About IAM

Matt McKown has been a certified massage therapist and health educator for 10+ years coming from the world’s leading massage school. He became one of the youngest massage therapists to become nationally certified by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Matt has also spent time on the board of the American Massage Therapy Association in a delegate roll. He has specialized the majority of his professional career providing deep tissue and sports massage. With training in a wide variety of modalities. He is always learning and developing the most efficient ways to help his clients achieve homeostasis. When Matt isn’t working, he enjoys spending most of his time alone. He likes traveling, playing video games, surfing, movies, learning, and occasionally going to the gym. Matt’s goal at the school is to ultimately give students all the information they need using a practical, real world approach to become leading massage therapists in the field.

Christina completed her initial massage training with Meir Schneider in 1989. She then began working with several chiropractors and also started her own practice in 1992. She has developed relationships with gyms, acupuncturists, and spas. Her specialties include, Thai massage, lymphatic drainage, reflexology and trigger point therapy. She's been a teaching assistant and instructor of Thai massage and lymphatic drainage for many years. She loves working with students of all levels.

Daniel Smith, President and Owner, has been in the day spa business for 12+ years and now offers a unique opportunity for students to learn from industry leaders in the field of massage therapy. Dan has recruited, hired and developed strategic career paths for hundreds of licensed massage therapists throughout his years in the field and now, through IAM, students will be able to tap into the knowledge and expertise of these professional massage therapists who currently enjoy successful and thriving careers.

Marlene received her BA Degree from Augsburg College, with emphasis on Biology and Chemistry, as well as Education. She graduated from ASSTI in 2011 as a Pfrimmer Deep Muscle Therapist and has been certified with the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) for over 10 years. She achieved additional certifications as an Advanced Digestive Health Professional in 2017 and became a Certified Integrated Life Process Practitioner in 2021. Joining our teaching staff at Indiana Academy of Massage in August of 2021, her main focus in teaching Anatomy and Physiology, the Pathology of Massage, and other modalities as needed, is to also integrate examples of real world experiences throughout the subject matter. She previously taught A & P at another Massage School for 2 years. When not at work, Marlene and her husband enjoy taking care of their pets, gardening, and traveling. They often travel to enjoy time with their two daughters and families. After surviving uterine cancer (over 15 years ago), Marlene continues to be passionate about learning alternative modalities to better assist her clients and her students. Her passion and goal is to always continue learning so that she can better help others in achieving their optimal health.

After years of seeking out traditional, Western methods (trying to heal from major childhood traumas) yet still experiencing so much pain and suffering, Sky began a life-long process of learning and leaning into “alternative” or non-traditional approaches to treatment. In so doing, she stumbled onto the path of her ultimate passion and purpose: healing other’s via healing herself. Her expansive educational journey of the past 20-plus years has taken Sky through years of Psychological Studies at Eastern Illinois University, earned her an Accreditation from the Dayton School of Medical Massage. Her insatiable appetite to enable clients to better their overall quality of life led to ever broader educational horizons. She went on to study with the foremost experts in Neurokinetic Therapy (NKT) and the Voila Method of Structural Joint Balancing. Another tool in her ever-expanding belt is Stephen Braybrook’s Brain-Move, which provides an integrated and innovative approach to educate, test, reset and activate the brain for pain relief. Most recently, Sky took a course in an incredibly innovative approach to system’s balancing called the Zone Technique, for which she is one of only two trained and certified practitioners in the state of Indiana. Philosophically, in terms of both work and life, Sky has learned that one is never “finished” learning. Her lust for the utmost whole and balanced approach to engaging the mind-body connection for client wellness is undeniable and makes her an essential asset to our facilitator team.

Hi, my name is Jennifer James Louks. I'm happy to be the Swedish massage techniques instructor here at IAM. I've been a massage therapist since 1992. I've loved massage since my very first certification course. I practice and teach a wide variety of the many techniques and modalities I've learned over the years. I'm looking forward to passing on my knowledge to the next generation of massage professionals.

Kendra McKellar, Academy Director, has been a licensed massage therapist for nearly 20 years. She is also a licensed esthetician and nail technician for over 10 years. She received over 500 hours of instructor training in Dallas, TX and has been teaching massage, esthetics and nails since 2013. She started teaching massage at 2 different advanced 900 hour curriculum schools in Dallas & Austin, TX. She started as a massage therapy instructor and was promoted to Lead Instructor. She worked her way up to Operations Assistant & Assistant Director of a 750 hour massage school. She ran 2 different campus locations and was over the massage & esthetics programs. She has experience with developing curriculum, lesson plans, and training instructors on state laws and requirements. When Kendra isn’t at work she enjoys spending time with her three children and husband who is also a massage therapist! We are excited to have Kendra as a member of the Indiana Academy of Massage Team! Her qualifications and passion for massage make her the perfect fit to lead and teach the future of Massage therapy!