Last updated July 12, 2026.
2026 Election Info
AFMTE is the only membership organization dedicated to shaping the future of massage therapy education. Its collective vision and voice provide vital support and guidance.
The Leadership Development Committee (LDC) is charged with finding strong candidates to serve the Alliance as Board members and members of the LDC. Service to the Alliance gives back to the massage therapy community and contributes to your own personal and professional development.
Important Dates
Voting
Ballots will be emailed to all current members on July 20, 2026, and will be due by 11:59pm PT on August 3, 2026.
Announcement of results
Election results will be announced at the annual business meeting (open to members) on August 11, 2026.
2026 Slate of Candidates for Board of Directors Openings
To be eligible for a position, potential candidates must be an Alliance member in good standing. Members in all categories: School, Continuing Education Provider, Teacher, Allied, or Supporter are invited to apply.
Bio
Angela Poe, BS, AAS, LMT, is a Licensed Massage Therapist with 19 years of experience and has dedicated more than 15 years to massage education. She currently serves as the Institutional Director of the Nashville School of Massage Therapy, where she oversees academic operations, faculty development, and student success initiatives. Throughout her career, she has remained passionate about mentoring future massage therapists and supporting educational excellence.
As a new member of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education, Angela looks forward to becoming more actively involved in the organization’s initiatives, collaborating with fellow educators and leaders, and contributing to meaningful conversations that advance massage therapy education. She believes deeply in the Alliance’s mission to elevate educational standards and is excited about opportunities to serve and contribute at a greater level.
Angela’s leadership philosophy is rooted in integrity, compassion, and service. She believes that education transforms lives and that great leaders create opportunities for others to grow and succeed. Outside of her professional roles, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her son, Bryson, and their dog, Kirby.
Bio
My name is Erica Keays, and I am a licensed massage therapist and massage educator from upstate New York. I have been in the field for over two decades and have dedicated my life to massage therapy and to elevating the practice.
Working with other massage professionals is a passion of mine, and over the years, I have worked hard to provide massage therapists from all walks of life with their required CEs. I offer a variety of courses for all budgets, so nobody has to miss out, regardless of financial hardship. As the former CE Chairperson for the New York State Society of Medical Massage Therapists, I developed a continuing education platform and expanded the organization’s offerings and membership.
An accomplishment I am most proud of is publishing my first book, “Massage for the Wounded Heart: Supporting the Grief Experience with Therapeutic Massage,” and I am currently working on my next publication.
My family and I live in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, and I love spending time in my garden and rooting for my son’s hockey team.
Bio
Shannon Johnson, MHA, LMT, BCDNH is a Board Certified Doctor of Natural Health, Licensed Massage Therapist, Master Herbalist, Emotion Code Practitioner and Certified Nutritional Counselor.
As a Traditional Naturopath who has been in the natural wellness space for almost two decades. Shannon first started learning about natural medicine after her son was born with a medical condition, and through this, discovered her passion within it. Shannon earned her masters degree in Health Administration and has spent a large period of time operating allopathic clinics, and opened her natural wellness business Creative Light Wellness, and most recently, a school for massage therapy to grow the industry and develop the future bodyworkers in a new way. She is currently earning her phd in Integrative Medicine through Quantum University. Among many other qualifications, Shannon is an author, practitioner, massage therapist, master herbalist, traditional naturopath, and Emotion Code Practitioner. She has two kids, three fur babies, and lives in Billings, MT.
Dr. Shannon has signed up to volunteer for the Alliance, and is looking forward to getting more involved to move the industry forward in a positive way. Her goal is to empower individuals to take their health back into their own hands and recognize their healing potential whether that is through bodywork, emotional release, or energy healing. We are electrical, energetic beings that have so much more potential that what we originally thought, and we are on the cusp of learning more ways of helping to heal people through the gift of human touch.