The following represents the Institute’s core of instructors. Teachers are rotated to instruct in 2 to 3 classes each year. Any or all of these fine instructors are involved in the student’s learning process.

Alice Funk, R.N., B.S.N., L.M.T. NCTMB acquired a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA. She has accumulated 30 years of nursing experience working with a wide array of patients with different age-related medical diagnoses.

She was listed in Who’s Who for Vocational/Technical Schools as an LPN. As the Outpatient Clinic Supervisor, Ms. Funk opened up the KIDMED program, receiving 100% scoring on the first review of the program. She assisted in opening up different clinics and med-surg units, served on several quality improvement committees in the hospital while being the Assistant Director of Nursing and Medical/Surgical Coordinator. In 2003, awarded and recognized as RN of the year at Walter Olin Moss Regional Medical Center by her peers. She was featured in the Massage Magazine on documentation, and assisted in authoring a chapter in 2nd edition of Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice by Susan Salvo.

Today, Alice is on a personal crusade and has focused her nursing interest in the areas of health, stress reduction, nutrition, and disease prevention. She has added massage therapy to these areas. “The art of massage has enlightened me and given a new meaning to helping others with a sense of balance,” she says. Alice utilizes massage therapy as an alternative medicine and complimentary form of care. She no longer sees just with her physical eyes, but reaches in and looks into the hearts of others with respect, invoking a feeling of “I Care”.

As an instructor for the Institute, Alice teaches anatomy and physiology, assessment and documentation, and massage therapy. Specialties include: Swedish massage, Swedish gymnastics, polarity, lymphatic manual drainage, geriatric massage, Ashiatsu, and Watsu.

Jennifer "Jenn" Breaux, LMT is a past graduate of the Louisiana Institute of Massage Therapy.  You might say that for Jenn, massage runs in the family with a Mom, Dad, and older sister, Jessica that are all massage therapists.  Jenn is the Admission Director of the  Institute, as well as a contributing author of Mosby's Pathology for Massage Therapists, by Susan Salvo, which is published by Elsevier. As part of her duties, Jennifer frequently advises students on how to make best use of their time in massage school, which includes good study habits.

Danielle R. Caraway, MA, LPC, LMFT is an aromatherapist, who has been working with essential oils in a therapeutic sense for over ten years. She earned her certification from the West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy. She has been featured as a guest lecturer at Pure Foods and through the Leisure Learning program at McNeese State University. Her therapeutic experience with clients centers on stress relief, relaxation, and women's health issues.

Danielle also has a B.A. in psychology from McNeese and a master's degree in counseling psychology from Leslie University in Cambridge, MA.. In addition to teaching others about aromatherapy, Danielle also works full time as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), LPC Supervisor, and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Her professional experience includes providing counseling & coaching to individuals, couples, and families on issues such as grief and loss, healthy lifestyle choices, workplace issues, and stress management. Danielle teaches aromatherapy here at the Institute and can be reached by email at danielle@LaMassageSchool.com  

John N. Moreno, PhD, DCh, AAETS completed his Ph.D. in 1993 having already opened his practice, “ American Wellness Center.” At the time, it was the only wellness center in Southwest Louisiana. In 1994, he began a call-in talk show on health issues and it continues today, airing every Tuesday and Thursday on KAOK, 1400 AM. That same year, Dr Moreno sponsored the only alternative health expo in the area, bringing together local alternative practitioners and a noted author, John Parks Trowbridge, M.D., as guest speaker.

Dr Moreno has been the only non-chiropractor to own a chiropractic clinic in Louisiana, being co-owner of Oak Park Chiropractic Clinics in Lake Charles, Iowa, and Sulphur. He brought chiropractors and medical doctors together, which was also a first in Louisiana.

Dr Moreno has been in private practice for many years, specializing in chronic health conditions. His testing methods include Biological Terrain Assessment; the most sophisticated cellular terrain assessment equipment available. The conditions his patients have range from cancer, seizure disorders, diabetes, hypertension, to allergies.

Currently, Dr Moreno is on staff at Southland College (inactive) as well as the Institute, where he lectures on health and nutrition. He also contributed to Salvo’s Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice, 2e and was highlighted in Keats Publishing’s book Beyond Probiotics by Anne Louise Gettleman for his work with probiotics.

Tisha Ecker, L.M.T., NCTMB began her massage career in 1997 and is a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist. A graduate of the Institute, Tisha has specialized in spa therapy techniques and has trained under Mary Nelson Hannigan, the founder of LaStone Massage. Ms. Ecker’s training includes: aromatherapy, herbology, Thalassotherapy, Moor Mud therapy, hydrotherapy, Ayurvedic, body wraps, exfoliation, and Arum spa training. Tisha is a Certified Spa Specialist and Certified LaStone Therapist. She currently teaches aromatherapy, facial massage, herbology, and Spa Body techniques for the Institute.

