Meet the Faculty

Cari Johnson Pelava, B.A., C.I. ABT, Dipl. ABT President

Cari has spent the last 25 years pursuing the art of body-mind-spirit integration. From an early age, she studied dance and performed professionally until a back injury redirected her path. In 1983, she earned a degree in exercise and dance physiology and began her exploration of alternative healing methods. She received advanced certification in Shiatsu Anma from the Shiatsu Massage School of California and has been in private practice since 1984. During 1990, Cari lived and studied in Japan where she received in-depth training in Shiatsu, Anma, and Jikyo Jutsu. Toru Namikoshi, past president of Japan’s Shiatsu College in Tokyo, encouraged Cari to teach Shiatsu after returning to the States.

Cari founded the Minnesota Center for Shiatsu Study in 1992 and served as director until February 2001, when MCSS joined with NLSMT to become CenterPoint. She became Co-Director of CenterPoint with Jackson Petersburg. Cari is a Certified Instructor of Japanese Shiatsu and Shiatsu Anma with the American Organization of Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA) and a Diplomate of Asian Bodywork Therapy with the National Certifying Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). She was instrumental in forming the official state chapter of the AOBTA in Minnesota.

Jackson Petersburg, B.S.E., NCTMB, AMTA Vice President

Jackson is a co-founder of NLSMT and CenterPoint, and serves as Co-Director of CenterPoint. He has a B.S. in Education from the State University of New York, College at Cortland, with a special emphasis in outdoor education and therapeutic recreation. He graduated from the Boulder School of Massage Therapy in 1979. He also has additional training in NeuroMuscular Therapy and the Anatomiken system of anatomy. He served on the National Board of the AMTA as Central District representative and was the former chair of the AMTA Approved Continuing Education (ACE) Committee. Jackson has served two terms as president of the Minnesota Chapter of the AMTA. Since 1979, he has been in private practice as a massage therapist, specializing in anatomically precise, structural techniques used to treat soft tissue injuries.

Melody Werner, M.Ed. Education Director

Melody is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio and received her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Cleveland State University in 2001. She has worked as a teacher and director in numerous schools in Ohio, and brings personal experience of working in her father’s medical practice. Melody has experience in planning and delivering educational programming; she is currently CenterPoint’s Education Director.

Jocelyn Brown, NCTMB

Jocelyn is a graduate of CenterPoint. She is an instructor in the Massage department and a student clinic and outreach supervisor. Jocelyn’s personal experience with bodywork has taught her that therapeutic touch promotes wellness for injuries, stress, and emotional disorders. In addition to her teaching duties, she maintains a private practice in the Twin Cities area.

Michael Casper, B.A., C.I. AOBTA, Dipl. ABT

Michael earned his B.A. in English literature from Swarthmore College in 1988 and then moved to Minneapolis to work as a professional dancer and choreographer. He completed his training in Shiatsu from Minnesota Center for Shiatsu Study in 1997. He is an AOBTA Certified Instructor and a Diplomate in Asian Bodywork Therapy, NCCAOM. Michael teaches numerous courses at CenterPoint, including Special Populations and Clinic Summary Session.

Kyle Cleven, B.S.

Kyle earned his B.S. in Kinesiology and Coaching from the University of Minnesota in 2000. He has worked at the Human Anatomy Lab at the U. of M., and as an Assistant Track and Field Coach at the University of St. Thomas. He has been a lead instructor in CenterPoint’s Western Science department since 2001.

Autumn Compton, B.A.

Autumn earned a diploma in Shiatsu Therapy from CenterPoint in 2001. She grew up in a family of acupuncturists and holistic therapies and, Chinese medicine come naturally to her. She practices shiatsu at the Riverpath Clinic in Minneapolis, and teaches in the Shiatsu department at CenterPoint.

Krisha Crabtree, B.A., NCTMB

Krisha graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College and the Northern Lights School of Massage Therapy (now known as CenterPoint). She has been working as a massage therapist since 1998, and is certified as a NeuroMuscular Therapist by the International Academy of NeuroMuscular Therapies. Krisha is currently an instructor in the Therapeutic Massage department and supervises student clinic at CenterPoint.

