Getting and staying healthy takes work, no matter who you are. Even health professionals, whose careers depend on helping people achieve physical, mental or emotional wellbeing share the same daily struggles, pet peeves, career challenges and fitness obstacles. Takeaway: there’s hope for the rest of us.
Photos by Jeff Jones
Cheryl Murphy
Sweat Equity Infrared Sauna Studio and Juice Bar
1508 Reynolds Rd., Maumee
419-887-1598
What do you like most about your job?
I love sharing my passion for juicing and wellness with my clients. It feels awesome knowing that I can help people make positive changes in their health.
Who do you admire, and why?
I admire anyone who follows their dreams and takes chances. You?ll never know if you could do it if you don?t try.
Biggest pet peeve?
People who complain all the time. Life?s too short, make the best of it!
Carmen Wigmans
Reve Salon and Spa
5633 N. Main St., Sylvania
419-885-1140
What do you like most about your job?
Showing young people how to grow, and offering them opportunities to have a career and be successful.
Who do you admire, and why?
People who give their lives unselfishly to others, like Mother Teresa, missionaries and military personnel. They give often with no rewards for themselves in order to make life better for others.
What would you say has been the greatest challenge of your career?
Finding the time for everything you want to accomplish, and taking time for yourself along the way.
How do you make healthy habits stick?
Repetition. After a while, the healthy choice will seem like a better choice than the old one.
A. Thomas Dalagiannis, M.D.
Arrowhead Plastic Surgeons
1360 Arrowhead Rd., Maumee
419-887-7000
What do you like most about your job?
I like the way I can impact people?s lives in a positive manner, and the personal satisfaction from watching patients gain self-confidence and self-esteem.
Who do you admire, and why?
I admire my parents for being immigrants to this country, not speaking the language or understanding the culture, but working hard to put their three kids through college
How do you make healthy habits stick?
One day at a time.
Biggest pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is people who do not give 100% in everything they do.
C. Jeff Kesler M.D.
Arrowhead Plastic Surgeons
1361 Arrowhead Rd., Maumee
419-887-7001
Describe a turning point in your career:
Training in my plastic surgery fellowship with Dr. John Kelleher and Dr. Michael Yanik. These two men mentored my career
How do you make healthy habits stick?
I haven?t figured that one out yet.
Biggest pet peeve?
Dishonest people.
Laurence Baibak, M.D.
Arrowhead Plastic Surgeons
1362 Arrowhead Rd., Maumee
419-887-7002
What advice would you give to someone new to (your line of work)?
Never forget your humanity. You are not more important than anyone else.
Who do you admire, and why?
I admire my father. He gave me my values. He was my mentor and who I trained under.
Lesley Maidlow and Ginger Stapleton
The Beehive Salon and Spa
7510 New West Rd.
419-517-4447
What do you like most about your job?
The people, the creativity and the opportunity to make people feel beautiful.
Describe a turning point in your career:
Taking a chance and pursuing our dream of owning our own salon.
What advice would you give to someone new to (your line of work)?
Perfect your skills, surround yourself with positive people and always believe in yourself!
Who do you admire, and why?
Our parents. They instilled in us drive, determination and a strong work ethic.
Dr. Deitra Hickey, Ed.D.
Serenity Health and Wellness Center
1685 Lance Pointe Dr., Maumee
419-891-2181
What advice would you give to someone new to (your line of work)?
Practice what you preach. What is the point of raising awareness and teaching the health benefits of honoring yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically through holistic wellness and other implementations if you don?t do the same for yourself?
Biggest pet peeve?
Poor customer service. People comment all of the time how amazing our client-centered service is and although I appreciate the feedback, it is sad that it is not as common in our culture and society as it used to be.
Scott Bowman
Fowl and Fodder
7408 W. Central Ave.
419-690-2490
What do you like most about your job?
Nourishing people with food grown with the best practices, right here in our backyard.
Who do you admire, and why?
Thomas Keller (chef), his eye for detail in everything he does blows me away.
