Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Mana Massage fulfills country star's needs

Photos and story by James Hill

Last summer, Jenni Jo McLaughlin toured with Faith Hill, serving as the country rock star’s massage therapist.

The owner of Mana Massage (811 E. Burnside St. Suite 218) said her dream came true when she was invited to join the Soul 2 Soul tour to work with Hill. McLaughlin’s connections with regional promoters and local music producers, which she had been developing for two years, had paid off. In June, McLaughlin got on the bus in Portland, one of 14 tour buses, and provided massage not only to Hill, but also to other musicians and members of the crew.

“They say you got to have faith,” laughed McLaughlin, a former Rose Festival princess. “I was validated about my gift, my career. I really thrive on being with other dreamers. They sacrifice every bit of energy and security to be creative. I love that energy. Early on I said, ‘Why can’t I make my business around that?’”

Before her big break working with music stars, her business’ path to success was a bumpy one. In school to become a massage therapist, an instructor asked each student in the class where they saw themselves in five years.

“I said I wanted to be Dave Matthews’ massage therapist,” remembered McLaughlin. “Massaging my best and paying it forward. Everyone looked at me and laughed.”

In 2006, when McLaughlin enrolled in the one-year Small Business Management Program, she’d been in business for three years. A friend who’d been in the SBDC program encouraged her to enroll. She found the support she needed, the resources, and a community of like-minded entrepreneurs through the Small Business Development Center of Portland Community College. The 35-year-old learned efficient administrative systems and was encouraged to develop a special niche – providing massages to musicians and performers.

“When you are an entrepreneur, you are living abnormally,” she said. “You are thinking outside of the box and it isn’t always so easy to get support. I was drowning and didn’t truly learn the processes I needed to, and to be accountable for my business and proactive for my success.”

Her first SBDC assignment was to set goals – immediate, short- and long-term. In the monthly counseling lessons that are part of the program, SBDC counselor Jackie Babicky-Peterson asked her to select three areas in which to gather information. McLaughlin chose managers and promoters at several local music venues. She also interviewed a few chiropractors to learn how best to tackle their billing and administrative needs. Finally, she sought out several other spa owners for feedback on the fee schedule, compensation for therapists on staff, and other business practices. McLaughlin not only expanded her knowledge but now has pivotal relationships with individuals in each category.

As a result, McLaughlin’s business has increased approximately 20 percent since she entered the SBDC program. She has had studios in several locations, developed an onsite massage therapy program for guests of the Jupiter Hotel, and for the musicians touring and playing at the Doug Fir Lounge, the restaurant and concert venue on the hotel property.

McLaughlin got into the massage business because of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the events surrounding that day when she worked as a corporate internal auditor. Her boyfriend, a New York City police officer, was stationed at the 9th Precinct.

“From that moment on, I wanted my life to mean something,” McLaughlin said.

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is one of 19 SBDCs in the state of Oregon. It is a part of the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network and is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department and is hosted by Portland Community College.

For more information about PCC’s Small Business Development Center, call (503) 978-5080.