St. Croix’s Strategic Executive Moves; NHPCO’s Ben Marcantonio Named Goodwin Living’s Board VP

Shake Ups in St. Croix’s Executive Level

St. Croix Hospice recently made changes to its executive team. The changes are intended to support the organization’s future growth.

St. Croix provides hospice to nearly 4,000 patients daily across the Midwest. The hospice provider operates 60 locations in 10 states. 

The hospice promoted Eric Lewis to chief accounting officer, who joined St. Croix in 2021 as vice president and controller. The move expanded his responsibilities in financial reporting, policy development and implementation.

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Another promotion came with the appointment of Bronwyn Pope as assistant vice president of marketing and communications. Pope has been at St. Croix Hospice since 2018, previously serving as director of marketing and communications. She has helped grow the hospice’s digital presence across a variety of media channels.

St. Croix also hired Mark Marjala as its new senior vice president of human resources. Marjala previously served as vice president of human capital at UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH).

The executive shifts come during a crucial point of St. Croix’s growth plans, according to CEO Heath Bartness.

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Most recently the hospice opened a de novo in Wisconsin, its 14th location in that state.

“We are pleased to be expanding the expertise on our leadership team as St. Croix Hospice continues to grow in response to the need for expert hospice care throughout the Midwest,” Bartness said in a statement. “Mark Marjala is a proven leader who we are excited to bring on board to support and grow the best hospice caregiving team in the industry. In addition, we have recognized the contributions that both Eric Lewis and Bronwyn Pope have made in support of the health and growth of St. Croix Hospice through their work to build and lead teams which will continue to be essential to the organization’s success and planned growth.”

NHPCO’s Ben Marcantonio Tapped as VP of Goodwin Living Board

Virginia-based Goodwin Living has tapped Ben Marcantonio as vice chair of its board of trustees. Marcantonio is COO and interim CEO at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).

Marcantonio has served on the nonprofit’s board since 2021. That spring, NHPCO and Goodwin Living partnered to release a revised version of an outreach guide aimed at helping hospice and palliative care providers improve awareness and access in African American communities.

The nonprofit also recently named a new board chair, Cyrillene (C.C.) Clark, who is the owner of the executive staffing firm Crichlow Clark Group.

“To be asked to step into the role of vice chair for the board of trustees is truly an honor,” Marcantonio said in a statement. “I am excited to serve with C.C. Clark, our new board chair, and the other board trustees to carry out the mission of Goodwin Living by planning for the future and meeting the needs of the present through the Goodwin Living retirement communities, programs and services.”

Goodwin provides assisted living, home health and hospice across northern Virginia, including in the Washington D.C. area. The nonprofit offers home- and facility-based hospice, skilled nursing and home health care. Goodwin also has a memory care program and provides personal services to help seniors age in place, such as assistance with care coordination, home repairs and housekeeping.

“Since 1998, when we established Goodwin Hospice and Goodwin House Home Care, we understood the need to serve people in ways that reach beyond housing,” Goodwin Living President and CEO Rob Liebreich said. “As we grow our focus on providing quality support to those living in the broader community, we need clear leadership and wisdom, and are very grateful for Ben’s interest and engagement with our board of trustees.”

Hospice of the Piedmont’s CEO Retires

The hunt is on for a new president and CEO at Hospice of the Piedmont (HOP) after the retirement of Ron Cottrell.

The Virginia-based nonprofit hospice is working with an unnamed national search firm to fill the role. Cottrell will continue at its helm until then.

“Ron has been an invaluable asset to the organization, and we very much appreciate his leadership and management,” Scott Syverud, HOP’s board chair, said in a press release. “They always say you should leave an organization better than you found it, and Ron has done just that.”

Hospice of the Piedmont’s service region stretches across 12 counties in central Virginia. Established more than 40 years ago, the nonprofit provides hospice and offers patients art, music and pet therapy programs, as well as death doula services.

Cottrell joined the hospice in 2016. Prior to that, he served in administration for 27 years at the Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Under Cottrell’s leadership, the hospice in 2020 expanded its service lines to include palliative care. He also recently oversaw the launch of HOP’s community engagement initiative. Dubbed the Positive Transformation Project, the initiative focuses on increasing hospice awareness and access.

“When I started at HOP, I knew this work was important, but seeing it up close and personal has given me an entirely different understanding. We are with people at their most vulnerable moments,” Cottrell said. “Hospice of the Piedmont is making moves in the community and working to create an important and needed culture shift. I’m proud to have been a part of this work and look forward to seeing it positively impact our community for months and years to come.”

Chautauqua Hospice Appoints Inpatient Facility Director

Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care (CHPC) recently named Christina Anderson as the new director of The Star Hospice House in New York.

Anderson is a registered nurse who has served seniors in skilled nursing facilities for roughly 26 years.

“I am honored to be joining The Star Hospice House team,” Anderson told local news. “I look forward to working with the staff and volunteers to provide the highest quality of care and support to our residents and their families.”

The Star Hospice House opened in 2022 and is located in Chautauqua County, a western region of New York. The facility features five private patient rooms and two family bedrooms, along with a kitchen, living room and balcony. Patients at the hospice house receive 24/7 inpatient end-of-life care from nurses and aides.

CHPC provides end-of-life services to homebound and facility-based patients. The hospice provider also offers community-based palliative care and bereavement services.

“We are thrilled to have Christina join our team,” CHPC CEO Mike Testa said. “Her extensive experience in the field and her commitment to excellence in care will be a tremendous asset to our organization.”

Cornerstone Hospice Foundation’s New Executive Director

Florida-based Cornerstone Hospice Foundation has brought on Raquel (Rocky) McCormick as its new executive director.

McCormick steps into the role after serving as philanthropic director at the foundation since 2021. She was previously vice president of corporate donor engagement at Heart of Florida United Way. McCormick’s fundraising campaigns raised $14 million in support of the nonprofit organization’s mission to provide education, health and financial assistance to families in need.

“Our board of directors is thrilled to introduce a leader of Rocky’s caliber into our community to guide the Cornerstone Foundation,” Board Chair Heath Nailos said in an announcement. “Rocky possesses the qualifications and expertise to grow the foundation into an even greater, more successful organization. Her passion for the mission is contagious and her strategic vision for the foundation will help our community address the growing need for quality hospice services in central Florida.”

Cornerstone Hospice Foundation has helped support the nonprofit’s end-of-life care services since its establishment in 1980.

The foundation is the philanthropic arm of Cornerstone Hospice & Palliative Care, an affiliate of Chapters Health System. The health system provides hospice, palliative care and home health services throughout Florida, as well as durable medical equipment and pharmacy services.

The two joined forces in 2021 to bolster their collective ability to remain competitive amid widespread industry consolidation. The move made the combined organization the nation’s largest nonprofit hospice provider and the sixth largest overall that year.

Affiliating with Chapters Health System added four Florida counties to Cornerstone’s footprint, along with an added presence in the Atlanta region of Georgia. Cornerstone currently provides care and community support programs to roughly 7,000 individuals in eight counties in Florida and four counties in Georgia.

“I could not be more grateful to accept the position as the first Hispanic executive director to this well-established and loved organization that consists of an extremely talented team and long history of dedicated donors, corporate and not-for-profit partners,” McCormick told local news. “The Cornerstone Hospice Foundation will not only maintain its high level of standards in philanthropy, but will [also] continue to expand upon our impact in central Florida.”

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