{"filters":{"years":{"2026":{"id":"2026","title":"2026"},"2025":{"id":"2025","title":"2025"},"2024":{"id":"2024","title":"2024"},"2023":{"id":"2023","title":"2023"},"2022":{"id":"2022","title":"2022"},"2021":{"id":"2021","title":"2021"},"2020":{"id":"2020","title":"2020"},"2019":{"id":"2019","title":"2019"},"2018":{"id":"2018","title":"2018"},"2017":{"id":"2017","title":"2017"},"2016":{"id":"2016","title":"2016"},"2015":{"id":"2015","title":"2015"},"2014":{"id":"2014","title":"2014"},"2013":{"id":"2013","title":"2013"},"2011":{"id":"2011","title":"2011"}},"categories":{"saunas":{"id":"\/blog\/category\/saunas","title":"Saunas","url":"blog\/category\/saunas"},"cold-plunges":{"id":"\/blog\/category\/cold-plunges","title":"Cold Plunges","url":"blog\/category\/cold-plunges"},"employee-spotlight":{"id":"\/blog\/category\/employee-spotlight","title":"Employee Spotlight","url":"blog\/category\/employee-spotlight"},"georgia-spa-news":{"id":"\/blog\/category\/georgia-spa-news","title":"Georgia Spa News","url":"blog\/category\/georgia-spa-news"},"featured":{"id":"\/blog\/category\/featured","title":"Featured","url":"blog\/category\/featured"},"gives-back":{"id":"\/blog\/category\/gives-back","title":"Gives Back","url":"blog\/category\/gives-back"},"hot-tubs":{"id":"\/blog\/category\/hot-tubs","title":"Hot Tubs","url":"blog\/category\/hot-tubs"},"swim-spas":{"id":"\/blog\/category\/swim-spas","title":"Swim Spas","url":"blog\/category\/swim-spas"},"neal-boortz":{"id":"\/blog\/category\/neal-boortz","title":"Neal Boortz","url":"blog\/category\/neal-boortz"}}},"posts":[{"id":1981508,"pagetitle":"Employee Spotlight: Danyel Straut","url":"\/blog\/employee-spotlight-danyel-straut","pagedata":{"preview-image":{"imagefile":"9.jpg","alt":"Smiling woman with glasses featured in employee spotlight as sales pro Danyell Straut on blue and white background","focal-x":"25","focal-y":"50","focal":"25,50","size":"{\"width\":2500,\"height\":1042,\"ratio-w\":2.4,\"ratio-h\":0.42}"},"hero-image":{"imagefile":"643599838_1339555328209652_7813621104523295288_n.jpg","alt":"Three people stand smiling in front of a Georgia Spa Co. backdrop with an award held by the woman in the center.","focal-x":"70","focal-y":"19","focal":"70,19","size":"{\"width\":2048,\"height\":1466,\"ratio-w\":1.4,\"ratio-h\":0.72}"},"excerpt":null,"content":"

Meet Sales Pro, Danyel Straut!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Since joining Georgia Spa Company in September 2025, Danyel Straut has quickly made an impact, earning both the <\/span>All-In P.E.A.C.H. Award<\/span> and <\/span>Employee of the Month<\/span> in November 2025.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Day-to-day, Danyel helps customers find the right spa, sauna, swim spa, or cold plunge for their lifestyle while also supporting operations across both Blue Ridge and Blairsville locations. Her goal is simple. Make the buying process easy, enjoyable, and centered around bringing relaxation home.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

What stands out most about Danyel is her approach to customers. She thrives on connection, even in challenging situations, and enjoys turning tough interactions into positive, memorable experiences. One of her most meaningful customer relationships started with a difficult sale that turned into long-term trust and friendship, proving how much she values staying involved and advocating for her customers every step of the way.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Her favorite product is the <\/span>Hot Spring Vanguard<\/span>, a model that holds a special place in her career as her first solo sale and introduction to the moto-massage experience.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Outside of work, Danyel is a busy mom of three who brings that same energy and dedication into everything she does. Her personal experiences, especially raising her son, have deepened her passion for wellness and the impact products like hot tubs and saunas can have on relaxation and balance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

