Dr. Francis Parnell is CEO of Parnell Pharmaceuticals a California based private pharmaceutical company founded in 1986. The company develops, manufactures, and markets prescription and OTC drug products that maintain and restore mucosal and skin integrity. The products are natural-based and patented for oral and nasal care and personal care.

Parnell co-founded Parnell Pharmaceuticals and Y.S. Laboratories over thirty years ago to

research and create pharmaceuticals to sustain wellness and to improve quality of life. A

graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine Parnell completed residency training at

the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Parnell was a practicing Otolarygology-Head and Neck ( ENT) Surgeon for over 30 years. He is a

Fellow, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the American College of Surgeons. He is a co-founder of the Cosmetic & Laser Surgery Institute with wife Dr. Diana Parnell and previously was Corporate Medical Director at Becton, Dickinson Co. {B-D).

Bettina was born in Hungary and came to United Stated through human trafficking in 2012. She was hiding for the first years of her American dream as it quickly became a nightmare. In 2016 she ran away from her traffickers and started to build her life over. 

The United States immigration saved gave her the second chance and provided residency, which was indeed the beginning of her American dream. By today, she is finishing her degree on one of the best colleges in the US, University of Miami. She is sober, healthy, and providing education and recovery programs for survivors and potential victims. She is committed in helping organizations fighting human trafficking and aiding safe houses by walking victims through revival.

David Yankey is a Stanford Grad and 2010 Watkins Award Honoree.  He was drafted in the NFL by the Minnesota Vikings and also played for the Carolina Panthers, and Miami Dolphins.  David is now a commercial real estate director in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Dr. Charlie Ware is the founder and chief formulator for Healing Blends Global, an all-natural herbal supplement company, and the creator of EvenFlo, the first supplement of its kind; proven 97% effective in double-blind studies to help individuals with the debilitating disease of sickle cell anemia with zero negative side effects. He is also revolutionizing the world of genetic testing by bringing concierge healthcare based on reading more than 1200 genetic codes to those who want to live a limitless life and be their best self, without apologies.

Tele Health Link https://healthontherise.practicebetter.io/#/5d5af77f627d1406903009ef/bookings?s=5de935242a832612a054df2a

From his early years, Michael always felt a need to help others. After attending North Central Bible College in 1977, Michael worked with troubled teenagers, street gangs and homeless youth.

In 1992, Michael's calling led him to pursue a career as a certified massage therapist and reflexologist. In 1993 he opened his own practice," The Holistic Massage and Reflexology Center".

TEACHING/LECTURE EXPERIENCE 1993- 2013

Michael had the vision to share his gift of healing with others and began teaching and lecturing in the Chicagoland area. Michael was an instructor and student outreach coordinator at RTS Massage School in Darien. He also taught Spa Reflexology at The Academy of Nails in Downers Grove. He has lectured at the Chicago Cosmetology Association's Midwest Beauty Show, Downers Grove North and South High School Athletic Departments, Glen Ellyn Runners Association and sponsored many local 5K's and sporting events.



In 2011 he was chosen to be a subject matter expert with the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Body workers (NCBTMB) and travels to Minneapolis, MN twice yearly to assess the test materials for National Certification.

SOHMAR A SCHOOL WITH HEART

Michael and his wife opened the school in 1999 and began offering reflexology classes. In 2000 the school became certified with the Illinois Board of Higher Education and expanded the program to include massage, reflexology and CE classes. Since our inception SOHMAR has graduated hundreds of massage therapist and reflexologist. We are a small school with a big heart. We have worked with students ranging in age from 18- to 72. We have taught visually and hearing impaired individuals as well as bilingual students.

MASSAGE THERAPY HALL OF FAME

Michael was selected by a group of his peers and inducted into the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame August 8, 2016. This is quite a feat, being that there are over 350,000 Massage Therapists and 23,000 private Massage Schools in the US alone. Choosing SOHMAR for your education means that you will be taught by a documented leading expert in the field!

IN THE COMMUNITY

Well known in the sporting community as both an athlete and sports massage therapist, Michael and SOHMAR students provide massage therapy at many Chicagoland sporting events. By participating in these events the students gain an edge working in real world situations while gaining invaluable training outside the classroom.

Over the years Mike and the school has graduated hundreds of students in Massage Therapy and Reflexology. SOHMAR has also given out scholarships which have helped people change their lives.

SOHMAR sponsors many sporting events and takes his students to them to give them "real life experience" while in school. Some of these include, The Chicago Marathon, Downers Grove Turkey Trot, Bonfield Run, MS Indoor Triathelons and much more! If you are a runner, you might even see SOHMAR students on the Glen Ellyn Prairie Path with the Glen Ellyn Runners on Sunday mornings during Marathon trainings!

Raquel Escobar Rios is an intuitive mentor, therapist, and a guide who offers inspiration. With over 9 years’ experience in healing, plus a lifetime of psychic awareness, Raquel recovers a natural balance in people and environments. Her background is in arts, pedagogy, drama, holistic therapy, and film. Originally from Spain, Miss Rios currently lives in London.  

Bryant Browning is a 2006 Watkins Award Honoree from Cleveland Ohio.  He attended the football powerhouse Glenville High School.  Bryant was truly an Academic All-American as he was the valedictorian and senior class president.  After an outstanding high school career, Bryant signed a football scholarship with The Ohio State University.  Bryant graduated with a degree in business and had the opportunity to play in the NFL.  Bryant is now a successful entrepreneur in Columbus, Ohio serving the best BBQ in town at The Pit BBQ Grille.        

Cariol Holloman Horne of Buffalo, New York, is known for breaking the blue wall of silence -- the informal rule among police officers in the U.S. which prohibits them from reporting on a colleague’s misconducts, errors and crimes.

 

Horne was a police officer in Buffalo, where she was born and raised. On November 1, 2006, she stopped her fellow Buffalo Police Department officer Gregory Kwiatkowski from choking a handcuffed arrestee, an African-American man named Neal Mack.

The action that Officer Horne took, which she was later vilified for, may have in fact saved the life of Neal Mack. In the wake of the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, the question becomes whether similar actions would have saved his life.

 

Responding to a domestic dispute, and intervening to protect the suspect, Horne was charged with obstruction, sued by her fellow officer and later fired two months before her retirement, which resulted in the loss of her pension. Since Horne’s firing, she has become an outspoken activist against police brutality.

 

Cariol is a single mother of five children. She received the Harriet Tubman Award from the Erie County Legislature and was named Person of the Year by WUFO Radio. She received the Shero Award for Excellence in Community Service from the Los Angeles Urban Police Roundtable and was named UMOJA's Woman of the Year.

Named after her, the legislation called Cariol’s Law was signed into law in October 2020. The New York State Supreme Court reinstated her pension and ordered back pay on April 13, 2021.