Spa Owners Duke and Nichol
We’re glad you are here, taking the time to learn about us and our World Class Day Spa and Wellness Center. Both Nichol and Duke are active in the day-to-day activities of the Spa, working with guests and staff to make sure your visit is every bit as relaxing and invigorating as you want it to be.
Duke Harvey
Co-Owner, Fitness Professional
Hello, my name is Duke Harvey. I was born in Cleveland, MS, a long time ago. I have five siblings of which I’m the youngest boy. My family moved from Mississippi in 1976 to Chicago, Illinois. What a change! From slow pace to fast pace, overnight.
My family stayed in Chicago a few years until my parents decided it was time for another change. We moved to Middleton, Wisconsin in 1981. The second major culture shock of my life. I’m very proud to say that I have a very cool mom that always showed me love and taught me how to understand and accept the good things that life has to offer. I left Middleton and moved to Madison the following year. There I went to Verona High School and later graduated from West High School. I’ve been part of this community for decades and know a lot of the people in the area.
After high school, I continued to explore life and landed my first full time job in 1984, at Humana Insurance Co. In April 1985, my son was born. I resigned from Humana in April 2002 as an Account Executive Medical Underwriter. During the 18+ years in Corporate America, I learned to tailor my life – to stay focused on what I enjoy and what makes me happy.
I’m a people person – I enjoy meeting new folks and learning about them. It’s a natural thing for me to strike up a conversation with a stranger.
I got into Personal Training more than 30 years ago. My interest in fitness grew and from there I moved forward to Natural Bodybuilding – a major “rush,” extremely fun and exciting. I met Nichol, my business partner, at my second home – Bally’s Health Club. Eleven months later in December 1997, Nichol and I purchased Kneaded Relief Day Spa. Another goal completed. I enrolled at A SpiriTouch Massage School in July 1999 and completed the 700 hour program in: Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, Reiki I, Posturology by Paul St. John, trigger point, acupressure massage, sports massage, lymphatic drainage massage (head, neck and shoulders), St. John’s Neuromuscular Pelvic Stabilization, utilization motions massage, hydrotherapy and aromatherapy massage. I graduated from A SpiriTouch Massage School in May 2000. Finally, my life was in COLOR. I truly embrace the loyalty of love and have found peace in my journey to believe in fate (all things happen for a reason). Massage, what can I say: I truly love it. It’s a passion that I can’t put into words. As I have been told, “there’s nothing like a Duke massage.” Come to Kneaded Relief and find out.
My next journey is to get to know you. Live in peace and keep smiling.
Nichol Harvey
Co-Owner, WI Licensed Esthetician
The path that led me to Kneaded Relief was not one that was planned. I had never even heard of Kneaded Relief Day Spa until I found out it was for sale. At the time, I was working full-time at UW-Madison and part-time as the Spa Manager of a spa on Madison's west side. My first thought was of Duke. He had always dreamed of opening a fitness studio, and I thought this might be the perfect opportunity.
Initially, we toyed with the idea of transforming the spa into a fitness studio focused on one-on-one personal training while keeping the massage component. However, when we met the owners, we instantly connected. Our goals, philosophies, and vision for serving others were remarkably similar. Although they had spoken with several potential buyers, they never felt the right fit until our meeting. After many conversations, we realized that Kneaded Relief already provided something special—a refuge for the community—and we couldn't imagine taking that away. Two short months later, armed with a business plan and very little business experience, we became the owners of Kneaded Relief.
December 13, 1997, was our first day in business. I remember sitting at the front desk, wondering what I should do next and hoping the phone would ring. Boy, have times changed! Over the years, our team has grown tremendously, our services have expanded, and we have been fortunate to create a place where people can relax, de-stress, and truly feel cared for. One thing our staff has always respected about us is our commitment to hiring the right people, not simply filling positions. We owe it to our team and to our guests to ensure every team member shares our values and dedication to exceptional care.
My path into esthetics began after purchasing Kneaded Relief. While my Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin taught me how to think critically, it wasn't exactly a direct route into the spa industry. Working as a Spa Manager had sparked a genuine interest in skin care, and because I had struggled with my own skin challenges for years, esthetics felt like a natural fit.
I enrolled in the Esthetics Program at Southwest Technical College in Fennimore, Wisconsin, where I completed 650 hours of education—200 more than the state requirement. Even after graduating, I wanted to continue learning. During my first year as an esthetician, I completed more than 100 hours of advanced education with Bioelements Skin Care. Throughout my career, I have continued to pursue advanced education in both skin care and business.
As Kneaded Relief grew, however, I realized my role needed to shift. Eventually, I stepped away from providing services so I could focus on leading and growing the business. That transition allowed us to expand into our current location in Fitchburg and fulfill our original vision of creating a full-service Day Spa and Wellness Center, complete with the personal training studio Duke and I imagined back in 1997.
Throughout our years in business, Duke and I have continuously invested in our education as business owners. We discovered Strategies Business Academy, a company dedicated to transforming the salon and spa industry through team-based cultures and guaranteed hourly compensation rather than traditional commission structures. After extensive research and training, we made the decision to adopt an hourly pay model for our team—something still uncommon in our industry today.
Our goal was simple: create stability, security, and a true career path for the professionals who choose to build their careers with us. We continued our education through Strategies, eventually reaching Mastery Level. My passion for teaching then led me to pursue the Strategies Certified Coaching Program. In January 2009, I earned my Certified Strategies Coach designation. The experience has been incredibly rewarding and has helped shape my approach to leadership, team development, and creating a thriving workplace culture.
Over the years, my passion has evolved beyond skin care and business ownership. Today, one of the things I am most proud of is the culture we've built at Kneaded Relief. I believe that when team members feel respected, supported, and genuinely happy in their work, that positivity naturally extends to every guest who walks through our doors. Creating a workplace where people can build meaningful careers, feel valued, and enjoy coming to work each day has become one of my greatest passions. In fact, I jokingly gave myself the title of "Chief of Happiness" because I believe my role is to help create an environment where both our team and our guests feel cared for, appreciated, and supported.
One of the hardest—and most important—lessons I've learned is the value of taking time for ourselves. Those of us in service professions spend our days caring for others, often forgetting to care for ourselves. Outside of work, my greatest joy is spending time with my family. Duke and I have two sons, Amari and Maleik, and one of our greatest blessings has been raising our grandson, Milam III, from infancy into adulthood. Family keeps us grounded and reminds us why we work so hard to build a life and business centered around caring for others.
When I'm not at the spa, you'll often find me spending time with my family, reading a good spicy romance novel, or enjoying time with friends. Over the years, I've learned to truly treasure the time we have with the people we love.
With that, I give you Kneaded Relief. I hope you enjoy the time you spend in our "home" because we truly feel honored to have created a space where you can escape the demands of everyday life. Join us at Kneaded Relief, take your shoes off, and stay awhile.