About
Who We Are
How We Started
Meet The Team!
Lisa Semerly
President of the World Halotherapy Association
Chief Revenue Officer, Halotherapy Solutions
With over a decade of experience in the Halotherapy industry, Lisa Semerly is a recognized leader and trusted expert in the field. As a successful multi-modality medical spa owner—thriving for more than 10 years—Lisa has a deep understanding of how Halotherapy supports a range of respiratory and skin-related conditions. This hands-on expertise, combined with years of industry mentorship, makes her a go-to resource for wellness professionals entering or expanding in the salt therapy space.
Lisa’s career began in the pharmaceutical industry, where she spent 15 years, including over a decade at Merck & Co. as a Lead Executive Specialty Representative working closely with respiratory thought leaders. She also held key roles at Bristol Myers-Squibb, focusing on dermatological health. Lisa holds a master’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Michigan State University.
Appointed President of the World Halotherapy Association in 2023, Lisa is leading the organization through a period of rapid industry growth and evolution. Under her leadership, the WHA is helping shape the future of Halotherapy—setting standards, supporting practitioners, and championing the therapeutic power of salt.
Yana Semerly has been in the salt therapy industry for over a decade. From a young age, she was driven by both wellness and entrepreneurship. In high school, she became one of the youngest licensed estheticians in Michigan, spent years growing her family-owned medical spa centered in salt therapy, and even launched her own facial symmetry business.
Her efforts in the wellness industry were recognized with the prestigious Light the Way Scholarship for Service and Entrepreneurship. Yana went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Entrepreneurship while also competing in the #1 position on her university’s women’s tennis team, leading them to the first conference championship in school history.
Today, she serves as Executive Director of the World Halotherapy Association, where she oversees operations, manages a dedicated team, and sets the strategic vision for the organization.
In addition, Yana works as a Business & Sales Consultant at Halotherapy Solutions, the world’s #1 salt supplier. Supporting small businesses is her passion, as their journey mirrors her own. She is dedicated to helping owners thrive by boosting ROI and reducing stress through innovative, attendant-free wellness solutions.
Her mission is simple: to make salt therapy accessible in every community.
Camryn Albert
Digital Marketing Specialist
Camryn Albert is a digital marketing professional with diverse experience across nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and the health and wellness industry. Her expertise includes campaign management, social media strategy, content creation, website management, and market research, all of which she leverages to build engagement and support organizational growth.
At the World Halotherapy Association, Camryn plays a key role in enhancing the organization’s visibility and value for its members. She develops and refines digital content, designs and manages marketing campaigns, and contributes to the advancement of wellness training programs by creating and improving course materials. Through her strategic approach and creative insight, Camryn helps strengthen WHA’s ability to serve its members and expand its impact within the wellness industry.
Passionate about wellness and digital marketing, she is dedicated to delivering innovative strategies that connect communities and drive meaningful results.
Gabe Pacheco
Marketing Strategist
Gabe Pacheco helps organizations bring clarity and impact to their marketing, aligning strategy with purpose across industries—from transportation to beauty and wellness. His work has guided business owners in developing campaigns that not only drive results but also reflect their deeper mission. With a mix of high-level insight and hands-on execution, Gabe ensures ideas don’t just stay on paper—they move people.
At WHA, Gabe applies this expertise to support the growth and awareness of halotherapy worldwide. If you’d like to maximize your equipment investment and earn an extra $3,000–$5,000 per month, book a call with Gabe to learn how effective marketing can help you get there.
Peter Stiener
Training and Development Consultant
Peter Stiener has over 30 years’ experience as a training and development consultant. He has completed hundreds of educational and training programs for corporations and businesses, all over the world including Australia, New Zealand. Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Canada, Israel, Europe, Nigeria and the US. He has produced training programs for just about every industry including health care, pharmaceuticals, real estate, banking, manufacturing, engineering and education. The aim of all these programs has been to help people do their jobs better and to feel more confident in their daily interactions with colleagues and customers. Peter is fascinated by the complementary therapy industry and its promise to help people with a wide range of physical challenges. He has a BA from Hunter College (City University of New York) and a Masters degree in adult learning from Antioch University and lives in NYC with his partner, Susan.