Lindsey Ardoin, L.M.T. has been in practice since 2003. She graduated from the Institute at the top of her class. Her practice includes reflexology, Swedish, deep tissue, and stretching techniques. Additionally, she is certified in Michael Young's Repetitive Use Injury Therapy and Thai Massage. Ms. Ardoin also holds a Bachelors Degree in General Studies from McNeese State University. Ms Ardion, practices in the Lake Area and teaches massage therapy techniques for the Institute.

Donald R. Thigpen, D.C., B.S., L.M.T . is dually licensed as a Massage Therapist and a Doctor of Chiropractic. He received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Texas Chiropractic College (TCC) in April of 2004 and was valedictorian of his graduating class. While at TCC, Dr. Thigpen received extensive education in gross anatomy, physiology, and other various medical and biological sciences. In May of 2001, Dr. Thigpen was appointed to the position of gross anatomy lab instructor at TCC and assisted other students in the dissection of cadavers. He continued in this position for 2 years, performing dissections on over 150 cadavers. In January of 2002, Dr. Thigpen was appointed to the position of histopathology lab instructor at TCC, where he instructed students in the microscopic identification of human tissues and their pathologies.

Dr. Thigpen received his B.S. degree in biological science from McNeese State University in Lake Charles in May of 2000, graduating cum laude. While at MSU, he was selected by the faculty to participate in a Senior Honors Thesis research project, which he completed under the direction of Dr. Ray Neyland, PhD.

Also a graduate of the Institute, Dr. Thigpen was valedictorian of the August 2000 class. He is nationally certified and has been licensed as a massage therapist in Texas from 2001 to 2004. Currently, Dr Thigpen actively practices chiropractics in the Lake Charles area. As an instructor for the Institute, Dr. Thigpen teaches anatomy, physiology, and pathology.

Michael A. Breaux, L.M.T. is a Licensed Massage Therapist. He has been involved in massage therapy since 1987. Mr. Breaux is a graduate of Susan Salvo's original workshop program. Mr. Breaux has studied many styles of massage, but specializes in clinical massage, sports massage,  and trigger point work. He has practiced massage therapy in hospital, physical therapy, and chiropractic settings in addition to his private practice.  His clients include olympic athletes and members of the Ladies Pro Gold Association.

Mr. Breaux is the Co-Director for the Institute. Mr. Breaux is a contributing author for Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice, having written the clinical massage chapter.

Mr. Breaux is a member of the International Massage Association. In 1998 he was appointed by Governor Mike Foster to the Louisiana State Board of Massage Therapy. Mr. Breaux served for four years on the Board, three as Board Chairman, and one as hearing officer.

Susan G. Salvo, B. Ed., L.M.T, N.T.S, C.I. is a Nationally Certified, State Licensed Massage Therapist, and Natural Therapeutic Specialist. In 1982, she completed a 1000 hour program at New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics. Ms. Salvo's training includes: polarity, infant massage instructor, myotherapy, Trager, hakomi, reflexology, sports massage, craniosacral therapy, neuromuscular therapy, body mobilization techniques, spa specialist, and watsu. She has studied under many talented people including Bonnie Prudden, Ben Benjamin, David Lauterstein, Bob King, Benny Vaughn, Maria Mathias, and Harold Dull.

She owns and operates Bodyworks Massage Therapy by Susan Salvo and Associates which she founded in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1983. Ms. Salvo is a charter member of the Louisiana Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association. In 1989, she was honored with their Member of the Year award and, in 2003, with their Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1987, she founded the Louisiana AMTA sports massage team, which is still active today.

Ms. Salvo is a nationally known author, having written Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice and Mosby’s Guide to Pathology for the Massage Therapist, both published by Elsevier. Ms. Salvo has contributed to the National Certification Exam as a member of their test item writing committee. She has written the chapter “Teaching to Students with Learning Challenges” for Teaching Massage, published by the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professional. She has also contributed a chapter “Geriatric Massage” for Modalities for Massage and Bodywork published by Elsevier. Ms Salvo is one of the featured experts interviewed in the documentary film, History of Massage Therapy in the United States released in 2007.

Ms. Salvo has been instructing adult learners since 1983. She holds associate in history degree and a baccalaureate degree in education from McNeese State University, where she is currently working on her Master of Science degree in education. Ms. Salvo is the director of the Louisiana Institute of Massage Therapy. She is a well known and talented instructor, who guest lectures at massage schools, hospitals, and universities across the country.

Our director has been the recipient of many awards. In 1995, Louisiana Governor Edwin W. Edwards presented Ms Salvo with the Pacesetter Award for business achievement. Later that year, she was honored with the title, Business Person of the Year by the American Business Women’s Association. The following year, she received the 1996 State Small Business Person of the Year Award from Louisiana Governor Murphy J. “Mike” Foster, and the first Eagle Award for Business Achievement by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. In 1997 the Times of Lake Charles featured her as one of “Forty Under Forty” for outstanding achievement among local young people.

TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Graduates from the Institute frequently wish to become teaching assistants. Teaching assistants have the opportunity to coach students during the massage labs under the supervision of an instructor; this will reinforce their own learning and deepen their knowledge through extended exposure to the classroom environment.