1. How did you get into the tanning industry?
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When I was a senior in high school, my mother and I were looking at colleges, including University of California-Berkeley and Stanford in Palo Alto, CA. After our Stanford visit, we went to Berkeley the following morning. I interviewed with admissions and we went to eat lunch in downtown Berkeley, where we happened upon one of the first tanning salons in the country – in California! I remember it was about 1pm and people were lined up out the salon’s door waiting to tan. Back then, they only offered UVB booths – sunbeds and stand-ups didn’t even exist. I just couldn’t get that salon out of my mind. I thought if indoor tanning was such a success in California where the sun shines year-round, then it would do even better in Michigan. I turned out to be correct and 39 years later, I’m still a salon owner. In 1997, I decided to get into publishing and started Island Sun Times magazine (now known as IST Magazine) – the one you are reading now. I started franchising in 1985 and by 2009, grew Tropi Tan into Michigan’s largest salon chain.
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2. What do you like most about your job?
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I can truly say that after 39 years in tanning and 23 in the magazine business, I still enjoy coming to work every day. I have staff who have worked for me for over 30 years, salon managers for over 20 years. I’m proud to provide so many people with good jobs.
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3. How do you spend your spare time?
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While I don’t have much spare time, this answer could fill many pages! I love to travel. I live on a lake and love water sports, golf when I can (not enough). I’m a sports car collector and enjoy driving them on sunny days (not enough). I have a Harley-Davidson that I love to ride (not enough). Working out is probably how I spend most of my spare time … love to stay in shape. We’re not getting any younger, right?
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4. Do you have a “pet peeve?”
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People who try to sell their political beliefs by only reciting the Fake News they hear from the media.
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5. What’s your favorite food?
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Crab! I discovered I was allergic to shellfish about ten years ago; however, I started introducing crab back into my diet about a year ago with no issues. I’m very lucky in the sense that I like all food … except eggplant.
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6. Do you have any favorite TV shows?
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“The X-Files,” “House,” “Two and a Half Men”
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7. If we look at your “Bucket List,” what’s at the top?
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It’s a long list, but I did cross off a couple of items near the top last summer when I took an amazing Alaskan cruise AND went skydiving! I jumped out of a plane at 10,000 feet – definitely one of my life’s most exhilarating experiences … so far.
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