Speaker Bios

Tina Allen, LMT, CPMMT®, CPMT®, CIMT®, founder of the Liddle Kidz® Foundation, is the world’s foremost expert in infant and pediatric massage, touch therapy, and hospital-based massage programs. An internationally respected educator and award-winning author, she has advanced pediatric touch therapy for over 20 years, developing evidence-informed certification programs and partnering with 200+ medical institutions, including Stanford Medicine, Mayo Clinic, St. Jude, CHOP, and Tokyo Metropolitan Children’s Hospital. Her global work has earned major humanitarian and distinguished service honors.

Christine Bailor-Goodlander is a Registered Professional Nurse and Licensed Massage Therapist in New York and Pennsylvania. She is also an NCBTMB-approved provider, Certified Transformational Life Coach, and End-of-Life Doula. Holding a BA in Health Sciences with a focus on massage therapy, Christine has dedicated many years of service to AMTA, including as a past National President. She currently serves on the Ethics and Standards Committee for NCBTMB.

Jill Burynski is an internationally recognized teacher of Thai Massage and 2018 inductee to the World Massage Hall of Fame. She has been traveling to Thailand since 2003 and has studied at the Old Medicine Hospital, ITM, and with Pichest Boonthume in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She founded Living Sabai in 2009 which offers Thai Massage CEs, certification, and Thailand Study Abroad opportunities.

Julie Campbell is a seasoned massage therapist and business coach, empowering professionals to build thriving massage practices with smart pricing, effective marketing, and client retention strategies. Known for actionable advice, Julie helps therapists build sustainable, fulfilling practices without big budgets or burnout.

Mark Capriotti 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 and 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.

Ericka Clinton is the Education Director for Healwell, an organization that provides CE with the focus on integrating massage therapists into health care. She is a faculty member at and former Dean of the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences in New York City. Ericka has been a worldwide CE educator for 25 years and has a private practice focused on oncology.

Dr. Jared Cooper is a Physical Therapist and Bodywork Instructor with over 26 years of experience treating clients and teaching manual therapy. He is the founder of the Bodywork Dojo, a continuing education school for bodywork professionals and therapists. His work as an educator has been featured on ABC News, in The Wall Street Journal, The NY Sun, and The Chicago Tribune. Dr. Cooper is an AMTA National and Regional Presenter and has taught at the Center for Massage & Natural Health as well as several universities and hospitals. Dr. Cooper is a certified Trigger Point Therapist through MyoPain, and an NCBTMB-approved Continuing Education provider.

William Dickinson is a Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist based in North Carolina with a dozen years of experience easing tension and restoring balance for his clients. He is the Director of My Massage CE, an NCBTMB-approved continuing education organization. William is passionate about deepening his craft and empowering fellow massage therapists.

Dustin Donahue is a massage educator and NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider specializing in research literacy, chronic pain, and the physiological effects of stress and emotional trauma on the body. With extensive experience teaching at National Conferences, CE venues and franchises, Dustin emphasizes a research-based approach to bodywork, helping massage therapists understand how unresolved trauma, anxiety, and depression can manifest as chronic pain and tension. Drawing on his background as a spa director, deep tissue specialist, and chronic pain educator, Dustin develops innovative training programs for high-end spas and massage professionals.

Dr. Jennifer Esala is a medical sociologist with expertise in health interventions for trauma survivors, refugees, and underserved populations. Dr. Esala’s research has been published in leading journals including Society and Mental Health, Traumatology, Journal of Traumatic Stress, and the American Journal of Evaluation. She is currently the principal investigator for a clinical trial evaluating a trauma-informed and culturally responsive massage therapy intervention for pain among torture and war-trauma survivors in the United States.

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 25 years, Jennifer is dedicated to educating health care professionals on professional liability risks and offers strategies to mitigate those risks. 

Jarrod Fritz has been a massage therapist for over 20 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 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.

David Goldeen, LMT, BCTMB, realized early in his 35-year career that traditional massage alone offers only temporary pain relief. Upon discovering Myofascial Release, he recognized its unique therapeutic value. He has helped countless clients move out of chronic pain with myofascial release as his sole focus. As an NCBTMB CEU provider, his myofascial release courses and Certification Program help educate therapists who are interested in providing sustainable pain relief for clients.

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.

