In 2001, Utah made spa industry history by becoming the first state to pass a bill requiring two levels of licensure for estheticians – basic and master. While graduation with a basic license would prepare graduates to enter the workforce performing treatments like facials, pedicures and hot rock massage, master licensure would launch grads into the more sophisticated realm of working alongside plastic surgeons and dermatologists and performing treatments in medi spas.

Within a year of the new legislation, Mary Ronnow of St. George had opened the doors to The Skin Institute International School of Esthetics in Southern Utah.  

“It was just such a natural fit for me,” Ronnow said. “I had been teaching after-hours classes for years, and I had literally worked in every possible aspect of the spa industry – from behind the counter at Barneys in New York City to the offices of dermatologists and plastic surgeons throughout the West. I had fabulous connections, so opening up a school to train a workforce of estheticians made perfect sense to me.”

And it made perfect sense to her community, as well.

Considering there are 17 spas listed locally, she said, “We are lucky to live in a place that the world views as a resort destination and a real sanctuary for relaxation and healing.”

“The weather is reflective of a resort town, and people love to come and golf and hike and just enjoy what the beautiful natural environment here has to offer,” she added.

For Ronnow, whose name and reputation have risen to the top in Western esthetics education, it is both an honor and responsibility to prepare a ready workforce that is prepared to meet employers’ needs – both locally outside of Utah.

A unique feature of The Skin Institute (TSI) and a favorite benefit to the local community is the number of practical hours required for each student. For each of their 300 hours in the classroom, students spend an equal number hours in the practical setting where they have opportunities to work on live models. Members of the St. George community benefit by paying discounted rates to receive services from students who need practicum hours to complete their training. For example, a 50-minute facial that might cost $60 at a full-price spa would cost $38 to a patron willing to accommodate a student in training.

“What we’ve tried to create is a win-win dynamic for members of the community who enjoy spa services and are willing to give our students the opportunity to train,” Ronnow said. “We have women who have been coming for years to let our students work on them, and our goal is to provide the best spa treatment experience.”

TSI has developed a reputation for producing industry-ready graduates, which has caused its enrollment to steadily increase despite the ups and downs of the economy and national market.

“We have developed some very key relationships with the spa owners in the area,” Ronnow said. “And because there is such a constant need and demand here, we are drawing students from many parts of the country who want to come, train and enter right into the workforce.”

In addition to receiving students from many parts of the United States, Ronnow has enrolled students from other countries, including Russia and Mexico, and she is currently working with international education coordinators in developing student exchange programs with Korea, China, Mexico, Russia and Chile.

“We are finding that TSI is appealing to foreign educators for many reasons,” Ronnow said. “Not only do we provide an opportunity to train at an accredited institute in America, we also offer a community that is both safe and ripe with job opportunities for estheticians.”

“St. George offers such a wonderful place for students to come and study and learn,” she added. “When we traveled to Korea this summer, it helped us realize how important it is to begin offering international diversity to our student body; and also, that it is critical to open the minds of our students to international employment opportunities.”

During its 10 years of establishment, TSI has now graduated 40 classes of estheticians, boasting high rates of completion, licensure and employment. For example, Ronnow’s 2011 class graduated with a 100 percent completion rate, 100 percent licensure, and 74 percent industry placement.

“We attribute our statistics to the wonderful educators and program we have developed and refined over the years,” Ronnow said. “We work very hard to stay at the forefront of technology and developments within the industry so our graduates leave job-ready.”

One of the initiatives Ronnow said she is excited to announce is the addition of new Director of Education Kelli Charlton to the TSI staff. “Kelli brings a level of professionalism, leadership and charisma that is unmatched,” Ronnow said. “We are delighted about the structure and advancements she is bringing to our program and look forward to the new technologies she is implementing into our curriculum.”

Charlton is the former owner and CEO of Planet Geothermal and was the Business and Professional Women of Utah committee chair for Women in Leadership Development, as well as BPW Utah state president from 2007-2008.

After a successful career in business, Charlton returned to college, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in English education with emphasis in educational technology. This April, she graduated from Dixie State College with the honor of “Female Student of the Year.” A licensed professional educator, Charlton is now serving as director of education at The Skin Institute. She is also a member of the board of directors for Heart Walk Foundation, an international humanitarian organization assisting families and children of the starving Q’ero mountain tribes of Peru.

“Kelli’s enthusiasm and dedication to the success of our students is unprecedented,” Ronnow said. “We are delighted to have her join our team and look forward to the wonderful contributions she will make to the continued success of our curriculum, advancements in technologies, international outreach and the overall expansion of our school.”

In August of this year, Ronnow said she experienced a sort of a graduation herself when she brought on Charlton to serve as school director and moved TSI into a newer, larger location on Dixie Drive in St. George. “It is really exciting that our growth is allowing for this kind of expansion,” she said.

Today, graduates of TSI are working in spas and with cosmetologists and plastic surgeons offices throughout Southern Utah. Also, Ronnow’s career placement roster boasts placement in spa locations such as Las Vegas, Hawaii, Jackson Hole, Arizona, Telluride and Midway.

TSI graduate Franchesca Jones works as a master esthetician at Red Mountain Spa in Ivins, and she has recently returned to TSI as a part-time instructor. “It is fulfilling to me to give back to TSI in this way,” she said.

According to Jones, “I returned to school at age 41 with four children who were all in school. This program helped me get the education I had always wanted to have, and also to graduate with such confidence and skills to get a really wonderful job.”

Jones, who is teaching master theory courses part-time, said,” My wish is to help share what I have learned with students and to help them achieve their dreams, just as I have been able to achieve mine.” 

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