Potosa Spa Archives - Hotel Julien Dubuque

Category Archive: Potosa Spa

March 25, 2022
Meet the Team: Briana Lee Martin

Name: Briana Lee Martin

Title: Massage Therapist

Hometown: Maquoketa

1.How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque?

About 8 months

2. What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to this industry.

After COVID, I wanted to work for a business that was professional and secure, and Potosa was the first place that came to mind.

3. What are you most passionate about professionally?

Making sure my clients feel comfortable and relaxed with me, and making sure their concerns and questions are heard.

4. What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend?

For fun, I love to make art and garden. I spend most of my free time restoring my future home.

5. What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area?

I love to visit the River Museum and find new places to eat and grab something sweet.

6. What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque?

Being able to hear all the stories of guests traveling and learning what their favorite locations are that they’ve visited.

7. What is your personal motto?

Life’s too short to live it unhappy.

8. Describe your typical work day.

Very busy, I usually have 3-5 clients a day. Lots of interactions.

9. What is your favorite service at Potosa Spa and why?

Shea Butter Massage because it makes the skin so soft and you leave feeling relaxed and smelling great!

10. Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself.

I like to name my pets after food!
March 18, 2022
Meet the Team: Lauren Klar

Name: Lauren Klar

Title: Wellness Coordinator

Hometown: Dyersville, IA

1.How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque?

Since June 2021

2. What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to this industry.

I have a license in Cosmetology and wanted to work in this type of environment.

3. What are you most passionate about professionally?

The best part about my job is seeing people leave happier than when they arrived.

4. What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend?

I am passionate about music, and I enjoy spending my free time with my family and friends.

5. What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area?

Going on Target runs!

6.What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque?

The Hotel Julien Management Team makes me feel valuable and appreciated.

7. What is your personal motto?

You never know what someone could be going through, so be kind.

8. Describe your typical work day.

When I open, I get the spa ready and make it a welcoming and relaxing environment. Throughout the day, I try to make the experience better by being the first and last person they see.

9. What is your favorite service at Potosa Spa and why?

I love any type of facial here at Potosa Spa because of how relaxed they make me feel afterwards. I love how fresh my face feels after I get one.

10. Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself.

My husband and I recreated my grandparent’s wedding photo.
October 7, 2021
Meet the Team: Sarah Mescher

Name: Sarah Mescher

Title: Salon Lead/ Esthetician/Nail Tech

Hometown: Dyersville, Iowa

1.How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque?

3 years

2. What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to this industry.

What brought me to Hotel Julien was when I teaching at Capri, I wanted to get back to the spa life, so I jumped at the chance to apply with Potosa Spa! I have been in the spa industry since 2014, grew up in the spa industry, and knew early on that I would love working in this industry myself.

3. What are you most passionate about professionally?

Professionally, I am passionate about transformations and helping people feel better overall, whether it’s by providing a service or just talking things out!

4. What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend?

Personally, I am passionate about traveling, adventure and my dog! I enjoy spending my weekends going to new places and exploring with my friends or my dog, Axle.

5. What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area?

Hiking around the Mines of Spain and listening to my friends, Temple Hill Road, play at Dimensional Brewing Co.

6. What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque?

What I love most about Hotel Julien is my coworkers and clients!

7. What is your personal motto?

Strength is what we gain from the madness we survive.

8. Describe your typical work day.

Booked and busy!

9. What is your favorite service at Potosa Spa and why?

Hard to choose!

10. Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself.

I am an adventure- seeking dog mom! I also like to skydive!
Meet The Team: Jim Rucker

Name: Jim Rucker

Title: Licensed Massage Therapist

Hometown: Dubuque, IA

1.How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque?

About 9 months

2. What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to this industry.

I got into massage therapy because I needed a new direction in my life, and so the journey continues. After 20 years away from my hometown, I moved back to Dubuque, discovered Potosa, fell in love with it, and so here I am.

3. What are you most passionate about professionally?

I am passionate about providing a healthful and holistic service to the people I work on.

4. What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend?

I love to ground myself in nature, either in the woods or on the waters in my canoe.

5. What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area?

Visiting historic old shops, fishing, going on walks, and the occasional trip to the casino.

6. What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque?

The historical atmosphere.

7. What is your personal motto?

Motion is life, stagnation is death. Always keep moving forward.

8. Describe your typical work day.

There is usually nothing typical in the work day of a massage therapist.

9. What is your favorite service at Potosa Spa and why?

I really couldn’t pick a specific service. All provide a healthy benefit(s) in some way.
July 15, 2021
Meet The Team : Stephanie Gilligan

Name: Stephanie Gilligan

Position: Esthetician

Hometown: Dubuque, Iowa

1. How long have you been with Hotel Julien Dubuque?

Almost 10 years (Anniversary: August 29th) – Doing esthetics and the front desk here at the spa.

