10 Questions for Paul Lindamood, CEO of the NCBTMB

This is the final post in my series of interviews with the leaders of
the organizations of the massage therapy profession. Paul Lindamood is
the CEO of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage
& Bodywork. He recently answered my questions, and as with the
others, his answers are offered here unedited.

LA: What is your background in the massage profession? Are you now or have you ever personally been a massage therapist?

PL: I am not a massage therapist, but I have been working both in and for the profession for over three years now. I quickly became captivated by the field and the people who represent it
when NCBTMB partnered with the firm where I was previously employed,
and had provided strategic services and solutions to health-related
clients – including nonprofits – for nearly 30 years. From a personal
perspective, however, I have been an ardent believer in the benefits of
massage ever since I first utilized it myself as a stress reliever some
20 years ago.

When I assumed the CEO position, the NCBTMB board, staff, volunteers and all of our stakeholders generously shared their knowledge and experiences with me, so that I was able to gain an
understanding of the many challenges and opportunities facing our
profession. I have since dedicated my career to exploring these
opportunities and overcoming these challenges.

An interesting sidebar: I will never forget the day – about 15 years ago – when a young business associate of mine unceremoniously quit what was a very promising business career … to become a massage
therapist. I remember thinking that massage therapy must be an amazing
profession to have attracted such a charismatic, talented and creative
person away from us. And now, some 15 years later, I have to smile when
I think back. Amazing indeed.

LA: How long have you been with the organization?

PL: Well, technically before working for NCBTMB, I worked with NCB. As I mentioned, my former company was asked to respond to an RFP by NCBTMB in 2006. Consequently, we were selected by the Board of
Directors to assist in developing its strategic, business and
communications initiatives. As the lead executive, I worked with NCB in
that capacity for 2 years prior to accepting the position of Chief
Executive Officer. So I worked as a vendor for the organization
starting in November, 2006, and became CEO on December 15, 2008.

LA: Have you been in the same position with the organization since you started, or did you climb through the ranks?

PL: I was brought on as Chief Executive Officer in December of 2008, which is the only position I have held as an employee of NCBTMB. I came from a highly respected business solutions
and marketing firm, with more than 20 year’s experience as a C-level
executive. I have devoted my career to positioning, directing and
promoting associations, professional firms, healthcare organizations,
businesses and nonprofits, utilizing my background in operations,
communications, promotion, recruitment, budgeting and finance, culture
building and service excellence. In fact, it was in this capacity that
I first began working with NCBTMB, directing the organization’s
communications, public relations, media and re-branding strategies......READ MORE