Meet Your Board of Directors

Since before 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 Subcommittee) where she has worked to support
massage educators with tangible, usable resources, CMBE (Certificate in Massage and
Bodywork Education) subcommittee where she worked to update the requirements and
assist in modifying them for CE providers, TTC (Teacher Training subcommittee), where she
coordinates Think Tank providers and topics as well as other projects and as interim chair
of the Education Committee. She has served as an AFMTE board member for 3 years and
in the role of Vice President before becoming President in 2023. Her background ranges
from volunteering with COMTA as a site specialist, serving in the Kentucky AMTA chapter in
multiple roles on committees and the Board of Directors, and continuing to maintain a
thriving part time private practice in 2 locations. Kim is the proud mother of 4 children, and
“G” to 4 grands. She enjoys reading, editing, being creative and watching the grandchildren
in their many sports activities.

This list, although incomplete, encompasses the broad range of talents, abilities and
interests she has within the massage therapy 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.

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. 

Nathan Nordstrom is a nationally recognized massage therapy educator and training leader with over 20 years of experience advancing professional standards in education, compliance, and clinical practice.

He has designed and led scalable training systems for higher education institutions, national associations, and multi-unit spa organizations, supporting thousands of therapists across the U.S. and Canada as founder of Educated Touch and former Director of Training & Industry Relations at Hand & Stone Franchise Company.

Nathan specializes in curriculum design, train-the-trainer programs, and aligning education with real-world practice. He is a frequent national and international lecturer.

Vicki S. Idalski, 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.

With nearly 30 years in massage therapy and over two decades in education, I’ve dedicated my career to elevating the standards of our profession through practical, high-quality instruction. I am board certified, a continuing education provider, and the 2025 recipient of the Massage Educator of the Year award. My background in psychology and instructional technology has helped me bridge sound pedagogy with the hands-on needs of massage students and teachers.

My service on the AFMTE Teacher Resource Committee has deepened my appreciation for the work it takes to support massage educators nationwide. I believe in building strong, actionable resources and advocating for educators who are navigating real-world classroom challenges.

Deborah has been a Massage Therapist/Health Educator for over 16 years. She graduated with honors from UNC-Greensboro with a BS in Community Health Education and has an AAS in Therapeutic Massage from FTCC (Forsyth Technical Community College). Deborah is a Certified Health Education Specialist, Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist, health coach, and a Certified Lymphatic Therapist. She is currently working for the Department of Veteran Affairs where she developed a medical massage therapy pain management clinic.

She has gained a breadth of knowledge and experience through working in various healthcare and college/academia settings throughout her career.

Deborah believes in giving back to the community through community outreach projects and promoting the massage therapy profession. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for the Alliance For Massage Therapy Education for the past 2 years, she also has served on the board for the American Massage Therapy Association NC Chapter for over 10 years. She also finds time to help several non-profits in her community (homelessness, food pantry, and water safety programs).

When not working, she loves to cook, create stained glass crafts, and swim.

Donna Sarvello is a seasoned massage therapy professional with over 27 years of experience in the field. She began her career after graduating from the Chicago School of Massage Therapy in 1998. From the outset, Donna immersed herself in collaborative care, building her practice alongside physical therapists, chiropractors, and holistic health professionals.

She has taught core curriculum at Everest College, collaborated with continuing education providers, supported schools across the country, and led the exam writing committee for the Board Certification Examination through the National Certification Board for Massage Therapy and Bodywork.

Donna moved back into a school environment where she served as the Director of Education for New School for Massage. She will continue to work with the school as needed, teaching and helping with administrative duties.

Donna is now building her private practice at DuPage Health and Physical Therapy, where she integrates her extensive knowledge and experience to help clients achieve optimal well-being.

Essie Hicks is a nationally certified massage therapy educator and Licensed Massage Therapist with over 30 years of experience in clinical practice, curriculum development, and professional mentorship. Her career has been dedicated to advancing the field of therapeutic massage through hands-on excellence, trauma-informed care, and values-driven education. Essie’s teaching portfolio includes continuing education instruction at Bodymechanics School of Massage, Port Townsend School of Massage, and The Alexandar School of Natural Therapeutics. She has trained hundreds of massage therapists in modalities such as Trigger Point Myofascial therapy, Pregnancy Massage (fundamentals and advanced), Lymphatic Drainage, and Structural Integration principles. Her teaching style blends technical precision with emotional intelligence, empowering students to build practices rooted in both skill and compassion. 

In addition to her work in the classroom, Essie has served as a consultant to medical massage clinics, day spas, and destination wellness centers. She specializes in practice development, trauma-informed service design, and team training. Her leadership experience includes serving as Spa Director and executive team member for a luxury wellness property, where she helped launch an integrative care model grounded in client-centered values.

Essie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science and a Master’s in Public Administration, graduating with honors from South Puget Sound Community College, Washington State University, and Seattle University. Her academic background informs her systems-level approach to education, policy, and professional development within the massage therapy field.

Tammy Roecker is the founder and president of the Arizona School of Medical Massage and Wellness, a licensed hybrid massage therapy program grounded in evidence-informed practice and the development of clinical reasoning and critical thinking skills. With over 32 years of experience in the massage therapy field, Tammy has worked as a practitioner, educator, continuing education provider, and program developer. She is also the founder of the Early Bonding Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting healthy attachment and touch in early development.

Tammy was named AFMTE’s 2019 Educator of the Year for Continuing Education and received the 2024 Dianne Polseno Lifetime Achievement Award from the AMTA for her outstanding contributions to massage therapy education. She currently serves on the AMTA-AZ Chapter Board and continues to advocate for high standards in massage education.

Tiffany graduated from UNC at Charlotte in 1997 with a BS in Health Fitness and completed an internship program in Sports Medicine. In 2002 she graduated from Forsyth Technical Community College with her certificate in therapeutic massage. In 2006 she developed the therapeutic massage program for Davidson-Davie Community College. She still works at Davidson-Davie where she is now the Division Chair for Salon and Spa Services and continues to serve as program director and faculty for the therapeutic massage program. In 2023 she completed her Master’s Degree in Higher Education. She still sees clients in her home office. She is married and has 3 wonderful children and her sweet little dog, Skip.