NBCAAM Board of Directors Contact List

Chair Lisa Ruthig Bancroft School of Massage Therarpy and Lively Dog – Thompson, CT
Vice Chair Lola Michelin Northwest School of Animal Massage – Vashon Island, WA
Secretary Megan Ayrault All About Animal Massage - Kirkland, WA
Secretary Polly Klein Tonglen Healing Arts for Animals - Issaquah, WA
Treasurer   April Johnston Equine Equilibrium, LLC - Kona, HI
Members at Large
Patricia Whalen-Shaw Integrated Touch Therapy – Circleville, OH
Wendy Dahl Dahl Animal Behavior and Massage – Vashon, WA
Kim Bauer Animal Ease Therapies & Northwest School of Animal Massage – Parkdale, OR

Active NBCAAM Committees

If you are interested in joining one of the committees, please email the Chairperson whose name is highlighted below or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Accreditation

Chairperson/POC: Patricia Whalen-Shaw
Members: Wendy Dahl
Scope and Purpose: Exploring the possible future of NBCAAM as an accrediting body.

Continuing Education

Chairperson/POC: Lola Michelin and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Members:
Scope and Purpose: The aim and scope of the Continuing Education Committee is to help ensure, through research, review, documentation and approval, that high quality educational courses are offered to NBCAAM members. The Committee will create continuing education requirements for NBCAAM members. These activities will ensure the ongoing enhancement of NBCAAM member education and skills in the practice of animal acupressure and massage.

Ethics

Chairperson/POC: Lola Michelin
Members: Carol McCoy
Scope and Purpose: The Ethics Committee will be responsible for developing the code of ethics for adoption by the Association as well as a recommended code of ethics for nationally certified practitioners. In addition, the Ethics Committee will receive and reply to complaints or concerns regarding ethical considerations of the Association membership. The Committee will serve as mediator in ethical disputes within the membership and rule on situations involving unethical behavior. Lastly, the Ethics Committee will be involved in public education regarding ethics withing the animal massage and acupressure industry.

Examination Question Review and Improvement & Study Guides

Chairperson/POC: TBD
Members: Sharon Romines, Lisa Ruthig, Susan King, Dani Silverman
Scope and Purpose: The aim and scope of the Questions Committee is to ensure that current and relevant massage questions are presented to the prospective testee as well as provide up-to-date study guides for each of the exams. After referring to the study guide, the testee will be well aware of the expectations of the NBCAAM exam. Thus the consumer will be assured that upon the successful completion of the test the certified therapist will reflect the knowledge of appropriate subject matter and integrity of NBCAAM.

Legislative

Chairperson/POC: Lola Michelin and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Members: April Johnston, Denise Theobald
Scope and Purpose: The scope and purpose of the Legislative committee is to spread awareness and educate individuals of the current state laws regarding animal Acupressure and Massage as well as support NBCAAM members and others who are seeking legislative changes regarding animal acupressure and massage laws in their state. The legislative committee will serve to unite resources within the veterinary community, animal interest groups, small business advocacy groups, etc., with the goals of providing support for legislative changes that foster animal well-being through Acupressure and Massage as well as insuring the right of qualified individuals to perform their professional services and earn a living.

Marketing/PR & Liaison for Schools

Chairperson/POC: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Members: Nedra Abramson, Jan Evans, Pam Holt
Scope and Purpose: The Marketing Committee is charged with developing a Marketing Plan that addresses advancement of the NBCAAM mission of setting professional standards of practice and ethics for massage and acupressure practitioners. This will entail communicating to the massage and acupressure practitioners, other complementary therapy healthcare providers, the veterinary community, and the community at-large. This committee will endeavor to explore as many means as possible of communicating with and educating these target groups to enhance the awareness of the animal massage and acupressure disciplines and the efforts of NBCAAM to fulfill its mission. In addition, the committee will be responsible for disseminating and clarifying information regarding the NBCAAM exams to schools directly or indirectly related to animal acupressure and animal massage. The committee will field questions from schools or educational programs regarding the mission of the Association and the administration of exams and will bring concerns back to the NBCAAM board for consideration. Future plans will include outreach to schools to establish relationships between educators and NBCAAM as well as appearances at speaking engagements, trade shows or events that offer opportunities to establish contacts with educators. Members of the committee will collect information to create a database of educators and educational programs and will be responsible for providing updated information regarding NBCAAM policies and procedures to those contacts who are members of the association.

Member Relations

Chairperson/POC: TBD
Members:
Scope and Purpose: TBD

Future NBCAAM Committees

Fund Raising

Chairperson/POC: TBD
Members: TBD
Scope and Purpose: TBD

Other NBCAAM Roles

Technology and Website Coordinator

POC: Lora Hoopes
Scope and Purpose: The Technology and Website Coordinator is responsible for maintaining and updating the NBCAAM website, and reviewing, recommending and implementing any technologies the Board deems necessary to help fulfill its mission.

Testing Coordinator

POC: Susan King
Scope and Purpose: The Testing Coordinator is responsible for providing exam access for applicants approved to take the exam, providing the exam access information to the proctors, and reporting exam results.