WHA Advisors
Dr. Raleigh Duncan
Dr Duncan was one of the early pioneers in the infrared sauna industry and has led Clearlight Saunas to a leadership position over the last 19 years. He is very experienced in designing systems to help heal the body, the creation of health products from inception to execution, manufacturing and quality control. He also holds several patents. He has a Doctor of Chiropractic degree as well as a BS in Science, Life West Chiropractic, Regents College. Dr Duncan has been instrumental in the joint product development with Halotherapy Solutions LLC of the Halo-IR—the first custom-designed product that combines Halotherapy and InfraRed.
Kenny Kong
Kenny has run Salt Therapy Centre, Breathe Better Salt Rooms, in Frankston, Australia for 5 years. This is the most successful salt therapy business in Australia with marketing techniques that can be used anywhere. Prior to salt therapy, Kenny worked for 21 years at Crown Casino in Melbourne Australia where his last position was Assistant Casino Manager, Table Games. Kenny has first hand experience with salt therapy, In July 2013, he became sick with acute bronchitis for about 9 months where he was on multiple antibiotics nearly daily.. Kenny committed to salt therapy for just over 3 months attending 5 sessions a week. In the first couple of months his health and "all day, every day" cough and asthma was relieved as well as his thick green congestion. This was his impetus to look into salt therapy. Kenny threw in his job at Crown Casino and joined the salt therapy revolution.
Kathleen Slonager
Ms. Slonager is CEO of Transformational Health, PC– a holistic health care practice devoted to homeopathy. As a Board Certified Classical Homeopath she is excited to help people restore health and vitality utilizing the therapeutic principles of homeopathy. She is also the Executive Director of Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America – Michigan Chapter, a non-profit charity dedicated to education and training for all those affected by asthma and allergies, as well as the professionals who take care of them.
In 2013, she was awarded the AAFA Chapter Innovation Award from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, in recognition of a home care program for families dealing with asthma and allergies. Additionally, she is the co-author or the AAFA Wee Breathers™ and the Asthma Care for Adults™ asthma management programs.
With over 25 years of experience, Kathleen is a passionate patient advocate and health educator with expertise in asthma and allergy management, complementary and alternative medicine modalities, disease management, quality assurance, and health promotion and hopes to light a spark in others and is passionate about providing evidence-informed health information to aid consumers on their own health and wellness journey.
Lisa Starr
Lisa Starr is the Principal of Wynne Business Consulting & Education, which specializes in spa, wellness & salon businesses. Starr has over 35 years of experience in the beauty & wellness industry, spending the last 18 years as a consultant and educator, helping owners and operators of spas and wellness facilities maximize their operations performance in both front and back of house while providing exceptional experiences for clients and guests.
Her particular areas of focus include operations, finances & staff compensation, marketing, inventory management, retailing, human resource & leadership development, and business process improvement. Starr is the Task Force Chair for the Global Wellness Institute’s Consulting Initiative, a Contributing Editor at Dayspa Magazine, a regular contributor to global trade publications, a highly-rated speaker at ISPA and beauty industry conferences, and offers live spa management courses across the globe, as well as through an online learning portal.
Dr. Alan M. Atkinson
Dr. Alan M. Atkinson is a seasoned retired healthcare provider with over 44 years of experience in Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Sleep Medicine. He served as the Medical Director of the Sparrow Sleep Center (1992-2017) and was also the Medical Director of Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Lansing General and Sparrow Hospitals.
Dr. Atkinson specializes in advanced bronchoscopic technology, exercise physiology, and interstitial lung disease. He has also consulted for industry, biotechnology, insurance, and medical-legal entities. As an advisor for the World Halotherapy Association, he brings his expertise in pulmonary health and innovative respiratory treatments.
Fluent in English and Spanish, Additionally, Dr. Atkinson holds a certification in Musical Production from Berklee College of Music, reflecting his passion for music.
