Well House Manor - Lisa Ellis

Lisa was born in the USA and travelled widely as a child as her father's job moved around the world. She studied Journalism and writing to degree level, and is a skilled graphic artist - she produced all the newsletters and brochures for Well House Consultants, as well as the training manuals. She also edits and produces the Bowerhill Villager, and has recently worked on their calendar and also on the "Save the Train" campaign for Melksham.

"My first work was actually a volunteer position when I was a "Candy Striper" whilst still in school. I worked in a hospital where I tended patients needs, such as getting water, and made beds (where I learnt to do "hospital corners" and change pillow cases in a sanitary way).

Working with a golf and tennis resort in Florida for more than three years, I had various capacities, starting out as a front desk clerk, then moving into general accounts as the Head Cashier, where I handled the daily cash and credit card intake of more than $1m from the five restaurants, various sports centres and more than 200 rooms on the premises. I then moved to the head office to establish a new position in charge of Tourism, where my role was to promote the resort at conventions and exhibitions. I was then promoted to Convention Coordinator where I handled meeting room setups and oversaw catering staff.

I then left to work at a regional publishing company for 13 years, where I was responsible for the advertising layout and design of approximately ten titles. I also filled in various roles as production manager and art director, coordinating photo shoots and editorial layouts.

I then moved into marketing where I designed everything from advertisements to merchandise, such as menus, t-shirts, wine labels and matchbook covers."

Lisa says she was the "first person on line" in Naples, Florida where she was living in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Already using computer skills for her magazine production (she prepared "Gulf Coast News" - a glossy monthly of some 100 pages - single handed), the internet came naturally to her.

Lisa's "get up and go" brought her to England in the summer of 1996 for a brief holiday; Lisa and Graham met that week and turned out to be compatible spirits and the rest, as they say "is history".