Jeannette Cunniff Joins Universal Companies as Education and Sales Training Manager, MASSAGE MagazineAbingdon, VA. Universal Companies recently hired Jeannette Cunniff as its training manager in sales and education. A 25-year industry professional, Cunniff founded and directed Lake Tahoe Massage School, a California state-licensed and nationally certified vocational school, from 1995 to 2006. In 2005, she was recognized by the AMMA (American Medical Massage Association) for providing excellence in training and education.

In 2007, Cunniff developed Global Touch Educational Seminars, (NCBTMB #40015-06), nationally certified continuing education programs for the massage therapist and health care practitioner. She has worked with the resort spa industry and the California Community College sector creating, implementing and instructing training programs.

Cunniff has researched and developed more than 500 hours of core-based curriculum and 200 hours of specific training programs approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) in craniosacral, deep tissue, reflexology, lymphatic drainage, chronic pain, spa therapies, sports injuries, businessand ethics. For the past seven years, she has taught seminars nationally and internationally in Costa Rica, Egypt, Thailand, and the British Virgin Islands.

As training manager, Cunniff is responsible for training field instructors, as well as for scheduling and conducting training programs for Universal Companies customers. She assists in developing and implementing new training models, curriculums and protocols. She works closely with the Universal Companies team of instructors and the national account managers of resorts and vocational schools.

“I am eager to offer new models of interactive training,” Cunniff says. “Universal Companies will continue to support the service provider, schools and spas by providing excellence in education. Our educational partnerships offer trainings to our resort industry customers in order for them to enhance their guests’ spa experiences, while our vocational school programs offer comprehensive and marketable trainings for their students.”

She adds, “I am excited to be working with a well respected and growth-oriented company.”

Jeannette holds dual license in esthetics and massage therapy and has been a spa trainer, esthetician and massage practitioner for several luxury spas in Hawaii, Florida and the British Virgin Islands. She is approved by the NCBTMB and offers continuing education which can be used for massage relicensing in 40 states.

About Universal Companies

For 31 years, more than 30,000 spa professionals in 47 countries have trusted Universal Companies to be their single-source supplier, providing thousands of products to help them manage and grow their businesses. Located in beautiful and historic Abingdon, Virginia, the company distributes furniture, fixtures, equipment, implements, supplies and spa apparel to customers from the largest spa to the independent practitioner. Universal Companies also offers professional skin and body products, retail items and merchandising tools, and provides spas with innovative consulting services, educational materials and training options. For more information, call (800) 558-5571 or visit www.universalcompanies.com.