Kelli Boening, LMT
Kelli has been a surgical nurse for over 20 years and a massage therapist for 13. She brings her practical anatomical experience as a surgical assistant into the ASIS classroom at Rock Valley College. Kelli teaches A&P the same way she lives her life, with enthusiasm, quality and joy. She has been in massage education since 1995, and is a graduate of Capri College in Madison WI. She is the qwner of Kneaded Relief in Rockford, IL
Sara Brown, LMT
Sara is a graduate of the fall class of 2000 at ASIS in Clarkdale. She has worked in massage therapy since, usually with chiropractors, and focusing on chronic pain management. She is the Swedish Massage instructor for ASIS at the College of Lake County. Sara is passionate about life, eager to try news things, and sees life as series of lessons that are brought her way. On her free time, she likes hiking, going to concerts and practicing Yoga.
Robin Debenedetto, LMT
Robin worked in the banking industry from 1980-2001 starting as a teller and worked herself up to a manager position. She left the industry in for a more rewarding career which helps individuals feel good about their well-being. Robin is a graduate of the Therapeutic Massage program at Kishwaukee College. Robin teaches Swedish Massage, and deep tissue at ASIS Massage, Rock Valley campus. She also works at a small fitness center Rockford. She is active in the community with Chair Massage Events and is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association. Robin faces each day excited to learn and grow. She has advance trainings in Spa Treatments, Facial Toning and Anatomy Trains.
Jamie DiMaria, LCMT
Jamie is an alumni of the Wellness & Massage Training Institute located in Woodridge, IL. She is licensed in the State of Illinois, Nationally Certified by the NCBTMB, and a member of the ABMP. Jamie is the owner and founder of Bodycraft Massage PC located in Rockford & Downers Grove Illinois. Her craft specializes in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Pre Natal, Sports, Esalen, Hot Stone, Reiki, and Cranial Sacral Therapy. Jamie studied Cranial Sacral Therapy at the Sacred Journey Institute at Beyond Wellness in Tinley Park, Illinois under Don Massat who teaches a shamanic approach to CST, and teaches Miasm Release Therapy. Through her journey, Jamie has recognized her passions for Cranial Sacral Therapy and it has guided her towards working with not only people with a variety of different ailments, but most specifically with children. Jamie teaches Cranial Sacral Therapy, as well as Kinesiology & Palpation at ASIS at Rock Valley College. Outside of her career, Jamie enjoys horse back riding, outdoor sports, traveling, and camping.
Shelly Keeney PhD
Shelly received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a Health minor from Argosy University (ISPP) in Chicago. Her undergraduate work includes a BFA in Dance Performance with training in Alexander Technique. As a licensed clinical psychologist, Shelly has private practices in Chicago and Arlington Heights and over 15 years of clinical experience in a variety of settings. She is currently pursuing certification in Somatic Psychotherapy which integrates talk therapy with bodywork. Her passions include travel, running, raising a human-sized Alaskan Malamute, and spending time with friends and family.
Damon Fazio ND RPE LMT
Damon is the founder and director of Earthwise Polarity Programs. Earthwise conducts Associate and Registered Polarity Practitioner programs in several states including Illinois and New Mexico. His programs are Registered and approved by the American Polarity Therapy Association. Since 1982 he maintains a private practice as a Naturopathic Physician employing many holistic modalities including Homeopathy, Botanical Medicine, Polarity Therapy, and Cranial work. He teaches Polarity Therapy at Oakton and CLC, as well as Pathology, Physiology, and Ethics for numerous Massage and Bodywork programs across the country. His personal interests an activities range from Meditation to Marshal Arts and Music. He is currently the President of the American Polarity Therapy Association.
Jackie Lander LMT
Jackie graduated from Kishwaukee Community College in Malta, Illinois and began her professional career as a Certified Massage Therapist in October of 2000. She has been a member of ABMP since 2000 and have further enhanced her massage techniues & skills through education, instruction and experience. Jackie has built her proactice in Rockford based on her reputation for outstanding client service and satisfaction. Her objective is to provide a service so personalized and unique that it exceeds the client's expectations. In addition to Swedish Massage, Jackie offers a relaxing combination of techniques such as Indian Scalp Massage, Hot Rock massage, and Aromatherapy.
She is one of the clinical massage instructors for ASIS at Rock Valley College at Bell School. Through patience, commitment and dedication Jackie endeavors to pass along her knowledge and skills with the conviction and belief that these students will honor the profession and be the best they can.
Ernie Love, BS, BMus, MA, CMT
Ernie has had a wide variety of life experiences to include professional music and theater performance, puppeteering, storytelling, and 31 years as an elementary school teacher. Following his retirement from public school teaching, he realized a long-time dream of learning Massage. Ernie’s fascination of the body, love for bodywork, and strong belief in the conjunction of mind-body-spirit are linked to his involvements in gymnastics, theater and music. He has been receiving bodywork regularly, for over 25 years. Ernie’s past experience with his own injury and the need for rehabilitation and pain management grounds him in his awe for the power of healing energies. Ernie has been happily married to Louise for 30 years, and he is an empty-nester with two grown daughters and two granddaughters. He enjoys biking, singing, playing guitar and violin, and taking naps on any weekday around 1:30. Ernie teaches Kinesiology & Palpation for ASIS at Oakton Community College.
