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DC Spa offers a great experience for clients and students alike

Love a good spa treatment? Massages, facials and pedicures are among the services you can experience at the Durham College (DC) Spa, while also providing students the opportunity with real-world experience that will help their career progression.

For students in the Cosmetic Techniques and Management, Esthetician – Spa Management and Massage Therapy programs, the DC Spa provides an opportunity to put the techniques and customer service skills they’ve been building in class into practice.

“They get that hands-on, real-world perspective,” said Leslie Morris, Spa Manager. “In the classroom when they’re learning techniques, they’re working peer to peer so everyone’s mostly in the same age group. But diversity really starts to broaden when they work on paying clients—people are giving feedback, and all of that soft skill training comes into play.”

If you’ve ever been a client at the DC Spa, you know that’s a special experience too. Serving the wider community, the Spa sees a diverse group of people each week from retirees to DC employees. Top service choices include massages, facials, pedicures, facials and shellac manicures. Clients trade a slightly longer treatment time that allows students to learn and practice for really affordable prices ($13.50 for a manicure! $35 for a massage! See the rest of the pricing on their website at www.durhamcollegespa.ca). Massages, for example, are 75 minutes including both assessment and consultation time as well as the actual treatment.

“It’s a clinical practice, so students are creating a treatment plan based on needs and assessment,” explained Morris. Often the treatment recommendation involves multiple sessions, usually a maximum of three before clients are passed along to another student massage therapist.

Given the treatment options and pricing, it’s not surprising to learn that the DC Spa tends to book up fast. “The word is out about our spa,” said Morris. “We can see 40 to 60 people a day (100 a week), so there’s quite a bit of volume. Massage in particular books up and becomes waitlisted, and some people even plan when they want to come for whole semester, so they get preferred booking.”

While the online booking platform is easy to use, the Spa still takes in-person bookings and even walk-ins when available. The Spa’s top-quality products are available for purchase in its retail store, complimentary parking is available, and yes, they do sell gift certificates.

Morris says that clients come from all over—besides regulars, the past week’s customers included a police officer from Toronto who stopped in for a massage, and a first-year student who enjoyed her first facial enough to bring her mom along the second time. Compliments are also a regular feature at the spa, said Morris, reading from a recent client email. “I just wanted to reach out and compliment the amazing experience students at the Spa have created. I recently got my nails done there, and the student was amazing. She was so kind and took extra care during every part of the manicure. I just wanted to share that she created an amazing experience there, and I wanted to formally reach out to express what good work was done.”

Find out more about DC Spa including pricing and booking at www.durhamcollegespa.ca.

Driven DC alumnus and entrepreneur returns to share advice at Fall Convocation

Alumni Guest Speaker Profile: Adam Ruppel

 

Adam Ruppel’s passion, creativity and dedication have transformed the events industry. A 1997 graduate from Durham College’s (DC) Business – Human Resources program, he began his career in event management from the corner of his bedroom, founding Chico Racing. For the past 30 years, Adam has been at the helm of this company, producing the largest 24-hour mountain bike event in North America, the 24 Hours of Summer Solstice, held at Albion Hills Conservation Area. Adam also co-founded Mud Hero in 2011 and the Drive Festival in 2021, a three-day outdoor automotive exhibition at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park attracting over 30,000 attendees annually.

Adam is also a proud 2024 Alumni of Distinction award recipient, a testament to his impressive career and accomplishments since graduating from DC.

During this year’s Fall Convocation, Adam was invited to share words of wisdom and inspiration with the Class of 2024 as a guest speaker. We caught up with him to hear the inside scoop on his experience at DC, his life now, and for his advice to new grads.

How did your education in human resources propel you into a career in event management?

I chose the Business – Human Resources program as I felt it was challenging and offered me more structure, something I tend to miss a bit, but I think I always wanted to be an entrepreneur first and foremost. During my time as a student at DC, I found and have retained great relationships with faculty, employees and contractors.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

There is no typical work day, which is what I like. I generally try to get tasks done based on my lists, but what I like most about event management is the on-site work. For most of my events, the on-site work is between 10 and 20 per cent of the actual workload; meaning the other aspects of running a business – research, human resources, financial planning, marketing and logistics – take more of my time. I also really enjoy and developing new ventures. I recently shut down one of my companies and I will be building something new hopefully in the next few years.

What would you say to someone considering taking the Business – Human Resources program?

It’s a great opportunity to get a skillset that is in demand. For me, I took the business program to get more experience and a different perspective.

This spring, you received DC’s Alumni of Distinction award. What did that recognition mean to you?

I am humbled to have received this award. I just set out to do great work and build events that fit with my passion. I have made many mistakes along the way and I hope my best work is still ahead of me.

What is your favourite memory or lesson from DC?

I think it was presenting to a class about marketing and event management. I had started my business and it was inspiring to see other classmates interested in what I was doing.

What is your advice to new graduates?

There has to be more to life than just working. In North America we seem to be obsessed with financial success and our careers taking over our lives. If you find a passion in life and in what you are doing, you’ll likely be more content and satisfied. I have tried to blend my passion and business, and for the most part it has worked out.

Learn more about Adam’s career achievements by watching the 2024 Alumni of Distinction video.

DC alumna plays a key role for storied NHL franchise

Alumna spotlight: Laurenne Mercier

For Laurenne Mercier, completing the Sport Business Management graduate certificate program at Durham College (DC) was an invaluable stepping stone to the career of her dreams.

“I’d been told time and time again that the best way to break into sports was through an internship, not only for the experience, but for the networking and connections as well,” said the 2017 graduate.

