Donald Goodale, LMT
From Fashion to Massage Therapy & AMTA
August 2026
Nominated by the AMTA-NY Board, Written by Shawn Belles, Membership Engagement Chair
At 18, Donald left his home state of Washington to pursue a career in Fashion. He studied Menswear Design and International Marketing at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in New York City. For over 30 years, Donald managed and ran the global manufacturing operations for fashion brands while traveling extensively all over the world.
Recognizing Massage Through Travel
To help himself transition into global time zones, Donald would get a massage while traveling to Asia for business. Taking a break from his job at Calvin Klein, Donald became more interested in massage therapy. His LMT suggested the school he went to at OSTM (Onondaga School of Therapeutic Massage) in Syracuse. So in 2002, Donald moved upstate to take OSTM's expedited 6-month, 8-hour-a-day massage therapy program.
After becoming licensed in 2003, Donald returned to the fashion industry, working for DKNY and other brands for 12 more years. Donald explains, “Massage was something I’d do between 'real' jobs or for friends. It took a decade for me to understand that I could support a family and live the lifestyle I’d wanted to while being an independent therapist. I had always been a corporate junkie and thought I needed to work for a “company.”
Growing with AMTA
After retiring from the fashion industry, Donald began his massage practice in 2015, the year he joined AMTA. “I joined AMTA in 2015 for the convention in Pittsburgh. At the national meeting, I was introduced to great leaders of the New York chapter. Pat, Eugene, Christine, Cindy, Melanie… who all said hello, were welcoming, and asked if I would help. I made friends,” Donald recalls.
Volunteering for the AMTA-NY board was a life-changing experience for Donald. He learned how to lead in a different way than in his previous career. He served as delegate, communications chair, board member, and financial administrator. Donald recalls, “The best leaders asked, 'How do you want to do it?’ Very few said, 'This is how you do it,' when it comes to positions on the AMTA-NY board.
His Time as President Was An Amazing Challenge
Donald agreed to take the president position post-COVID for the 2022-24 term. There had been no succession plan, and no eligible volunteers ran for president. Donald committed to serving one term as president. During his time in the role, the significant committees needed new volunteers, and the board was a mix of old and new members. Donald wanted to make way for new thinking, and it was a great opportunity to reimagine education, convention, community outreach, membership engagement, and scholarships, and to implement change.
I met Donald in 2023 at the AMTA-NY convention in Downtown Syracuse. At the time, he was still serving as chapter president and seeking volunteers to fill chair roles at AMTA-NY. He encouraged me to fill the role of membership engagement chair. Not knowing what that entailed or what I would be doing, I reluctantly agreed because of my busy schedule. Donald was still looking for fresh faces and new ideas. I enjoyed the support he gave me as we launched the AMTA-NY Chapter Members group on Facebook. It was an idea to foster stronger connections with our members.
During his time as chapter president, Donald engaged with AMTA national leadership and got curious. A few of the state volunteers he knew had gone on to national positions, one becoming national president. He wanted to leave the New York chapter on a high note, opening the door for new volunteers to lead as they see fit. Near the end of his term, Donald applied for a position on the AMTA National Board as Director. He’s currently enjoying a second term in the role.
Career and Community Outreach
In his role as a massage therapist, Donald works independently with clients in their homes. “My clientele varies from laborers to industry leaders and everyone in between. Most need 90 minutes of quiet time. Some have specific issues. Since I also became licensed in acupuncture, some need those options as well,” Donald states. His business is mostly on the east end of Long Island, with occasional jobs in the city. His business is referral-only, with no websites, zero social media, and no marketing or advertising. “My work speaks for itself, and my clients speak for me. That way, there is always a connection and no cold calls,” Donald says.
When Donald isn’t busy with AMTA and his massage career, he’s involved with an organization called Generation SOS, which engages with and educates students and young adults on how to live without mind-altering substances. In his free time, he enjoys going to the beach, swimming in the pool, working out at the gym, gardening, and his favorite: resting.
When it comes to stepping up to serve at the chapter level, Donald wants to remind everyone to “just say yes.” I know, as the membership engagement chair, I’m glad that I did. Thanks for your contributions, Donald. AMTA-NY is proud to have you as a member who has helped move us forward.
Would You Like To Nominate an AMTA Member for the Spotlight?
To submit a nominee and explain why you think we should highlight them, contact membershipengagement@amta-ny.org. We’re looking forward to recognizing more amazing AMTA-NY members!