2. What path brought you to Hotel Julien Dubuque? Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to this industry.

I graduated from Capri College. Then, I stared working at my sister’s salon and was there for about a year or so. After that, I started working at Potosa a year after they opened.

3.What are you most passionate about professionally?

Making the client happy! People need “me” time, and I want to leave them feeling rejuvenated, relaxed, and calm as well as give them a treatment like they’ve never had before!

4.What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free

weekend?

I love spending the weekend at the Farmer’s Market, getting to be a vendor with a close friend of mine where we sell our home-made soaps, body scrubs, bath salts, and sprays! Sunday dinners are always a must with my family, too!

5. What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area?

Again, the Farmer’s Market! Also, going to the shops down on the 3rd and 4th street area, and hanging out with my friends and family.

6. What do you love most about Hotel Julien Dubuque?

My coworkers! We have a great team at Potosa Spa!

7. Describe your typical work day.

I start the day by getting my treatment room ready and getting prepared for any services I have that day. I make sure everything is stocked, cleaned, and ready to go for the clients.

8. What is your favorite service at Potosa Spa and why?

Definitely the Fountain of Youth Facial. You can notice a difference just after the first one! The hydradermabrasion helps with hydration, circulation, and fine lines.

9. Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself.

I make home-made soaps and scrubs!
October 23, 2019
Meet The Team: Rebecca Rauen

Name: Rebecca Rauen

Title: Massage Therapist

Hometown: Epworth, IA

1. How long have you been with Potosa Spa/Hotel Julien Dubuque?

It will be a year in January that I joined the Potosa Spa team.

2. What path brought you to Potosa Spa/Hotel Julien Dubuque? Please share a little bit about your professional background and what led you to this industry?

I have always felt a calling to help others feel better. Being visually impaired drew me to the massage field since I could rely on my other senses to be a great therapist. What led me to Potosa Spa was I loved the atmosphere and feeling of relaxation as soon as you walk through the doors. It felt like the right fit for me.

3. What are you most passionate about professionally?

What I am passionate about professionally is helping others feel better. I love it when a spa guest leaves feeling better than they did when they came in.

4. What are you passionate about personally? What is your favorite way to spend a free weekend?

Personally I am passionate about spending time with my family, especially my fiance and our baby. My favorite way to spend my free time is snuggling with my three-month-old baby and guide dog, Tippet.

5. What are some of your favorite things to do in the Dubuque area?

One of my favorite things to do in the Dubuque area is fishing.

6. What do you love most about Potosa Spa/Hotel Julien Dubuque?

What I love most about Potosa Spa/Hotel Julien Dubuque is the welcoming atmosphere.

7. What is your personal motto?

“Believing is seeing – not seeing is believing.”

8. Describe your typical workday.

My typical workday includes bringing my guide dog Tippet. She gets to be part of the fun. I typically see guests starting early in the day and stay busy until the end of my shift.

9. What is your favorite service at Potosa Spa and why you like it?

My favorite service at Potosa Spa is the Organic Shea Butter Massage. It’s not only relaxing and moisturizing, but fun to do.

10. Please share a go-to fun-fact about yourself.

I am getting married next year!
June 26, 2015
Meet the Team: Kimberly Ohnesorge

Kimberly Ohnesorge has been a member of the Potosa Spa team since April 2014. While Kimberly was born in Dubuque, the majority of her experience in the industry is from time spent in Las Vegas, Nevada where she owned and operated a skincare business. In her Meet the Team feature, Kimberly shares expert skincare tips as well as general wellness strategies for an all-around healthy lifestyle.
Joined the team: In April of 2014
Hometown: Dubuque, Iowa
Background/Schooling: “The majority of my schooling took place in Las Vegas, Nevada.”
Name one step of your beauty routine that you could never skip: “Taking off makeup at night. So many people still like to skip this!”
What is your favorite spa treatment? “The Fountain of Youth Facial. It is a very advanced facial!”
What is your favorite beauty product? “Solar Defense SPF 30 and anti-wrinkle cream by Hydropeptide.”
What wellness and/or relaxation strategies do you implement in your day-to-day life? “Always maintain a positive mindset and do not be around negative energy.”
What is your favorite beauty tip/trick? “Eyebrow waxing is so important to your overall look – eyebrows shape your face!”
What do you love most about your job? “I love educating my clients on skincare.”
Is there anything else that you would like to share? “I have worked in all areas of aesthetics from working with dermatologists to plastic surgeons to wellness spas.”

