Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/365665
16 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k s e p t e m b e r / o c t o b e r 2 0 1 4 NEWS NOTES compiled by Brandon Twyford Massage Heights Announces New Chairman David Humphrey, a prominent franchise industry consultant and former CEO of Massage Envy Spa, has joined Massage Heights as chairman of the board of managers. Humphrey brings to the family- owned wellness franchise extensive experience in consulting for a wide variety of franchise companies and a background in investment and advisory services through his firm, DTH Capital Ventures. "I know what it takes to build a great franchise brand," Humphrey says, "and I see all the ingredients for breakthrough success in Massage Heights. They combine a great business concept with caring family ownership to deliver exceptional support to their franchisees." Massage Heights founder Wayne Evans says, "Joining forces with David Humphrey will help us move ahead even further and faster in our rapidly growing industry." Massage Heights oversees 109 locations across the United States and Canada, and is currently preparing for further international expansion. For more information, visit www.massageheights.com. ABMP Named Association of the Year Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), the publisher of Massage & Bodywork magazine, was awarded Association of the Year at the World Massage Festival in July in Las Vegas. This marks the sixth year in a row that ABMP has received this honor. Founded in 2006, the World Massage Festival aims "to honor those who built the bridges for our profession, to educate the general public about massage, to educate therapists about different types of massage, and to have fun." The 10th anniversary of the festival will be held in 2015 in Michigan City, Indiana. For more information, or to register for next year's event, visit www.worldmassagefestival.com. Irene's Myomassology Institute Recognized Irene's Myomassology Institute in Southfield, Michigan, was awarded the Excellence in Education award from Massage Envy Spa in April 2014. The criteria for the award include a school's programs and curriculum, its level of student and graduate support, its involvement with the massage therapy profession (regionally and nationally), and performance outcomes such as number of graduates, placements, and graduate satisfaction. "It's an honor that Massage Envy chose our school," said Kathy Skubik, the institute's executive director. "They've told me personally that they prefer to hire students from our school over any other school in the area." Irene's Myomassology Institute is the oldest and largest therapeutic massage school in the Midwest, with an average enrollment of 250 students a year. For more information, visit www.irenes.edu. David Humphrey