This is the second in my series of interviews with the leaders of our professional associations.
Les Sweeney is the fearless leader of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), a national membership association that provides comprehensive liability insurance and practice support for massage/bodywork practitioners and students. Founded in 1987, ABMP is now the largest massage therapy membership organization in the country with more than 70,000 members.
LA: What is your background in the massage profession? Are you now or have you ever personally been a massage therapist?
Les: I have been serving the massage profession since 1994, when I was hired by ABMP. Prior to ABMP, I worked for the Club Managers Association of America in Alexandria, VA for 4 ½ years. That is the entirety of my career path; I feel I have found my life’s work.
In 2004, I decided to attend massage school to gain a better appreciation and understanding of the field and our members. I graduated in 2006 (I wasn’t rushing through it) and became NCBTMB-certified at that time. I have a dedicated clientele, all with last name Sweeney. The pay isn’t that good, however.
LA: How long have you been with the organization?
Les: Since September 1994.
LA: Have you been in the same position with the organization since you started, or did you climb through the ranks (please give a short synopsis of your history with the organization).
Les: No. I have worn nearly every hat at the organization (even if just temporarily)—I started out in management but I have handled everything from processing memberships to managing the information systems function to unloading boxes and shoveling snow. I have been President since 2006.
LA: What is the mission statement of your organization?
Les: Expect more.
LA: What do you think your organization is doing to honor the mission statement?
Les: It is our DNA—our commitment to service, developing resources and supports for schools and the education community, producing outstanding resources in print and online, continuing to strive for even greater value for our members. Everything we do is guided by that principle.
LA: What do you feel has been your biggest achievement there?
Les: Making the staff bowling party an annual event.
LA: What do you see as the most important initiative for moving your organization forward?
Les: Continuing to serve as our members’ (and the profession’s) advocate. That takes on many forms—regulatory/legislative, support for practice development, sounding board, resource.
LA: What do you feel is the biggest challenge facing your organization today?
Les: We seem to have difficulty keeping track of spoons in the ABMP kitchen. Actually, we are grateful for the success we have achieved, but we know there is so much more opportunity. Our fundamental question is still “How can we help our members be more successful?” We still encounter people who have never heard of ABMP, even after 22 years in the field. We have built excellent relationships with a number of schools, but we can do a better job of making all schools aware of all we are doing.
LA: There are more organizations and associations for the massage profession now than ever before. What do you see as the ideal relationship between them?
Les: The massage field is fairly unique because of the number of organizations and the level of competition that exists. I am of the belief that competition can be healthy and fundamentally good for the consumer. The massage professional has a wealth of resources at her disposal; we like to think competition has helped raise the bar, and ultimately the therapist has benefited. I enjoy the interaction among the organizations, and I think we can help each other be better. I think the Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge has been a very good experience, and a good example of how we can work together. We’ll still compete, and I am fine with that, but we can also identify opportunities to collaborate.
LA: If you could only say one thing to your stakeholders, what would it be?
Les: Thank you. And the best is yet to come.
January 20th, 2010 at 7:02 am
I have known Les for many years and have worked with him during the symposiums for school owners and have always admired his work ethic and honesty. I personally have membership in both the AMTA and ABMP and enjoy both organizations because of their differences. I agree that there is a competition for the membership and that is good, because it does keep everyone upfront and on their toes. Personally though I have asked Les for input on some business decisions I needed to make and he was always generous in his remarks, not that I always agreed with him but his knowledged and expertise is greatly appreciated. His sense of humor is outstanding, as is shown through out this interview. Laura thanks for this insight to him.