From Nursing Student to Spa Owner: How Bryant & Stratton College Graduate Christy Maiwald Built a Thriving Business Rooted in Care

Can a nurse open a med spa? Christy Maiwald’s story shows the answer is yes!

When Christy Maiwald first enrolled at the Bryant & Stratton College Wauwatosa, WI campus, she had no idea how to open a medical spa, and never imagined she’d one day be the owner of two in the Milwaukee area. She started her journey wanting to be a nurse. Today, she’s still helping people heal, just in a different way. Even though she didn’t take the traditional nursing route, her nursing degree from Bryant & Stratton College has played a huge role in her success. Nursing school taught her accountability, critical thinking, and how to create structured plans. All these skills translate directly into running a business.

The Right Fit

Christy has been a licensed massage therapist in Wisconsin for 19 years. Early on, she started studying nursing at another school, but after a traumatic experience and the pressures of being a single mom, she had to take a step back for her own well-being. It wasn’t until years later that she decided to give nursing another try, this time at Bryant & Stratton College.

When she toured the campus, she immediately felt a sense of belonging. “The admissions staff was welcoming, and what really stood out to me was how accessible the nursing program was,” says Christy. “There was no long petition process to get into clinicals, so I could start right away, and that flexibility meant everything to me as a working mom.”

Christy says her time at Bryant & Stratton College was positive from start to finish. She completed her Associate Degree in Nursing on time and even gave a speech at her pinning ceremony. This was a proud moment, not just for her, but also for her daughter, who had been part of the journey, cheering her on as she juggled work, school, and parenthood.

A Leap of Faith

Just one month after graduating, she took a leap that would change her life. While still working as a massage therapist, she saw an opportunity to open a small day spa in Cudahy, Wisconsin. It felt like a crazy idea at the time. After all, she was a brand-new nursing graduate, a single mom, and the world was still reeling from COVID-19. But something inside her told her to go for it.

At first, Christy was working every available hour to keep the doors open. “I was doing massages, handling paperwork, cleaning rooms, whatever it took,” she says. Over time, her hard work paid off as she built a full team of six massage therapists and four estheticians. Today, Tranquility Day Spa is a trusted name in the community, known for helping clients live pain-free, balanced lives.

Her nursing education also gave her medical knowledge that she uses every day. Understanding health conditions, medications, and anatomy allows her to better serve clients, whether that means working safely with pregnant women, referring someone to another healthcare provider, or writing letters for clients using health savings or flexible spending accounts. Those letters have to be written in medical language (or “nurse-speak” as Christy likes to say), and having that background means they’re always approved on the first try.

Now, she’s preparing to open her second location, a med spa called Mayforest Wellness Spa, just three minutes from Bryant & Stratton College’s Wauwatosa campus. To Christy, it feels like everything is coming full circle. This new space will bring her back to her nursing roots with services like IV infusions and aesthetic treatments that fall under her nursing license. Christy’s story is proof that your degree doesn’t have to define your path, but it can enhance and expand it.

If she could give advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs, it would be this: 

1. Know your worth and go big or go home.

When Christy opened her first spa, she played it safe. She chose a small space with just five treatment rooms and priced her services lower than she should have because she wanted to be affordable. Looking back, she wishes she’d started bigger. “You can always scale down later, but it’s hard to grow when you’ve outgrown your space. And don’t sell yourself short. If others in your industry are charging what they’re worth, you should too,” she says.

2. Do your homework before investing everything. 

In hindsight, Christy sees that there are many grants, small business loans, and resources available, especially for women-owned businesses, that she didn’t take advantage of early on and should have. Also, she stresses the importance of networking. “Join your local Chamber of Commerce, business associations, or networking groups like BNI,” she says. “Building those relationships has been a game-changer for me. In my experience, other entrepreneurs share tips, recommend resources, and offer guidance you won’t find in any textbook.”

3. Hire a business coach.
   
   Christy calls hiring a business coach one of the best decisions she ever made. “You don’t realize how much you don’t know until someone shows you,” she says. “My coach helped me restructure my business, improve our financial management, and accelerate growth. Within months, we saw a complete turnaround.”

Final Thoughts

If you’re considering going back to school or wondering whether a degree is worth it, Christy would tell you it absolutely is. But don’t limit yourself to the traditional path. Whatever you study, your education will open doors you never expected.

Bryant & Stratton College made it possible for Christy to earn her degree while raising a child and working. It gave her confidence, structure, and the tools to chase big dreams. Now she has built an alternative career to nursing that still helps others feel their best every single day.

So dream big, take the leap, and go for it. Christy would tell you you’re worth every bit of the success that’s waiting for you.

Learn more about B&SC’s nursing programs here: https://www.bryantstratton.edu/degrees/nursing/