That made DC’s program a perfect fit. Taking advantage of its 500-hour field placement, she combined her love of Nashville and sports by serving as a Community Relations Intern with the Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL).

With her foot in the door, she soon found work with the Edmonton Oilers. Since then, her career has taken her to Boston, where she serves as the Manager of Team Services and Hockey Administration for the legendary Bruins.

With a new NHL season underway, the DC alumna spoke to us about her successful career, her DC memories and more.

What was your DC experience like?

I had a very positive experience at DC. We had a really tight knit and ambitious group of classmates. I still keep in touch with many of them today. The most altering experience for me was the informational interview assignment in Jan Robinson’s class, where we had to interview someone from the industry we most wanted to be a part of. Finding someone at the NHL level to talk to me seemed like the most daunting task, but in the end, I still credit this assignment as one of the biggest steps in my sports industry journey.

What has your career path been like?

It certainly hasn’t been linear! My time in Nashville was very formative. Since I am a Canadian, I knew I couldn’t stay on in Nashville full-time post-internship, so I took it upon myself to get to know as many people as I could there and to shadow as many departments as I could. Brandon Walker, the Preds’ Director of Team Operations, a fellow Canadian, was so kind to me and mentored me not just in his role, but also as a professional. I knew that this was the role that I eventually wanted. However, I knew this wouldn’t happen overnight, as there are only one to two per team and the role very rarely turns over. But I had my mind and heart set on eventually doing this job. Post-Nashville, I had a few different career moves. It’s funny how in hindsight, all of these pieces, even those not related to the sports industry, came together to land me here.

What is your job with the Boston Bruins like? 

My role is to manage the players and their families, as well as our team travel. Myself and my colleague are in charge of the travel schedule and everything that comes with it, including booking our charter, contracting and executing the hotel stays, the meals, consulting with our opposing team on ice times, etc. We also manage the ‘at home’ side of the job including our own ice and practice rink, player concierge, the players’ home ticket requests, trades and relocations, etc. It’s ever-changing. I don’t think I have ever been busier in my entire life. It’s certainly the hardest, yet most rewarding role I have ever had. I love working with people and this role provides me the opportunity to work with all kinds of different people on a regular basis, whether it’s the players, their families, our coaching staff, management, hoteliers, flight crews, fans, bus companies, you name it.

How did DC prepare you for your career path and current role?

The biggest thing was networking. We were required to do a lot of volunteering, which I always enjoy. That built my network and my experience base. I also think being immersed in the Toronto scene was helpful. Scotiabank Arena hosted the World Cup of Hockey that year, and I was fortunate to be a part of many of these experiences.

Would you recommend your DC program to someone looking for a similar job and career?

In my experience, an internship is your best way to break into the sports industry and the DC program allowed me that opportunity. I think it is so important to make the most of your intern time. Everyone starts somewhere, and even when it feels like you’re at the bottom, those things add up. The grinding can be so tiring while you’re at it, but it builds you into the professional that you’ll eventually become.

DC also afforded me 30 classmates who are now contacts in the industry. I always preach the importance of networking and that was something that the DC program engrained in us too.

What advice do you have for current/future Sport Business Management students at DC?

Make the most of your internship and soak it up for all you can. You are surrounded by professionals who have made it. Get to know as many people as you can, shadow as many departments as you can, soak up all the friendships and social aspects of it. And if you have the opportunity, get out of your comfort zone. I moved to Nashville from Calgary, and it was the best thing I could have done.

And genuine, authentic networking, in my opinion, is the most important part of your career. It isn’t about getting to know just those who you feel can do something for you. It’s about getting to know everyone. Everyone will have their own story and you never know when someone will end up being a major part of your career journey.

What are your future goals?

I’d like to continue and evolve in this role. I love the operational side of my job, as well as how relationship and people based it is. Boston has been a great experience so far. It’s a lovely city! I think there’s a ton more I can learn to be better in this job, as well as an even stronger professional, which is where I have my heart set at this point.

Do you want to work in the sports industry? Our Sport Administration diploma, Sport Management advanced diploma and Sport Business Management graduate certificate are proven pathways to your dream career. Apply today!

From part-time studies to a three-year diploma, DC Accounting student inspired to explore new career options

Accounting student Riley Coleman began his journey as a part-time student and with support from his Durham College (DC) peers and faculty, he’s now graduating with a three-year diploma.

“The classmates and professors I met along the way have helped shape not only my career but me as a person,” said Coleman, who is graduating with an Accounting – Business Administration diploma this spring. “My three years at Durham have been the most rewarding schooling I have done.”

He began his journey as a part-time continuing education student. At the time, he was helping the bookkeeper in his father’s office and decided to enroll in classes at DC.

Coleman found he really enjoyed accounting courses at DC and after taking a short break from his studies, he decided to enroll as a full-time student in his three-year program.

He said DC’s dedicated faculty helped him prepare for his next steps.

“I thought I knew what path I was taking when I went into the program. My experiences with my professors and seeing their passion for specific subjects helped me realize I had the same passion for those subjects,” he said.

Coleman’s program included co-op, which he did with the Government of Canada. He said the experience “was amazing for preparing me for the workforce and interviews”. He was fortunate to be hired on full-time after his co-op ended.

Eventually, he said, he may want to start his own firm.

Coleman’s advice to students at the beginning of their journey is to jump in and enroll in a DC accounting program.

“Take that next step,” he said. “The program itself is amazing and the professors are just as amazing. It will help and guide you on the path you want to be on and maybe even open up some doors for you.”