Janine Deters, B.A., Cert. ABT, NCTMB

Janine graduated from Augsburg College with a B.A. in Communications. She graduated from CenterPoint in 2003 and practices both massage and shiatsu. She is a manager at a Twin Cities spa. Her husband, a marathoner, got her interested in working with runners and she has since provided bodywork at several races as well as coordinating the Twin Cities Marathon Massage Tent in 2004. She is CenterPoint’s Graduate Services Manager and Student Clinic Manager.

Michael Fitzgerald, B.A., Cert. ABT, NCTMB

Michael received his bachelor’s degree in Communications from Metropolitan State University. He graduated from MCSS in 1998 for Shiatsu and Touch of Life Massage School in 1999 for Swedish Massage, and became an RMT (Registered Massage Therapist) and MTI (Massage Therapist Instructor) in Texas. He managed three locations for a spa and practiced both styles of bodywork. He was an Area Sales Manager for the General Electric Company. He enjoys continuing his education in bodywork and has been part of CenterPoint’s administrative staff since 2002. Michael teaches Swedish Massage, Hydrotherapy and supervises in student clinic.

Kerry Grundhoefer, Dipl. ABT (NCCAOM)

Kerry graduated from CenterPoint’s Shiatsu Therapy program in 2004. She is the founder of Purple Bamboo, a shiatsu-based wellness center in the Twin Cities where she has her private practice. She is a clinic and outreach supervisor.

Gwen Kelly-Kohnke, D.C.

Gwen graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1998 , the Northwestern College of Chiropractic in 2001, and is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician. She maintains a chiropractic practice in the Twin Cities where she focuses on care for children, athletes, and pregnant women. At CenterPoint Gwen teaches nutrition and health, and in the Science Department.

Bonita Kosciolek, R.I., AOBTA, Dipl. ABT, NCCAOM

Bonita graduated from the Minnesota Center for Shiatsu Study in 1998 and maintains a busy shiatsu practice, Stone Pointe Shiatsu, in Minneapolis. She teaches in the Shiatsu Department.

Dona McGlennen, RN, CNP, L. Ac., Dipl. Ac., NCCAOM

Dona is a gerontological nurse practitioner and acupuncturist who is passionate about bodywork. She has extensive training in the healing arts and is certified in massage therapy, shiatsu therapy, CranioSacral therapy and is a reiki master. Dona currently teaches TCM, Summary Session and is a supervisor in CenterPoint’s Student Clinic.

Theresa May, LMT (Arizona), APP, NCTMB

Theresa has been practicing and teaching massage and bodywork techniques since 2001. She attended the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts in Scottsdale, Arizona where she became a teacher and administrator. Her areas of expertise include aromatherapy, reflexology, spa techniques, lymphatic drainage massage, prenatal massage, and therapeutic modalities. Using all of these techniques, she has created protocols for working with Parkinson’s disease, stroke, cancer and for those at the end of life. She teaches Spa & Resort Techniques, Lymph Drainage Massage, and is a student clinic supervisor at CenterPoint.

Attila Pegan, NCBTMB Approved Provider

Attila’s massage studies began in 1999 when he participated in a seminar on manual therapy in his native country of Hungary. He completed a 770 hour massage training program, and worked at the Hungarian Institute of Rheumatology and Physiotherapy. In 2002 Attila traveled to Thailand and completed all 6 levels of the International Thai Massage School in Chiang Mai. He returned to Thailand for further study in 2005, and in 2006 completed his teacher training. Attila is approved as a Continuing Education Provider by NCBTMB and maintains a busy clinical and teaching practice with his wife in Savage, Minnesota. He teaches Thai Massage at CenterPoint.

Ed Pelava, B.S., M.B.A., AMTA

Ed graduated with a B.S. degree from the University of Minnesota and later received his M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas with a stint as a foreign exchange student in Tokyo, Japan, at Sophia University. He worked as an EMT for the University of Minnesota for four years and has taught First Aid & CPR for the Red Cross and American Heart Association since 1995. He became involved with CenterPoint years ago as a member of the first class of the Minnesota Center for Shiatsu Study. He teaches Business Development, First Aid and CPR at CenterPoint.

