Chapter Leadership:
Maureen Hoock
President/2009 Chapter Delegate
Phone: 314-420-1650
Description: Maureen P. Hoock is the current president of the AMTA MO Chapter, and is also Chair of the House of Delegates Operations Committee ( HODOC). She has been a member of the AMTA MO Chapter since 1992, and has been on the BOD since 1995, when she was elected 3rd VP and education chair. In 2006, she was eleced 1st VP and continued to serve as education chair. She served as a MO delegate to the HOD in 2005, 2007, & 2008, and was elected to the HODOC in 2007. Maureen also holds a masters degree in Physical Therapy from St. Louis University. She has been married to her husband Mike since 1994, and is the proud mom of 2 young sons, Bobby & Colin..
Leslie Kiernan
1st VP, Membership Chair
Phone: 816-678-4965
Description: After 21 years as a practicing speech therapist and completing my teaching career working as an instructor in gifted education I thought I was through with 'teaching'. Little did I know how much my teacher skills would influence my massage practice. I have been a nationally certified massage therapist since 2001. In addition to private practice I love corporate, on-site, massage work. I have been a member and past regional and State director of the MO Sports Massage Team. Until recently, I instructed at Johnson County Community College within the massage therapy program. Once a teacher always a teacher! As I continue to serve MOAMTA on the Board I plan to reach out to our membership and once again instruct about the merits of our organization. I look forward to visiting with as many of our membership as possible.
Sandy Scott
2nd VP
Phone: 843-441-0092
Description: Graduate Golden State College in Visalia California. I became a Licensed/ Nationally Certified Massage Therapist in 2000. I joined AMTA right after graduation and become a professional member the following year. My husband of 25 years, just retired in November with 24 years Active Duty Service to the Country. The Navy required that we move every three years. One of the things I have enjoyed most about being a Professional Member of AMTA, is always having a state chapter to call home no matter where the military landed us in the USA. We are blessed with four grown children and seven grandchildren. MERT is a very strong passion of mine. I believe it important that we have the opportunity to use our craft to serve those who serve us all so selflessly, especially in times of great need. Anyone that would like to participate in helping to establish MERT again in the Missouri region, please call or e-mail me I welcome your thoughts and ideas. I have owned a SPA and worked in various settings, I am happiest teaching, feeling this my true calling in the massage field. I have been a Registered Massage Instructor for 8 years. I enjoy working with students on a daily basis. I am passionate that massage educational be held to the highest standard across the USA. I will complete Bachelors Program in Sustainability Management in December 2010, I have been accepted to a Masters Program in 2011. My entire family rides motorcycles. We are very active in fund raising through out the year.
Meredith Kusmer
3rd VP, Education Chair
Phone: 314-409-4867
Description: As a graduate from the Moscow School of Massage in Moscow, Idaho Meredith Kusmer became a Licensed Massage Therapist in 1997. She joined the AMTA as a student in 1996. Upon receiving her license, she elevated herself to professional member status, and has enjoyed being a member every since. She believes that the AMTA is the biggest voice of professional massage therapists and we need that voice. For six years she has had her own practice in Pullman, Washington. Due to the people friendly laws of Washington State she could be a health insurance provider. Many people of the community could take full advantage of massage therapy because of their insurance. She believes that it helped to introduce the advantages of massage therapy to people who might not have been able to afford it. Based on that experience, she hopes that the voice of AMTA will help to get Missouri and other states to allow massage therapy to be included as a covered benefit in health insurance. She moved back to her home town of St. Louis Missouri in 2002 and opened a massage therapy office. She says that she is looking forward to continuing building her practice in this fulfilling career and working with the AMTA. While serving on the AMTAMO BOD, she is eager to learn as much as she can from her fellow board members. She says that it is very gratifying to have the opportunity to make a contribution toward keeping massage and bodywork at the highest standards of professionalism.
Sheri Rohrbach
Secretary
Phone: 573-375-3639
Janene Sun
Treasurer, Sports Massage Team State Director, 2010 Chapter Delegate
Phone: 573-999-0451
Description: Janene Sun graduated from the Moscow School of Massage, located in Idaho, in 1996. She received her Bachelor's, from the University of Idaho, around the same time. And shortly after that, she moved to Missouri. Her first full-time “gig” as a massage therapist was at Wilson's Health and Fitness Club where she worked for a couple of years. But it wasn't until she started teaching at PMTC, in Springfield, that she really called herself a 'sports' massage therapist. The world of multisport has opened up to her, as well as the wealth of information that comes along with it! Currently, she teaches sports massage at the Massage Therapy Institute of Missouri, in Columbia, and she is doing massage at Optimus-the Center for Health, also in Columbia. Of her work as the State Director of the Missouri Sports Massage Team, she says, “I love what I do!”
