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AMTA-Illinois Board of Directors
The Chapter Board governs the activities of the AMTA-Illinois Chapter. Terms of office are for two years. President, 2nd Vice President, one Member-at-Large and Treasurer are elected in even-numbered years. 1st and 3rd Vice Presidents and the second Member-at-Large and Secretary are elected in odd-numbered years. If mid-term vacancies occur, appointments are made by the Board until the next scheduled election. Elections are by mail ballot unless all positions are uncontested; in that case the members attending the Chapter Annual Meeting are asked to affirm the slate of candidates in order to the save costs of a mail ballot. Position descriptions for all of the Board positions can be found on the AMTA web site in the members-only section.
The Chapter Board meets monthly, either in person or by conference call. Members are welcome to attend in order to understand the operation of the Board. Call the Chapter office for date and location information for upcoming Board meetings, or check the calendar on the Home Page of this web site.
All Board members can be reached through the Chapter office at 847-865-0674 or via email at .
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President – Becky Schwoebel Becky has been providing massage in Belleville, IL where she was also an educator at the Midwest Institute of Massage Therapy. She has served as a Member at Large, 2nd Vice President, Conference Coordinator, with many committee positions since 2007. After retiring from work in the public sector she became interested in massage school along with her daughter, and now works in a spa. She brings thoughtful insight to her role as President, along with a deep caring for the profession and the Illinois Members that she serves. She envisions that massage will have the respect it deserves in the eyes of healthcare and the public within the next five years. |
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1st Vice President – Robin Lovejoy Robin has been practicing massage therapy for 17 years. She graduated from Chicago School of Massage Therapy and now serves Hampshire IL and surrounding communities. She has served AMTA IL members in multiple roles including Delegate to the National Convention and Volunteer Coordinator for the 2012 State Conference. She pursued a career in massage after using a gift certificate and realizing how beneficial massage is for good health. She likes making a living while being able to set her own business hours in order to care for her family as a single mom. She loves her career and looks forward every day to helping people and guiding them to be healthy. She brings a wealth of board experience from her service as Vice President to the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and running her own successful massage practice. Robin feels that we have only scratched the surface of the benefits of massage and would like to help it become mainstream medicine in the healthcare arena. |
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2nd Vice President – Nestor Battung Nestor has served the Board since 2009 as Member at Large and Community Outreach Chairperson, as well as several other committee appointments. Nestor is a Licensed Clinical Massage Therapist with 11 years of experience. He received his basic training from the Chicago School of Massage Therapy, and Master of Clinical Massage training from the Soma Institute. He is certified in Orthopedic Massage and Pre- and Post-natal Massage Therapies. Nestor is employed by the United States Soccer Federation and is an approved provider for the United States Olympic Committee. When he's not traveling he has clinical hours at AthletiCo in Oak Brook. His background in Sports Massage provides many opportunities for this busy Community Outreach Chair to create events for Members looking to network and show off their skills. |
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3rd Vice President – Jordan Holwell Jordan Holwell is a licensed massage therapist and the founder of Higher Energy Massage Therapy, a private studio serving the community of Naperville, IL. There, she seeks to help clients improve the quality of their lives from the inside out. Jordan’s own introduction to the benefits of bodywork was what initially spawned her desire to help others. “I had my first reiki session over eight years ago, and it was that experience that led me to where I am today,” she says. “The profound change that happened within, after that one session, left me with a passion for energy and massage work.” With her new-found enthusiasm, Jordan began taking courses at the Sacred Journey Institute in Tinley Park, studying the principles of a type of energy work known as CranioSacral Therapy. In 2009, she founded Higher Energy Massage Therapy, though her education in the field of holistic wellness wouldn’t end there. Jordan, who is a strong advocate of chiropractic care and natural healing modalities, went on to graduate from the Cortiva Institute of Massage Therapy. Her current practice is as diverse as her varied background, enabling her to bring a combination of CranioSacral Therapy, relaxation and therapeutic massage to the table. “The opportunities to help others facilitate healing is endless,” she says. |
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Member-At-Large – Cindy Groeninger Jordan Cindy started massage training in the fall of 1997 at the LifePath School of Massage while also working as Office Manager of Central Illinois Spinal Rehabilitation Center. These she was drawn to work with patients and completed her massage studies in 1998. Since then, she has added Zero balancing, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Neuromuscular, Sports, Pregnancy and Myofascial Release to her private practice. She is a certified Wellness Coach through Body Therapy Institute in Siler City, NC. She first joined AMTA as a student and continued to professional level due to her love of networking, the benefits and credibility of AMTA. She brings fresh eyes to the Board along with a Masters in Business Administration, a track record of a successful massage business and passion for the community in all she does. She sees the growth of massage over the 15 years she has been in practice and hopes to see more demand for integrative practice in healthcare as clients are empowered though education. |
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Member-At-Large – Tony Karoumi Tony studied Massage Therapy, at First Institute in 2005-2006, and attained his license in 2006. He joined the AMTA as a Student Member and has been a Professional Member, ever since. He has enjoyed working in a range of different enviroments consisting of a fitness center, spa, gym, corporate chair, in-home, and associating himself with a chiropractor. After volunteering at several AMTA-IL events over the last 4 years, he thought it was time to get more involved & contribute to this profession and organization. Every representative of the AMTA that he has met, has always been supportive and kind. He wishes to be "that person" to his fellow Massage Therapists. He attributes his Catholic foundation to imprinting the values of community, service, respect for others, and gratitude to his core beliefs. He looks forward to his first term, as Member-At-Large. If you come out to a volunteer event and he is there, he will tell you that joke, he knows. |
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Treasurer – Steve Albertson Steve has been in practice for 28 years. He is the owner of Center for Massage Therapy Professionals, a multi-therapist establishment where he also has a private practice. His clinical therapy incorporates Neuromuscular Therapy and techniques from Paul St. John, Doug Nelson, Erik Dalton, Aaron Mattes and Bob King, Gil Hedley and Carole Osborne. In the 70s he worked as a "re department paramedic and developed a deeper interest in anatomy and physiology. He later put this knowledge to use in research and development for two manufacturers of medical products, then transitioned to academia. Although this provided gainful employment, it did not fuel his passion. At about this time he injured his arm, which was successfully addressed by physical therapy, massage and personal training. From that moment he understood the value of complimentary treatment, and that massage therapy was the career for him. Steve has served as a conference volunteer, and Delegate to the National Convention. He was appointed to serve as Second Vice President and currently serves as Treasurer and government relations board liaison. Steve received the 2012 Chapter Meritorious Award. He brings a level headed sense of direction to difficult decision making process, has a dry wit and a mean dance step! |
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Secretary – Christopher Bakker Chris aspired to massage since 2007 when his son Pierce was born. He came working in the insurance, trucking, education and corporate industries where he learned to organize well and type 100 words a minute! He used infant massage to care for his son as a stay at home dad and quickly saw its potential for helping babies and their families. He graduated from Cortiva in January 2012 where he is a TA and tutor that loves to see the passion for massage bloom in others. In addition he has specialized training in Infant Massage with Martha Baker and Jody Wright. He ran for the board because he believes in involvement and envisions that massage will be closer to acceptance and insurance reimbursement as a medical modality within the next five years. He wants to be a part of getting people involved and is excited to make big dreams for the future of massage therapy. |
Upcoming Events
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For more details, click on the event link.
- Jun 7, 2013
- Jun 22, 2013
- Sep 8, 2013
- Sep 14, 2013
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