Michele Holland, LMT, CD&CPD(DONA), CLC, CEIM, is a co-author of Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide to Prenatal, Labor and Postpartum Practice 3rd Edition (2021). Since 1995, Michele has developed 200+ hours of pre- and perinatal massage therapy curricula and taught at massage therapy schools, spas, hospitals, and conferences nationwide. Michele’s passion is improving maternity and newborn care—one pregnancy, one birth and one new family at a time—through the hands-on healing arts.

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 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 where she observed the benefits of holistic approaches to integrated care firsthand.

James Ivaska has been practicing therapeutic massage since 2003. Originally from Evanston, IL, he received his training with the Chicago School of Massage Therapy and his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois. James has been a T.A. for multiple kinesiology courses at the University level and has been teaching continuing education classes with Precision Neuromuscular Therapy Seminars since 2011. James now has a private practice in Philadelphia, PA where he has treated thousands of people for chronic pain and injuries.

Paula Jilanis is a Transformational Life Coach, Workshop and Retreat Leader, and Speaker. She has more than three decades of experience as a bodyworker and massage therapist and has presented on various massage topics across the U.S. Paula also developed an associate’s degree program in massage where she was the director and educator for 16 years.

Rob Kelly is a licensed massage therapist and a certified lymphedema therapist. He has been practicing and teaching massage therapy for over 30 years. Currently, he teaches anatomy, physiology, and pathology lecture classes as well as lymphatic drainage and orthopedic massage classes at Irene’s Myomassology Institute in Southfield, MI. Rob also teaches continuing education classes throughout the country.

Paul Kohlmeier is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Acupuncturist with extensive clinical and teaching experience. He is also trained as a Traditional Chinese Medicine herbalist. Paul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Manitoba, a Diploma in Massage Therapy from Wellington College, and Diplomas in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from the Hua Xia Acupuncture and Herb College of Canada. He has been teaching for over 20 years and is the course creator and lead instructor for Cupping Canada.

Jennifer Leogier approaches massage therapy as a collaborative dialogue between nervous systems, using touch as a pathway to transformation. Specializing in Myofascial Release and Craniosacral Therapy, she offers an intuitive, research‑informed practice in Dallas, TX. As an instructor, she teaches grounded therapeutic presence and regularly studies with the Osteopath community in France. Her classes inspire technical growth and deep reverence for massage as a healing art.

Diane Long, MHS, SEP, BCTMB, has been practicing trauma-informed therapies for 30 years. An Empowerment Self Defense instructor and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Diane helps people prevent and heal from trauma and oppression and build resiliency through embodiment. They have built integrative health programs in a variety of youth-serving agencies and are part of a research project at the Center for Victims of Torture to develop and implement trauma-informed, culturally-sensitive massage for survivors of torture and war trauma. Diane currently serves as adjunct faculty in Massage Therapy at Northwestern Health Sciences in Bloomington, MN.

Josué Enriquez Lopez, LMT, MTI, is a specialist in therapist longevity and injury prevention. With over eight years of clinical experience, he integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine and Daoist Arts into modern therapeutic practice. As the creator of the "Don’t Leave Your Joints on the Table" curriculum, Josué empowers therapists to break the overuse myth through advanced biomechanics and holistic self-care strategies.

Whitney Lowe has dedicated his career to advancing massage therapy. With nearly four decades of clinical work, publication, and teaching, Lowe's work in advanced massage principles has helped innumerable professionals grow their practices and change their own and their clients' lives. As the developer of the Orthopedic Medical Massage Specialist (OMMS™) certification and the creator of the groundbreaking AI Clinical Massage Coach™, Lowe continues to push the field forward—helping massage professionals elevate their skills, build clinical credibility, and achieve lasting impact in their communities.

Robin Miccio has been a licensed massage therapist for over fifteen years; her career has spanned private practice, massage education, and multidisciplinary clinical settings, including pediatric hospital environments. Robin has been an active Massage Therapy Foundation volunteer for the past decade, is a contributing author to the Foundation’s Research Agenda, published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, and has authored several articles on massage therapy and integrative medicine. Robin holds a Master of Science in Integrative Health and Wellness and is deeply committed to advancing the role of massage in medical settings.

Jeffrey Montoya, DHPE, LMT, BCTMB, is the Founder and President of the Academy of Health, a nonprofit massage therapy school serving communities throughout Wisconsin. He earned his Doctorate in Health Professions Education from Logan University and is committed to advancing high-quality, accessible massage education. A recognized leader in the field, Dr. Montoya received the 2019 AMTA Jerome Perlinski Teacher of the Year Award, honoring his excellence in teaching and mentorship. Over the years, he has contributed his expertise to the AMTA Wisconsin Chapter, AMTA National, and the NCBTMB, helping strengthen professional standards and supporting the next generation of massage therapists.

