AGAPE CARE GROUP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions
Alex Ferguson serves as the senior vice president of mergers and acquisitions for Agape Care Group. In this role Alex will prioritize M&A opportunities to match the company's financial, timing and cultural objectives supporting the growth trajectory and vision for Agape Care's expansion throughout the southeast.
Prior to joining Agape Care, Alex served as the vice president of business development at Guardian Pharmacy, the country's third largest long-term care pharmacy provider. Under his direct leadership, Guardian grew from 9 locations to 41 across the US.
Drawing from more than 20 years of experience, Alex has expertise successfully integrating organizations that are strategically joining together. He is adept at supporting founders and entrepreneurs in creating, growing and realizing value for their businesses. He enjoys all aspects of the process beginning with establishing fair valuation and thoughtful structure, as well as leading the due diligence process to support a smooth integration.
Alex graduated with honors from the University of Georgia, earning a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology before earning an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. He currently lives in Atlanta with his wife, four (very busy) children, and lab-mix, Scout.
DeeDee Henderson is the mission officer, responsible for leading efforts regarding veterans, volunteers and grief support, as well as spearheading diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the company. DeeDee is also focused on cultivating and maintaining relationships within the communities the company serves.
Formerly the vice president of clinical operations, DeeDee has in-depth experience formulating strategic initiatives, developing lasting partnerships, implementing quality and compliance standards, and overseeing the care for hospice patients and their families. Prior to her positions as executive vice president of clinical operations and CEO for Agapé Hospice, DeeDee has also worked in various senior leadership roles within the Agape Care integrated network. Her experiences as COO, executive director, regional president, post-acute care administrator, and director of nursing have all worked to equip DeeDee to continue leading the company's clinical operations with excellence.
Starting her career as a social worker with Lutheran Homes of South Carolina, DeeDee has been in the industry for over 25 years. The opportunities she has had to serve in cross-functional roles have provided DeeDee with a wealth of knowledge to deliver exceptional results and provide optimal care for patients and families.
DeeDee received a Bachelor of Social Work from Winthrop University, an Associate in Health Science with a major in nursing from York Technical College, and a Master of Business Administration from Pfeiffer University. She is extremely passionate about helping employees achieve their goals and making a difference every day. Outside of work, DeeDee is a die-hard Carolina Panthers fan, and she loves listening to audio books, traveling, and spending time with her daughters.
Dr. Tiffany Richter graduated from medical school at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. She went on to complete a residency in family medicine, followed by a fellowship in palliative medicine at Broward Health. Dr. Richter is board certified in family medicine and palliative medicine, as well as Hospice Medical Director Board certified. As the company's Group medical officer, she leads the Agape Care Group's focus on clinical excellence across all lines of care. She is focused on building more robust clinical resources, improving communications across care teams, hospice physician engagement and enhancing education.
Dr. Richter brings a wealth of experience in palliative and hospice care across multiple settings and states. She has practiced in-hospital palliative care in both Los Angeles, CA and in Charleston, SC, as well as an outpatient oncology-focused palliative care clinic. She has also served as a full-time hospice medical director, caring for home hospice patients and patients in a freestanding hospice inpatient facility. Her history in this field has given her a passion for education and innovative models of care for patients with serious illness that focus on quality and patient experience.
Dr. Richter currently resides with her family in Charleston, SC.
Ian Swank is the vice president of sales. He is responsible for the strategic oversight and vision of the sales team, with the primary goal of increasing the number of patients they serve daily.
With over 18 years of sales and marketing experience and over 13 years in the senior and hospice care fields, Ian uses his specialized experience and business acumen to help his team succeed and support patients and their families. Ian has been a part of the Agape team since May of 2021, starting as regional director of business development, where he managed key account liaisons and established growth in the region. Prior to joining Agape Care Group, Ian served in executive positions at Well Care Health and Curo Health Services.
