Alliance Board Members and Officers
The Board of Directors is the Alliance’s policy making body. According to the Bylaws, the AFMTE Board members are elected for a three-year term. The officers of the Board – President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary – are elected annually by the Directors.
Shari Aldrich is serious. About being funny—she is a standup comedian doing gigs in NYC and less famous places. She is also serious about aiming high and achieving audacious goals. A committed member in several high level mastermind groups, Shari has been putting the principles of achievement to work in her life, inspiring her to run in the Boston Marathon in support of the Massage Therapy Foundation later this year. She has been inspired to grow her own capabilities and those of the team at her school, the Bodymechanics School of Myotherapy and Massage, which has campuses in Tumwater and Vancouver, WA. A creative thinker with business acumen, Shari also consults with people who wish to start their own massage therapy school. The LDC recommends members vote for Shari so she can bring her big ideas, financial savvy and sense of humor to the Board.
Email: Shari@afmte.org
Since Kim completed her MA in Comprehensive Science Education in 1983, she has been in education – public, proprietary and massage. Her passion for improving the quality of massage therapy education has been demonstrated as a member of the Alliance’s TRDC (Teacher Resources Development Committee) where she has worked to support massage educators with tangible, usable resources. Her background ranges from volunteering with COMTA as a site specialist to providing massage for patients at an infusion center, demonstrating the broad range of talents, abilities and interests she has within this field. Her experience as a leader, team player, educator, and massage therapist will enhance her ability to support AFMTE board projects and to connect with its membership.
Email: Kim@afmte.org
From her previous massage therapy practice and her work as a registered nurse and hospital case manager, MK Brennan understands the benefits of massage therapy delivered within the broader health care community. As former president of the Society 4 Oncology Massage and before that, of the AMTA, MK has an impressive set of leadership skills to help the Alliance grow, including financial functions and strategic planning. Her knowledge of organizational best practices has been particularly useful as the Board Liaison of the AFMTE Governance Committee and Leadership Development Committee as well as her current role as Treasurer. She also brings strong grounding in clinical realities, MT research, and communications.
Email: MK@afmte.org
Sandy Mason is a founding member of AFMTE and is currently Clinical Education Coordinator and full-time Instructor at Forsyth Technical Community College in North Carolina in both the entry-level and Associate Degree Therapeutic Massage Programs. She is a NCBTMB Approved Provider and has presented classes at local and national AMTA conventions. Her passion for elevating educational standards for our profession is evident in her active roles in the Alliance’s NTESP project through the National Teacher Training Curriculum Development Committee (NTTCDC) and the Certification Process Committee (CPC). She has been a textbook reviewer, contributing author and subject matter expert for exam development in the profession, and runs a private practice in Winston-Salem.
Email: Sandy@afmte.org
Since 1998 the massage profession has been Donna’s home base – as a massage therapist, as an instructor and Program Chair at Everest College in Skokie IL, as Vice President of Educational Support for NCBTMB, and currently as Education Director at New School for Massage, Bodywork & Healing in Chicago. In addition to her roles in massage therapy education, Donna also has a background in business management, as well as her experience working as a staff member in a nonprofit professional organization for 11 years. She has a systematic, get-it-done approach, while collaborating effectively with the people involved in the process. She focuses on building what is needed organizationally and procedurally, and has a passion for teacher training, continuing education and improving the quality of massage education. She will serve as the Board Liaison to the Membership Committee.
Email: Donna@afmte.org
Nathan Nordstrom graduated from East West College of healing arts in 2001 and Portland State University in 2012. He has been licensed in five states and is a Board Certified Massage Therapist and Bodyworker (BCMTB). He has gained experience working in retreat spas and medical offices, owned a day spa, and managed sports massage teams. He started teaching massage in Oregon in 2004. Created Massage Programs and managed them. In 2008 he also applied to take his business (Educated Touch) from a massage therapy practice to the next level to provide continuing education. He is most well-known for teaching classes on the application of ethics in daily life. Mr. Nordstrom served as National President from 2016-17. He has assisted on committees for AMTA, AFMTE, FSMTB, and NCBTMB and also served as a trustee for the Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF). Mr. Nordstrom is the husband of Mrs. Elana Nordstrom and the father of four beautiful children (just ask him).
Email: Nathan@afmte.org
Deborah has been a Massage Therapist/ Health Educator for over 15 years. She graduated with honors from UNC- Greensboro with a BS in Community Health Education and has an AAS in Theapeutic Massage from FTCC ( Forsyth Technical Community College). Deborah is passionate about teaching the community and future massage therapists, about reaching their full potential. She has gained a breadth of knowledge and experience through working in various healthcare and college settings throughout her career. She has written and developed massage therapy curriculum for several proprietary and community colleges for NC; currently she was hired by the Department of Veterans Administration, to start the Massage Therapy program for the veteran community.
Deborah believes in giving back to the community through community outreach projects and promoting the massage therapy profession. In addition to serving as a Board Liaison for the Alliance For Massage Therapy Education; she has worked with the AMTA- NC Chapter in various roles for over 14 years. She also finds time to help several non-profits, in her community.
When not working, she loves to cook, create stain glass crafts, and swim.
Email: Deb@afmte.org
Vicki S. Winston, BHS, LMT loves massage therapists. For over 20 years she has admired, educated, and motivated massage therapists in her East Tennessee community. Since 2001, she has practiced full time as a massage therapist in a variety of challenging and rewarding environments, in many cases working alongside former students who have become respected peers. Vicki’s unique perspective helps her to determine how teams work, how they become dysfunctional, and how to set a course for recovery and success. Experience tells her that supported therapists are more likely to work collaboratively and collectively to protect their community and their profession. She has served in the past as President of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association, has 2 beautiful children, creates super fun podcasts with her beau, and can’t wait for the next exciting episode of Dragon Ball.
Email: Vicki@afmte.org
How Do I Apply to Become a Board of Director of the Alliance?
We all have busy schedules and not everyone can make the time, has the necessary background or the desire to serve on a board. However, there are others who wish to participate and have a more active role in helping to re-shape Massage Therapy Education. Here is your opportunity to let your voice be heard and be an active part in re-shaping Massage Therapy Education. To apply to sit on the board please complete the application below.
United, we can all make a difference. United, we have a strong voice and united, is how we will re-shape Massage Therapy Education together!
Interested in applying to serve on the AFMTE Board of Directors?
Click Here to Complete the Application for AFMTE Board Candidacy (Requires a Gmail)
- If you do not have a Gmail, please click here to complete your BOD application (Note you will have to email your resumé separately).