Speaker Bios

Adrienne Asta, LMT, has been practicing massage therapy for over 20 years and holds certifications in neuromuscular therapy and prenatal massage. She is currently serving as President of the Massage Therapy Foundation Board of Trustees and as their Community Service Grants Proposal Review Committee Chairperson. Adrienne is also a member of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education and has held multiple positions in massage therapy education.

Arnold Askew, LMT, runs a private practice where he helps clients manage chronic pain. Arnold has more than 30 years in bodywork and movement education. He was previously a Senior Instructor at Red Mountain Institute for the Healing Arts and has taught classes at The Doleys Pain Clinic in Birmingham, AL.

Christine Bailor-Goodlander is the Immediate-Past President of the American Massage Therapy Association and has been a licensed massage therapist since 2000 and a registered nurse since 1985. She currently runs a wellness center that is home to several practitioners. In her medical-based practice, Christine focuses on managing health conditions, rehabilitation, oncology massage therapy and serves as an end-of-life doula. She has her Board Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork along with specialty certificates in sports massage and oncology massage.

Winona Bontrager, LPN, BCTMB, LMT has been a massage therapist since 1986, and founded the Lancaster School of Massage in Pennsylvania in 1991. She is currently a Partner for Health on the Integrative Healthcare Policy Consortium (IHPC) and continues to be active on national committees that involve massage and healthcare.

Vickie Branch, D.Sc.O, DOMP, LMT has over 34 years of experience as a massage therapist and manual osteopath. She is involved in educational programs for a variety of medical professions and currently volunteers for the FSMTB exam development committee.

Jill Burynski, LMT is an internationally recognized teacher of Thai Massage and 2018 inductee to the World Massage Hall of Fame. She has taken nine journeys to Thailand since 2003 and founded Living Sabai in 2009 which offers Thai Massage CEs, certification, and Thailand Study Abroad opportunities.

Mark Capriotti, BCLMT is a board certified licensed massage therapist with an advanced certification in sports massage. He is a neuromuscular therapy and sports massage instructor at the Pittsburgh School of Massage Therapy. Mark also operates a practice that specializes in providing massage to high-level collegiate and professional athletes who compete in the NFL, NHL, NCAA, WWE and WFA.

Robert Cohen, MA, PT is a 30-year veteran physical therapist, who runs a practice specializing in all aspects of manual therapy. He also has a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology and is the founder of BayGrass lnstitute, an NCBTMB-approved CE provider.

Jared Cooper, PT, DPT, CMTPT, has over 25 years of experience. He is a current NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider and an instructor for the Center for Massage and Natural Health in Asheville, NC. Jared teaches neuromuscular therapy, musculoskeletal techniques, and anatomy, physiology, and pathology.

Nancy Dail, BA, LMT, BCTMB has been a professional massage therapist since 1974 and an AMTA member for 50 years. She is the founder and director of the Downeast School of Massage in Waldoboro, Maine. A leader in her field, Nancy presents workshops internationally, is certified in Orthopedic and Sports Massage, and has developed the working philosophy of Dimensional Massage Therapy.

Christopher Deery, LMT, BCTMB is a licensed and board-certified massage therapist with over 25 years of experience in the profession. He runs his own private practice with a focus on sports massage, massage for pain, fascial techniques, trigger point work and resistive modalities. As the previous Senior Director of Sciences at the Berkana Institute, Chris has helped design curriculum for many massage schools.

Xerlan Deery, LMT, BCTMB is a licensed and board-certified massage therapist with over 35 years of experience. She holds a specialty certificate in oncology massage and runs a small, private practice in Pennsylvania. Since 2016, Xerlan has been part of the integrative care team at the Cancer Center of Paoli Hospital.

Wahneta Dimmer, LMT a graduate of Carlson College of Massage, is a licensed massage therapist in Iowa. She is the owner of Hands in Harmony, a full-service spa, and Managing Partner of Empowered Healing Institute, a continuing education platform.

Pamela Fitch, BA, RMT is a massage therapy educator, writer, researcher and long-time practitioner with more than 30 years of experience. She focuses on the professional, ethical and communicative challenges that face many massage therapists, and how massage affects clients with trauma and complex pain conditions.

Jennifer Flynn, CPHRM, is Vice President and Risk Manager for Healthcare Providers Service Organization in the Healthcare Division of Aon’s Affinity Insurance Services, Inc. Specializing in risk management and having worked in the health care insurance business for over 21 years, Jennifer is dedicated to educating health care professionals on professional liability risks and offers strategies to mitigate those risks.

