President's Welcome

Welcome from the College President, Jan Combs

Welcome to the incredible world at Boulder College of Massage Therapy. I have never been more proud of my affiliation with BCMT as I am right now. Not only have we maintained our integrity throughout our 33+ year history, we have now embarked on an even greater journey - stepping into our rightful place as an organization that helps brings peace to the world, one massage at a time.

Internally, we’ve always talked about the incredible power of touch and how massage therapy not only relieves pain and relaxes the body, but also bring a peaceful state of being. Now, we are shouting it from the rooftops so everyone will know.

We started with a brilliant idea from our Director of Enrollment & Services, Carol Brunelli; then we added a dedicated group of people who volunteer to come together as our Board of Directors; stir in our outstanding faculty and staff; and our Massage for Peace campaign was launched.

As a not-for-profit organization we have a volunteer governance body, our Board of Directors. Following you will read about their diverse and interesting backgrounds, in addition to how they came to be affiliated with BCMT. They help guide our path. It is an honor to have these incredible people contribute to our success.

We were founded in 1975 inspired by Honora Wolfe's vision and based on the principles of a heart-centered, “integrative” therapeutic massage model developed by Christina Hammond, based on the work of Wilhelm Reich, with a little Gestalt therapy and Bioenergetics thrown in. The words she used to describe it are still pertinent today: “timelessness, internal flow of energy, breathe into the work, core of energy, strokes overlapping joints, deep sense of trust and safety, feeling grounded and balanced, nurture and alleviate pain on physical, emotional and energetic areas”. Our curriculum has evolved to include a neuromuscular component while maintaining the original focus on personal growth and transformation.

We strive to honor the legacy of our founders by continuing our commitment to providing massage therapy training that combines the entire human being - mind, body and spirit. As you read our mission, vision and core values, know that those of us here now recognize that we are merely the current stewards of this legacy.

Volunteer Board of Directors
Glenda Denham, OD Secretary
Dr. Glenda Denham, optometrist, graduated from New England College of Optometry as a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society. She became a member of the faculty instructing students in pediatric optometric clinical skills. She opened her private practice in 1979, being the first female optometrist in Boulder, Colorado. Dr. Denham has volunteered at the People’s Clinic in Boulder and as Secretary/Treasurer of Colorado Volunteer Optometrist in Service to Humanity. She has made more than forty trips to developing countries to donate eye exams and eye glasses to those in need. She values the relationships established between her and the many patients and friends in the practice, some of whom commute from different states to continue to see her as their eye doctor. Dr. Denham has served for 2 years on BCMT’s Board of Directors and is presently the Secretary of the Board.

Susan Golden

Connor Graham, MD
Dr. Graham graduated cum laude from Texas A&M University with a BS in biomedical sciences and began his medical training at the University of Texas-Houston Medical School. After medical school, he moved to Honolulu to train at the University of Hawaii where he completed his residency in internal medicine. Dr. Graham moved to Colorado from Hawaii to start his practice at the Boulder Medical Center. In his spare time, he enjoys running and playing frisbee with his dog Tiki. He and his wife enjoy cooking and swimming with their two daughters.

Susan Grubb, RMT, CNMT
Susan (Jackson) Grubb joined the board of directors for the Boulder College of Massage Therapy (BCMT) in August, 2009. She received her certification in massage therapy from BCMT in 1985, and is the founder of Center for Neuromuscular Massage Therapy, Inc., in the Cherry Creek area of Denver. Susan has been active in attaining favorable legislation for massage therapists at both state and national levels. She is the author of The Woman from Short Grass Country. Her hobbies include square, reading, travel, and time with her family.

Stanley M. Guralnick, PhD Treasurer
Mr. Guralnick received an MS from Yale University and a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. After holding academic positions at the Smithsonian Institution and the Colorado School of Mines, he became a banker specializing in problem corporate loans. His interest in BCMT dates from 2004, when his daughter enrolled as a student. In 2005, he joined the Board and, as Treasurer in 2006, was instrumental in the purchase and finance of BCMT’s campus with tax-exempt bonds. He is also Treasurer of the Board of the Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts.

