Kimberly Whiter, 39 / CEO, Elder Care Solutions
Kimberly Whiter
Kimberly Whiter is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University, with a projected graduation date of 2022. She was a platinum winner of the 2021 Gauntlet competition and was included in the American Society for Clinical Pathology’s 40 Under 40 Laboratory Professionals in 2014. Whiter has presented at national conferences within the medical laboratory science field, as well as on supporting teaching effectiveness. She volunteers for Daughterhood.org, a national nonprofit supporting female family caregivers, and was an executive board member for Huddle Up Moms, where she acted as Director of Fundraising and Development and Director of Education and Support. “Our long-term care infrastructure is broken, nationally, and I am on a mission to be part of the solution,” Whiter says. “Families are struggling to care for their aging loved ones because we don't have the support in place so they can afford to care well. ... My work with Elder Care Solutions fights these issues by helping families care for their elders and seniors age more healthy at home because they have a plan to do so in a more financially positive way. While my work is national, it starts right here at home.”
- Earned a Master of Science in Education, McNeese State University, 2011
- Currently pursuing Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Liberty University, projected 2022
- Platinum winner of the Gauntlet Program & Competition, 2021
- American Society for Clinical Pathology's 40 Under 40 Top Laboratory Professionals, 2014
- Presented at national conferences within the medical laboratory science field, specifically those that centered around supporting lab professionals in medical offices and how to teach medical laboratory science courses
- Presented at national conferences focused on supporting teaching effectiveness, namely the national POD conference for educational development and the Conference on Higher Education Pedagogy
- Presented at the national IPE conference, The Emswiller Interprofessional Symposium and the international IPE conference, Collaborating Across Borders.
- Volunteers for Daughterhood.org, is a national nonprofit that provides support for female family caregivers, or women that are taking care of an aging loved one; a daughterhood leader and co-leads a Daughterhood Circle, a local support group for women living geographically near to one another in caregiving situations so they can share experiences and build friends for this often isolating stage of life.
- Executive board member, Huddle Up Moms, 2020-2021 (Director of Fundraising and Development and Director of Education and Support; developed "Huddles"; designed and implemented a Mom Mentoring program to connect newer moms with moms with more experience)
From the Nomination: “Kim Whiter is the CEO of Elder Care Solutions … She was one of the younger administrators in the higher education setting and led some national programs. She also ran the largest simulation event in the US. ... Whiter is a hard-working, dedicated CEO and mother of two. She is innovative and goes above and beyond for her clients and friends. She is a CEO of a startup that focuses on a huge national concern. She volunteers and makes the world a better place, all while being a present and outstanding mother to two incredible children. If that wasn't enough, she has her sights set on state and national policy work to make real change to support the caregivers of the largest aging generation in the US. This brilliant woman has a long list of achievements both in academia and in business. She is a catalyst in the care economy. This powerhouse will be making national policy in a matter of time. She will put Roanoke on the map!”
What do you love about Roanoke?
Whiter: “I grew up in Louisiana, so two things blew my mind when I moved to Roanoke in 2007. First, snow! I had never seen snow settle on the ground and coat the landscape in a soft, pristine carpet. Second, people spend time outside! My life changed after moving to Roanoke. I joined our large running community. I started running marathons! I also started participating in all the incredible outdoor activities we have in our backyard; hiking, kayaking, tubing, wine tours! I love that Roanoke is such an active place to live.”
How does your passion impact our community?
Whiter: “Our long-term care infrastructure is broken, nationally, and I am on a mission to be part of the solution. Families are struggling to care for their aging loved ones because we don't have the support in place so they can afford to care well. The impacts of our broken system are multifold and trickle down to our communities. Women are struggling to participate in the workforce because care more often falls to them within the family unit. Our elders are facing social isolation and struggling to stay in their own homes safely because they can't access the money they need to build holistic, healthy tactics to age in place. Home health and senior care facilities are struggling to find and keep care professionals because being a female-dominated profession, many are in personal care situations and the pay for these professionals is nowhere near what it needs to be. My work with Elder Care Solutions fights these issues by helping families care for their elders and seniors age more healthy at home because they have a plan to do so in a more financially positive way.
"While my work is national, it starts right here at home. I sponsor local events for seniors, collaborate with local senior organizations to educate families about paying for long-term care, use local marketing and print shops for my business, and in November 2022 I am throwing a NATIONAL conference right here in Roanoke at the Hotel Roanoke! I'm inviting business, nonprofit, and educational leaders, all with services and products that help family caregivers, to convene and tackle the big care issues we are facing right now. My team is working with local restaurants and businesses to create special conference experiences. Over 300 leaders will infuse our local economy during the event and our city will be known for the place where the big thinkers in the care economy come together to work on national solutions. I am very humbled to have been nominated for inclusion in the 2022 40 under 40 Class. I read this list every year and am blown away with the amazing things young professionals are doing in the Roanoke area. Roanoke often feels like an incubator for bright minds with creative ideas and innovative work. It has proven to be a rich place for me to grow professionally beyond the dreams I initially set for myself. My career path has definitely taken some turns I didn't expect. As a result, I've gained incredible experiences and met phenomenally impressive people.”