Mary Neal – Owner / Licensed Nail Specialist
In business, she is grateful for the dynamic group of women who are a part of the Rivé family and team. All devoted to doing the best job at anything they embark upon, and their devoted hearts in seeing Rivé Nail + Skin Care Spa succeed. The spa has seen leading-edge growth since 2012, because of this team of women.
In her personal life, her husband Mark since 1983, has been her cheerleader, best friend, advisor, and wears any other hat necessary to ensure the success of Rivé Nail + Skin Care Spa. She is a loving, devoted mother of two beautiful adult children, Daniel and Alexandra. In her spare time, Mary enjoys shopping, reading, exercising, finding great “foodie” places to eat, wine-ing, more shopping, any creative activity, and her newfound love, bicycle riding & boxing! On the verge of being an official cat-lady, she adores her four snugglely fur babies. In her “spare” time, she facilitates a mental health group at her church, and is on the board of a non-profit company, Rewind-Reuse Center and Workshop.
Mary brings 33 years experience to the business as a graduate of The Pittsburgh Beauty Academy, with a degree in Civil Engineering, and an associate’s degree in Architectural Drafting and Design. Over the years, she has had other successful, secondary businesses such as a gift baskets, jewelry design, direct sales consultant for Silpada Designs Jewelry, SeneGence Cosmeceuticals, and now dÅTERRA Wellness Advocate. Her precise attention to detail and artful eye have been the sources of her success. She is extremely passionate about her work and people. She operates with the sentiment that she truly enjoys and cares for her clients.  “It’s not about the nails. It’s about the friendships I have made over the years with the amazing women I have met, and making them feel special.”
Allison Henry / Spa Coordinator
Allison is greeted each time she comes in with, “Yay! Here she is…our savior!” What a dynamic individual. Born in Northampton, Pa, she chose to follow in her mother’s footsteps, and attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania to study elementary education with a focus on urban education. During her senior year in college, she took a student teaching position in Pittsburgh, and never left. Shortly after she arrived, she met her now fiancé, Jarid, adopted a lovable pit bull, Bubba, and began a 5-year renovation project on the house they now call home, overlooking this beautiful city. Go big or go home!
Professionally, she has fulfilled many roles within the Pittsburgh Public Schools (teacher, coach, curriculum writer) and is currently working as a district math coach. Allison’s passion is to educate, support, and empower others! When she is not at school, she is a health coach, coaching people on living a natural, clean lifestyle and using essential oils. She walks her talk…”Wellness is a lifestyle and your daily habits make all the difference.” She loves exercising, traveling, dining out, wine-ing, shopping, and reading.
The Rivé team met Allison at a vendor event where she was drawn to Rivé’s vision to provide an organic, natural spa experience, and soon joined the team, where she quickly won all their hearts. Her demeanor, intuitiveness, and past experience in roles of spa coordinating and personal assistance, she is a perfect fit in representing the face of Rivé.
Julia Straka – Microcurrent Specialist / Aesthetician / NOVALash Extensionist
Julia is a licensed Beautiful Image Microcurrent Specialist and Aesthetician. After receiving her degree in Radiology and working as an X-ray technician, she decided it was time for a career change. She trained with the Beautiful Image Company and became specialized in Microcurrent facial sculpting. Julia later received her aesthetic license from the South Hills Beauty Academy to expand her knowledge of the skin.
She has been married to her husband Jim, since 2004, and they were blessed with their daughter Jillian in 2012, whom we have all adopted here at Rivé. She enjoys spending time with her family and watching her daughter grow through each stage of her life. When Julia is not working, she finds time to volunteer at her daughter’s school and her church, staying up to date on the latest trends in skincare. Growing up in the Pittsburgh area, Julia’s grandmother was an integral part of her life, and now resides in Murrysville. In addition to spending time with her family, she also enjoys shopping, shopping, and shopping, fine wines, great places to dine, and her two fur children, Hemi and Taco.
Julia is a beautiful person inside and out, very personable and easily makes friends wherever she goes. In a recent Strength Finder Evaluation, her top attribute was ‘developer’, and her second ’empathy’. She truly chooses to see the good in people, and help them grow and develop to their potential. Her personal strengths have created a work ethic of dedication and helping each one of her clients reach their skin care goals, highly valued by clients and staff.
Melissa Smith – Nail Technician / Cosmetologist
A Murrysville resident, Melissa is a licensed cosmetologist, but loves doing nails and waxing. That is her focus here at Riv̩. She has been in the business for 25+ yearsРrecently selling her business in Bloomfield, where she owned and operated a mid-sized salon the past 12 years. She brings a lot of helpful wisdom, and a fun-loving, professional special-ness to the spa!
When she is not at the spa working or hanging out, she enjoys watching her youngest son, Caden, play in his myriad of sports in any given season. She loves spending time with both her boys, Taylor and Caden, as well as her extended family, and her little side-kick Yorkie-Poo, Bella! Bicycle riding, bubble baths, snuggling up in her pjs in her comfy bed : ), and yes, shopping, shopping, shopping are among a few of her leisure-times loves.
Empathy being her top strength in a Strength Finder Evaluation, Melissa started at Rivé in February of 2017. She exudes compassion in every aspect of her existence — In her communications with her clients, as a mother, wife, and friend. Her laugh gets everyone laughing. We love all her quirkiness.