This page was last updated: July 6, 2007 1pm MST
HOME > Founder Bios
»» Site Map
The BLMTB Founders
Paige Asten (Status: Resigned September 10, 2006)(Whitehall, MT) before moving to Montana had an extensive political background in Texas. She has been in practice since about 1971, and established her Texas school (Asten Center of Natural Therapeutics) in 1983. While in Texas, she was on the AMTA-Texas Chapter Executive Board of Directors and held various offices in the local chapter: Secretary/Treasurer, 2nd Vice President (twice) and Parliamentarian. In 1985 she became President of the AMTA-Texas chapter. During her tenure as President, the state AMTA membership increased from 53 to over 500, and the Massage Therapy Registration bill was passed. In 1988 she was tapped by the Texas Department of Health for various appointments: to the Advisory Council (Massage Therapy Program), the Educational Committee, and the Testing Committee. During this time, Paige was the author of the majority of the material established by the Texas Department of Health as the required curriculum in all massage schools in Texas. Paige was recognized for her work with numerous awards by the Texas chapter.
Paige moved to Montana in late 1989 and established the Asten Center massage therapy school in 1990. Paige has been the AMTA Montana Chapter 3rd Vice President, and represented that group on the Montana Joint Law & Legislation Committee. She has also been awarded the Meritorious Award by the Montana AMTA Chapter. In her recognition letter, the National AMTA President acknowledged Paige's work for both the Texas and Montana Chapters.
Deborah Kimmet (Status: Current Board Member)(Missoula, MT) is a Montana native and has been in practice since 1987. She was active on the Board until June 2006, then resigned her position. She was asked to consult with the Board later that year, then was asked to rejoin the Board in June of 2007. She joined the staff of St. John Neuromuscular Therapy Institute for Seminars in 1994, and was an instructor for them (1998-2004). She has established her own seminar business since that time.
Deborah was involved in grassroots political organizing long before she became a massage therapist. Her involvement with massage therapy issues started in 1989, in helping to defeat a bad piece of legislation.
In 1991, it became evident that there was much dissension within the massage therapy profession, so Paige, Deborah and many other massage therapists gathered to form a new organization to help heal those wounds: the Montana Association for Massage Therapy and Bodywork (MABMT) made up of AMTA and non-AMTA alike. Essentially it was one of the first bodywork "coalitions" in the nation. Paige was a member of the MABMT's Steering Committee and Deborah was appointed to a leadership role within the group and facilitated many of the meetings.
Eventually, the group turned its efforts toward establishing legislation. With the leadership of Paige and Deborah, the Joint Law & Legislation Committee was formed as a joint project of the MABMT and the AMTA Montana Chapter. It was co-chaired by Paige (as AMTA-MT 3rd VP) and Deborah (MABMT Core Group), with Deborah facilitating the meetings. Once draft legislation was developed (early 1996), this group became the Montana Somatic Practices Legislative Coalition. During the 1997 Legislative effort, Deborah was the lead citizen lobbyist, volunteer coordinator, and with Paige was given the primary responsibility of shepherding the bill through the process. (More information about this can be found in the report Part 1 ? 2003 Legislative Process Analysis . Appendix A gives a good synopsis of what happened at that time).
In 1998, Deborah moved to California and Paige "retired" from legislative issues, but told the groups she was available to consult and to provide information. In 2003, after it became very clear that there were major problems with the bill and that the introduced massage therapy legislation should be defeated, Deborah, Paige, Vianna Myles and many others worked toward its defeat. (See the previously mentioned report for all the details)
Vianna Rose Myles (Status: Current Board Member)(Roundup, MT) worked for the USDA forest Service from 1982 - 1992. During this time she acted as a Contracting Officer's Representative where she was responsible for federal contract compliance inspections and reports. Also during this time she was responsible for multiple USDA Forestry and Fire Crews. Vianna has also owned and operated a private forestry business where she was contracted to perform as field administrator representing county interests concerning a Bureau of Land Management Hazardous Fuel Mitigation Grant. She was responsible for contract compliance inspections and reports.
Vianna has owned and operated a private massage therapy and bodywork practice since 1995. She became active in massage therapy politics with the 2003 legislative session when she was appointed by the St. John Neuromuscular Therapy Institute for Seminars (based in Florida) to represent the voice of NMTs located in Montana. Her actions, attendance and testimony at the various hearings were instrumental in securing the outcome of the legislation.
|