How do you make healthy habits stick?
I try to make it really easy to eat the foods I should by making them accessible. It?s tough when the fridge is empty and I?m past the point of hungry. I also keep water by me at all times.
Marie Russell
It's Yoga
135 N. Michigan Ave. & 4324 Central Ave.
419-531-0006
What do you like most about your job?
It?s Yoga! I get to be barefoot every day and practice the Rocket. It?s a moving-breathing meditation designed to strengthen and enlighten?its been a metaphor for everything in my life. Also I am blessed to travel and all over the world and meet beautiful loving souls who are enthusiastic about yoga and sharing the love of the practice.
What would you say has been the greatest challenge of your career?
Remaining authentic and true to my Highest Purpose. it takes discipline, practice and commitment, and it?s been the most challenging and most rewarding work of my life.
Biggest pet peeve?
I can?t think of one?when things bug me, I do my best to breathe and watch it dissolve.
Dr. Jason Peisley, D.C.
Fairwood Health and Body Transition
5215 Monroe St., Ste. 5
419-517-1030
What do you like most about your job?
Helping people achieve their goals with chiropractic care, whether in weight loss or function.
What advice would you give to someone new to (your line of work)?
Stay persistent! Success doesn?t happen overnight.
How do you make healthy habits stick?
A regular detox program every change of the season helps to keep the liver clean, and it reduces cravings.
Biggest pet peeve?
People who tell others what they want to hear just for their own gain.
Andrea Sallee
FACES Skin Health Experts
6595 Secor Rd., Lambertville
734-568-6100
Who do you admire, and why?
My dad. Anything he sets his mind to, he does, and he does it well?including building and flying airplanes.
Biggest pet peeve?
That we live in a society where text messaging is now considered a meaningful form of communication.
Dr. Bryan D. Royer
Harmony Chiropractic Center
3829 Woodley Rd. Ste. 1
419-517-5055
What do you like most about your job?
I get to help people on a daily basis. Watching the look on their face after you treat them for the first time and they get some relief is priceless. You can see hope come back to them.
What advice would you give to someone new to (your line of work)?
Get as much education as you can. Chiropractic school prepares you to help most people, but you will get stuck on the harder cases. More education means that you have more tools available in your toolbox.
Who do you admire, and why?
Dr. Ted Carrick, a pioneer in the field of functional neurology. He not only treats famous athletes and helps them recover from concussions, like he did with Sidney Crosby, but he?s also helping to treat America?s veterans that return home with brain injuries suffered during combat. I understand the concepts and how he goes about doing them, but watching the things that he does with people and the recovery that they make is absolutely amazing.
Biggest pet peeve?
Poor posture. Obviously, it leads to pain, especially in the neck and upper back, and headaches. The other thing is that it conveys things to other people as a type of body language. While it may not be the actual case for a person, it conveys a lack of confidence, depression or sloppiness.
Merinda S. Marcinkowski-Tippett
Creative Excellence Salon, LLC
2600 W. Sylvania Ave. (DeVeaux Village Shopping Center)
419-472-1454
Who do you admire, and why?
I admire my team at my salon because they keep me motivated, inspired and are always there for me and my guests.
How do you make healthy habits stick?
By having a great support team. Seeking out advice from others on how they make changes in their lives.
Biggest pet peeve?
Negative people! My glass is always half-full, not half-empty.
Dr. Hope Mitchel
Mitchell Dermatology
900 West S. Boundary, Bldg. 9A, Perrysburg
419-872-4673
What do you like most about your job?
Diversity?On any given day I may go from treating skin cancer, acne, eczema or pigmentation/aging concerns to doing mole exams and facial injectables. I see patients of all age groups and ethnicities. The variety makes every day interesting.
What advice would you give to someone new to (your line of work)?
Find a mentor in your line of work that can give you advice even when you don?t think you need it.
How do you make healthy habits stick?
I surround myself with like-minded people.
Biggest pet peeve?
When you say you?re going to do something and you don?t.
John F. Zavell M.D.
Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, Inc.
