AMTA-WA Chapter Award Recipients

To find out more about each award and to see a list of the past recipients, click on the title below.

Current Awards:

2023 Outstanding Volunteer Award, Tyghe Armstrong

2023 Outstanding Massage Instructor Award, Nancy Haller

2023 Local Leader in Massage Community, Joe Lavin

2023 Service to the Chapter, Julie Onofrio

2023 Service to the Profession, Gail McGaffick

2023 Presidents Award, Diana Thompson

2023 Meritorious Award Recipient, Allison Hanelt


Service to the Profession Award

History/Purpose: The award for Service to the Massage Profession is to acknowledge an individual within the Washington Chapter that has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the massage therapy profession.

Service to the Profession Award Recipients

  • 2023 – Gail McGaffick
  • 2020 – Richard Adler
  • 2019 – Luata Bray
  • 2016 – Allison Hanelt
  • 2012 David Campbell
  • 2011 Lavon “Butch” Watson
  • 2010 Patty Kruschke
  • 2009 Julie Bacon
  • 2008 Jane Sereda
  • 2007 Ann Brittain & Dick Butt
  • 2006 Cheryl Hockett-Prelle
  • 2005 Ann Brittain
  • 2004 Patty Phillips
  • 2003 Taya Countryman
  • 2002 Lori Bielinski
  • 2001 Carol Ladas-Gaskin
  • 2000 Heida Brenneke class
  • 1999 Susan Rosen class
  • 1998 Maxine Bailey class
  • 1997 Patty Krushke class
  • 1996 Diana Thompson class
  • 1995 Cary Cruea class
  • 1994 Lori Bielinski class
  • 1993
  • 1992 Mireille Dovat
  • 1991
Service to the Chapter Award

History/Purpose: The award for Service to the Chapter is to acknowledge a Washington Chapter Board or Committee member that has made a significant contribution to AMTA-WA.

Service to the Chapter Award Recipients

  • 2023 – Julie Onofrio
  • 2022 – Guinevere Jones
  • 2021 – LoAn Nguyen
  • 2020 – Tom Whitmore
  • 2019 – Susan Sherman
  • 2014 – Allison Hanelt
  • 2012 Linda Butcher
  • 2011 Susan Cook
  • 2010 Steve Wooding
  • 2009 Scott Lesieur
  • 2008 Amy Thomason
  • 2007 Charlene Conrad
  • 2006 Taya Countryman
  • 2005 Barbara Grigsby
  • 2004 Ann Brittain
  • 2003 Jenean Thompson
  • 2002 Gay Koopman
  • 2001 Mark Tilley
  • 2000 Kathleen Appleyard
  • 1999 Patty Phillips
  • 1997 Carl Wilson
  • 1997 Ann Brittain
  • 1995 Carol Bir
  • 1995 Lori Bielinski
  • 1994 Teresa Tellesbo
  • 1993
  • 1992 Lee Nuszbaum
  • 1991
Chapter Meritorious Award

History/Purpose: Award established in 1969 and has been given annually since that time to honor an AMTA member and acknowledge diligent volunteerism done in an altruistic manner. Nominees must be active member in AMTA for at least one (1) year. Only one (1) nominee from each Chapter can be a recipient. Recipient can be posthumous; however, will not be eligible to receive National Meritorious Award.

Chapter Meritorious Award Recipients

  • 2023 – Allison Hanelt
  • 2022 – Summer Meyer
  • 2021 – Susan Sherman
  • 2020 – Michael Mandell
  • 2019 – Tom Whitmore
  • 2017 – Allison Hanelt
  • 2012 David Phillips
  • 2011
  • 2010 Taya Countryman
  • 2009 Patty Phillips
  • 2008 Ashley Benem
  • 2007 Tianne Carrigan
  • 2006 Diana Thompson
  • 2005 Lori Bielinski
  • 2004 Ann Brittain
  • 2003 Teresa Scharff
  • 2002 Sylvia Burns
  • 2001 William Prelle
  • 2000 Barbara Grigsby
  • 1999 Kathleen Appleyard
  • 1998 Bob Andersen
  • 1997 Carl Wilson
  • 1996
  • 1995
  • 1994 Lori Bielinski also National
  • 1992 Teresa Tellesbo
  • 1992 Gloria Layton
  • 1991 Lee Nuszbaum
  • 1986 Aliesha Alexandar
  • 1981 May Boyd
  • 1979 Cozette Little
  • 1977 Michael Maher
  • 1976 John Salo
  • 1975 Arthur Dunbar
  • 1972 Pearl Hope
  • 1971 Ruth Williams (received National Award)
Cal Anderson Legislative Award

History/Purpose: This award, created by the AMTA-WA in 1994, honors those in the legislative or political community who have worked to advance the profession of massage therapy.

Cal Anderson Legislative Award Recipients

  • 2021 – Melanie Stewart
  • 2011 Gail McGaffick
  • 2010 Melanie Stewart
  • 2009 David Knudson
  • 2008 Rep. Brendan Williams
  • 2007 Rep. Tom Campbell
  • 2006 Rep. Richard Curtis
  • 2005 Rep. Frank Chopp
  • 2004 Eileen Cody
  • 2003 Jon Meier & Richard Spoonemore
  • 2002 Shelly Badger
  • 2001 Tom Campbell
  • 2000 Lorraine Wojahn
  • 1999 Lori Bielinski
  • 1998 Melanie Stewart
  • 1997 Richard Adler
  • 1996 Deborah Senn
  • 1992 Cal Anderson
Chapter President's Award

Chapter President’s Award Recipients

  • 2023- Diana Thompson
  • 2021 – Gail McGaffick
  • 2019 – Allison Hanelt
  • 2012 Susan Rosen
  • 2011 John Beick
  • 2010 Teri Green
  • 2009
  • 2008 Richard Adler
  • 2007 Ann Brittain & Leslie Gallaher
  • 2006 David Matteson
  • 2005 Delaney Farmer
Service to the WSMT Award Award

History/Purpose: This award provides a scholarship of four (4) seminars from the Paul St. John Neuromuscular Therapy 1-5 series. Marianne Gerst was the newly elected director for WSMT in late 1990. Sadly, she drowned while swimming off the coast of Florida at the 1991 AMTA National Convention. She was an energetic, enthusiastic team member who exemplified team spirit. This award, provided by Paul St. John honoring Marianne and her love for life will be awarded to an active member who has gone above and beyond expectations for the benefit of the Team.

Service to the WSMT Award Recipients

  • 2010 Patty Phillips
  • 2009 Randy Furukawa
  • 2008
  • 2007 Nathan Steck
  • 2006 Anna Marie Pizzariello
  • 2005 Renell Clark
  • 2004
  • 2003 Holland McIver
  • 2002 Tom Benson
  • 2001 Lael Duff
  • 2000 Mary Lou Nelson
  • 1999 Jane Sereda
  • 1998 Sylvia Burns
  • 1997 Fran Donohue
MERT-WA Award Recipients

History/Purpose: This award is to acknowledge an active MERT-WA member who has made a significant contribution to the MERT-WA team in the area of volunteerism, leadership, and professionalism, and who shows enthusiasm for promoting the program within the community.

MERT-WA Award Recipients

  • 2012 Kara Johnson
  • 2010 David Phillips
  • 2007 Nathan Steck
  • 2006 Ashley Pulse-Sanborn