Guests are always impressed by her massages and can’t wait to rebook. Melissa specializes in all of our massages – Signature, Head in the Clouds, Side-by-Side, and her favorite to perform – Hot Stone! She also loves it when guests schedule our Head in the Clouds massage because she finds that so many guests have neck and back pain, so this specific massage really targets those areas.
As someone who has had chronic pain in her back and neck, Melissa has seen how massages can help with managing pain. She loves helping people look and feel their best because she has been on the other side. So many people have stress or built-up tension that can be relieved with massage and she is honored to be the person who can help them relax and relieve stress and pain.
When Melissa has time to schedule a service for herself, she will most likely choose our Signature Facial, as it’s one of her favorites + most relaxing services!

Liz Sheppard
Nail Expert
Liz is newer to the salon and spa industry, but she’s been in love with giving manicures and pedicures for years and that definitely shows in the quality of her amazing work!
Liz is a fun-loving addition to the Journey Team, with her great sense of humor and ability to make friends with anyone. She’s so fun to spend an hour with while receiving a manicure or pedicure.
Liz’s favorite service to perform is definitely a Shellac Manicure! She is so talented with shellac and loves to do designs and art on nails as well. Liz loves doing all kinds of nail services and finds that it is so satisfying to make hands and feet look beautiful.
Not only does Liz love to give manicures and pedicures to Journey guests, but she also loves receiving one of our relaxing Spa Pedicures, too!
Liz specializes in Nail Art Shellac Manicures as well as all manicures and pedicures.

Caitlyn Borer
Esthetician
Caitlyn became an Esthetician in 2022 and we were so fortunate that we had the opportunity to welcome her onto the Journey Team!
She has received wonderful reviews from guests who have received facials from her and she’s truly a joy to have around with her sweet personality and eagerness to learn!
Caitlyn loves helping guests relax while rejuvenating their skin with natural + organic skin care products from Eminence Organic Skin Care!
When Caitlyn isn’t busy helping others relax, she loves receiving a Journey facial from one of her talented Esthetics co-workers!
Caitlyn specializes in Dermaplaning as well as all of our Facials and Body Glows. She also loves performing Eyebrow Threading.

Calista Serrano
Stylist + Nail Expert
Calista is such a wonderful addition to the Journey team! She is so detail-oriented and loves listening to her guests’ needs and helping them create the looks they desire.
Calista has been working in the hair + nail industry for 2 years and is constantly looking to further her skills and stay on top of the latest trends. She is very talented when it comes to all hair color services, haircuts, hair treatments, manicures and pedicures, but her specialty is definitely Curly Haircuts! With naturally curly hair herself, Calista has learned so much on her own and through cosmetology school that will help those with natural curls finally love their hair.
Calista became a Stylist because hair came naturally to her - growing up she was always playing with her dolls’, friends’ or family members’ hair. She loves that she can have fun and be creative with every guest, as they are each a unique canvas. Calista finds it very rewarding to make others feel and look pretty.
When Calista isn’t occupied helping others, she loves receiving pedicures at Journey!

Hannah Lugibihl
Stylist + Nail Expert
If you have had the privilege of meeting Hannah, you know just how sweet + kind she is! She LOVES helping her guests relax and receive exactly the hair and nails they want.
Hannah has been a Stylist for 4 years and excels at all color services, cuts, manicures and pedicures, but her absolute favorite services to perform are edgy/bold fashion hair colors and dimensional blondes using balayage or foilayage techniques. Hannah is also an extremely talented Makeup Artist who loves creating everyday and special occasion looks.
Hannah loves that the work she does positively impacts so many different lives and she is thankful that at Journey she gets to help people escape the busy world and spend a little time relaxing. “It’s so much fun having the ability to completely transform the way a person can look and feel and it’s such a gift to be able to serve others while expressing our creativity,” she says.
When Hannah isn’t busy serving others, she loves receiving massages, facials and pedicures at Journey.

Ben Stevens
Owner + Front Desk Receptionist
After spending most of his career in Aviation Maintenance, Ben has loved spending the past four years making days better for guests and the Journey team. He thoroughly enjoys getting to know those he comes in contact with and building relationships with everyone.
Ben is truly a “jack of all trades” and he wears so many different hats at Journey! He builds, repairs, plans, organizes, cleans, greets, schedules, and so much more!
When Ben has a rare chance to receive a service himself, his favorite is definitely a massage! He loves to point out that after his first massage he didn’t realize how much pain and discomfort he had in his neck until the massage made it all go away!

Mandy Stevens
Owner + Front Desk Receptionist
While mostly being a stay-at-home mom, Mandy works behind the scenes on marketing, the Journey website, social media, product ordering + more. She loves planning new promotions, bringing in new products, and having the time at home to pray for the team and guests.
When Mandy does have the chance to work the front desk at Journey, she always tries to make guests’ days better, but she finds that they (and the Journey team), always make her day better! She loves that Journey is such a calming and peaceful place that is truly her happy place.
Mandy loves all Journey services. If she could choose her ideal spa day it would definitely include a Spa or Specialty (seasonal) Pedicure, a 90 Minute Massage and a Haircut (because you can’t beat the Journey Wash House experience!)
Join Our Team!
Looking for a positive environment where you can help guests relax and take a break from their stress? We'd love to help you find out if Journey would be a good fit for you!
Send your resume to careers@journeysalonspa.com