STATE OF MICHIGAN  
DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS  
LANSING  
GRETCHEN WHITMER  
GOVERNOR  
MARLON I. BROWN, DPA  
DIRECTOR  
MICHIGAN BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPY  
April 7, 2025 MEETING  
UNAPPROVED MINUTES  
In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, 1976 PA 267, as amended, the Michigan  
Board of Massage Therapy met on April 7, 2025, at 611 West Ottawa Street, Upper-Level  
Conference Center Room 4, Lansing, Michigan 48933.  
CALL TO ORDER  
Keisha Brooks, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 9:44 a.m.  
ROLL CALL  
Members Present: Keisha Brooks, LMT, Chairperson  
Becca Bartholomew, LMT  
Kristin L. Brooks, Public Member  
Nicole Johnson, LMT, CBIS  
Elise Wheelock, Public Member  
Jessica York, LMT, LC, BCTMB  
Members Absent: Anne Hazzard-Pryor, LMT  
Staff Present:  
Laury Brown, Senior Analyst, Compliance Section  
Dena Marks, JD, Departmental Specialist,  
Boards and Committees Section  
Kimberly Smith, Board Support Technician,  
Boards and Committees Section  
ROLL CALL/COMMUNICATION POLICY AND PUBLIC COMMENT REMINDER  
APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
MOTION by Johnson, seconded by Kristin Brooks, to approve the agenda.  
BUREAU OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSING  
611 W. OTTAWA P.O. BOX 30670 LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909  
www.michigan.gov/bpl 517-241-0199  
LARA is an equal opportunity employer/program  
Michigan Board of Massage Therapy  
Meeting Minutes  
April 7, 2025  
Page 2 of 5  
A voice vote followed.  
MOTION PREVAILED  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
MOTION by Kristin Brooks, seconded by York, to approve the October 7, 2024, meeting  
minutes, as presented.  
A voice vote followed.  
MOTION PREVAILED  
REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS  
Proposal for Decision- Reinstatement  
Laina Lisa Tso, MT  
Bartholomew recused herself from the matter.  
MOTION by Keisha Brooks, seconded by Wheelock, to discuss.  
A voice vote followed.  
MOTION PREVAILED  
Discussion was held.  
MOTION by York, seconded by Keisha Brooks to accept the Proposal for Decision and  
deny reinstatement.  
A roll call vote followed: Yeas: Kristin Brooks, Johnson,  
Wheelock, York, Keisha Brooks  
Nays: None  
Recused: Bartholomew  
MOTION PREVAILED  
OLD BUSINESS  
None  
NEW BUSINESS  
Elections  
Michigan Board of Massage Therapy  
Meeting Minutes  
April 7, 2025  
Page 3 of 5  
Marks ran the elections for the chairperson.  
MOTION by Kristin Brooks, seconded by Johnson, to re-elect Keisha Brooks, as the  
chairperson.  
A roll call vote followed:  
MOTION PREVAILED  
Yeas: Bartholomew, Kristin Brooks, Johnson,  
Wheelock, York, Keisha Brooks  
Nays: None  
MOTION by Johnson, seconded by Wheelock, to elect Kristin Brooks, as the vice-  
chairperson.  
MOTION by Kristin Brooks, seconded by Keisha Brooks, to elect Jessica York, as the  
Vice-Chairperson.  
A roll call vote followed:  
Kristin Brooks: None  
Jessica York: Bartholomew, Kristin Brooks, Johnson,  
Wheelock, York, Keisha Brooks  
MOTION PREVAILED  
Committee Assignments  
Keisha Brooks made the following assignments.  
Disciplinary Subcommittee  
Kristin Brooks-Public Chairperson  
Bartholomew- Professional  
Johnson- Professional  
Wheelock- Public  
York- Professional Alt.  
Board Review Panel  
Keisha Brooks  
Hazard-Pryor  
York  
Rules  
Bartholomew  
Johnson  
York  
Master Resolution  
Michigan Board of Massage Therapy  
Meeting Minutes  
April 7, 2025  
Page 4 of 5  
Marks presented the board with an updated Master Resolution  
MOTION by Wheelock, seconded by Keisha Brooks, to approve the updated Master  
Resolution.  
A roll call vote followed: Yeas: Bartholomew, Kristin Brooks, Johnson, Wheelock, York,  
Keisha Brooks  
Nays: None  
MOTION PREVAILED  
Board Member Resolution  
Keisha Brooks presented the board with board member resolutions honoring Jason  
Bacchus and John Stout who recently whose terms have ended.  
Rules Discussion  
MOTION by York, seconded by Keisha Brooks, to open the rules.  
A roll call vote followed: Yeas: Bartholomew, Kristin Brooks, Johnson, Wheelock, York,  
Keisha Brooks  
Nays: None  
MOTION PREVAILED  
HPRC Annual Report  
Marks presented the 2023-2024 HPRC Annual Report to the board.  
Conflict-of-Interest Form and Credentials Verification Form  
Marks went over the Conflict-of-Interest Form and Credentials Verification Form with the  
board.  
Chair Report  
Keisha Brooks said the 20th Annual FSMTB Meeting will be held October 5-7. Brooks  
stated she would like to attend but also asked if anyone else would like to go as well.  
Brooks encouraged her fellow board members to take CE’s regarding Human trafficking  
and urged them to be vigilant. Brooks reminded the board and the public that they can  
reach out to their legislature for changes they would like to see with the Massage Therapy  
Rules.  
Department Update  
Michigan Board of Massage Therapy  
Meeting Minutes  
April 7, 2025  
Page 5 of 5  
Smith reminded the board to sign their Parking Affidavits and Expense Vouchers before  
leaving.  
PUBLIC COMMENT  
Mike Krombean from American Massage Therapy Association - MI asked if there was a  
process in place to send feedback to law makers from the board on changes they would  
like to see to statute regarding the profession. Krombean wanted to make the board aware  
that some schools are experiencing issues relating to not receiving NBLEX pass/fail  
results back and are unable to become licensed. Krombean shared Human trafficking  
continues to be an issue and that AMTA-MI is working with different municipalities to  
combat this problem.  
Kathy Skubik, Executive Director of Irene’s Myomassology Institute shared the  
importance of Human trafficking and how large of an issue it has become. Skubik feels  
that amendments need to be made to the law regarding exemptions, so individuals are  
not able to “hide” behind Asian bodywork and run illegal Massage Parlors. Skubik felt it  
was very important for all to attend the FSMTB Annual Meeting and it is crucial for their  
voices to be heard.  
ANNOUNCEMENTS  
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held July 17, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at 611 W.  
Ottawa Street, Upper-Level Conference Center Room 4, Lansing, Michigan 48933.  
ADJOURNMENT  
MOTION by Johnson, seconded by Kristin Brooks, to adjourn the meeting at 11:04 a.m.  
A voice vote followed.  
MOTION PREVAILED  
Minutes approved by the Board on:  
Prepared by:  
Kimberly Smith, Board Support Technician  
Bureau of Professional Licensing  
April 9, 2025  
;