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BURKE COUNTY, NC 828-879-1601 |
Management Team
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RON LASALLEPresident & CEOBorn in northern New York, Ron LaSalle served in the U.S. Army and was a member of the 1984 Culinary Olympic Team. After a seven-year career in food service management, LaSalle changed career paths and became a Registered Nurse. After working on a medical-surgical floor at a hospital for two years, he became the Registered Nurse Case Manager for Hospice of Jefferson County in Watertown, NY. In June 2000, LaSalle was named Chief Executive Officer of Hope Hospice and Palliative Care in Medford, WI. He served on the Board of Directors of the Hospice Organization and Palliative Experts of Wisconsin, and was a member of Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs. LaSalle relocated to Burke County in December 2002 to work for Burke Hospice. He plays an active role in the community through his involvement in Morganton Kiwanis and Valdese Rotary Club. He volunteers at Burke County United Way and the Good Samaritan Clinic. LaSalle serves on the safe schools task force of Burke Public Schools and is the President of the Burke County Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Waldensian Presbyterian Church. A nationally known and respect hospice and palliative care leader, LaSalle earned his national certification as a Hospice and Palliative Care Administrator in 2008. In his spare time, he enjoys his rescue work with the Irish Terrier Club of America, bike riding and tinkering with his alternative fuel cars. |
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DARYL BROWNChief Financial OfficerDaryl Brown was born in Spruce Pine, NC. He earned his Bachelor’s in Accounting from Mars Hill College. For the next 20 years, he worked for Rexnord Corporation as a Cost Accountant and General Accounting Supervisor. After Rexnord, he worked for Blue Ridge Healthcare System for four years as a Senior Staff Accountant, then moved to Guardian Health Services in Hickory as Finance Director for four years. Daryl came to Burke Hospice in February 2008. Daryl and his wife Iris have been married for 30 years and have one son. They attend First Baptist Church in Morganton. In his spare time, Daryl enjoys woodcarving, reading thrillers, and most of all, spending time with his wife. |
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KEN GATHVice President of NursingKen Gath, BS RN was born in Baltimore, Maryland and has lived in Pennsylvania, New York, and North Carolina. He graduated from East Carolina University in 1976 with a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Record Administration. Ken came to Burke County after accepting a position as Director of Medical Records at Valdese General Hospital. He also worked as Director of Medical Records at Grace Hospital before returning to school at Western Piedmont Community College, where he obtained an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. He worked as a staff nurse on the medical-surgical floor at Catawba Valley Medical Center for seven months before returning to Burke County as a staff nurse in Grace Hospital’s Emergency Department. In 1998, he joined Burke Hospice & Palliative Care as a Registered Nurse Case Manager. He was named Vice President of Nursing in 2008. Ken and wife Karen have been married 25 years and have two children and one grandchild. He is a former volunteer member of the Valdese Fire Department, having served 16 years and achieving the rank of Lieutenant. His family is active in Faith Community Church. Ken also enjoys camping, bicycling, hiking, fishing, and model railroading. |
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LORI REIDVice President of Human ResourcesA native of North Carolina, Lori Reid earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Western Carolina University in 1992. After college, she became the Director of Social Work for Lutheran Home-Hickory. Over the next 12 years, she gained a wealth of knowledge on federal and state regulations and patient, family and employee relations. Lori has been an active member of the National Association of Social Workers since 1991 and very involved in the Alzheimer's Association since 1993. She has served on the board for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Western Carolina Chapter and as a support group leader for Catawba County since 1993. Lori was the co-author of “Alzheimer's Disease: A Nursing Home Perspective” that was published in the North Carolina Medical Journal. Lori obtained her CSW (Certification in Social Work) in 1994. In 2001 she received the “Resident Service Award” from the North Carolina Association of Non-Profit Homes for the Aging. Lori joined Burke Hospice in October 2004 as a Social Worker, where she has been active with the Burke County Life Directions, Family Caregiver Support Alliance Committees, and the Blue Ridge Ethics committee. In April 2008, Lori began preparing for her current position as the Director of Human Resources by mentoring with a Human Resource professional from WCI Human Resource Services in the daily operation of HR function. That same year, she completed a HR Management and Administration course, and has recently completed a nationally recognized HR Leadership program. In her spare time, Lori enjoys cooking, spending time outside in the yard, swimming and spending time with family and friends. |
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VINCE BARTLOMEVice President of Support ServicesVince Bartlome was born in Bear Lake County, ID, and grew up mostly in Salt Lake City, UT. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the University of Utah. He has been in North Carolina for the last ten years, serving as Director of Social Services at a long-term care facility, then with a neighboring hospice as Vice President of Outreach and Marketing. He was also on the Speaker’s Bureau and qualified to present continuing education contact hours for nurses and CNA’s. In 2007, Vince delivered a presentation on marketing to a national audience at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Management and Leadership Conference. Vince came to his current position with Burke Hospice & Palliative Care in February 2009. Vince is currently a member and past president of the Catawba Valley Toastmasters, Co-President of the Unifour Social Workers Support Group, a member of the Western North Carolina Alzheimer’s Advocacy Committee, and a member of the Unifour Caregiver Alliance. Vince is a private pilot who enjoys travel, do-it-yourself home renovation and landscaping, and his pets. |