“I could never do massage therapy, that’s too hard on your body”. Those were the words out of my mouth over 8 years ago and prior to buying my mother’s business.
In 1995, my mother, Romona Wilcox, enrolled in our community college as a student in the new “Massage Therapy” program. She graduated with the first group of students who completed the program, and then received her state license that summer. This became the foundation of Gateway Therapeutic Massage & Steam room Center.
A close friend and community land owner funded the expansion of an existing business to provide an office for Romona. Romona and a former massage classmate, Connor Sauer, then started their business. As the business grew and things began getting too busy for just the two of them, I came into the picture.
I agreed to answer the phone, clean the steam room, change the therapists’ sheets, make copies, and just about anything else that they needed. At that time I really did not know what I was getting myself into. Time passed, and as I was pursuing my personal training career I started looking closer at how many referrals Romona and I were passing back and forth. At this point, massage was sounding more compatible with my training. So I decided to give it a shot.
As the owner of Gateway since June 2004, and a Licensed Massage Practitioner since September 2001, I am happy to announce that we have expanded another 600 square feet, and plan on expanding again in the near future.
With the passing of my father 4 years ago, and the soft silence of my mother’s retirement just this last June, I realize that they are no longer here to hold my hand. But as I walk though Gateway everyday I smell the fine woodwork my father put into the business and hear my mother’s words whisper through my ears. With this, I am reminded that Gateway would not be where it is today without the two of them.
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