WMTI Faculty Members

The faculty forms the backbone of your education at WMTI. We are truly blessed to have an experienced faculty, some of whom have been teaching at this school since its inception in 1989. All of the instructors in the hands-on massage courses are practicing massage therapists with private practices. They have first-hand experience with many of the situations you will be faced with in your massage practice and share their knowledge freely. We feel that instructors with a massage therapy background are uniquely qualified to present the widest choice of available therapeutic options within the scope of massage therapy.

To afford our students a varied education and exposure to complementary bodywork approaches, we enlist “auxiliary” instructors to staff our elective and specialty courses, each of which has experience and expertise in their respective fields.

All instructors are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Faculty Bios

LAUREN ABELE, BA, is a graduate of the Wellness & Massage Training Institute, a member of ABMP and is certified by the NCBTMB. She has been in private practice since 2003 and has her own business, Gentle Touch Massage Therapy. Her degree is in Human Resources from the University of Colorado . She is certified in Orthopedic Massage with additional specialty areas in Geriatric and Seated Chair Massage. Lauren has been teaching at WMTI since 2005.

SHANNON MALONE BURNS, Ed. D M., B.A., an American Massage Therapy Association member and nationally certified in massage therapy and bodywork by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, has been in private practice since 1991. Shannon has over 15 years experience in corporate marketing, administration and program development. She has been an instructor at WMTI since 1993.

DICK DRAFFONE, M.P.A., is a graduate of the Wellness & Massage Training Institute, an American Massage Therapy Association member and nationally certified in massage therapy and bodywork by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, has been in private practice since 2007. Dick has his masters degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University. He has been an instructor at WMTI since 2007.

CAROL DUNN, M.S., M.P.H., R.D. is a 1999 graduate of the Wellness & Massage Training Institute, nationally certified by NCBTMB, and a member of AMTA. She has her own business, Heart and Hands, Nutrition and Massage Therapy. Carol has an MS from Purdue University and a MPH from the University of North Carolina . She has taught nutrition to college students since 1970. As a Registered Dietitian she has worked in public health, mental health and corporate wellness. Carol has taught nutrition at WMTI since 2000.

TERRY GARVEY, MA graduated from WMTI in 1994 and has a degree in exercise physiology from Adelphi University . She teaches aquatics at Saucedo Academy in Chicago . Terry is a certified American Red Cross instructor.

DEBRA GEERY, a graduate of Wellness & Massage Training Institute and an American Massage Therapy Association member, has been in private practice since 1991. Debra has continuing education in Neuromuscular Therapy, Ortho-Bionomy Ó , Touch for Health, Cranial Sacral and Somatics. She has been an instructor at WMTI since 1994.

SARA Q. HARGRAVE is a consultant to individuals, businesses and organizations learning to harness the untapped creative power of the subconscious and conscious mind and to do Productive Thinking. She has completed extensive study of Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology and is a Science of Mind Minister.

LAURA HEPBURN, B.A., a graduate of the Chicago School of Massage Therapy, has been in private practice since 1986. Laura has continuing education in Mensendieck Movement Therapy, Sacred Journey Therapy, the use of therapeutic essential oils, Ortho-Bionomy and d eep t issue m assage techniques. She began teaching at WMTI in 1991.

TAMMY HERRING, is a graduate of WMTI and has had a home based practice since 2004. She is nationally certified by NCBTMB, and a member of AMTA. Tammy has continuing education in channeling and Reiki. She enjoys combining energy work with physical touch. Tammy has supervised student clinic since 2007.

MARGARET JOHNSON , R.N. graduated from WMTI in 1996.

COSETTE KOSIBA, B.S. Ed., R.N., M.A., is a graduate of WMTI; member of ABMP certified by the NCBTMB since 2002 and has been in private practice since 2001. Cosette has a Bachelors Degree in Education from Northern Illinois University and a Masters Degree in Gerontology from University of Illinois in Springfield . She began her nursing career in 1975. Her experience includes a wide variety of clinical practice specialties, nursing education, program administration and consulting. Cosette has continuing education in Myofascial Release, Cranial Sacral Therapy and Reiki. She began teaching at WMTI in 2006.

CHUCK LAFRANO, B.A., a graduate of the Chicago School of Massage Therapy, has been in private practice since 1986, and has continuing education in Ortho-Bionomy and Sportsmassage. Chuck, former Director of Heartland Health and Fitness Retreat and former supervisor of the Sportsmassage team for the Chicago Bear's football team, has been instructor at WMTI since 1989. His article “Scar Tissue Massage” was published in the May/June 2001 issue of Massage Magazine.

