Oregon Board of Directors

 

 

Devery Broddie, Board President (2024-Present)

I graduated from the Atlanta school of massage in 1992. I had the great privilege of being educated and mentored by some wonderful dedicated, talented and knowledgeable individuals. Being a small part of the profession as a massage therapist for 30 years, I’ve had terrific opportunities to share the amazing and proven benefits of our profession. By educating and sharing massage therapy with my own 4 children from the time they were born,  I’ve been able to raise a generation (at least in my own home) of now young adults who strongly believe in, advocate for and utilize massage therapy in their own lives and I’ve begun to share massage therapy with my grandchildren as well. Being in the profession as long as I have has afforded me the experience of seeing the growth in large part because of the incredible and diligent work done by the AMTA. I’ve served on the board previously and I’m incredibly proud to be a part of the AMTA-OR board once again.  I see the opportunity to serve our members as a privilege. I look forward to the continued work of strengthening the profession in our state.

 

Donald Schiff, Board Member, Financial Administrator & Government Relations Co-Chair (2022-Current) 

I’ve been practicing Massage Therapy since 1983, when I attended Heartwood institute near Garberville, CA. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, and extensive additional training in myofascial bodywork. I specialize in clinical pain relief and injury rehabilitation. If you hurt, I can probably help. You don’t have to hurt to heal! Since engaging resistance is counterproductive in most cases, I prefer to work within your pain tolerance. I tend toward precise, gentle bodywork, but I have a wide range of techniques available to suit different patient preferences. Occasionally the work may be challenging, but the pressure is always within your control.

 

Lowell Welch, LMT

Lowell Welch, Board Member, (2022-present)

I am Lowell Welch. I have been a massage therapist for 9 years. I mainly work in Woodburn, Focus Fusion Massage, and Newberg, Oregon Massage Clinic. Specializing in therapeutic work for injuries due to motor vehicle accidents and sports. I went to Everest Institute in 2010. I had the honor back in 2017 to 2018 to be an AMTA delegate for Oregon, which was truly enjoyable. Now, I am thankful to be a board member here in Oregon to help the massage industry continue
progressing ahead to the future. Looking forward to working and meeting all of you in the AMTA and massage world.

 

Sonja Yamin, Board Member, (2025-2027)

 

Leah Bowder, Financial Administrator, Board Member (2025-2027)

 

Danika Tkacik, Board Member (2023- Current)

Danika is the owner at Soully Aware in Gresham & Portland, Oregon. She has been working full time as a massage therapist since graduating East-West College in 2022, and fully self-employed since January 2024.

She’s thoroughly obsessed with all things massage so in addition to learning as much as possible about how best to care for humans on her table, she has been volunteering with AMTA since spring of 2023 because a welcoming & supportive industry and community allow us to do our best work.

She pursued her education in massage therapy at East West College of the Healing Arts after Covid set life on a different trajectory. As it turned out, a career in massage was the piece that was missing in Danika’s life. She has been fortunate to work with a broad range of humans with a variety of pathologies and been able to witness firsthand the profound impact massage therapy can have, further deepening her love of the profession and obsession to increase accessibility for everyone.

 

Jamin Rak, LMT

 

Jamin Rak, Board Member, Conference & Education Chair (2022-Current) 

Jamin has been an Licensed Massage Therapist and AMTA member since 1999 when he started his practice. After graduating in 1998 from East West College, he wen to work at a Chiropractic Clinic and latter a multidisciplinary Physical Therapy Clinic. At these clinics he learned the value in integrated healthcare for optimum patient recovery and rehabilitation. Now as owner and operator of Portland Massage Therapy, he continues to evolve his practice to help with acute and chronic pain symptoms through Orthopedic Massage Techniques. 

Jamin decided to join the AMTA board to help facilitate the elevation of Massage Therapy as healthcare professionals in our State. He is a firm believer that through higher educational standards and testing we will no longer be view as “alterative medicine” but “complimentary medicine” as we work together with the entire healthcare community. He would like to see healthcare professionals working together to bring about lasting pain relief and increase the quality of life for our clients and patients all over the state.

Aaron Gustafson, Communications Chair, Delegate (2024-Current)

Aaron Gustafson LMT, CAMT II, Oregon LMT #7401, has 23+ years experience in bodywork and the healing arts.  He has been an NCBTMB approved continuing education provider, #450969-09, since 2008. He taught at East West College of the Healing Arts from 2012 to 2019; curriculums included: Assessment and Treatment of the Lower Body, Assessment and Treatment of the Upper Body, Survey of Western Modalities, Western Massage & Bodywork, Structural Bodywork, Treatment Planning, Massage for Common Conditions, and Intro to Clinic.  He has been a teaching assistant for both Til Luchau and Bob McAtee. He is a Past President of the Oregon Chapter of the AMTA. As Communications Chair, he edits the newsletter, and monitors the email, voicemail and social media for the chapter.