When it comes to unwinding, you will find her in her sauna or dreaming up the perfect nighttime soak, with the stars overhead, music playing, and a well-earned moment of quiet.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n


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Get to know Danyel!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

Life as a Sales Pro<\/h3>\r\n\r\n

What's your favorite part of the job<\/em>? <\/strong><\/span>The customers. I genuinely enjoy working with all of them, even the tough ones. I like the challenge of shifting the energy and turning the experience into something enjoyable. At the end of the day, it all comes down to bringing relaxation home in the most literal sense.<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

What's the most interesting or unexpected thing about working in the spa industry?<\/em><\/strong> <\/span>It has not slowed down. Car dealers, Furniture stores, Homes, they have all fluctuated but Hot Tubs have never since I have been in the industry and that's 1, they just keep getting more and more popular and I did not think there were enough homes in this area but every single year I am amazed<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

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Customer Moments<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

What's the most common question customers ask you?<\/em><\/strong> <\/span>Lately it's been \"where have you been?!\" because I float lol but typically it's \"why is my water green I just changed it\"<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

What's something people should know before buying their first hot tub or swim spa? <\/em><\/strong><\/span>Their size requirements\/ size of space. What size can they fit, that can sometimes take an entire collection of spas (like Limelight) out of the convo if they don't have the room or are not willing to do construction.<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

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Favorites<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Favorite product we sell and why and your favorite fun fact about one of our products?<\/em><\/strong> <\/span>Favorite product would be the Vanguard, it will always have a special place in my heart. It was my first moto-massage experience. It is also the first sale I ever completed on my own so that model is really where it all started for me. A favorite fun fact about products would be that certain jets are interchangeable making it a truly customized massage.<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

If someone handed you the keys to build your dream backyard using our products, what would you include?<\/em><\/strong><\/span> Vanguard + Vigor<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

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The Team<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

What makes the Georgia Spa Company team different?<\/em><\/strong> <\/span>How wins are shared and celebrated as a team. Earlier in my career and especially when I was running Blue Ridge on my own, success often felt more individual. Here it feels like everyone is apart of it.<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

What's something you've learned working here that surprised you?<\/em><\/strong> <\/span>One thing that surprised me was the level of specialization in my new role. In my previous job I handled nearly every aspect of the business, operations, SOPs, training, accounting, & being the main contact for most issues. Coming into a more structured environment has been a shift, but a positive one in learning how different roles support each other.<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

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Quick Hits<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Coffee or energy drink? <\/span>Iced Coffee<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Favorite way to relax after work? <\/span>My Sauna, for sure.<\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

Something people at work might not know about you? I thrive in chaos but will have a meltdown if someone takes my favorite pen lol. I also have remixed an entire T.I song about Hot Spring\/Watkins.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

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<\/p>","grid-image":"https:\/\/transform.octanecdn.com\/crop\/1200x675\/https:\/\/octanecdn.com\/georgiaspacompanycom\/9.jpg","grid-alt":"Smiling woman with glasses featured in employee spotlight as sales pro Danyell Straut on blue and white background"},"published":"yes","publishdate":"2026-04-21 19:48:00","year":"2026","categories":[],"authors":[],"filters":{"years":["2026"]}},{"id":1967379,"pagetitle":"Best At Home Sauna: Benefits for Recovery & Fitness","url":"\/blog\/home-sauna-benefits","pagedata":{"preview-image":{"imagefile":"blogheader_fitness.jpg","alt":"Man using battle ropes for workout in a bright modern gym with a wooden sauna and outdoor palm trees.","focal-x":null,"focal-y":null,"focal":null,"size":"{\"width\":8000,\"height\":2083,\"ratio-w\":3.84,\"ratio-h\":0.26}"},"hero-image":{"imagefile":"blogheader_fitness_552912829.jpg","alt":"Man exercising with battle ropes in a modern home gym next to a wooden sauna and large glass windows.","focal-x":null,"focal-y":null,"focal":null,"size":"{\"width\":8000,\"height\":2083,\"ratio-w\":3.84,\"ratio-h\":0.26}"},"excerpt":null,"content":"

Highlights:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n