By Matt Russell, ASA Executive Director

In 2012, I was asked by a number of industry members I had worked with for years if I would be interested in helping develop and organize the industry’s first association created specifically for tanning salon owners. As the CEO of Smart Tan, I had decades of first-hand experience defending tanning salons, combatting federal and state tan ban attempts, combatting negative publicity, and educating the masses on the truth about indoor tanning and UV light. I had also compiled a mountain of resources and infrastructure to help move our industry forward through this new vehicle.

As I worked with the original group of organizers and eventual board members to establish the organization, we all came to recognize how important it was to have an association with one singular objective – to protect and promote tanning salon businesses. So, the American Suntanning Association was born and to this day continues to fight for tanning salon owners all over the U.S., stopping the attacks from anti-tanning groups, and educating lawmakers, researchers and the world about our scientifically supported position.

Click here to read the entire article in the latest issue of Smart Tan Magazine online.