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"Imagination is more important than knowledge." Albert Einstein Contributions and revisions were offered by Jenn for the second edition of The Business of Massage, published by the American Massage Therapy Association, 2009. Considered an expert in the field of practice management, Jenn was sought out to edit several chapters of this textbook. Go to www.amtamassage.org for more information on this vital resource.
Jenn continues to further her areas of expertise whenever possible. To that end, Jenn has recently been asked to sit on the American Massage Associate House of Delegates (HOD) position review workgroup. The purpose of this group is to review upcoming position statements in an effort to prepare them for voting before the house of delegates. Jenn recently served as a delegate for the 2008 HOD, representing the New York Chapter. Jenn was the recipient of the 2007 National Meritorious Award for the American Massage Therapy Association. This award recognizes leadership, dedication and commitment to the field of massage therapy. In her spare time, Jenn contributes to the massage industry through her writings in professional journals. Jenn's article, The Marketing Game, is offered as an on-line class in Massage Therapy Journal, Fall 2008.
Another of the recent articles can be found in Massage Magazine, May 2008. This publication is one of the largest in the massage industry. The article, on Public Speaking and Promoting Yourself Through Dialogue, is featured in the Business Section.
In September, 2007, Jenn was a guest speaker on Massage Therapy Radio. The interview was about business, marketing and how to promote yourself verbally. To listen to the interview or download a copy, go to www.massagetherapyradio.com/amta2007./Jenn_Sommermann_-_Massage_Marketing.html
In addition, Jenn has served as a faculty member of Massage Business University, an online site for massage therapists and their growing businesses. Her contributions were among the first, jump starting this venue as a resource for massage professionals Jenn has been asked to be an ongoing contributor to Massage Today magazine, with her own column called Practice Management 101. Go to www.massagetoday.com to see some of her publications or visit the Articles section of this web page. In trying to reach a broader audience, Jenn has tapped into "Down Under", with a series of articles appearing in Mostly Massage. This publication is not yet available online but it is published for Australian and New Zealand massage therapists. Jenn's writings can also be found in The Silver State Massage Express newsletter, an AMTA NV publication. Go to www.AMTA-NV.org to view her recent submissions. Lastly, Jenn likes to write for "her own backyard" and is a contributing editor for the AMTA NY newsletter, "In Touch". Go to www.amtany.org to view articles. ______________________________________________________________ Jenn is passionate about practice management and wishes everyone felt the same way. Many have said that after taking one of her business classes, they do. "Most massage therapists don't go into massage because they are good at business. I try to bridge the gap between what they are good at and what they need to improve on," says Jenn. "The trick is to make it fun." Jenn's teaching background comes from years of experience rather than a degree in education. Jenn discovered she had a passion for the classroom and has had overwhelming reviews from both students and faculty. With a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and years in the corporate world, Jenn had some business skills in her repertoire. However, owning a catering business for several years really taught Jenn what she needed to know about business. Going into private practice after graduating from massage school seemed like a natural progression. Muscular Therapy Institute in Boston provided Jenn's first teaching experience. Being asked to "fill in" for a colleague on sick leave, Jenn took over as a favor to her alma mater and friend. After one semester of teaching, she was hooked and signed on for the next term. To her delight, students raved about her ability to convey "dry" business information in a friendly and fun way. "I teach by telling my stories," says Jenn. "The concepts are there but the students learn them in a much more inviting way." New England School of Acupuncture in Boston provided the next opportunity for teaching and again, Jenn taught the business curriculum. After the move to NY, Jenn threw her hat in the ring at Swedish Institute (SI) in Manhattan and became the business teacher and chair for the department. Jenn dove into both, writing the curriculum that SI uses today. To reach a broader audience, Jenn is offering continuing education at local and state levels. "The business curriculum is almost more important for graduates as they have their feet wet and know what they need to work on in order to be successful. Often students don't have that insight yet," says Jenn. To that end, Jenn has offered practice management courses for graduates and professionals at a variety of schools around the country. See the Upcoming Classes section for a posting of classes Jenn will be offering in the future. The natural progression to a coaching and consulting career started in 2000. Having coached hundreds of allied healthcare professionals on all aspects of their business, Jenn has made herself available to problem solve with anyone seeking assistance in business. "Being of a mathematical mind, business is an extension. I look at business situations and think of all the possible solutions. I work with clients and together we decide which solutions work best," says Sommermann. Jenn marks her success by how well others do after her coaching sessions. "Consulting for Smarter Healthcare Business" has become the motto. |
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For more information, email to jennjsa@aol.com or call 516.633.9464. All requests are handled personally and promptly. |
