Meet the Team
STAFF
Denise Leslie, LMT, CEO
Medical & Sports Massage Practitioner • Healing Hands Nonprofit - Founder • Certified Yogini
Whoever said you can’t live life pain-free has yet to meet Denise Leslie. As a mother, entrepreneur, and health & wellness advocate, she is all about living a pain-free life. After several decades in the corporate world, she decided to take a leap of faith and do what she loves: giving people the opportunity to live a pain-free life. Being the pulse behind Sandy Spring’s premier Medical & Sports Massage practice has led her to pave the way for her therapists to continue touching the lives of athletes & anyone currently suffering from diseases that painfully affect their bodies daily.
Ashli Davis, LMT, COO
Medical & Sports Massage Practitioner • Manager • Marketing & Brand Lead
Graston Technique® Level 2, Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Neuromuscular Therapy, Stretch Therapy
With five years at Medical & Sports Massage, Ashli has grown from a skilled therapist to a key leader within the team. As both a Chief Operating Officer and Medical & Sports Massage Practitioner, she brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, operational leadership, and client-centered care to everything she does.
Specializing in a sports-style approach, Ashli is known for her ability to tailor each session to meet the specific needs of her clients—whether they’re athletes in recovery, professionals managing chronic tension, or everyday people simply wanting to move better and feel their best. Her diverse training background allows her to address a wide range of concerns with precision and compassion.
Over the years, she’s built a loyal roster of clients who have gone from pain and immobility to regaining full, active lives. Helping people reclaim their movement and return to doing what they love is what she finds most rewarding about this work.
Outside of the treatment room, you can often find her roller skating under the sun, staying grounded and inspired by movement in all its forms.
Portia Jackson, LMT
Medical & Sports Massage Practitioner
Portia graduated from Gwinnett College in 2019 with a specialization in neuromuscular and sports massage therapy. With a strong foundation in clinical bodywork, she is dedicated to helping clients improve mobility, reduce pain, and restore balance by addressing the root causes of discomfort rather than just the symptoms. Portia is passionate about problem-solving through massage—whether that means easing muscle tension, enhancing recovery, or supporting overall performance. She finds fulfillment in seeing her clients leave each session moving better and feeling more aligned. Her ultimate goal is to provide care that promotes long-term wellness and empowers clients to feel their best.
Chanel Mercado, LMT
Chanel Mercado is a licensed massage therapist with a background in healthcare staffing, clinical recruiting, and client relationship management. Her experience includes working with healthcare providers, mental health facilities, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists.
Before becoming a massage therapist, Chanel spent more than a decade in healthcare recruiting and staffing. This experience gives her a strong understanding of patient care settings, provider needs, communication, and service.
Chanel brings a professional, people-first approach to her work. Her background in healthcare and employee relations supports her ability to listen, communicate clearly, and help clients feel comfortable throughout their massage experience.
Schwanda Macz, LMT
Schwanda is a massage therapist in Georgia with a background in exercise science, laboratory work, fitness instruction, and client care. She studied exercise science at Georgia Gwinnett College and brings a strong understanding of movement, body mechanics, and recovery to her work.
Her experience includes hands-on lab work, Hapkido and kickboxing instruction, CPR/AED training, and years of working in service-based roles. This mix gives her a practical, client-centered approach to massage therapy.
Schwanda is bilingual in English and Spanish. She is known for being flexible, detail-oriented, and able to support clients with care, focus, and clear communication.
Douglas Easterly, LMT
Medical & Sports Massage Practitioner
With more than 15 years of therapeutic experience, Douglas Easterly specializes in neuromuscular therapy, deep tissue massage, and sports injury recovery. His calm, focused approach helps clients relieve pain, restore function, and often avoid surgery through personalized, hands-on care.
Doug’s path to bodywork began after a serious car accident at 17 left him with chronic back pain. His recovery journey led him to study the science of movement and the power of manual therapy — a commitment that still defines his work today. Outside of the clinic, Doug performs as a musician, sharing his passion for rhythm both on stage and in his practice.
David Goodwin, LMT
Medical & Sports Massage Practitioner
David is a Licensed Massage Therapist with a strong background in therapeutic bodywork. A graduate of the Atlanta School of Massage and licensed in Georgia, he brings a comprehensive approach to clinical and rehabilitative massage. His work integrates medical massage techniques with individualized treatment plans, incorporating modalities such as deep tissue, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and neuromuscular techniques.
Known for his compassionate and professional demeanor, David is dedicated to improving patient outcomes through evidence-informed practices. His work is grounded in anatomy, physiology, and the therapeutic alliance between client and therapist. David went into the massage field because he has a passion for therapies that go beyond the traditional medical field.
When not in session, David continues his education through specialized training and certifications to stay current with the latest advancements in massage therapy and integrative health.