Learn more about Potosa Spa by visiting www.potosaspa.com or call 563.588.5570 to schedule your next appointment.
June 19, 2015
Meet the Team: Stephanie Gilligan

A veteran Esthetician, Stephanie Gilligan has been with Potosa Spa since August of 2011. Stephanie is a Dubuque native and graduate of Capri College. Read on as this skincare guru shares expert tips that can be incorporated into your daily regiment to help you achieve a luminous, flawless glow.
Joined the team: In August of 2011
Hometown: Dubuque, Iowa
Background/Schooling: “I Graduated from Capri College.”
Name one step of your beauty routine that you could never skip: “I could never skip cleansing and toning.”
What is your favorite spa treatment? “My favorite spa treatment would have to be the Lifting Code Facial or the Primeluce Facial.”
What is your favorite beauty product? “I would have to say Bioline. There are many different lines in the Bioline product group that work for sensitive skin all the way to acne-prone skin types.”
What wellness and/or relaxation strategies do you implement in your day-to-day life? “Get plenty of rest and develop a day-to-day skin regiment. Keep up with it and you will see results — it will pay off in the long run with great skin!”
What is your favorite beauty tip/trick? “High Frequency Treatment. From one pimple to very acne-prone skin, this treatment will kill bacteria and leave you with clear skin in only 2-3 days.”
What do you love most about your job? “My clients and working with all of the lovely ladies of Potosa Spa!”
Is there anything else that you would like to share? “I love what I do. I get to experience something new every day. I have met so many people from all over and cannot wait to see what the future brings.”

Learn more about Potosa Spa by visiting www.potosaspa.com or call 563.588.5570 to schedule your next appointment.
June 10, 2015
Meet the Team: Sarah Blindert

Sarah Blindert has been a member of the Potosa Spa team since 2013. Not only does Sarah work as an Esthetician, but she is also a lead Licensed Massage Therapist specializing in Deep Tissue, Prenatal, Swedish, Thai, and Lymphatic Drainage Massage. A native resident of Dubuque, Sarah earned both licenses from Capri College. In her Meet the Team feature, Sarah shares key wellness strategies that she has learned throughout her training as well as personal beauty tips that she implements in her daily routine.
Joined the team: In 2013
Hometown: Dubuque, Iowa
Background/Schooling: “I Graduated from Capri College with licenses in both Massage Therapy and Esthetics.”
Name one step of your beauty routine that you could never skip: “Using a facial cleanser at the end of my day to remove everything from the skin’s surface in order to get a nice glow.”
What is your favorite spa treatment? “The Herbal Detox Wrap and Massage. It is a great way to feel refreshed!”
What is your favorite beauty product? “Eye shadow because you can be expressive and make your eyes pop.”
What wellness and/or relaxation strategies do you implement in your day-to-day life? I strongly believe that what you put into your body or do to your body will affect how you look and feel. I incorporate healthy eating and physical activities into my daily routine to always be the best that I can be.”
What is your favorite beauty tip/trick? “Stretching and drinking plenty of water can really do a lot for you.”
What do you love most about your job? “I love helping clients feel and look their best along with hearing repeat clients’ testimonials!”
Is there anything else that you would like to share? “I enjoy spending any free time that I get with my family and exploring the great outdoors!”

Learn more about Potosa Spa by visiting www.potosaspa.com or call 563.588.5570 to schedule your next appointment.
June 3, 2015
Meet the Team: Becky Bowling

Becky Bowling joined the Potosa Spa team in 2014
as a Licensed Massage Therapist after graduating
from Capri College in Dubuque. A passionate yogi and essential oil enthusiast, Becky shares her favorite health and wellness strategies for a well-rounded
daily routine.

Joined the team: In 2014
Hometown: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Background/Schooling: “I Graduated from Capri College in Dubuque, Iowa.”
What is your favorite spa treatment? “Milk and Honey Shea Butter Massage.”
What is your favorite beauty product? “Body Butter. I believe it works better for dry skin than lotion.”
What wellness and/or relaxation strategies do you implement in your day-to-day life? “I do a lot of yoga and exercise frequently. I enjoy using all sorts of essential oils to help me relax in addition to meditating.”
What is your favorite beauty tip/trick? “Always take care of yourself.”
What do you love most about your job? “I love helping people feel better and relax.”
Is there anything else that you would like to share? “Going to massage therapy school was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I am so blessed to be able to help others in my career. Massage has shown me that feeling good is essential and more important than looking good. I hope everyone knows that they are beautiful! You are all awesome!”

Learn more about Potosa Spa by visiting www.potosaspa.com or call 563.588.5570 to schedule your next appointment.