Joan Gebhart
Joan Wiley Gebhart has dedicated her career to building inspiring spaces in the fitness, wellness, and recovery industries. As Vice President of Corporate Sales at Creative Surfaces, she has led national projects, helping brands create interiors that elevate member experiences and generate lasting results. Her work includes well-known spaces such as Cut Fitness (featured on Bravo TV), Dragon’s Lair in Las Vegas with 7-time Mr. Olympia Flex Lewis, and Fred Fitness.
With decades of experience, Joan is a trusted partner for some of the industry’s top franchises, collaborating to deliver innovative spaces that align with brand standards, stay within budget, and maximize wellness outcomes. She has been a featured panelist for Les Mills, The Wellness Space, and Club Industry, while also supporting global rollouts with brands like Hummer. Beyond her career, Joan invests in wellness ventures, mentors women in leadership, and serves on the UND Women’s Leadership Board.
Passionate about wellness both professionally and personally, Joan enjoys fitness, travel, time with her family, and being with her two grandchildren.
Joseph Krieger
Joseph Krieger, President and Founder of Boston BioLife (BBL), has spent over 25 years at the forefront of healthcare and life sciences. Driven by a vision to streamline translational medicine—an interdisciplinary approach uniting lab discoveries, clinical practice, and community impact—Joseph built BBL to accelerate the integration of cutting-edge technologies into everyday medical practice. From connecting healthcare tech providers to high-quality leads, to offering accredited training that supports groundbreaking scientific advances, Joseph’s work has consistently focused on one core goal: transforming patient care and driving better health outcomes.
Through Boston BioLife, Joseph champions a collaborative environment where innovators, practitioners, and industry leaders converge to share expertise and spark new breakthroughs. His mission goes beyond introducing next-level technologies; it’s about forging a future where cutting-edge science translates seamlessly into real-world medical solutions. By empowering healthcare professionals with the right resources, Joseph is reshaping the global healthcare system one innovation at a time.
Sat Randhawa
After more than a decade in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch, Sat Randhawa transitioned his analytical expertise into the wellness and healthcare sector by founding One Hype Wellness His mission is to deliver science-backed, technology-driven solutions that enhance recovery, optimise performance, and promote overall well-being. He leads the design and manufacturing of advanced Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers, Photobiomodulation Beds, and Brain Performance Helmets, trusted by prestigious hospitals, luxury hotels, elite spas, and worldclass athletes. Guided by a philosophy of “No guesswork, just science, ” Sat is committed to rigorous research, innovation, and uncompromising quality, ensuring that his products set new standards in health and performance technology
Sukh Randhawa
Sukh Randhawa is a performance optimisation coach who integrates cutting-edge neuroscience into wellness and longevity.With over 20 years of global corporate experience, she bridges highperformance leadership, emotional intelligence, and neurotechnology to help individuals and organisations unlock their full cognitive potential. Using advanced brain mapping (qEEG), neurofeedback, and personalised protocols, she empowers clients to understand their brain patterns, sharpen focus, build resilience, and extend not just lifespan, but brainspan.
WHA Ambassadors
Connie NG
AUSTRALIA
Founder, The Salt Therapy Clinic & Sanctuary
Connie’s key areas of focus in Halotherapy are: Respiratory, Skin Health, Sports Performance, Sports Recovery, Pain Management, Relaxation, Sleep and Natural Therapy. Connie is very keen to create awareness and share the natural healing benefits of Halotherapy
Kelly Leblond
FRANCE
Owner, Aerosel Halotherapie
Five years ago, Kelly dreamt of owning her own salt room and introducing dry salt therapy to the French. A long-time sufferer of sinus congestion, Kelly believes that halotherapy should be viewed as a preventive measure in healthcare. She intends to combine halotherapy with other holistic treatments in her new wellness business. She enjoys hosting workshops that bring like-minded people together.
Ryan Dodson
UNITED STATES
CEO, The Salt Suite
Through franchising, Ryan has a history of helping business owners achieve their dreams. He has carried this expertise to salt therapy. Ryan and his partner Tiffany purchased The Salt Suite from their founders back in 2019 and through this year grew The Salt Suite by 50%. They are looking to continue their growth by bringing the benefits of salt therapy across the United States.