Lisa Helbig, LMT - Executive Director & Owner
Lisa Helbig, LMT, is the Founder, Executive Director, and Owner of the Institute for Therapeutic Massage (ITM), the school she founded in 1994. Her career began when she became a massage therapist in 1990, upon graduating from the Jacksonville School of Massage Therapy, Florida. While building her private practice, and working for Nordstrom Spa, Lisa’s great success created the vision to combine her long standing background as a corporate trainer with her love of massage therapy to develop a school that provides students with the high level of education she felt necessary to the field. Lisa has also been instrumental in the development of other massage and aesthetician schools (both before and after opening ITM), massage based curriculums, hospital based massage programs, community / charity based outreach, CEU based videos, and a book on hot stone massage, which was published by Running Press, and continues to sell 10 years later.
What started out as a love for massage and a dream has taken ITM from 1 small room in a corporate building to 6 locations, 5 hospital affiliations, 5 core programs (including a dual certification program for Massage Therapy and Personal Training, and the first COMTA Accredited Oncology Massage Program), and over 35 continuing education classes. In the past 15 years she has spear headed her schools through the accreditation processes of both ACCSCT and COMTA. Lisa has also added several innovative programs and new locations all the while maintaining her Title IV Financial Aid status.
In 2007, Lisa was a volunteer with National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) for Job Task Analysis and attended their meetings in both Chicago and San Antonio. In 2009, she would become a subject matter expert for the exam development committee, charged with ensuring that the national licensing exam for massage therapists fully, and fairly, test a students body of knowledge before entering the profession.
In 2008, Lisa was appointed Commissioner for the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA), which accredits both educational institutions and programs offering instruction in massage therapy and bodywork. The organization was formed to establish and maintain the quality and integrity of the profession and is governed by elected volunteers. COMTA was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a specialized accrediting agency in 2002, an acknowledgement of its expertise in ensuring quality education and allowing programs to access federal student aid funds.
Andrew Kamchi, MS - Director of Operations & Marketing
Andrew graduated from the University of Arizona with a BS in Business Administration, and a minor in health education. He then went on to attend the Physician Assistant program at UMDNJ / Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey, where his focus was neurology, radiology, orthopedics and sports medicine. He has held various managerial positions for private education companies, owns an academic consulting company, and is a certified personal trainer. He blogs...
Valerie Donahue - Director
Valerie has been in management and administration for several years as well as working as a accounts administrator. She is very active within her community and does several volunteer events for charities throughout Northern New Jersey.
Barbara Reid, CMT - Director of Finance and Student Aid
Barb has a BS in Accounting from Rutgers University and has experience working in various business and managerial positions as well as computer training. Barb graduated ITM with Honors and maintains a private practice.
Pat Russo - Director of Admissions
Joanne Braun, MSed, LMT - New York, Director of Education, Instructor
Joanne has a BSed from SUNY at Cortland, an MSed from Walden University, has taught Biology for 20+ years, and was an adjunct professor of Biology at Rockland Community College. Before beginning her teaching career, Joanne worked in Exercise Physiology research specializing in muscle strength research. She has been published in the Journal of American Physical Therapy Association and the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Kimaya Hansen-Metcalfe, Assistant Director of Education, Lead Instructor
Kim Metcalfe has been practicing massage therapy since 1998. She started her career as the lead bodywork therapist at a resort in Colorado. After leaving Colorado and moving back to New Jersey, she continued her education at the Institute for Therapeutic Massage (ITM), graduating with honors in 2000. Through the years she has taken countless Continuing Education (CE) Classes, travelling the world to participate in workshops such as Thai Massage, Lomi Lomi, etc.
Her training in Thai Massage took place at the Nerve Touch Institute, International Training Massage, and the Thai Massage School of Chiang Mai. Her Hawaiian Lomi training took place on the mainland and island of Maui. Other CE classes include Iridology, and most recently, Mayan Abdominal Massage. On top of these exotic techniques, Kim has studied medical massage techniques with several teachers in the USA, became certified in pre natal massage therapy, is a certified herbalist through Sage Mountain, started a holistic body product line, and most importantly, married her soul mate and is raising her daughter; who at 2 years old is addicted to massage.
Kim is currently the Assistant Director of Education at the Institute for Therapeutic Massage, where she has been employed for 10 years, teaches the Pregnancy Certification course, Lomi and Thai massage classes. One of her greatest passions is to help future professionals become massage therapists, shiatsu practitioners, and personal trainers. She also keeps a small private practice in Hazlet, NJ.
Dr. Anthony Gencarelli, D.C, CSCS - Program Director / Instructor
Dr. Gencarelli holds a BS from Bloomfield College and a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College. He holds several licenses and certifications and is professionally affiliated with many associations including the New Jersey Chiropractic Society, the New York State Chiropractic Association, and the New Jersey Sports Council.