J. Brent Nilson, MS Chairman
Brent comes to BCMT after 40 years in product design, business management and board leadership. Before moving to Boulder in 1996, he was CEO of two high tech companies in California. He served on several company board of directors. Brent participated for several years in fundraising activities for the Ohlone College in California promoting U.S. leadership and product quality. He was also active in the early development of computer technology, and holds several patents including co-inventor of the floppy disk drive. He has four children, one of which is a massage therapist.

Zach N. Noffsinger, JD*

Will Norris, CFP, RP
Will is a Certified Financial Planner and a Registered Paraplanner, and serves as vice president of the Charles Schwab, Boulder, CO office. He is an investment professional who is dedicated to helping investors achieve their financial goals. He works with clients personally to understand their needs, map out cohesive strategies, and provide guidance and advice to help them succeed as an investor. Will has been with Charles Schwab investment company for over 10 years.

Rick Reynolds, CMT, BA
Mr. Reynolds received a BA in Anthropology from the University of Colorado in 1970. He entered the first class of BCMT in 1976. After graduating he practiced massage therapy and in 1977 founded Colorado Healing Arts Products, Inc. in Boulder. His company designs and manufactures massage therapy tables. In 1992 he opened The Massage Store, selling massage therapy equipment and supplies. Today his business provides a resource for products and service to the community of massage therapists in Colorado. He is a 30+ year member of the American Massage Therapy Association and serves on the Alumni Committee of the Board of Directors of BCMT.

Tim Trumbell*
Tim is vice president of Leanin' Tree Museum of Western Art and greeting card company. The Leanin' Tree Museum of Western Art exhibits over 300 original paintings and bronze sculptures from the private collection of Edward P. Trumble, chairman and founder of Leanin' Tree. Since 1949, the Leanin' Tree distinctive fine art cards and gifts have helped folks from all over the world keep in touch with their friends and loved ones. Leanin' Tree's product mission over the last 50-plus years has remained unchanged: To bring the best in art and words together in a way that touches your heart.

Honora Lee Wolfe, CMT Dipl Ac, FNAAOM
Ms. Wolfe, founding director of BCMT from 1976-1980, went on to study tuina massage at the Shanghai College of TCM. A licensed acupuncturist since 1988, she has taught at national and regional acupuncture colleges and conferences in North America and Europe and is the author/co-author of several books, including Prince Wen Hui¹s Cook: Chinese Dietary Therapy, How to Have a Healthy Pregnancy Healthy Birth with Chinese Medicine, Managing Menopause Naturally with Chinese Medicine, Better Breast Health Naturally with Chinese Medicine, Points for Profit: The Essential Guide to Practice Success for Acupuncturists, The Successful Chinese Herbalist: How to Prescribe Correctly, Gain Patient Compliance, and Operate a Profitable Dispensary, and most recently Western Physical Exam Skills for Practitioners of Asian Medicine.

Jeffrey Wycoff, BA
Mr. Wycoff was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. In 1975, he earned a BA from Rider College. While in college, he discovered macrobiotics with Michio Kushi, and studied Shiatsu with Shazko Yamamoto in Boston. Taking a position with Erewhon Natural Foods, Jeff learned all aspects of the natural foods industry.

After moving to California, he started Tile Pros, a business specializing in the restoration of tile for homes and commercial buildings. While experimenting with restoration formulas, Jeff and his wife, Merrie, developed ZAP!. In 1995, they created Sirius Products, Inc., a direct response and marketing company specializing in product creation, infomercial production, and the launch of retail distribution of products such as ZAP!, Restore 4, Minute Groom Waterless pet shampoo (carried by Wal-Mart, Costco, Sam’s, Target, and other large chain stores.)

Recently, Jeff and his wife created Paradigm Products, Inc, a line of homeopathic products and remedies geared for the mainstream. In addition, Jeff has created Simplicity, a full line of certified, nontoxic, biodegradable, hypoallergenic cleaning products and personal care items.

Jeff and Merrie are the owners of Autumn Hill Equestrian Center in Longmont, CO, and are working to establish a biodynamic garden and teaching school.

*members of Honorary Advisory Board only