Jarrod Fritz, LMT has been a massage therapist for over 15 years focusing on therapeutic modalities and sports massage techniques including experience with WWE, College of Charleston Athletics and US National Soccer. He was a massage therapist for the ‘08 Women's National Olympic Soccer Team and currently works as a massage therapist for the National Wrestling Alliance.

Matthew Gavzy, PTA, LMT, BCTMB is a licensed physical therapist assistant, board certified massage therapist, and educator. He has practiced in a variety of settings including outpatient, sub-acute and skilled nursing facilities helping people with a variety of musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiac issues. Matthew is the owner of Body Workings Massage Therapy, specializing in orthopedic and sports massage, and chronic pain management.

Thomas Giammatteo, PhD, DC, ND, PT, IMTc, is an author and international lecturer. He serves as the medical director of IMT Wellness Center and is a co-developer of Integrative Manual Therapy. Additionally, he is a co-founder of the Integrative Manual Therapy Association and the Dean/Owner of the Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy.

Kathryn Hansen MSN, PhD is a nurse practitioner, massage therapist and health services researcher who works in the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Vanderbilt University. She has additional training in mindfulness facilitation, health coaching and focuses on making non-pharmacological therapies accessible. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and the Boulder College of Massage Therapy.

Patricia Harmon, MM, BSN, RN, CPHRM serves as a Risk Control Consulting Director, providing analysis of professional liability risks and development of risk mitigation strategies for insured clients. Her clinical background includes medical-surgical, dialysis, obstetrics, physician office practice and pediatric nursing. Prior to joining CNA in 2015, Patricia worked for a large academic health system in various roles.

Tiffany Hemrick, LMBT has been a licensed massage therapist in the state of North Carolina for over 21 years and has been a nationally certified approved continuing education provider since 2010. She started the therapeutic massage program at Davidson-Davie Community College in 2006 and now serves as Division Chair of Salon & Spa Services.

Christine Hoober is the Manager, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs at AMTA. Previously, she worked as the Government Relations Specialist for the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) and lobbied for the UM System during the 2016 Missouri General Assembly. Christine was also an Iyengar-trained yoga teacher who worked with individuals with Parkinson’s and fibromyalgia, and experienced firsthand the benefits of holistic approaches to integrated care.

Rob Kelly, LMT is a licensed and board certified massage therapist who has been practicing and teaching for over 25 years. Currently, he teaches anatomy, physiology and pathology as well as many orthopedic classes at Irene’s Myomassology Institute.

Ann Blair Kennedy DrPH has been a massage therapist for 25 years and is an Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville in the Department of Biomedical Sciences. She holds an appointment in the Department of Family Medicine at Prisma Health and is the Director of the University of South Carolina Patient Engagement Studio, where patients, community partners, physicians, and researchers come together to produce meaningful research and innovation to better serve patients.

Jennica Klemann, LMT, is an Advanced Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, educator, writer, and spa owner. She has combined her experience in massage therapy with her grief recovery training to create a program to guide massage therapists through the emotional intensity of holding space for clients who are actively grieving.

Paul Kohlmeier, BPE, RMT, R.Ac. is a massage therapist and practitioner of Chinese Medicine. He and his wife own the supply and education companies, Cupping Canada and Cupping USA. Paul focuses on incorporating research and evidence into his cupping courses.

Peggy Lamb, LMT, BCTMB, MA is the founder of Massage Publications/The Abundant Bodyworker, providing resources for massage therapists with continuing education courses, books, videos and business coaching. She also holds a master’s degree in Dance from American University in Washington, D.C.

Richard Lebert is an educator and health care professional with a focus on digital literacy, interprofessional collaboration and person-centered care. In addition to his training as a Registered Massage Therapist, Richard has a certification in Medical Acupuncture from McMaster University and a Certificate of Online and Open Learning from The University of Windsor.

Ceena Lund is a Director of Massage Therapy at a University where she facilitates student education programs, including hybrid concepts in the classroom. With nearly 30 years of hands-on experience as a massage therapist and educator, combined with her previous career as a registered nurse, Ceena creates programs that empower new massage therapists to succeed.

Douglas Nelson, LMT, BCTMB, CNMT has been practicing massage since 1977 and opened his clinic in Champaign, IL in 1982. His teaching institute, NMT MidWest, gives over 80 seminars in Precision Neuromuscular Therapy annually. Doug is the author of two books and the past president of the Massage Therapy Foundation.

