Meet the ASCP Staff

Katie Armitage, president, spearheaded the launch of Associated Skin Care Professionals in January 2007, after serving ABMP since 1993. She coordinates all day-to-day operations and leads professional liability insurance and skin care activities. For both roles, Katie was named 2007 Day Spa Person of the Year by the Day Spa Association. Katie is a fourth-generation native of Colorado and enjoys boating, camping, gardening and reading. She enjoys most sports as a spectator, especially as an avid Broncos fan. She lives in Golden with her husband, Tim. They have two grown children.

Jesse Cormier, executive director, joined ABMP in 1998 as member benefits manager. She was involved in early research for the skin care initiative that became Associated Skin Care Professionals. She worked in the company's education services department, visiting massage and skin care schools across the country, while helping shape ASCP. Jesse holds a bachelor's in business administration from the University of Phoenix. A Montana native, she lives with her three cats in Golden, Colo. Her passion is anything outside – boating, hiking and road trips.

Debbie Higdon, risk management/special services manager, has lived in Colorado since 1970 and joined ABMP in 1994. She has worked with ABMP in membership, claims administration and as a representative of ABMP at many trade shows. A Minnesota native and grandmother to four, she loves the Colorado lifestyle and do-it-yourself home improvement projects.

Kirsten Kayser, program coordinator, grew up in Northern California and relocated to Colorado in 2003. She began her career in massage therapy in 1993 and became a licensed esthetician in 2002. Kirsten was spa director, spa consultant, and head esthetician at several large spas in the Bay Area of California. She has been a regional trainer and sales rep for Jean d’Arcel, a professional makeup artist, certified laser technician, medical esthetician, esthetics instructor, and esthetics department director. She has also worked as a medical assistant and physical therapy assistant at chiropractic offices, and in sports and rehabilitation massage. Kirsten likes to hike, cycle and paint. She has a dog, a bird, fish, and two kids.

Carrie Patrick, editor, joined ASCP in 2011. She edits Skin Deep magazine, and assists with producing ASCP’s other content, from e-newsletters to press releases. Carrie moved to Denver from her native New Zealand in 2003, and has written for sports and travel magazines in both New Zealand and the USA. She has also worked in social media, emergency services, and the maritime industry. Her interests are unashamedly those of a 13-year-old boy: comics, computer games, science fiction, heavy metal music, homemade robots, and movies in which lots of things go boom. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Auckland and a postgraduate certificate from the University of Denver.

ASCP also shares staff with ABMP for various office functions.