Meet The Team
The Hearts Behind the Light
Every lighthouse needs a dedicated crew. And ours is exceptional. Meet the licensed massage therapists, cosmetologists, estheticians, and retail specialists who make The Lighthouse Spa a place worth returning to, again and again.
Cosmetologists / Estheticians
Emma Carter
Cosmetologist & Salon Manager
Emma is the calm, steady presence at the heart of The Lighthouse Spa. As our Salon Manager and Cosmetologist, she specializes in customized facials, nail services, and head spa treatments. She is known for her intuitive touch and thoughtful approach that leaves every client feeling refreshed and confident.
Whether she’s working on your skin, your nails, or your scalp, no detail goes unnoticed. Every appointment with Emma feels personal, unhurried, and restorative.
When she isn’t at the spa, she’s usually deep in a tabletop strategy game (she’s a dedicated Magic: The Gathering fan!) and she brings that same thoughtful planning and attention to detail to every appointment, whether it’s your long-term skin goals or a relaxing refresh.
Emma Carter
Jade Pappas
Cosmetologist
Jade brings warmth and genuine care to every treatment at The Lighthouse Spa. As an Esthetician and Duluth local, she's most at home near the lake — and that same ease and calm flows into every appointment.
Jade specializes in customized facials, tailoring every step to your unique skin type and incorporating her signature facial massage technique to leave you relaxed and visibly refreshed. Currently advancing her expertise at the Aveda Institute, she's always growing and bringing new skills to the treatment room.
Her outgoing nature puts clients instantly at ease. Appointments with Jade feel less like a service and more like time well spent.
When she's not at the spa, you'll find her walking, hunting for the perfect Lake Superior rock, or settled in at home with a good show.
Jade Pappas
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Naomi Johnson
Esthetician
Naomi is one of The Lighthouse Spa's talented Estheticians, specializing in customized facial and waxing services. She has a gift for tailoring each facial to her client's individual skin needs, and her clients frequently rave about her technique. She brings a level of care and precision to the treatment that truly sets her apart.
What makes Naomi special is the balance she strikes so naturally, joyful and warm from the moment you walk in, and calm and focused the moment your treatment begins. She has a way of making every client feel genuinely cared for, and she consistently goes above and beyond to make sure that happens.
Outside of the spa, Naomi loves spending time with family and friends, traveling, and catching live music whenever she can. She's also an avid reader, hits the slopes whenever winter allows, and soaks up every moment of the summer outdoors.
Naomi Johnson
Front Desk / Retail
Maddie Boo
Owner & Retail Manager
Maddie is an owner of The Lighthouse Spa and the Retail Manager, guiding both the boutique’s collection and assisting with the spa's day-to-day operations. Her dedication to holistic living is brought to life through her passion project, The Northwoods Apothecary. There, she hand-crafts a range of artisanal products, from restorative salt soaks and scrubs to the specialized essential oil blends that define The Lighthouse Spa’s signature atmosphere.
Outside of work, Maddie enjoys reading, spending time outdoors with her husband, and she is a dedicated Dungeons & Dragons player. She even DMs an ongoing campaign for The Lighthouse Spa staff, bringing that same love of storytelling and community into everything she does.
Maddie Boo
Mia Deadrick
Retail & Front Desk Associate
Mia brings a unique blend of energy and care to The Lighthouse Spa, balancing her career in elementary education with her role as a Retail & Front Desk Associate. Years in the classroom have made her a master of organization and a naturally friendly face for everyone who walks through our doors. Having seen firsthand how important it is to "fill your own cup," Mia is genuinely excited to help our clients discover the perfect self-care essentials to recharge and glow.
Maddie Boo
Massage Therapists
Peter is owner of The Lighthouse Spa and a massage therapist, bringing 4 years of massage therapy experience and a deep commitment to excellence to everything he does here. A graduate of the massage therapy program at Lake Superior College, he has a gift for tailoring each session to exactly what his clients need, whether that is relief from chronic pain or a much needed mental escape.
Peter ensures that the spa’s high standards are felt in every interaction. His clients leave each appointment feeling results they can truly feel the moment they walk out the door.
Outside of the spa, Peter is a devoted husband to fellow co-owner Shanna and a proud dad to his two daughters. Family is at the center of everything he does, and that same warmth and care carries into every appointment.
Pete Saarela
Pete Saarela
Owner & Massage Therapist
Melissa is a licensed massage therapist at The Lighthouse Spa, known for her welcoming presence and grounded, intuitive approach in the treatment room. She has a natural ability to put clients at ease from the moment they arrive, creating a space that feels calm, safe, and completely focused on their needs.
Her skill and dedication to her craft shine through in every session, and clients can expect to leave feeling deeply relaxed and genuinely taken care of.
Outside of the spa, Melissa is a devoted dog mom and brings that same patient, nurturing energy into everything she does.
Melissa FOx
Melissa Fox
Massage Therapist
Barbara is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide, and former wilderness guide with over 25 years of experience supporting healing and wellbeing. Her trauma-informed, compassionate approach integrates a deep understanding of the mind-body connection to help clients reduce stress, ease discomfort, and reconnect with greater balance and vitality. She customizes every session to support each client's unique goals for relaxation, pain relief, and restoration.
Barbara counts it a privilege to support the wellness journey of Duluth, Minnesota residents and visitors alike. A solo thru-hike of the Superior Hiking Trail deepened her commitment to simplicity, restoration, and whole-person wellness. Beyond her practice, she creates nature-based art, teas, and jams, and enjoys outdoor activities and community volunteering. Delight your senses and nourish your wellbeing with one of her healing massage sessions, or join her for an upcoming nature immersion session, class, or retreat.
Barbara MIron
Barbara MIron
Massage Therapist
Kim brings nine years of massage experience and a genuinely unconventional path to the table. A graduate of Charles of Italy Cosmetology and Massage School in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, she specializes in Thai Bodywork, Ayurvedic massage (from her 6 visits to India being immersed into the culture by her Indian husband), and treating overuse and repetitive strain injuries. All with a passion for helping clients understand how self-care and stretching can transform daily life.
Before massage, Kim’s career took her from hairdressing in Superior, WI to an MFA in Theatre/Film, then backstage with Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group in Las Vegas. After 23 years away, she returned to the Northland in 2022. In the summers, you’ll find her leading Duluth Ghost Tours in Canal Park, and she also teaches Bollywood Fitness and Reiki with a paranormal twist.
Kim Hamsher
Kim Hamsher
Massage Therapist