Karen Short, an eight-year veteran of Universal Companies named Chief Executive Officer and Vice President of Marketing and Sales, according to Universals’ Founder and Chairman Marti Morenings. Ms. Short, formerly President, will be focused on company culture, improved logistics, and shoring up our online platform and channels including the launch of our new mobile friendly website.
Short, who joined Universal in 2010 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, previously had an extensive background in executive leadership in the hospitality industry, leading teams who implemented technology to deliver a robust, customer-centric experience.
Short commented, “Our commitment to delivering customer value has always been genuine. As CEO, I am leading a renewed commitment to building a customer centric culture at Universal that is not just about offering great customer service, it's about offering a great experience for every step of our customer's journey. Without question, our customers need to know they come first."
She most recently spent five years as President and Chief Hospitality Officer of the Quintess Collection and PGA Tour Club™, an International Luxury Vacation and Premier Golf Club. Prior to that, Short served for seven years as Founder and Board Chair of InnPerspectives Consulting, Golden, Colo. She was Executive Director, Marketing and Sales for Meadowood Napa Valley and The Inn at Southbridge and Executive Vice President, Sales and General Manger for the Aspen Skiing Company.
Short served as the former President of the Green Spa Network Board and brings with her role a passion for helping spas lead the way in the green movement.
A graduate of the University of California, Davis, Short also received an Advance Marketing Certification from Cornell University.
About Universal Companies
For more than 36 years, 35,000+ spa professionals in 47 countries have trusted Universal Companies to be their single-source supplier, providing thousands of products to help them manage and grow their businesses. Located Abingdon, Virginia, we distribute furniture, fixtures, equipment, implements, supplies, and spa apparel to customers from the largest spa to the independent practitioner. Universal Companies also offers professional skin and body products, retail items, and merchandising tools, and provides spas with innovative consulting services, educational materials, and training options. For more information about our company, please call 800-558-5571 or visit www.universalcompanies.com.
