Founders
Julie Keller Callaghan and Heather Mikesell founded Well Defined to provide a comprehensive destination for all things related to wellness for both consumers and industry professionals. Our mission is to be your trusted source of wellness information and to empower you to make educated choices that positively impact and enhance your health and that of your business.
Julie and Heather are both revered and respected journalists and wellness experts, speakers, and industry-award judges. Together, they led the American Spa brand for more than 15 years. Under their leadership, American Spa evolved to include a print publication, a popular website, an active social media community, several beloved awards programs, and numerous events. They were winners of an ISPA Innovate Award in 2018 for their work with women in leadership.
JULIE KELLER CALLAGHAN
FOUNDER
Along with her work at Well Defined, Julie currently serves the wellness and hospitality industry as an executive recruiter and marketing specialist for Hutchinson Consulting. She is also a consultant and content strategist for numerous wellness brands.
She is the former editor-in-chief and publisher of American Spa and was named a 2019 Folio Top Woman in Media in the Industry Trailblazers category. She is also a seasoned freelance writer, specializing in spa, travel, health, fitness, wellness, and beauty, and has been published in Departures, ForbesTraveler.com, E! Online, Gayot.com, Insider’s Guide to Spas, Luxury Travel Advisor, Marin Magazine, Ocean Home, Smart Meetings, Spa Asia, and Travel Agent.
HEATHER MIKESELL
FOUNDER
Heather, the former editor-in-chief of American Spa, is an award-winning journalist and content strategist, skilled in writing, copyediting, and media relations.
She is also a freelance writer and has contributed to Elite Traveler, Islands, Kiwi, Luxury Travel Advisor, Organic Spa, Porthole Cruise, Spa, Travel Agent, abcnews.com, jetsetter.com, outside.com, and wellandgood.com, in addition to various custom publications. She is frequently called upon to comment on various spa and wellness trends for outlets, such as The New York Times, Well + Good, and Crain’s.