DEBBIE LANE, B.S. is a graduate of WMTI and has been in private practice since 2002. She is a member of the AMTA and is certified by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Her degree is in Health Education from DePaul University. Debbie has been teaching at WMTI since 2003.

AL MEO graduated from WMTI in 1994. He is a Certified Active Isolated Stretching instructor with over 12 years experience. He works at Glenoaks Sport, Spine and Physical Rehabilitation in Bloomingdale, IL. and has treated thousands of patients. Al currently teaches these techniques to students and health care professionals throughout the midwest. He has helped thousands of athletes, patients, and clients relieve their pain.

LINDA MILLER is a 1986 graduate of the Chicago School of Massage Therapy and a certified member of Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. Linda is a Trance Channel and a Reiki Master/Teacher. She has continuing education in Pranic Healing and Cranial Sacral. She has been the Institute Administrator since 1993 and an instructor since 1996. She is not related to Raymond Miller.

PAULA MOORE is a graduate of WMTI and has been employed in the Spa industry since 2003. She is an American Massage Therapy Association member and nationally certified in massage therapy and bodywork by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Paula has been teaching at WTMI since 2006.

RAYMOND MILLER, B.A., is a Registered Practitioner and Basic Instructor of Ortho-Bionomy has been in private practice since 1983. Ray has continuing education in Deep t issue m assage, Jin Shin Do, MariEl, Polarity, Trager Psychophysical Integration, Feldenkrais and Cranial Sacral. Ray has been teaching at state approved massage schools since 1984 and is Director of WMTI. Ray is not related to Linda Miller

TERRY MORO, a Nationally Certified Massage-Shiatsu Therapist, is a graduate of the Chicago School of Massage Therapy and has been in private practice in Downers Grove for 12 years. In 1993 Terry studied Qi Gong with Master Wang Jue Ming in Broding , China , and also teaches Shiatsu at College of DuPage . Terry incorporates Therapeutic Touch, Reiki, and Flower essences into her eclectic style.

JOHN MOSTRANDO, B.S., B.S., D.C, is a graduate of the National College of Chiropractic (now called the national University of Health Sciences ) in Lombard , Illinois . He has been in private practice as a Chiropractic Physician since 1987. He John has continuing education in s ports/ e xtremity a djustment, p ersonal i njury, MRI s tudies, p hysical & l ab d iagnosis, c onceptology, r ehab d iagnosis and X-ray, c ommunication s kills, Psychiatric p rinciples and n utritional a ssessment. He has been an instructor at WMTI since 1991.

JERI O'BRIEN, was certified through the International Institute of Reflexology in the Ingham Method in 1983. She has attended numerous reflexology workshops over the years. She completed Reiki III. Jeri has been teaching the elective Introduction to Reflexology and the Reflexology Program at WMTI since 2001 and also maintains a private practice.

DEB REED, is a graduate of WMTI and has been in private practice since 2000. She is a member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals and is certified by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Deb began teaching at WMTI in 2004.

SUSAN SHEKUT, B.A. graduated from WMTI in 1999. She has a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Michigan . Sue also studied business at the master's level at Eastern Michigan University . Sue continues to study other forms of bodywork to provide her with a variety of methods to relieve pain and muscle tension including Ortho-Biomony, Sports Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, Hakomi for bodyworkers and the Reubenfeld Synergy Method. Sue has also completed training in life coaching from the Coaches Training Institute. She and began teaching at WMTI in 2000.

RANDY J. VOGEL, B.S., R.N., a graduate of Wellness & Massage Training Institute has been in private practice since 1990. Randy, a registered nurse since 1979, is at the Burn Center of Loyola University Medical Center. He has been an instructor at WMTI since 1995.

BECKY WOLTMAN, B.S., has a degree in Kinesiology form the University of Illinois . She has been a Personal Trainer and Wellness Coach for 5 years. Becky has been teaching at WMTI since 2004.

LEO ZUZGA, a graduate of the Chicago School of Massage Therapy, has been in private practice since 1988. Leo is a member of the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals. He has continuing education in personal fitness training, Neuromuscular Therapy, Myofacial Release, Positional Release and Active Assisted Stretching. Leo is a graduate from the Radiology Technician Program through College of DuPage and is at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove . He has been an instructor at WMTI since 1990.