Government relations is often the forgotten component of a membership association. When the seas are calm, it’s easy to forget there are people behind the scenes working hard to keep it that way. But when legislative and regulatory problems pop up for your profession, we are the ones who go into battle to protect your business.

As your newly minted ABMP government relations director, that’s what I’m here for: to help keep things running smoothly for massage therapists in every state and jump into action when anything threatens to rock the boat. With more than a dozen years of experience in state and local advocacy, I joined ABMP to advocate for you and protect your profession—your scope, standards, and integrity. My goal is to help you understand how state and local regulations can impact you and your business, and to engage you to elevate your voice when needed.

Friends and family outside the political realm often ask me what it is that I actually do for a living. I like to tell them I serve as an educator. At the end of the day, that’s all government relations is—I educate lawmakers, executive branch members, and regulatory agencies on policy issues. And that’s exactly what I’ll do for you, the working practitioner. I’ll share with others what your lives are like as massage therapists and help them understand the struggles and triumphs of working in your profession, I will show them the science and data behind the complicated world of massage therapy, and I will educate them on the need for responsible regulation, education, and thoughtful growth. 

Your voice matters. So when you’re busy with your career, life, and business, count on me to ensure your voice is heard by your government. I am often the first line of defense to make sure nothing gets in the way of you doing the work you so rigorously trained for. My passion is protecting your right to pursue yours. 

When I first got into politics (before I could even vote!), I never could have predicted where it would take me. I foresaw a future of running campaigns in my home state, leaving the policy issues to the experts, and looking forward to the first Tuesday of November.

Today, my career has led me so much farther than that. As I sit here writing this, I’m starting my second week representing ABMP’s incredible members, and there is nothing else I would rather be doing. Moving my small zoo (two cats and one dog) from North Carolina to Colorado earlier this year and taking this job have been two of the best decisions I ever made—because I get to advocate for you. I consider it a great honor to represent the people and small business owners of this profession. The people who make up this industry are some of the most compassionate and hardworking I have met, and I am thrilled to be your government relations voice.

Stay tuned to this column as state legislative sessions wrap up for the year to see how we worked with dedicated advocates on the ground in your home states to protect and advance the profession. I look forward to meeting and working with more of you to amplify the voices of massage therapists across the country.