About Us

American Massage Therapy Association – Washington Chapter (AMTA-WA) is a volunteer-driven, non-profit professional massage therapy association in Washington State. Contact our Board Members and Volunteers by visiting the AMTA National Website and logging in.

Current Elected Board Members

Summer Meyer, President

Summer has been an integral part of the massage profession since graduating from the renowned Brian Utting School of Massage in 2007. Her passion for the healing power of touch has only grown since then, and she has continued to expand her knowledge and skills, earning her craniosacral certification in 2010 and most recently completing her MBA during the COVID pandemic.

Now, Summer is excited to give back to the profession that has given her so much. She has joined forces with AMTA to volunteer her time and expertise, helping to promote the benefits of massage and bodywork to the wider community. With her dedication and experience, Summer is sure to make a profound impact on the lives of those she touches.

Join Summer in this noble endeavor and experience the transformative power of massage for yourself. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just starting out, there’s never been a better time to get involved with the AMTA and make a difference in the world. Let’s work together to promote health and wellness for all!

---

Linda Bucher, Board Member

Linda graduated from Alexandar School of Natural Therapeutics in 2005. She continued her education and got her Small Animal Certification from the Northwest School of Animal Massage and her Reflexology license from the International School of Reflexology & Meridian Therapy. She also got her master’s degree in Natural Health Sciences and Aromatherapy from the American College of Health Care Sciences.

Linda has been volunteering her time with the AMTA since 2005. The reason I wanted to volunteer was because of a very special instructor and owner of the Alexandar School, Aleshia Alexandar. She told us what massage therapist went through to bring massage out of prostitution industry and have people look to it as health care.

After hearing about what they did I wanted to continue to help the massage profession grow in the health care industry. So I will continue to volunteer my knowledge and expertise to help promote the benefits of massage to the community.

---

LoAn (NgocLoan) Nguyen, Secretary.

Legacy of Love Contractor, Completed Massage Therapy Program in 2018 at Renton Technical College (RTC) and practices what she affectionately call “Rhythmic Therapy Connection.” LoAn has also served as AMTA volunteer at Seattle Marathon, Washington Special Olympics, Massage Awareness Day, in Education Committee, as Finance Administrator, now as Secretary.  She volunteers with AMTA to serve alongside caring intelligent talented people excited about massage profession advocacy.
Enjoys discovery of wellness approaches and exploring natural wonders of our world.  Loves to garden, cook, swim, attend concerts, travel, and spend time with her children and granddaughter. 

---

Financial Administrator Allison Hanelt

Allison Hanelt, LMT.

Allison graduated from the Phoenix Therapeutic Massage College in 2002 and has been working full time in a chiropractic clinic since 2004. 
She has been volunteering for the AMTA WA Chapter for the past 15+ years because she loves connecting with people and being a part of the conversation that shapes the future.

---

Anne Warjone, LMT graduated from Seattle Massage School in 1994, and went on to complete training in Neuromuscular, CranioSacral, Reiki, and Foeldi Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Complex Decongestive Physiotherapy in Hinterzarten, DE.  
She has volunteered for the AMTA before, and is happy to return to help.  She is especially passionate about making sure that massage therapists defend their rights.  Anne would like to expand public awareness about the profession to consumers and other professionals, both here in Washington State and in the nation.

---

Government Relations

Leslie Emmerik MPA, Lobbyist, brings 26 years of legislative experience as a former county commissioner, state agencies legislative liaison and health care contract lobbyist. Leslie provides a unique perspective and a broad backdrop of knowledge for our AMTA WA lobbyist position, especially with the state regulatory process around health care professions.

Julie Onofrio, LMT, Government Relations Chair. Graduate of Seattle Massage school in 1987 and 38 years as a massage therapist and sole proprietor in Downtown Seattle where she practiced mainly Clinical Massage working with all types of injuries and conditions. Julie has been working for the profession behind the scenes with her many websites and books, one on insurance billing and one on building a practice. She enjoys gardening, taking care of horses and writing.

Volunteers

Volunteer Coordinator Open	Communications Chair Open	Web Administrator Open
Membership Chair Linda Bucher	Government Relations Julie Onofrio

Our Mission

To provide a forum for professional exchange, to actively support the growth of our profession, and to enhance public awareness of massage therapy.
Our Chapter is the largest in the country with over 5,000 members and we continue to grow.
As a member of the American Massage Therapy Association, you gain the benefits of a large collective network of massage therapists. AMTA provides the best benefits package in the industry along with excellent discounts, peer support and continuing education. We also are very active politically, protecting our rights as health care providers and protecting the massage profession. We work together with a team of attorneys and a lobbyist to ensure that massage practitioners have the right to practice in WA State.

The Washington Chapter now provides additional resources for Chapter members through this website, to help massage therapists in every stage of their career – from student to professional.

• Our Government Affairs & External Relations Program works on legislative issues and protects and preserves our right to practice massage.
• Our annual Chapter Convention provides many opportunities for networking as well as CE classes for LMT’s.
• Our Annual Meeting provides the latest AMTA-WA Board elections results, Reports from the GR Committee, Volunteer Committee and other committees.

By joining the AMTA-WA your benefits grow because you are now part of the largest professional group of medical professionals in our state, you have access to deep member discounts at our state-wide events (link to calendar) and you have the opportunity to volunteer (link to volunteer opportunities) with one of the most proactive professional forces in our industry.

To learn more about our rich history, click out our Hands of Time chronology.