Michael Croes, LMT, ABT, NCTMB – Program Director / Instructor
Michael Croes has been a practicing massage therapist since 2002. He received his foundational training at The Shiatsu Clinic & School in Iowa City. There he studied Chinese Medicine, Shiatsu and western massage. He is currently a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) in New York and a Nationally Certified Therapist of Massage and Bodywork, as well as an Asiatic Body Therapist. He also owned and developed a wellness & education center for massage therapy and natural health.
Michael has continued his love and study of Chinese Medicine by working with acupuncturists and expanding his techniques to cupping and gua sha. He has worked with Chiropractors and therapeutic spas across New Jersey and New York for pain management, injuries and relaxation.
Michael is a program director and instructor of Eastern Bodywork, Oncology, Swedish, Sports, Chair, Pregnancy, Deep Tissue Hot Stone, Therapeutic Pet, and Medical Massage; Myofascial Release; Reflexology; Anatomy and Physiology (A&P). Michael is passionate about sharing his knowledge in the natural health field with students, colleagues, friends and family alike.
Sandy Alviene, NCBTMB - Clinic Director / Instructor
Sandy is an honors graduate of ITM, and Reiki Master, and has worked in both spas and private practice. At ITM, she is in charge of overseeing our student massage clinic (which sees over 3000 hours of activity anually), which includes the orientation of new students, and the continued development of their hands on skills.
Shawn Ezzo - Registrar
Trish Nizolak, CMT - Registrar / Instructor
Pat graduated from the Institute of Therapeutic Massage in 2004 after making a long-term career change from business administration. She has trained in several modalities such as: Swedish, Medical, Pre-Natal, Chair and Hot Stone Massage; as well as Reiki, Foot Reflexology and Aromatherapy. Pat maintains her own practice, is a spa director and has just gone into a partnership with two associates doing home spa parties. She is a member of the ABMP and “Hand in Hand” massage network group.
Kim Yazujian - Admissions Advisor
Jacqui Arata - Financial Aid Administrator
Jeffrey Ariola, C.A., MS, CSCS - Instructor
Jeffrey Ariola is the owner and main practitioner of BOMISO Health and Fitness LLC. He had spent many years involved in the athletic and fitness industry. Jeff attended Fairleigh Dickinson University where he competed as a Division I scholar athlete and earned his Bachelor’s Degree. He pursues a holistic approach to helping others attain healing. He is a personal trainer, martial arts instructor, a certified strength and conditioning specialist, and actively pursues the highest levels of training as a Holistic Lifestyle Coach and Practitioner through the CHEK Institute. In 2006 he completed his Master’s of Acupuncture Degree from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. In that same year he became a Diplomat of Acupuncture and was licensed by the Medical Board to practice Acupuncture in New Jersey. Each certification and every degree Jeffrey acquires is simply an additional tool to help his clients, patients, students, friends, family, and himself in attaining their health, wellness, and fitness goals. He utilizes the techniques he has learned and the knowledge he has attained in the fortunate opportunity of helping others, and he is grateful to live the dream of earning his living while pursuing his life’s passion.
Dennis J. Battersby CMT, NSCA-CPT, Rieki-MT
Dennis is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a BS in Health Planning and Administration. He is also a graduate of the Institute for Therapeutic Massage, Inc (ITM) with honors in what used to be their Pompton Lakes location in Passaic County, and is now certified in Massage Therapy and Personal Training.
Dennis instructs the following: Business and Ethics, Chair Massage, Clinic, Reiki 1 and 2, Sports and Event Massage.
He is also the owner of Pinnacle Performance Plus, an Onsite Fitness and Wellness Provider. He is an athletic performance trainer in the areas of strength, conditioning, speed, agility and sports massage, pecializing in soccer performance conditioning.
Certificates: ACMT, NSCA-CPT, National USSF “D” licensed soccer coach, USSF licensed Referee grade 8, Red Cross certified First Aid and CPR.
Associations: Associated Bodywork and Massage Professional, National Strength and Conditioning Association, National Soccer Coaches Association of America, United States Soccer Federation.
Deidre E. Best, CMT, Instructor
Deirdre is a graduate of ITM and has been a massage therapist for 5 years. She is currently working on a BS/Doctorate degree in Holistic Nutrition and Naturopathic Medicine from Clayton College of Natural Health. Deirdre has been a practicing Herbalist for 18 years. At ITM, Deirdre is a Swedish, Medical massage and weekend modality instructor as well as clinic supervisor. She also has her own private massage practice.
