GateWay Community College Massage Therapy instructor Michael Tapscott was among the five new members appointed to the Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy this past week by Governor Doug Ducey.
The appointees will replace all of the existing board members whose terms have expired. The new members were selected to ensure the state of Arizona follows best practices to keep Arizona massage clients safe while maintaining a robust Arizona spa community.
"The appointment of Michael Tapscott highlights how experienced and knowledgeable he is in the field of massage therapy," said Dr. Amy Diaz, interim president of GateWay Community College. "He makes a difference every day in the lives of our students, and we are incredibly honored to have him as part of our team here at GateWay."
Tapscott, a licensed massage therapist, has over 25 years of experience as a Licensed Massage Therapist in Arizona and performed more than 15,000 hours of massage therapy. He has taught at two schools and managed a team of 50 massage therapists at a large valley resort. In addition to his experience, he also works with the Human Services Campus of Phoenix, assisting homeless individuals.
"I am incredibly honored to have been selected," said Tapscott. "It is a great opportunity to use my experience and expertise to ensure our state is moving forward and in the right direction when it comes to the massage therapy industry. I’m excited about working with the team the Governor has selected. It’s going to be a very people-centric group and exactly what this community needs."
The Board consists of five members appointed by the Governor to five-year terms and regulates the practice of massage therapy, licenses qualified applicants, and is authorized to take enforcement actions.
"Michael has a vast amount of knowledge on the industry," said Governor Ducey. "The state is committed to implementing policies and best practices that will help keep Arizonans who are massage clients safe and will continue to work with industry professionals and members of the spa community moving forward."
Tapscott created and has led the massage therapy program at GateWay for seven years at multiple campuses. To learn more about the massage therapy at GateWay, please visit www.gatewaycc.edu/massage-therapy.