Michele Reid, NCTMB

Michele graduated from CenterPoint’s East West Therapeutic Massage program in 2006 and is nationally certified from NCBTMB. She is a supervisor in Student Clinic, and is currently serving as CenterPoint’s Admissions Representative. Michele is a Lomi Lomi practitioner, and has developed a workshop course in Lomi Lomi to teach at CenterPoint.

Patricia Schuckert, B.A., M.P.S.

Patricia earned her masters degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University in 1978 and has B.A. degrees in dance and dance therapy and biology. Pat has had extensive training in various approaches to therapeutic bodywork and energy work. Her teaching experience has been varied, from the College of St. Catherine’s Holistic Therapies Program to Cook County jail in Chicago. Patricia maintains a private practice in both therapeutic bodywork and spiritual direction in Minneapolis. Pat teaches CE courses, First Aid and CPR at CenterPoint.

Paul Sevett, M.A., A.D.T.R., L.I.S.W.

Paul has maintained a private practice since 1990 as a psychotherapist using dance/movement therapy and as a bodyworker and energy healer. The approaches he works with utilize the natural wisdom of the body and its energy to promote the integration of body, mind, and heart. Paul has substantial experience with the issues surrounding ethics and boundaries for bodywork therapists. He teaches in the Personal and Professional Development Department at CenterPoint. He teaches in the Personal and Professional Development Department at CenterPoint.

Andrea Sullivan, Cert. ABT, NCTMB

Andrea graduated from CenterPoint’s Shiatsu Therapy Program in 2005. She is certified in Chi Nei Tsang having studied at the Universal Healing Tao school in Thailand with Grand Master Mantak Chia. She practices Tai Chi and Qi Gong on a regular basis, and maintains a private bodywork practice. She teaches in CenterPoint’s Shiatsu Department.

Karen Townsend, Cert. ABT, NCTMB

Karen graduated from CenterPoint in 2003. She has worked as a massage and shiatsu therapist in a variety of settings including private practice. She currently practices at an athletic club and spa in downtown Minneapolis. She has studied various forms of yoga, meditation, and Qigong, as well as Body-Mind Centering. Other interests include exercise, dance, music, and travel. She is committed to expanding her education and to educating others in the bodywork field. Karen teaches in CenterPoint’s Shiatsu Department.

Jeanne Ward, NCTMB

Jeanne graduated from the University of Minnesota in Microbiology in 1990, and spent 9 years as a research technician at the University of Minnesota. She graduated from CenterPoint in 2001 in the Massage Therapy Program. She currently maintains a private massage practice in the Twin Cities, and is a supervisor in CenterPoint’s Student Clinic.

Abbreviations:

In order to clarify the credentials of our faculty and staff the following list is provided:

• B.A. Bachelor of Arts
• B.A.S. Bachelor of Applied Science
• B.F.A. Bachelor of Fine Arts
• B.S. Bachelor of Science
• B.S.E. Bachelor of Science in Education
• M.A. Master of Arts
• M.B.A. Master of Business Administration
• M.Ed. Master in Education
• M.F.A. Master of Fine Arts
• M.P.S. Master of Pastoral Studies
• M.S. Master of Science
• M.S. Nursing Master of Science Nursing
• M.S.E. Master of Science in Education
• M.S.T.C.M. Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine
• A.D.T.R. Academy of Dance Therapist (Registered)
• APP Applied Polarity Therapist
• D.C. Doctor of Chiropractic
• C.I. Certified Instructor
• Cert. ABT Certified Membership Asian Bodywork Therapist, AOBTA
• Dipl. ABT Diplomate Asian Bodywork Therapy, NCCAOM
• Dipl. Ac. Diplomate Acupuncture, NCCAOM
• Lic.Ac. Licensed Acupuncturist
• LMT Licensed Massage Therapist
• L.I.S.W. Licensed Social Worker
• NCTMB Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, NCBTMB
• NCTM Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage, NCBTMB
• CNP Certified Nurse Practitioner
• RN Registered Nurse
• RYT Registered Yoga Teacher

Organizations/Associations

• AMTA American Massage Therapy Association member
• AOBTA American Organization of Bodywork Therapies of Asia member
• MCSS Minnesota Center for Shiatsu Study
• NCBTMB National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork
• NCCAOM National Certifying Commission of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
• NLSMT Northern Lights School of Massage Therapy