Kim Braun, MS, NJCMT - Instructor
Kim has her B.A. in Biology and has a secondary education certification for the state of New Jersey. Kim received her Masters in Teaching and Learning with a focus on technology for science students. Her science background began in environmental research, and then moved on to cardiovascular research, and the teaching of various levels of biological sciences for over12 years. She is a NJCMT, and has taught both Massage Therapy and Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) courses at ITM for the last five years. Between her belief in the benefits of alternative health care and knowledge of current scientific research, she strives to increase student appreciation of the science of the human body and relate it to the beauty of massage therapy, personal training, and shiatsu as they prepare to become a therapist and / or trainer.
Dr. Cynthia Brown, D.C. - Instuctor
Dr. Brown has a B.S. in health science from Lock Haven University and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life University, School of Chiropractic. She has been a chiropractor for nine years and has extensive experience in the fitness industry as a personal training program manager, personal trainer, weight loss consultant and instructor. In addition, she has taught science on the junior high school level. Dr. Brown has also been coaching basketball for ten years. She currently heads the 7/8 team at Pinelands Regional Junior High School and also is the head coach of the Barnegat Bay Barons, an Amateur Athletic Union team.
Dr. Joseph Federico, D.C. – Instructor
Joe has a B.S. in Biology from Fairleigh Dickenson University, a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from Sherman College of Chiropractic, and a Respiratory Therapy degree from Brookdale Community College. He has been a chiropractor for over 23 years and maintains an office in Middletown, NJ. Dr. Federico is certified in Manipulation Under Anesthesia, Peer Review and Independent Medical Examinations. He is affiliated with the Association of NJ Chiropractors.
Michael Grabow - C(ASCP)SC, M.S., M.B.A.
Michael serves as the Senior Administrator for the Institute for the Public Understanding of Health and Medicine at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, which offers public medical education courses for the lay community. He received a B.A. degree in Biology from Yeshiva University in 1982 and then earned M.S. degrees in both physiology and biology as well as an M.B.A. in Pharmaceutical/Chemical studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
He subsequently attended the UMDNJ - Graduate School for Biomedical Sciences and also completed an M.S. degree in Neurosciences. Mr. Grabow is a trained clinical medical technologist and also works at The University Hospital in Newark, NJ in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. He maintains an interest in the field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, especially massage therapy and is a graduate from the Institute for Therapeutic Massage (ITM). At ITM, he is presently on the faculty as an Anatomy & Physiology instructor. He has taught courses in the Biological Sciences at Bergen Community College, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Passaic County Community College, Seton Hall University, and at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School.
At the medical school, Mr. Grabow has been involved in teaching the physiology undergraduate summer course to students in both the Students for Medicine and Dentistry and Minority Medical Education Programs (SMDP and MMEP). He also teaches the cardio-pulmonary physiology elective course in both the Pre-Medical Honors Program for high school students and the Mini-Medical School Program for the lay adult community. Mr. Grabow has also authored and co-authored publications in biological research journals.
Terri Howe – Instructor, Clinic Director (Morristown)
Terri is an alumnus of ITM and the owner of Integrative Massage Therapy. Terri has continued her education focusing on oncology and mastectomy massage in addition to Therapeutic Touch, spa treatments and aromatherapy. She also is clinic director at our Morristown Memorial Hospital location.
Tom Mazorlig, BS, CMT - Instructor
Tom Mazorlig graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in biology in 1994 and graduated from ITM in 2002. He practiced massage therapy in a chiropractic setting for three years. Tom currently teaches anatomy and physiology at ITM and has been an editor of pet care books for over six years.
Barbara McNair - Instructor
Deb Michaels-Yavuz, LMT New York - Instructor
Deb is a 1998 graduate of ITM and received her Shiatsu Certification from Healing Hands Institute the following year; she also completed the Reflexology Certification Program at Bergen Community College. Deb has worked as a massage therapist at Avalon Acupuncture and Healing Center since 1999, where she specializes in Acupressure Massage and Tuina Oriental Bodywork. She is a member of the ABMP and the International Shiatsu Organization.
Bonnie Mowery-Oldham, MT, CR
Bonnie is an honors graduate from ITM, a Reiki Master and a certified Reflexologist. She has a MA in theology, a BA in education, and has worked as a literacy teacher on a small island off the coast of Maine for over 20 years. A journalist and photographer, she has also taken herbal studies at the Shaker Village, Poland Springs, ME and at Avena Botanicals, Rockland, Maine. She has her own private reflexology practice in Maine and a massage therapy practice in New Jersey.
Rafael Paez, CMT - Clinic Supervisor
Rafael has been involved in the medical community since 1992. He completed medical school in Columbia, and had a private practice in general medicine before moving to New Jersey. He is also a graduate of ITM that currently works at the University of Medicine and Dentistry – Newark location.
Joanna Paginotti - Instructor
Arthur Zirpoli - Instructor
Lucy Zirpoli - Instructor