I graduated from Ferris State University in Applied Arts and Sciences in 1994 and worked as a Registered Respiratory Therapist for 20 years. I was employed at Munson Medical Center when I decided to go back to school to learn Medical Massage Therapy at Blue Heron Academy in Traverse City. After graduating in 1998, I opened Great Lakes Clinical Massage, which eventually employed eight Medical Massage Therapists, including myself. Blue Heron Academy hired me as an instructor for their school and Great Lakes Clinical Massage became home for the Traverse City branch of Blue Heron Academy of Healing Arts and Sciences.
After the birth of my first child, Savannah, I decided I had to make a change to be home more, so I sold my practice in Traverse City and moved to Grand Rapids to teach for Blue Heron Academy. I then was able to finish my degrees in Clinical Nutrition and Herbal Medicine. With the birth of my second child, Sydney, I wanted to stay home even more, so I went back to work as a Respiratory Therapist at Spectrum Health for five years, and slowly began my Medical Massage Therapy practice on the side.
In 2011, I opened MassageXT, and in three short years I was able to quit my job at the hospital. As my network grew, I realized I wanted to serve my patients in a bigger way! I wanted to be a bigger part of their healing process and create a safe place where patients trusted the information being handed to them. I believe in the traditional Western medicine model at its best. I am a Type 1 Diabetic…I would not be alive without the advances of modern medicine. However, there is a lot of “bad medicine” as well. So who do we trust? My vision is 360 Wellness Spa! In 2021, I attained a certification for ACE fitness as a Personal Trainer, adding a layer of fitness to the wellness model. As we moved into the Med Spa arena, I also became certified as a Laser Technician, specializing in removal of unwanted hair, pigment in the skin, and spider veins. Health and Beauty at its best!
I am married to the man of dreams, Dennis, and have two amazing kids, Savannah, 23, and Sydney, 19. In my free time, I am an avid mountain, road and gravel biker and any other thrill-seeking outdoor sports!