Chapter Leadership/Committees
Click on leadership positions to see the position description.
Click on Committee to see the committee description.
Main Chapter Email: amtadc.massage@gmail.com
President
Jaime Bernardo
Board Member
P. Marcia Castrence
Marcia Castrence is a 2000 graduate of Potomac Massage Training Institute. It was her experience as a dancer in Modern, Jazz and Hip Hop that brought her to massage and how to help the body more ease. She is trained in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Advanced Connective Tissue, Rock Blades, Pregnancy Massage and Reiki. Marcia enjoys integrating all these massage techniques to best suit the individual needs of her clients. She also enjoys teaching Couples Massage at PMTI and Intro to Massage Therapy at George Washington University.
Board Member
Bryan Harris
Bryan has been a therapist since 2015. His favorite modality is Swedish Massage. Sometimes the basics are more than enough. What got him passionate about massage was seeing so many people not live up to their full potential and do everything they were created to because their bodies aren’t being taken care of and Bryan helping them do that in turn helps the world to be a better place!
Secretary
Shawnna Shellington
Shawnna is a Washington, D.C. native. She has been a state licensed massage therapist in Washington, D.C. and Virginia for the past 10 years. After graduating from the National Massage Therapy Institute in 2010, Shawnna continued gaining further knowledge in the field by obtaining numerous certifications and volunteering her services for local organizations. She specializes in chair massage and deep tissue massage, with an emphasis on combining deep tissue techniques with a relaxing approach and delivery. In addition to performing massage, Shawnna enjoys teaching massage therapy at AMBI School of Massage in Vienna, Virginia.
Financial Administrator
Carole Dean
Carole Dean is a native Washingtonian and graduate of Potomac Massage Training Institute in Washington, D.C. She has over a decade of experience in the field of massage therapy, including experience working in conjunction with chiropractors and physical therapists in treating patients with acute and chronic physical pain, trauma and dysfunction in medical massage environment. Carole also has years of experience working in a holistic wellness clinic, where she specialized in helping clients with chronic health conditions, detoxifications and oncology related support, work and stress related physiological and emotional tension.
Carole combines a variety of modalities in her bodywork to relieve muscle tension, stimulate circulation, improve flexibility, promote relaxation and reduce stress. She has extensive training in various modalities including deep tissue, trigger point, craniosacral therapy, manual lymphatic drainage and reflexology.
Prior to becoming a massage therapist, Carole worked as a systems administrator and administrative assistant, as well as working for federal, city and state governments in an administrative capacity for over 15 years.
Delegate
Aseel Hawi
Aseel graduated from Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage in 2017 and obtained her license through the District of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy. Aseel came to massage therapy from an interest in post-traumatic stress disorder and recovery. As a trauma survivor herself, Aseel works compassionately to support others through massage, sharing a safe space with the intention of healing physically, emotionally and mentally.
Delegate
Yumna Kaluf
After many years of being fascinated by how massage positively influenced the health and wellness of herself and her loved ones, Yumna decided to leave her desk job behind to pursue learning this powerful healing art of touch.
She graduated from the Potomac Massage Training Institute in Washington, DC in January of 2009. Yumna specializes in Swedish massage, Deep Tissue, Myofascial release and Prenatal massage. In addition, she is a Reiki III practitioner.
Education Committee Chair
Barbara K. Asare-Bedaiako
Barbara has been a Massage Therapist for 17 years. Her interest in massage therapy began with a desire to offer her Personal Training clients more specialized knowledge and care. She graduated from The Body Works Institute (Falls Church, VA) in 2002. Barbara specializes in Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue, Chair Massage, Prenatal, Feet Reflexology, Hot Stone and Chakra Balancing Energy Work. Her practice is totally mobile. She enjoys providing her clients with alternative treatments for stress relief and therapeutic care through her massage and energy work.
Committees
Communications Committee
Shawnna Shellington – Chair
P. Marcia Castrence – Co-Chair
Communicates information about upcoming events, continuing education, legislative issues, networking opportunities to the membership and local LMT’s.
Continuing Education Committee
Barbara Asare-Bediako – Chair
P. Marcia Castrence – Co-Chair
Aseel Hawi – Co-Chair
Coordinates continuing education for members in the DC area, focusing on DC LMT renewal requirements.
Membership Committee
Bryan Harris – Chair
Carole Dean – Co-Chair
Welcomes new members to the District, planning networking and social events, and helping ensure the chapter fulfills its service requirements for the membership.