Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68016
ALL IN THE FAMILY THE VAN KAMPENS Clients of Van Kampen Massage & Wellness, in Clinton, Iowa, can book a massage with Pat Van Kampen, or his wife, Colleen. Or some may just ask for E 1-7. The Es are the Van Kampens' seven daughters: Erin, 32; Erica, 30; Elisa, 28; Emily, 26; Eve, 25; Eilene, 22; and Elizabeth, 20. Only the four youngest Es work at the family studio, but all seven are licensed massage therapists and grew up working in the family business—as receptionists and office help, then as therapists. "One by one, as they came of age after having graduated from high school, we offered them the opportunity to go to massage school. But we never wanted to pressure them," Pat says. They did pay half the cost of massage education for each daughter. They all accepted the offer. Four have college degrees in addition to their massage training, but they're all practicing MTs now. "I considered doing other things," says Erin Norin (E1 because she's the eldest), who now has her own practice, Acacia Wellness, in Cedar Falls. "I have a bachelor's degree [in social work], but I worked as a massage therapist while I was getting my degree and I fell in love with it. The nice thing about being a massage therapist is you can bring whatever interests you into your practice." The Van Kampens' interest in massage therapy started simply as a means to better health. "Colleen and I came from very traditional backgrounds in medicine," Pat says. "I was a cardiology technician and Colleen was a registered nurse. We thoroughly enjoyed those careers. But as our family grew, we started taking some courses in alternative therapies. We wanted to do things to be proactive in regards to our health." All seven of Pat and Colleen Van Kampen's daughters have followed their parents' footsteps into massage therapy careers. By the late 1980s, Pat felt he'd come to a crossroads in his career. He wanted different challenges. Massage therapy seemed a perfect option. He enrolled in the Iowa School of Natural Therapeutics, where he studied for a year and a half. Colleen soon followed him. In 1988, they opened their business and began educating a conservative Midwestern town about the benefits of massage therapy. Pat and Colleen estimate they've each given more than 30,000 massages. They also introduced their daughters to the practice, Pat says, "before they even had a thought about becoming massage therapists. It was part of their health regimen growing up. There would be evenings in our home where all seven would be lined up, one in front of the other, doing neck and shoulder work on each other under our instruction." Members of the extended Van Kampen family have also spent time working in the business. Pat says he's been blessed to have good employees, regardless of lineage, but he takes special joy in the family connection. 82 massage & bodywork november/december 2009 "There's no better associate you can find for a business than one whose last name is on the sign," he says. Colleen acknowledges that not everything is always rosy in a family business. "We do have moments of disagreement," she says. "But we have frequent family meetings and office meetings. When we have problems, we're all very capable of expressing our emotions and problems, bringing them to the table, and resolving them quickly. We've raised our children to express themselves." One of the keys to making the business run smoothly is that each therapist is an independent contractor. "The girls each have their own client base," Colleen says. "They're each in their own massage room. They get to be their own boss in that regard." As far as family dynamics, they've just gotten easier with time. "Oh, gosh yes, my older sisters are bossy," admits Eve, E5. "But the older we get, the better friends we've gotten to be." Eve combines her massage therapy practice with a freelance graphic design career. "I keep a good balance," she says. "We all do about four days a week at