Esteban Ruvalcaba
Past President, Government Relations Chair, Newsletter Editor
Phone: 573-442-6628
Description: Esteban Ruvalcaba has been a massage therapist for 26 years. He was nationally certified in 1994. He served as First Vice President of the AMTAMO, as director of the MSMT, and as Law and Legislation Chair from 1994 until 1998. He served as President of from 1998 until 2002, and as served as Past President since then. He has a private practice in Sportsmassage and Clinical Sportsmassage in Columbia. He travels with the University of Missouri Track and Field Team. He also works with individual athletes from the women’s basketball team, gymnastics, and softball, as well as with professional athletes, and with high level amateurs. He appears, monthly, on a local television show where he talks about issues related to massage and introduces other therapists and their approaches to the public in the mid-Missouri area. He served on the committee that wrote the bill which became the law under which massage therapists practice in Missouri. As Government Relations Chair, he continues efforts, in Jefferson City to guard the interest of the massage therapy community and all its stakeholders.
CarolAnn Morlock
Member-at-Large
Phone: 417-863-0249
Description: I grew-up and spent most of my adult life in Omaha, NE. In 1972, I graduated from the University of Nebraska in Omaha with a BS Educ. I then attended Omaha College of Health Careers and spent the next 30+ years as a Certified Medical Assistant working as an office manager and back office MA. in the fields of OB-GYN, Urology, General Surgery, and Family Practice. In 1989, my family moved to the majestic mountains of Dillon, CO. We owned and managed the world’s highest elevated Dairy Queen for 3 years. I also spent time employed in the local Family Practice office. We thawed out in the small Arizona town of Casa Grande. Due to a lot of work related stress in a General Surgeons office, massage became a large part of my life & I considered it as a future career. In 1995, we decided to return to the midwest and relocated to Springfield, MO. We have remained in the area ever since. Dream do come true. In 2001, I graduated from Professional Massage Training Center, in Springfield. I was employed by Windjammer Spa at TanTara Resort for 2 years, while building my clientele in Springfield and Republic, MO. From 2005, I started teaching part time at PMTC while maintaining my practice. In 2008, I started full-time employment at PMTC. I am an instructor of Practice for Clinical and Spa students as well as Stone massage. I have always been a member of AMTA and am looking forward to giving back to the organinzation. I have been married to Dean for 36 years and we have one son, Kevin. As a couple we enjoy gardening, taking walks with Daisy, our daschund, and traveling-whenever we are given the opportunity.
Dale Nimmo
Member-at-Large, Website Chair, 2010 Chapter Delegate
Phone: 417-773-2921
Description: Dale has been a tech. in the world of computers so long that he feels he eats, breathes, sleeps and dreams of them (God help him!!!). He made the mad decision to become a massage therapist and took the leap of faith in 2007. His initial training is from PMTC in Springfield Missouri and received his professional license in Aug of 2008. His business name - TissueIssues.Net - is a combination of both his computer background and a statement made from his favorite instructor. Dale is a lover of learning and always excited to try new approaches and new techniques. He’s already been dubbed the man of a million CEU’s! Dale feels drawn to the modalities of Thai-yoga, pre and post Sports, as well as Compassionate Touch. Never bored, Dale loves to cook for others (never for himself), is an avid cyclist (MS Bike Tour veteran of 24 yrs., kite builder/collector/flyer (current collection of 54 kites), loves the outdoors and loves to play in the dirt! (growing things that is.) Once he turned pro, he jumped whole hog into AMTA and currently is a member of the MSMT, now a member-at-large for 2010-11 and a delegate to the 2010 National Conference. He’d like to thank the State membership for recognizing his impish naiveté, newbie enthusiasm, fantastic wit, and shining intelligence!
Keri King
Communications Chair, Awards Chair
Phone: 417-272-1464
Description: Keri King is a registered nurse who found massage therapy 15 years ago in Sarasota, Florida. Having started in critical care she found that massage therapy gave her the opportunity to do real hands on care. Thirteen years ago she moved to the Ozarks and started her private practice in Branson West, Missouri. Certified in Neuromuscular Therapy and Bowenwork with training in CranioSacral work and Therapeutic Touch she brings an eclectic touch to her practice. Keri enjoys working behind the scenes both on and off the board as Awards and Communications Chair.
Jeff Rioux
2010 Chapter Delegate
Phone: 573-881-4466
Description: After receiving his degree in Sociology and working with adults and children with developmental disabilities for several years, Jeff decided to explore his passion for health and wellness. He graduated from the Massage Therapy Institute of Missouri and has been certified through the NCBTMB and a member of the AMTA since 2001. He is eager to serve the Missouri membership through the BOD. Jeff has maintained a private practice in Columbia, MO as well as working as an LMT in varied hospital settings. He was instrumental in starting up massage therapy services with the Palliative Care program at Boone Hospital Center, and introduced massage therapy to University of Missouri Health Center through their Healthy for Life employee wellness program. Jeff currently enjoys a varied practice, working with people from all walks of life, including athletes at the Mizzou Athletic Dept. He has also been teaching clinical massage courses at MTIM for the past seven years. Jeff and his wife, Sue have four wonderful children and enjoy an active family life.
