New owner takes over Sewickley Spa

Former Sewickley Spa employee Jonelle McMahan is now at the helm as the owner.

Former owner Dorothy Andreas opened the business in 1997, according to a news release. In 2000, The Sewickley Spa at Ligonier opened, and in 2003, The Sewickley Spa at The Wisp Resort in Deep Creek Lake Maryland joined the brand. As The Sewickley Spa grew, it became a celebrated destination earning national acclaim.

McMahan was hired in 2009. A 2004 graduate of Penn State University with a degree in communications, advertising and public relations, she enjoyed a successful career in media advertising and was ready to make a change. Upon joining Andreas as the spa director, McMahan’s past work experience in advertising aligned well with the commitment to strategic marketing that Andreas subscribed to in building, promoting and growing The Sewickley Spa.

“Jonelle possesses delightful energy that fit so well with our business model. You could see right out of the gate that she had a brilliant rapport with our employees and our clients,” Andreas said in a news release. “I have been training professionals for many years and there are just some things that can’t be taught and Jonelle has a superb business sense that made her the perfect fit for this industry and more importantly, for The Sewickley Spa.”

For the past 12 years, McMahan has been running the day-to-day operations of The Sewickley Spa. Undeterred by the challenges brought on by covid-19, McMahan grew revenue in-spite of the social distancing and the shut-down that had devastating effects on so many other businesses.

She purchased the spa in November of 2020.

“To work side by side with someone who I have long admired and in a business that is so well respected was incredible to me,” McMahan said. “I have learned so much from Dorothy. She has built a business foundation that is unsurpassed. It has been my dream to take over the spa when she was ready to move on.”

The Sewickley Spa continues to set the standards of day spas in the area, and under the ownership of McMahan, customers can expect the same level of service and professionalism that they are accustomed to.

“We treasure the relationships we build with our customers and the new clients and friends we welcome will become equally as precious,” said McMahan. “We remain dedicated to providing an extraordinary experience and I feel privileged to be able to carry the tradition.”