executive board of Directors

I am Rob Massimiano. I started tattooing in 1986 and still tattoo full time. I tattoo in Elkton, Maryland, on the same street that I served my apprenticeship on. I have been involved in the APT since the very begining back in 1992. My number is 39p. I served 8 and a half years on the board of directors through the 90's and into the 2000's. I have always volunteered my time, energy and thoughts to the APT, and have on a couple of occasions, traveled to our trade show in Las Vegas to teach seminars. Last year, in 2019, I rejoined the board and subsequently took on the role as your new President. I have always had a strong belief in, and been a staunch supporter of, the A.P.T.. The APT is a great organization that offers every tattooist in the country a chance to have a unified voice whenever and wherever we need our voice to be heard.

 "We have a very strong board in place right now, nicely supplemented by past board members that sit in as advisors. It is our vision that the APT continue to grow in numbers, and strength. (There is strength in numbers my friends.) Lastly, I would like to encourage any of you who would like to help, to step up and seek a position on the Board of Directors, or maybe on one of our committees. And we can always use stories and photos for our newsletter. Thank you, and I look forward to meeting some of you soon." 

Tattooing since 1976. APT Member #5P and #2L, Pat is an original founding member of the APT since it formed in Maryland in 1992 and is now a Lifetime Member. In her nearly 28 years of membership, she has served as President, Vice-President, Secretary and Director for a total of 19 years of dedication to the organization and to the tattoo trade. Pat is also an Instructor for the PDTT course and on subjects as pigment and pigment mixing for the trade show. Additionally, she administers the Tattoo Mastery Test at our live events. She is the current vice-president.

Owner of Pat’s Tats, www..patstats.com, located in Woodstock, NY since 1990. Established in NJ in 1976. Achieved Master Tattooist Certificate issued by the APT. She is semi-retired. Pat is also involved with NTA Cruisers as an advisor and Art Director for their online news magazine. She continues to tattoo and create art in various mediums.

"After a short hiatus from serving on the board, I’m very happy to be back again. This time I have fresh eyes and renewed energy and trust you, our members will help us to re-energize the organization to the potential we, on the board, know it has. Please join, support and reach out to me personally at patstatstattoo@gmail.com."

Lori has been an APT member since 2015.  Lori has been getting tattooed since 1999, and has become increasingly involved with the art and industry since that time. She is now completely tattooed, from the back of her head down to her feet, except for her hands, face, and the front of her neck.  By day, Lori is a Physical Therapist in a religiously affiliated hospital. This experience provides her insight regarding how tattoos are perceived in professional settings, as well as professional knowledge of infection control issues.  She hopes one day she will not have to cover her tattoos while at work.  Lori has also been a member of the National Tattoo Association since 2010 and brings the perspective of a long-time tattoo client to her position on the APT board.  She is passionate about seeing tattooing flourish safely with appropriate regulation based on sound science, not misinformation. Though she is not an artist, she has the utmost respect for artists, and is grateful to have been welcomed into APT with such open arms.  

Jesse began his career as a tattoo artist in 1999 after an apprenticeship with a prominent local artist. From 1992 until 2000 Jesse studied all aspects of visual art, art history, theatrical design and faux painting at the University of Nebraska’s Omaha campus eventually graduating with degrees in both Studio Art and Dramatic Arts.

Performing in an AIDS(HIV) educational play with discussion groups after each performance in 1992 led him to an early understanding of Bloodborne pathogens issues, and gave a start to speaking to groups about the facts and encouraging safe behavior as well as treating those suffering with sympathy rather than hostility.

During his tattoo apprenticeship, his mother (an operating room nurse) passed along important articles about autoclaves, sterilization and clean procedure.

He has been a member of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists since 1999 and strongly promotes their ethics of safe and responsible tattooing.  After taking their seminar, Prevention of Disease Transmission in Tattooing, annually for many years, he became an instructor in 2010 and enjoys teaching folks in the Midwest and at conventions all over.  Jesse currently serves on the Board of Directors of the APT and has been involved with pigment labeling guides, the Body Art Model Code and other great progress that The Association of Food and Drug Officials(AFDO) and NEHA(National Environmental Health Association) are accomplishing.  He is looking forward to how the Body Art Education Association(BAEA) will help these groups and others interact and help our ancient profession fit into these modern times.

I started my tattooing career working the floor at the late Sailor Moses’ California Studio in Biloxi Ms in 1987.  Shortly thereafter I was offered an apprenticeship from Moses and Scott Sterling.  After my apprenticeship I worked at California Studio until 1992.  Which happens to be the same year of the inception of APT.  I then got the great honor to work with Juli Moon at her studio in Seabrook New Hampshire.  In 1994 I moved back to my home state of Minnesota, and opened Electric Dragonland. We have been in Hopkins for 26 years now.  I have been in the APT since the year of its inception in 1992.  Member number 112p.  I served on the Board of directors for 10 years and was president for 4 of those years.  In 2019 I rejoined the Board after the passing of our good friend and president Mike Martin.  I came back to continue the good works of the APT, bring it into the future, and make it as relevant and stronger than ever.

MASTER TATTOOIST

40yrs Armadillo Red Incporated 

27 in FL/13 in MI

NTA / NTA cruisers Director

BOD Florida Professional Tattoo Artist Guild

BOD 20 + yrs A P T

"My future goals for APT is to maintain their  forefront of safety education  throughout the United States...

Pushing the high level of professionalism; highest standards and safety education along with a platform for us to  professionally protect the future of our trade...."

American born 1972

Tattooer 1993-present

Owner of Philadelphia Eddies 621 Tattoo, Hunter Gatherer Tattoo, Floating World Tattoo, Villainarts.com, Texor2152 real estate, and Totem real estate.

Award winning tattooer, fine art painter, publisher,  Clothing designer, author, real estate developer and tattoo convention organizer.  Troy has been featured in multiple magazines, TV appearances, art galleries, and has hosted tattoo conventions since 2003.  The Villainarts Philadelphia and Chicago tattoo conventions are now the 2 largest tattoo conventions in the world, with a 2020 attendance of 35,000 people at the Philadelphia event.  He has curated multiple museum installations on the subject of Tattoo History.  His large scale painting installations have been featured at Art Basel, and multiple live painting installations at tattoo conventions and galleries around the world.