A Spa For You

Erika began her road to self-employment over 14 years ago when she joined the PARO Circle, Aurora. After completing her esthetics and hair design training, and with a new baby on the way, Erika started working at PARO as an office assistant. During her time at PARO, she started learning about the various self-employment programs PARO has to offer.

After her maternity leave, Erika participated in the Gateway program, where she started Adventures with Erika, a style and fashion consulting business. Then in 2002, Erika opened a small spa in the Airlane Travelodge Hotel, which grew to a 1000 square foot spa, and eventually to her current 3500 square foot building, A Spa For You, on Frederica Street in Thunder Bay.

Erika generously gives back to others, and often travels to Cuba and Dominican Republic to bring supplies to women there who have a thirst for entrepreneurship as well as sharing her knowledge in workshops for spa directors in the resorts. Her new dreams include starting her own esthetics school, and to continue sharing her skills and expertise internationally.

She believes that without PARO’s Gateway program, her first steps into entrepreneurship may never have happened.