Melissa Blumer is a licensed, board-certified massage therapist with a private practice in Providence, Rhode Island. A graduate of CCRI’s Associate in Applied Science program in Massage Therapy, Melissa went on to earn certifications in oncological massage, scar release therapy, and manual lymphatic drainage. She brings a thoughtful, science-informed approach to her work, staying current with the latest research to provide safe and effective care. Melissa is also pursuing a nursing degree to deepen her medical knowledge and further integrate science with the art of massage therapy.

Kate Peck is a certified and licensed massage therapist and founder of Journey to Health. She has been in private practice in Newton, MA for 26 years, specializing in craniosacral therapy, myofascial release, burn scar therapy and therapeutic massage. She had been a certified athletic trainer for 30 years, retiring in 2016. She spent 10 years on the Sports Medicine staff at Harvard University. Kate specializes in treating children & adults with post-concussion syndrome, as well as treating those suffering with migraine headaches. Her newest passion is working with burn survivors doing Burn Scar Therapy, work that she has developed over the past ten years. Kate has founded the Massage and Burn Scar Therapy Foundation. Its mission is to improve the quality of life of all burn survivors through the use of effective & compassionate massage and Burn Scar Therapy. Kate has been teaching continuing education courses in craniosacral therapy, myofascial release and burn scar therapy to massage therapists and certified athletic trainers for The Bodywork Education Project since 2009. She has been a presenter at massage therapy conferences, athletic training conferences, at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital's Integrative Medicine Lecture Series and The American Burn Association's Northeast Region Burn Conference. She has also taught anatomy, myofascial release techniques and craniosacral therapy to massage students at the Muscular Therapy Institute and the Cortiva Institute from 1999-2009.

Frank Rapone’s mission is to work closely with clients to promote greater mind–body awareness and lasting pain relief. This work has brought him both peace of mind and deep professional fulfillment throughout his career as a massage therapist. He specializes in pain-reduction massage as an integrative therapy for individuals experiencing chronic pain and has advanced training in orthopedic and medical massage techniques. Frank graduated from The Bancroft School of Massage Therapy in 1998 and has remained deeply committed to the profession through extensive volunteer service with the Rhode Island chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association and the Rhode Island Special Olympics. His dedication has earned numerous honors, including the RI-AMTA Meritorious Award, induction as the first member of the RI-AMTA Hall of Fame in 2016, and the Boston Athletic Association Volunteer Hall of Fame in 2017 for more than fifteen years of service at the Boston Marathon. From 2001 to 2006, Frank served as Senior Massage Therapist on the Integrative Care Team at Kent Hospital, contributing to a significant study on the outcomes of integrative care. While the program ended due to financial constraints, integrative care continues to grow in global recognition as a meaningful and effective approach to total well-being.

Kate brings over 25 years of experience in physical therapy, massage therapy, and movement education to her role as a continuing education instructor. With a Master of Physical Therapy (Marquette University ) and certifications in Therapeutic Massage (CCRI) and Matwork Pilates (APPI), she integrates clinical expertise with hands-on practice to support postural, musculoskeletal, and neurological health and well-being. Kate’s teaching emphasizes practical application, blending traditional massage and advanced therapeutic techniques with a strong foundation in movement science. A lifelong learner and passionate educator, she is dedicated to empowering therapists with knowledge and skills that translate directly into client care.

Lou Ann is a Nationally Board Certified Licensed Massage Therapist, a Certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner (CKTP) and has been an Adjunct Professor at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), teaching Intro and Advanced Sports Massage at the Newport, RI campus from 2009-2025. With a focus on orthopedic and sports massage, she has had the opportunity to work with high school, collegiate and professional athletes including the Providence Bruins and ATP World Tour athletes at the Tennis Hall of Fame Championships. In 2012 she completed a medical volunteer rotation at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and worked with a myriad of athletes preparing for the 2012 London Games: US Women's Boxing and Wrestling Teams, USA Tae Kwon Do, Triathletes, Swimmers, and Track & Field athletes. This led to an opportunity to support the U.S. Men's Ski Jumping Team during the National Championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014 at the US Olympic Jumping Complex in Lake Placid and ultimately an invitation to support the team in Sochi, Russia for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Karlo Berger is deeply committed to supporting healing, justice, and resilience on ecological, community, and personal levels. His work spans the fields of environmental policy, integrative healthcare, citizen-centered democracy, education, and international security. He has held roles with organizations including Brown University, Harvard University, Saferworld, and the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the Rio “Earth Summit”). A natural bridge-builder, Karlo has founded or co-founded several coalitions and multi-stakeholder initiatives, including the Rhode Island Non-Opioid Pain Treatment Coalition, the Integrative Medicine @ Brown forum, and the Boston-based Integrative Medicine Alliance. Karlo is a licensed and nationally certified massage therapist and has specialized in Japanese-style shiatsu massage for more than 25 years. He is a registered Zen Shiatsu instructor with the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia and has over 1,000 hours of college-level massage teaching experience. In 2023, Karlo earned a Master of Environmental Science and Management from the University of Rhode Island, with an academic focus on environmental policy and management, ecological restoration, and coastal and climate resilience. He graduated cum laude from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree. He is currently contracted as a Resilience Planner for the Town of Barrington, Rhode Island, where he supports climate resilience and adaptation initiatives. He is also a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner-in-Training through the Society for Ecological Restoration. Karlo lives in Providence, Rhode Island with his wife, Annie Gjelsvik, and their two children. He enjoys cooking, singing, dancing, cross-country skiing, meditation, and t’ai chi.

Kristen Kandzerski currently owns her own massage therapy practice where she sees post surgical and trauma recovering clients. She is a graduate from Rhode Island College with a Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences and also a CCRI graduate in both the Physical Therapy Assistant and Massage Therapy Program. During her internship she had the experience of observing a Total Knee replacement and Total Hip replacement in the operating room. This participation piloted the understanding of what patients go through during surgery. By applying that knowledge with massage therapy she has helped clients recover more quickly than with PT alone. Kristen began as a physical therapist assistant in an outpatient physical therapy setting in 1998 and started her massage therapy business in 2003. She also has classroom experience instructing a Fundamentals of Palpation course at CCRI for 3 semesters.