John and Ginny Lopis, founders of JGL, Inc., are one of the foremost spa design, development and management teams in North America. They’ve lent their talents to such legendary facilities as Doral Saturnia International Spa Resort in Miami, Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara and The Cloister at Sea Island, Georgia, among others. The Lopises have dedicated themselves to lifestyle management, primarily in the resort environment, since 1981. For the first time, they are applying their vision to their very own facility, The Lodge at Woodloch, which debuted in June 2006 in the Lake Region of Northeast Pennsylvania. 

“For years we’ve been searching for the right opportunity to create a facility that embodies our ideal,” explained Ginny Michel Lopis. “This is a pristine locale – an oasis of serenity – with a lake, marshland, birding and wildlife, yet it is so convenient for those living in the Northeast corridor.” “We’ve been involved with projects all over the county,” added John Lopis. “We couldn’t imagine a more idyllic backdrop for personal awakening and rejuvenation.”

Since forming JGL in 1990, a company that specializes in spa programming, design, operations, staffing, budgeting and management, the Lopises have directed the development of world class spa facilities, from luxurious resorts to serene retreats. Their blue chip clientele have included PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach, The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Sandy Lane in Barbados, La Mansion del Rio in San Antonio and Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa in Vermont, to name a few. From 1988- 1990, Lopis was president and chief executive officer of Topnotch at Stowe in Vermont, where Michel Lopis served as vice president and general manager. The Lopises oversaw all resort operations and an enhancement program that included a new 23,000-square-foot luxury spa facility. 

Among the couple’s proudest accomplishments was the opening of the $40 million Doral Saturnia International Spa Resort in Miami in 1988, for which they were involved in every aspect – from guiding design and construction to positioning, staffing, management and operations. Lopis served as general manager and Michel Lopis as director of operations, with their efforts resulting in an AAA Five Diamond designation, the first for a destination spa in the United States. 

Lopis and Michel Lopis also served as executive director and director of human resources and program development, respectively, at the renowned Canyon Ranch Health Resort from 1983 – 1985. While there, they created a number of innovative programs, including the Executive Renewal program, a version of which is still offered today. 

The pair got their start in academia. Lopis served as a professor in the college of education at Michigan State University for 12 years, specializing in educational psychology and interpersonal communication. While there, Lopis became one of the leading developers of interpersonal process facilitation skills. He holds a doctorate in program design from Michigan State. Michel Lopis was an educator of English and journalism for six years, and has a Master’s Degree in educational program design from Michigan State. 

The Lopises are two of the eight founders of the International Spa Association (ISPA), where Lopis served as vice president on the first Board of Directors. Today, ISPA’s membership includes more the 2,000 spas, resorts and industry related professionals globally. In September 2005, John and Ginny Lopis received ISPA’s Visionary Award, one of the highest honors in the industry.

# # #