Kirby Clark Ellis, MTI, BCTMB (they/them/theirs)
President, Society Of Massage Archive
Host, Hands Of History Podcast: A Production of the Society Of Massage Archives
I’m a franchise-employed massage therapist based in Arkansas, and since 2014, I’ve had the privilege of supporting the peace and healing of clients from all walks of life. What started as a personal calling has grown into something much larger over the past decade—encompassing continuing education, professional advocacy, and a deep dive into the history of our field.
In addition to my hands-on work, I’m also an Approved Provider for Continuing Education through the NCBTMB, an amateur massage historian, and an active volunteer with several massage organizations, including my state’s regulatory authority. Each of these roles allows me to give back to a profession that has given me so much.
One of my biggest passion projects is the Society of Massage Archives. I believe our history not only helps us understand where we’ve been and how we got here—it also connects us as practitioners and helps shape where we’re going. As massage therapists and bodyworkers, I truly believe we share a common story and a shared destiny.
If you’d like to learn more about my work or connect, you can visit me at kcemassage.com.
Julie Onofrio, Secretary, Society Of Massage Archives
Newsletter Editor, Website Manager, Society Of Massage Archives
I’ve been a self-employed massage therapist in Seattle, Washington since 1987. Over the past 38 years, I’ve had the unique opportunity to witness this profession grow, evolve, and reshape itself in ways I never could have imagined when I started. Along the way, I found myself diving into the online world to create resources for other massage therapists—starting with my very first website, thebodyworker.com (not my domain any longer), back in the early 2000s.
That site led to an unexpected turning point: Robert Calvert, author of A History of Massage, came across a timeline I had created and let me know it wasn’t quite accurate—even though I had cited every source I could find in massage therapy textbooks. That moment stuck with me, and ever since, I’ve been determined to dig deeper, get it right, and share what I learn. The lesson being that history is complex.
Since then, I’ve created several websites focused on helping therapists build their practices and deepen their understanding of the field: massagepracticebuilder.com, massageschoolnotes.com,. My latest project, massagetherapynexus.com, is where I’m continuing that journey—bringing together everything I’ve learned and connecting the dots across our evolving profession.
Jeffrey Montoya, LMT, Wisconsin – Massage School Owner. Financial Administrator
My passion lies in promoting wellbeing through massage therapy and bodywork. I’m a Board Certified Massage Therapist, a Reiki Master, and a dedicated massage educator. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to study more than 30 different massage modalities and forms of bodywork, each one deepening my understanding of how we can support healing in others.
I’m also the founder of Academy of Health, a nonprofit massage school based in Wisconsin, where I’ve been fortunate to help train and inspire the next generation of massage therapists. My journey in this profession has also included volunteering with organizations like AMTA, NCBTMB, and the International Consortium on Manual Therapies—each experience giving me a broader perspective on how we can move the field forward.
Currently, I hold a doctorate in Health Professions Education from Logan University, and I continue to be inspired every day by the potential of massage therapy to transform lives—one person, one practitioner, and one community at a time.