Ian received a bachelor's degree in communications, focusing on public relations, and a bachelor's degree in history from East Carolina University. He is passionate about helping his community and has actively served his local community center and served on multiple advisory councils. Ian is excited to continue his work with Agape Care and provide leadership to the incredible sales team. Outside of work, Ian enjoys visiting historic sites, hiking, horseback riding, and spending time with his wife and three children in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Jason Gerard is the chief financial officer, focusing on Agape Care's overall financial health.
A main part of his role is to support Operations by working with the directors of operations on branch performance, ensuring every area across the state has productive resources to serve our patients effectively and efficiently. Jason has more than more than 20 years of post-acute experience, including at AccentCare in Dallas, Texas, where he was the senior vice president of finance. He also served as the West Region CFO and director of finance - analytics at the Atlanta-based Kindred at Home.
Jason is Texas born and raised, but he has ties to the Palmetto State as his wife, Jennifer, is a Rock Hill native. He has two daughters and a love/hate relationship with his alma mater football team, Texas Tech. He enjoys hunting and fishing in his free time.
Matt Winer is the chief operations officer and leads Agape Care Group's adult hospice and palliative care programs across all 46 counties in South Carolina. He is responsible for providing strategic leadership to achieve the long-term goals of the organization and is dedicated to helping our company serve a growing number of patients across the Southeast region.
A health care industry veteran and entrepreneurial innovator, Matt joined Agape Care from LHC Group where he led the company's Home Health Division in the Northeast. He has health care experience in South Carolina, having served in operational leadership roles for MUSC Health based in Charleston. He has also led teams in both North and South Carolina for Amedisys.
Matt began his career as a clinician, receiving a Master of Physical Therapy degree from Emory University and later an MBA from the University of South Carolina.
Pamela Duncan - Chief Compliance Officer
Pamela Duncan is our chief compliance officer, a position she has held since March of 2019. In this position, Pamela oversees the Corporate Compliance and Ethics program, as well as the Health Information Management department. She is also responsible for conducting the annual risk assessment, creating internal audit plans, overseeing contracts and serving as the HIPAA privacy officer.
Prior to joining Agape Care, Pamela was the executive director of Post-Acute Compliance, overseeing the corporate compliance program for 13 different post-acute service lines at a hospital system in North Carolina. Some of her additional experience includes serving as the chief compliance officer for LTC Health Solutions and an administrator for several other post-acute care centers and hospice houses. Pamela is certified in health care compliance and also holds certifications as a health care internal audit professional and a hospice and palliative care administrator. Her experience in the health care industry allows her to translate complex statutes and regulations into simple operational systems and internal controls that maintain compliance.
Pamela received a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Taft Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in professional communications from Winthrop University. Having spent over 25 years in the industry, Pamela is passionate about post-acute care and public speaking as a means of educating others. Personally, Pamela loves spending time with her family, including her four grandchildren, and she is a huge NFL football fan.
Troy Yarborough is the chief executive officer responsible for guiding the vision of the organization and leading the development and execution of long-term strategies.
Having been in the industry for over 13 years, Troy has a multitude of experiences serving in leadership positions for end of life care organizations. Before joining Agape Care, Troy served in various leadership positions with regional and national post-acute providers. Throughout the course of his career, Troy has led the growth of clinics, expansion of partnerships, and increased revenue through the development of sales and marketing strategies. His experience in cross-functional roles and his desire for continuous improvement drive Troy to build a best-in-class company.
With a passion for delivering unparalleled service and cultivating a thriving culture for his employees, Troy has a vision for Agape Care to become the clear leader in end-of-life care. His goal is that the organization will operate by putting patients and employees at the forefront of every decision, believing that the organization sets itself apart in the market by focusing on local relationships across the Southeast, and nimbly adjusting care delivery.
Troy earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from Wofford College. Outside of work, Troy enjoys being outdoors hunting and gardening, is an avid college football fan, and stays busy with his wife, four kids, and wide menagerie of animals.