New President at ABMP

The nation’s largest massage association has a new appointed president: C. Leslie (“Les”) Sweeney, who takes over from former President Bob Benson.

“I am excited and honored to be given this responsibility,” Sweeney said in an association press release. “I am proud of our accomplishments over the past 12 years, and look forward to continuing our efforts to support the profession and to provide the programs and service our members expect.”

ABMP provides professional liability insurance, works for an equitable regulatory environment, maintains a nationwide database of therapists accessible by clients, and offers online and print resources.

During Benson’s 10 years as president, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) grew in membership from 15,600 to 57,000. The next-largest association, the American Massage Therapy Association, has 55,000 members.

Sweeney began working at ABMP in 1994 after previous association-management experience at the Club Managers Association of American in Alexandria, Virginia. A graduate of the University of Virginia, he also has earned an MBA from the University of Colorado, Denver, and completed massage-therapy training at The Holistic Learning Center in Evergreen, Colorado. He is certified through the National Certification Board for Therapist Massage and Bodywork.

At ABMP, Sweeney’s responsibilities have included oversight of massage-school relationships, student-member recruitment, government relations, data processing and database management. He has served as ABMP’s executive vice president since 1999.

Benson will continue to be active with ABMP, and will serve as its chairman.