Douglas Nelson is Board Certified in Massage Therapy and Therapeutic Bodywork, beginning his career in massage therapy in 1977. He is the President of BodyWork Associates, a massage therapy clinic in Champaign, IL, the founder of Precision Neuromuscular Therapy™, a teaching institute that has trained thousands of therapists since 1997, and the past president of the Massage Therapy Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to advancing the knowledge and practice of massage. Douglas has published articles in a variety of journals and magazines and is also the author of three books: Table Lessons: Insights in the Practice of Massage Therapy (two volumes) and The Mystery of Pain.

Frances Nicolais, CMT, C.Ht., has been teaching Myofascial Release classes at Southern California massage schools since 2005. Her main training has been with the John F. Barnes MFR Seminars, and she teaches massage therapists, occupational therapists and physical therapists. Frances is also the founder of the Myofascial Release Center, which is the only clinic in Los Angeles with over 10 MFR therapists.

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.

Gabriel Posner, PhD, is a Registered Somatic Movement Therapist and Licensed Massage Therapist in Denver, CO. He specializes in chronic pain relief, offers classes and workshops, trains practitioners, and authored the book Somatic Techniques for Massage Therapists. Dr. Posner leads the Association for Hanna Somatic Education and enjoys an active Colorado life with his family.

Scott Raymond, LMT, is a continuing education provider who has been a licensed massage therapist since 1998. He has been a registered yoga instructor with the Yoga Alliance, certified as a personal trainer through National Academy of Sports Medicine, an entry-level educator of Kinesiology for 10 years at the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy, and is an active volunteer whose practice blends diverse bodywork methods.

Martha Rinker is the Government Relations Policy and Research Analyst at AMTA. She has extensive experience in both federal and state legislative and regulatory health policy with numerous national organizations, including the National Organization for Rare Disorders, 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 as Legislative Director to a Member of Congress.

Dr. Susan Salvo has a diverse career in massage and academia spanning over 40 years. Susan is well-known as a thought leader and pioneer in evidence-informed practice, has written two widely-used textbooks, and presents at professional conferences around the world. She also reviews case reports for the Massage Therapy Foundation and was a task force member for the Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge project and the Council of State Governments Interstate Compact. Susan’s writings, teachings, and research efforts focus on advancing the fields of massage, complementary and integrative health care, and higher education.

Claudia Silva earned her degree in Physical Therapy in 1986 from the Federal University of Minas Gerais State in Brazil. She specializes in Pediatrics, is trained in Myofascial Release, Neuro-Developmental Treatment, Early Intervention, infant massage, massage for special needs population, adaptive equipment assessment and fabrication, and has a private practice in Orlando, FL. Claudia is also a Clinical Instructor, is certified in Craniosacral Therapy on Techniques and Diplomate levels and is a certified instructor for Craniosacral Therapy 1, CST for Pediatrics levels 1 and 2, Clinical Application Classes and Certification Preparation Workshops. In addition, she is a certified presenter for the Upledger Institute for the ShareCare, Overview of Craniosacral Therapy and Introduction of Craniosacral Therapy workshops in the US and internationally.

James Specker serves as the Senior Director for the Government & Industry Relations Department at AMTA. Prior to AMTA, 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 the 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 Life Mastery Coach, Consultant, Speaker and Teacher. She enjoyed a thriving massage practice for over 20 years and moved into massage education, school administration and accreditation. In recent years, Demara has incorporated newer skills as she designed and developed CE and school courses focused on business development, life skills and student success strategies.

Ann Teachworth 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 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 as well as their physical and mental performance.

James Waslaski has over 30 years of expertise in manual therapy and teaches over 45 live seminars per year, worldwide. He is the author of Clinical Massage Therapy: A Structural Approach to Pain Management (2011), and a renowned international lecturer, presenting at state, national and international Chiropractic, Osteopathic, Athletic Training and Massage Therapy Conferences. James is a Certified Personal Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine and an approved NCBTMB Provider.

Ruth Werner is an award-winning educator, writer, and former massage therapist who loves to share her passion about the role of bodywork for people who live with health challenges. Her textbook, A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology is now in its 7th edition and is used all over the world. She is a columnist for Massage & Bodywork and teaches continuing education workshops on pathology, research, and ethics worldwide. Ruth also hosts a popular podcast focused on pathology conversations.