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| "Mediocrity is not an option for me, and it is my wish that is not an option for you either." Mary Beth Braun Jenn came to massage therapy quite by accident. With a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics, she was working for a corporate firm in Boston as a mathematician. For a birthday present one day, her roommate bought her a gift certificate for a massage. The rest is history. That was in 1990. Jenn was fortunate enough to be able to attend Muscular Therapy Institute (MTI) in Boston, then owned and directed by Ben Benjamin. Armed with all the tools necessary to dive into a new career, Jenn opened her first practice in Wellesley, Massachusetts. To supplement the private practice, Jenn worked at a chiropractic office, a health club and several corporations offering chair massage on a weekly basis. Within 18 months, a new location was secured and staff was hired. Jenn was able to phase out of the other practices in order to focus solely on private practice. Three expansions later, with eight complimentary healthcare practitioners on staff, Jenn sold the practice of Jenn Sommermann & Associates (JS & A) in 2003 to one of the associates (also a former student). Relocating to New York provided the opportunity to open another practice and once again, tap into the business and massage skills that MTI taught her. Armed with her experience from JS & A, Jenn opened Massage by Land & Sea. Jenn now provides therapeutic muscular therapy and body education in the comfort of people's homes, boats and offices in the Long Island area. In addition to massage, Jenn started teaching in 2000. Covering for a colleague out on sick-leave, Jenn took over and finished a semester teaching business at MTI. Lo and behold, another passion emerged and a teaching career was born. Jenn has been on faculty at MTI and also New England School of Acupuncture, teaching the business curriculum. With the move to NY, Jenn started teaching at Swedish Institute in Manhattan and took over as chair of the business department, rewriting the curriculum. To reach a broader audience, Jenn started teaching in the continuing education forum in 2004. With several practice management topics to draw from, Jenn travels around the country offering her curriculum to schools and organizations. Jenn's coaching and consulting business bloomed from the combined successes of teaching and private practice. Over the years, Jenn has coached hundreds of healthcare professionals on all aspects of their business. The goal has always been to "work smarter, not harder". In 2004, Jenn was asked to sit on the New York State Board of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) and heads up the New York City/Long Island Unit. The AMTA is a national, professional organization of massage therapists and Jenn was honored by being selected. Jenn's goals for the NYC/LI Unit are to provide support and local educational opportunities to the 1900 members in her area. On a personal note, Jenn has two other passions: singing and exercise. Jenn sings bass in the Greater Nassau Chorus of Sweet Adelines and competes at the international level with this all women's barbershop group of 85. In October, 2007, her group placed 7th out of 660 in the international competition in Calgary. When not working or singing, Jenn competes in triathlons. Passionate about exercise, Jenn has found the combination of swimming, biking and running has improved her overall fitness. Placements include 33rd out of 890 women in Seattle in 2008, top 20 in her age group at NYC in 2008 and top third in her age group in 2007. This year, Jenn competed in eight endurance events to raise funds for Ovarian Cancer Research. Proceeds can still go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, www.ocrf.org. To learn more or to contribute, go to the link www.active.com/donate/ocrf08/jennsomm. Please contact Jenn if you would like more information or have any questions about the roads that brought her to this point. She is very accessible and welcomes all comments and questions. Also feel free to read other pages on this website for more specific information. |
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For more information, email to jennjsa@aol.com or call 516.633.9464. All requests are handled personally and promptly. |