About Joe
Disclaimer
At this point, most of the people reading this should have a sense of who I am, as this is intended to be a private offering for the World Massage Festival participants and some select therapists until the official launch in September.
I think the main things to understand about me are that I’m passionate about massage, I love building and supporting teams, and have extensive experience in business, marketing, and management.
If you want to learn more about me or have questions, stop by our booth in the vendor hall.
Business Background
Prior to becoming a massage therapist, I received a BA in Business and Finance and spent over two decades in the finance industry, most of that time in executive management positions. From my first jobs as a tax accountant for a public accounting firm and an interim controller for a custom home builder to roles as the Development and Financial Officer for the new construction of a large hotel and golf course, a Chief Financial Officer for an international design and procurement firm, and a hedge fund manager.
After graduating from massage school, I immediately opened my own massage practice and then opened my massage school a couple of years later. Since then, I have opened two more practices, expanded my small local massage school to one that teaches all over the world, and built a Couple’s Massage Workshop business that has had over 5,000 couples attend in the last 12 years. That, by itself, has brought in well over $1,000,000 in revenue and I will be teaching Massage MBA Members how to launch succesful related businesses like that.
Massage, Bodywork, and Teaching
I went to massage school in 2005, but I originally became interested in massage more than a decade before that through my involvement in boxing, traditional martial arts, and mixed martial arts. I was a professional Muay Thai kickboxer and MMA fighter for several years, fighting in many different countries, including Thailand, the Philippines, Canada, and the United States. I was even fortunate enough to win and hold a Title Belt for a couple of years until I retired from the sport.
Obviously, your body takes quite a beating as a professional fighter. Because of this, I sought out many different bodywork styles and relaxation practices during these years. Through these experiences, my formal education, and years of practice, I have been able to combine the best techniques from different bodywork modalities and relaxation practices into my current massage style, which provides a unique, therapeutic, and unbelievably relaxing massage experience.
Licenses, Certifications, Etc.
On paper, I am a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Phenomenal Touch Practitioner®, Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional, Certified Trauma Specialist, Certified Ashiatsu DeepFeet® Bar Therapy Practitioner, Certified Sarga® Bodywork Practitioner, Certified Myofascial Cupping Practitioner, Certified in Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), NCBTMB® Nationally Approved CE Provider, IMA Educational Ambassador, IMA Certified International Teacher, Certified Educator of Infant Massage, Certified Reiki Master & Teacher, Certified NFPT® Personal Trainer.
In addition, I am a Member of the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame, a Judge for the World Massage Championship in Copenhagen and for the American Massage Championships, a Trainer of multiple National and World Massage Championship Medalists, a Multiple American Massage Championship medal winner (specifically Bronze in Western Freestyle Massage, Silver in Eastern Freestyle (Thai Massage), and Bronze for the Overall American Massage Champion of 2022).
Prior to becoming a massage therapist, I received a BA in Business and Finance and spent over two decades in the finance industry, most of that time in executive management positions. From my first jobs as a tax accountant for a public accounting firm and an interim controller for a custom home builder to roles as the Development and Financial Officer for the new construction of a large hotel and golf course, a Chief Financial Officer for an international design and procurement firm, and a hedge fund manager.
After graduating from massage school, I immediately opened my own massage practice and then opened my massage school a couple of years later. Since then, I have opened two more practices, expanded my small local massage school to one that teaches all over the world, and built a Couple’s Massage Workshop business that has had over 5,000 couples attend in the last 12 years. That, by itself, has brought in well over $1,000,000 in revenue and I will be teaching Massage MBA Members how to launch a succesful Couple’s Massage Workshop buisness.
I went to massage school in 2005, but I originally became interested in massage more than a decade before that through my involvement in boxing, traditional martial arts, and mixed martial arts. I was a professional Muay Thai kickboxer and MMA fighter for several years, fighting in many different countries, including Thailand, the Philippines, Canada, and the United States. I was even fortunate enough to win and hold a Title Belt for a couple of years until I retired from the sport.
Obviously, your body takes quite a beating as a professional fighter. Because of this, I sought out many different bodywork styles and relaxation practices during these years. Through these experiences, my formal education, and years of practice, I have been able to combine the best techniques from different bodywork modalities and relaxation practices into my current massage style, which provides a unique, therapeutic, and unbelievably relaxing massage experience.
On paper, I am a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Phenomenal Touch Practitioner®, Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional, Certified Trauma Specialist, Certified Ashiatsu DeepFeet® Bar Therapy Practitioner, Certified Sarga® Bodywork Practitioner, Certified Myofascial Cupping Practitioner, Certified in Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), NCBTMB® Nationally Approved CE Provider, IMA Educational Ambassador, IMA Certified International Teacher, Certified Educator of Infant Massage, Certified Reiki Master & Teacher, Certified NFPT® Personal Trainer.
In addition, I am a Member of the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame, a Judge for the World Massage Championship in Copenhagen and for the American Massage Championships, a Trainer of multiple National and World Massage Championship Medalists, a Multiple American Massage Championship medal winner (specifically Bronze in Western Freestyle Massage, Silver in Eastern Freestyle (Thai Massage), and Bronze for the Overall American Massage Champion of 2022).