Mark and Valerie Davis, founders and owners of Cremation-With-Care, one of the nation’s fastest growing cremation brands, are proud to announce two additions to the leadership team of CWC, according to a news release.
The Davis couple and their business were previously the subject of an in-depth FuneralVision.com profile.
Nicole Rivers has been hired as senior vice president of bereavement and Deanna Schel has taken on the position of director of family services. Together they bring with them nearly 50 years of combined experience working for local hospice and healthcare organizations. In their new roles both Nicole and Deanna will be working directly with grieving families providing comfort, kindness & compassion as well as developing & implementing Community-Based Hospice Collaborative Programs to help support and offer guidance to those in need of bereavement care.
The funeral industry is changing and Cremation-With-Care is leading the way. “We are influencing the stereotypical thinking of today’s consumer and how they perceive funeral service and funeral service professionals” said Mark Davis, owner and one of two licensed funeral directors at CWC. “Perception is paramount and image is everything. Providing added value to the services we provide for families as well as the communities we serve is the key ingredient and foundation for our future growth and success.”
At no time will family members be without support. The strong attachments and trust developed in one supportive environment (hospice) are shared and transferred to another (Cremation-With-Care) as the family moves through the process of dying, death & bereavement. Learn More: www.HelpingHeartsHeal.net
About the New Hires
NICOLE RIVERS, LCSW
Nicole is a LCSW and has been a Registered Supervisor for SW Interns for the State of Florida for over 23 years. She attended Florida International University in Miami on a Golf Scholarship while attaining her Bachelor’s Degree in Arts & Psychology. Nicole graduated with a Master’s Degree from the School of Social Work at FIU. Immediately upon graduation she began working with Hospice Care and with families in the community as a MSW with VITAS Hospice & Healthcare. Nicole’s skills have allowed her to branch out and create visionary ideas and ways to help patients and families during their difficult journeys. Her 23+ years of Hospice Care experience in Florida include specialties such as Individual/Group Grief Psychotherapy as well as Palliative Care and Adult Bereavement Services. Nicole has held multiple positions of management and has years of experience as a leader and Director of Social Services in many settings.
DEANNA SCHELHAS, LSW
Deanna obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Seton Hall University, then going on to receive her MSW from Yeshiva University Wurzweiler. She began her career in foster care placement for approximately 3 years and then received her LSW and began a new career in the hospital setting at Hackensack Medical Center, ultimately transferring to the home health/hospice care division for many years. Desiring a change, Deanna became a Liaison for a nursing home focusing on hospice patients. Missing the day-to-day care & support that social work brings to families in an end-of-life home setting Deana returned to in-home hospice care. She continued to work at Amedisys Home Health & Hospice until moving to SW Florida and becoming employed at Vitas Hospice where she was recently named the 2024 Vitas Hospice Social Worker of The Year. Deanna brings 25+ years of Hospice experience to the CWC Team.