Deborah Outlaw has served as a health care consultant for over 20 years, providing federal legislative and regulatory services to numerous organizations with health care interests, including physician specialty groups, allied health providers, medical device manufacturers, safety net facility prescription drug providers, hospitals, and associations. She also spent more than 35 years in health and public policy arenas, serving in two Presidential Administrations and on Capitol Hill for a U.S. Senator.

Noel Poff, LMT is a Certified Advanced Rolfer, Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Personal Trainer, and Yoga Therapist. He has been working in the health and wellness field for 20 years. He serves his community through his private practice, House for Wellness, which offers sessions incorporating manual therapy, yoga therapy, assisted stretching, movement education, and fitness coaching.

Spencer Pon, RMT graduated from the massage therapy program at MacEwan University with distinction in 2023. With a strong commitment to wellness, he has experience treating diverse populations, including seniors, professional athletes, children and those with neurological and orthopedic disorders in his massage therapy practice. Spencer was the 2023 Gold Award Winner of the Massage Therapy Foundation Case Report Contest.

Cynthia Price, PhD, MA, LMT is a Research Professor at the University of Washington and the Center Director of the non-profit Center for Mindful Body Awareness. A massage therapist since 1981, her clinical and research expertise is focused on body/interoceptive awareness and its role in health and well-being. She developed Mindful Awareness in Body-oriented Therapy (MABT), a mindfulness-based approach designed to facilitate interoceptive awareness and related skills for self-care and emotion regulation.

Eric Purves, RMT is a registered massage therapist, educator and researcher based in Canada. He focuses his clinical and educational work on the application of research evidence to inform best practices for the treatment and management of persistent pain and musculoskeletal concerns.

Martha Rinker is the Government Relations Policy and Research Analyst at AMTA. She has deep experience in both federal and state legislative and regulatory health policy with numerous national organizations, including the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, and the American Podiatric Medical Association. She also served as counsel to a State Senate Committee and Legislative Director to a Member of Congress.

Susan Salvo, EdD, BCTMB, LMT has over 40 years of experience in the massage profession. She teaches at the LA Institute of Massage Therapy and the New Mexico School of Massage. Susan is an internationally known author, speaker, and has written several massage therapy textbooks and online courses.

Donna Schriver, LMT has been a massage therapist for 25 years. She became a massage instructor in 2007 and started teaching continuing education courses in 2010. Currently, Donna is the Massage Therapy Program Director at The Lodge at Woodloch and is the Massage Instructor at Lackawanna College in Hawley, PA.

James Specker serves as the Senior Director for the Government & Industry Relations Department at AMTA. Previously, James was the Director of Federal and State Advocacy for the American Association of Diabetes Educators, working primarily on licensing/scope, and practice and provider recognition issues. James has also worked for Illinois Action for Children, advocating for access to daycare and early childhood education for low-income families in the state of Illinois.

Demara Stamler is a mindset and vision coach, consultant and teacher with over 30 years of experience in the fields of massage therapy, accreditation, and non-profits. Through her work as an educator, administrator, and business owner, she has developed concrete pathways for creating change, growth and success in life and business.

Ann Teachworth, LMT has been working in integrative health, human performance, and movement for 15 years. She is an educator for massage therapists and yoga instructors, and focuses on functional anatomy, kinesiology, and mind-body training.

Lynn Teachworth, LMT is certified in over 20 massage and complementary medicine techniques and has been in the profession since 1993. Lynn has also worked with many professional athletes to address injuries and physical/mental performance.

Dr. Sharon M. Weinstein is the VHA National Lead for Massage Therapy with the Integrative Health Coordinating Center, Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation. She is a neurologist with qualifications in Pain Medicine and in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and is a Community Hospice Medical Director. Sharon was previously a professor of anesthesiology and an adjunct professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah and has been licensed in massage therapy since 1977.

Ruth Werner is an educator, writer, and a former massage therapist. She is a textbook author, a columnist for the Massage and Bodywork magazine, and teaches continuing education workshops on pathology, research, and ethics both virtually and in-person.

Chantelle Williamson, LMT runs a private massage practice and has been an NCBTMB-approved provider of massage continuing education since 2014. She travels around the Midwest, offering live hands-on classes and is dedicated to helping massage therapists learn techniques that are easy on their bodies.

Brian Wingate, LMT worked as a licensed massage therapist at the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee for many years, where he was involved in an implementation science study of Mindful Awareness in Body-oriented Therapy (MABT) for patients with chronic pain. He now has his own private massage therapy practice in Nashville.