Susan Mayer LMT
Susan has been a Massage Therapist since 1992, a Personal Trainer since 1994, and a Yoga instructor since 2001. She is the mother of 2 college age boys, Zach & Mike, and in 1996, she published “The Anatomy Book for Musicians”. Susan teaches Rehabilitative Massage, and over sees the Student Clinic for ASIS at both the College of Lake County, and Oakton Community College. When she isn’t doing bodywork, Susan spends her time singing and playing flute, or competing in running and swimming events.
Joe McCue, BS, LMT
Joe received his initial massage training at Heartwood Institute in Northern California. He has become certified in a wide variety of bodywork modalities including Zen Shiatsu, Craniosacral Therapy, Somato-Emotional Release, Reiki and Medical Massage for Cancer Patients. Joe holds a Bachelor¹s degree in Mechanical Engineering and although seemingly unrelated, Joe couples his knowledge of structural mechanics with his knowledge of anatomy & kinesiology to effectively visualize and resolve musculoskeletal dysfunctions. Joe has survived cancer twice in the past nine years and both experiences were powerful and positive life changing events for him. One result was that he received three certifications from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan in ³Medical Massage for Cancer Patients². He also volunteers his time to leading cancer patients & survivors in Qi Gong classes at Gilda¹s Club Chicago. He is also a trained Life Coach and enjoys helping people lead fulfilling, balanced lives.
Dr Jennifer Mercier, ND, LMT
Doctor Jennifer Mercier is a Board Certified traditionally trained Naturopathic Doctor. She is a member of the American Naturopathic Medical Association and holds board certification with the American Naturopathic Medical Certification and Accreditation Board. Jennifer teaches Connective Tissue Therapy for ASIS at the College of Lake County. Dr. Mercier’s heart felt commitment is in women's health issues including homebirth, well woman care and hormonal imbalance. Her other areas of interest and expertise are Holistic Pediatrics, Therapeutic Herbals, Functional assessment, & Sage Femme'.
Susan Peterson, BA, LMT, RPT
Susan is a Registered Polarity Therapist and a Licensed Massage Therapist. After her massage training in North Carolina she continued her studies at The Polarity Cener in Michigan. After many years in the medical field and the past eleven years in private practice, Susan continues to enjoy providing complimentary ways to help her clients bring harmony, balance and healig into their lives. A long with her practice in Crystal Lake she is an advocate for sharing the work of polarity within the community. Susan teaches Polarity Therapy, Communications, Ethics and Business for ASIS at Rock Valley Community College. She enjoys quilting, reading, yoga and spending time in the outdoors.
Sandy Reavis LMT
Sandy is a graduate of Capri College in Madison WI, and is a co-owner of the Stress Relief Center of Rockford. She holds both a WI and IL license. She has cultivated a rapport with her client base through her unique style of massage and pain management where she has incorporated the teachings of Judith Delany, Bob King and Ruth Werner into her techniques. She has recently been certified in Fijian massage. She is the co-director of the ASIS Student Massage Clinic at Rock Valley College, and also teaches in the rehabilitation massage segment of the program. Her unique, inspired, and dynamic teaching style demands her students attention and creates a positive learning experience. Sandy's passion is traveling through out the States and Europe. She enjoys her dog, cats and ferrets.
Kari Schwager BA, LMT
Kari holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is a graduate of the New School of Massage Bodywork and Healing in Chicago, IL. She has studied for 3 years with an emphasis in Neuromuscular Therapy. Kari began her career as a student in training with Rick Hayhurst at Body Biz, Inc and while there became the manager of Helio Massage + Bodywork Studios and assisted in producing Judith DeLany’s NeuroMuscular Therapy American Version™ Seminar. She is the Jr. Executive Assistant for the MRxI Corporation and an NMT Instructor at ASIS Massage. When Kari isn’t involved with massage you’ll find her at the bowling center. She is a professional bowler, and a member of Team USA 2002. In 2001 her team at Nebraska were the Collegiate National Champions
Jodi Steiner, BS, PTA
In addition to teaching Kinesiology & Palpation at ASIS at the College of Lake County, Jodi is single mother, and is the manager of the therapy department at three skilled nursing facilities. Her outgoing, energetic way keeps class interesting, and fun, while the stories of her experience keeps the learning real. Jodi is a graduate of National Louis University, and has published “The Effects of Managed Care on Neuro-Rehabilitation”. She likes hiking, & traveling, and she loves music.
Maggie Wajda, LMT
Maggie has been practicing bodywork since she graduated from the Chicago School of Massage Therapy in 2004. Her clinical experience includes working with athletes
and dancers in the Chicago-land area such as the Rockettes, the Chicago Fire and the Chicago Storm. Maggie's love for adventure has taken her around the world. She has had the opportunity to travel in the USA, Europe, South America and Africa. She volunteered as a massage therapist to work on peace corps members and villagers in Senegal and Gambia, West Africa. Maggie continues to be engaged in the study of rehabilitation as she prepares to take the state licensure exam to become a physical therapist assistant. Maggie teaches Kinesiology and palpation at ASIS.
Sarah Zender LMT
Sarah has studied Chinese Medicine in China, and is finishing up her MS studies in Oriental Medicine. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist, a Hatha Yoga instructor, and a Reiki instructor. Sarah teaches Communications and Ethics for ASIS at both College of Lake County and Oakton Community College. She also is the Swedish Massage instructor at Oakton. Prior to massage, Sarah was a nursing assistant for Oncology patients. When she’s not working, she likes to bike, roller blade, travel, drink wine, & write music.
