Kristi Dickinson, Spa Director
Kristi Dickinson joined Montage Hotels & Resorts in August, 2010 and, as Assistant Spa Director, was an integral part of the Spa Montage Deer Valley opening team. Prior to Spa Montage, she was the Spa Director at the Golden Door Spa at The Peaks Resort in Telluride, CO. She has a very diverse background in the hospitality industry ranging from event production and VIP services to housekeeping and food and beverage. But spa is her passion. Kristi holds a Masters degree in Hospitality Management from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a B.A. in Marketing and Management from the University of Iowa. Kristi is an outdoor enthusiast with hobbies including hiking, winter sports, yoga, international travel, healthy cooking, tea community and inspirational reading. She is very passionate about bringing the abundance of wellness and healing the mountain lifestyle can offer to the guest experience.
ASTECC Surrender Therapists
Ashley Jo Cantrell
Ashley Jo Cantrell has been a therapist since 2003. She is a graduate of the International Professional School of Bodywork in San Diego, CA. She has worked at the Hyatt in Lake Tahoe, as well as The Sporting Club, in La Jolla, CA. She specializes in Thai massage and trigger point therapy. Ashley is also certified in sports massage, deep tissue, hot stones, Swedish, passive joint movement, scrubs, wraps, and reflexology. Ashley is very holistic. She receives acupuncture and chiropractic and has taken many nutrition classes. She has a great love of the outdoors and enjoys hiking, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, wakeboarding, and surfing. Her active nature lends itself well to massage therapy as it helps her to understand and know how to help clients who have issues tied to specific activities. It also aids in her work with athletes to better their wellness programs. Ashley loves to learn as much as she can. She loves to travel and meet new people. In addition to being a wonderful massage therapist, she is also a CNA. Ashley thoroughly enjoys her job because it gives her the pleasure of helping people feel better about life. She loves to work with clients who seek advice on how to be more proactive about their daily lifestyles by stretching, nutrition, or any other way she can advise them to become a better, healthier, better-rounded person.
Brandon A. Collins
Brandon A. Collins is a graduate of the Maui School of Therapeutic Massage where he specialized in Shiatsu. He also earned over 80 hours of training en route to his 2006 certification in Traditional Thai Massage from the Thai Massage School of Chang Mai (Thailand). A lifelong learner, he holds a BS in Architectural Engineering and was a Professional Engineer for over 12 years. Brandon lived in China for over a year and studied Mandarin at the National Teachers University and at the National Drama Academy, living just as a Chinese local in the town of Li Jiang. While in China, he traveled extensively and studied classical Chinese music and trained in Tai Ji. Brandon has been a certified Mediator since 2007. He is passionate about Tai Ji, Yoga, Meditation, and Music. There is a musician somewhere within yet to be released. His most recent pursuit is learning the mandolin.
Brenna Gardner
Brenna Gardner graduated from the Utah College of Massage Therapy in March 2001, then went back for their Spa Career Track later that year for extended education. After working as a therapist, she began apprenticing as an aesthetician. In 2003 she graduated from Francois D. Beauty Academy in their Master Aesthetician program. Brenna specializes in Deep Tissue, Reiki Level 1 and 2, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Reflexology, Microdermabrasion, Pedicures and Manicures. She has also worked at Glenwild Clubhouse and Spa, The Spa at Stein Eriksen, and Grand Summit Health Club and Spa. Brenna is vegan and is very interested in health and the environment. She has always enjoyed cooking but now that she is vegan, she finds cooking to be more enjoyable because often times you have to be creative. Brenna recently bought her own home and is now delving into gardening and hoping to have a bountiful harvest of fresh food next summer. Brenna has also done volunteer work for the organization Food Not Bombs. She grew up in Utah and now resides in Salt Lake City with her 11 year old son, boyfriend, and their crazy cat and a very energetic puppy!
Michael (Mickey) VanDeventer
Mickey VanDeventer has been a massage therapist since 1995, attending Utah College of Massage Therapy in 1993. Certified in a varieties of modalities including Sports, Cranial-Sacral therapy, Hydrotherapy, Deep-Tissue massage, he is also a Reiki Master and Yoga instructor. Mickey previously owned a yoga retreat business in Southeastern Utah for 4 years, and taught massage for 6 years. At the age of 10, Mickey was taught meditation to help with concentration and learning challenges, and is still passionate about meditation and yoga. In his spare time he enjoys backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, ecstatic dance, and traveling. Mickey has previously worked at Ventana Inn and Spa in Big Sur, California, Sorrel River Ranch Resort in Moab, Utah, and Monterey Plaza in Monterey Bay, California.
Denise Hickman
Denise Hickman has been a massage therapist since 2005, graduating from Myotherapy College of Utah where she learned to provide a memorable massage experience using such techniques from Swedish Massage, Shiatsu, Sports Massage and Deep Tissue Therapy. Denise specializes in Sports Massage and Deep Tissue, and has previously worked on athletes including skiers, triathletes, and many people who make wellness a lifestyle priority. She also enjoys activity and spends her free time running, skiing, swimming, or playing tennis. Denise is an avid traveler, loving to see new places and meet new people. She is also passionate about food and enjoys experimenting with new food to either eat or cook and relaxing by watching the Food Network. She is also a dedicated mother to her adventurous toddler, and loves being a wife.