2865 N. Reynolds Rd.
419-534-6551
What do you like most about your job?
The variety of procedures and the interesting patients that I meet.
Who do you admire, and why?
People with integrity and honesty. Our current culture doesn't seem to encourage these attributes.
Dr. Nadeem Khan, D.D
Great Smiles Family Dentistry
4646 Nantuckett Dr., Ste. D
419-843-8095
greatsmilesfamilydentistry.com
What do you like most about your job?
I love getting people out of extreme tooth pain. To see the satisfaction and relief on people?s faces after they are relieved of pain is priceless.
Who do you admire, and why?
I always have admired my parents because of the hard work and sacrifices they made for my brothers and I. I am and will always be thankful to them.
Biggest pet peeve?
The biggest pet peeve I have personally is making people wait. I understand that everyone?s time is important, so it?s my goal to see everyone in a timely manner!
Karen Everage
Studio Fitness
1413 Bernath Pkwy (South Village Square)
419-870-2318
Describe a turning point in your career:
When I realized that I could make a living at what I love doing, which is making others happy about the way they look and feel.
Who do you admire, and why?
The Underdog, because their success is built on perseverance, hard work, determination and coming out of an adverse situation on top.
What would you say has been the greatest challenge of your career?
Convincing people in the area that eating healthy and exercising i s not punishment.
How do you make healthy habits stick?
By taking the time to learn how to cook healthy, trying new recipes, new foods, new favors, and cooking with fresh ingredients.
Dr. Andre Haerian
Drs. Simon, Haerian & Ludwig Orthodontics
6407 Monroe St., Sylvania
419-882-1017
What do you like most about your job?
My partners and I take great pride in having created an environment where both patients and staff enjoy being in our offices. Who can?t enjoy a day at work where everyone is smiling?
Describe a turning point in your career:
After I earned my PhD I was able to find a balance between practicing orthodontics and teaching orthodontics, both of my passions.
How do you make healthy habits stick?
Avoiding my staff?s break area?we have some awesome bakers!
Kelly Salazar
BIKram Yoga of Toledo
5107B Monroe St.
567-343-2298
Describe a turning point in your career:
When I opened Bikram Yoga, I went from being a yoga instructor to heading up a business. I took on a lot of responsibility, but I wouldn?t change it for the world. I love having a place where so many people have found health, happiness, peace and friendship. We have such a great community of students and instructors at Bikram Yoga Toledo! I couldn?t be prouder!
How do you make healthy habits stick?
Making healthy habits stick is sometimes hard and we all have bad days, but knowing that tomorrow is another day, another chance helps. Also, I know its an old adage, but moderation is key. Let yourself indulge every so often.
Biggest pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is plastic water bottles. They are so bad for the environment. We try to do our part at the studio and at home by recycling them.
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Angela Parton
Solutions for Hair for Men and Women, LLC
4352 W Sylvania Ave. Suite J.
419-843-4247
Describe a turning point in your career:
Entering into the hair replacement world was the most significant turning point. It gives me great satisfaction to help people that are going through different types of hair loss. Hair loss is a devastating experience and by working in the hair replacement industry, I am able to help my clients regain their self-esteem.
Who do you admire, and why?
I admire my mother, Diana Kennedy. She is always such a genuinely caring and giving person. She has been inspirational to me and has always been the one to pick me up when I?m down.
How do you make healthy habits stick?
I usually try to talk everyone else into doing it with me.
John Kranjec
Belamere Suites Hotel
12200 Williams Rd., Perrysburg
419-874-2233
What do you like most about your job?
Seeing, hearing and feeling the joy in people after they stay with us at the Belamere Suites. Its very satisfying when a couple makes another reservation with us before they leave the hotel.
What advice would you give to someone new to (your line of work)?
When you and your staff enjoy bending over backwards for people to ensure a lifetime memorable stay, then you can do what we do.
Who do you admire, and why?
My father and mother who started me in the hotel business. They u nderstood that quality surpasses quantity in every aspect of the service industry.
