Management Team

Jeff Bevis, CEO and Co-Founder

Jeff Bevis is President and CEO with more than 31 years of experience in franchising and a very successful track record of accelerating growth in a variety of franchise concepts, including senior management leadership developing a major senior care franchise brand in a four-year span. Bevis has earned the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) designation, meeting rigorous requirements from the franchising industry with a trademark reputation for building strong, trusting relationships with franchisees and enabling strong unit economics at the franchise level to build system success.

Allen Riggs, Director

Allen Riggs is a Director of the company. Allen has more than 35 years of solid franchising leadership experience, driving success in a variety of major franchise concepts in healthcare and senior care sectors. He also has a strong track record of enabling outstanding relationships with franchisees while encouraging open, honest communications for the betterment of all stakeholders. Riggs was an invited delegate to the 2005 White House Council on Aging, which is held every ten years.

Bernard Markey, Director

Bernard Markey is a Director of the company. Markey has extensive financial experience with more than 20 years in a series of private equity leadership roles. He is co-founder and managing partner of Navigator Partners and has led companies in a variety of industries as chairman or from a board level responsibility. Markey previously held positions in marketing with IBM, sales management with Mentor Computer Systems and was a financial analyst with U.S. Golf Management, Inc.

Bill Stewart, Director

Bill Stewart is a Director of the company. Stewart possesses extensive investing, operating and turnaround experience and is a partner at Navigator Partners. He has successfully led organizations from a series of different roles including chief financial officer, managing director and board advisor. Stewart is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Devin Bevis, Director of Franchise Services and Co-Founder

Devin Bevis is the Director of Franchise Services and possesses a full understanding of delivering award-winning levels of customer service. Bevis is a graduate of the Ritz-Carlton Customer Service Training series, completing this curriculum while employed with the Ritz Carlton for three years. Bevis has also held positions in franchise development and database marketing in a multiple franchise concept environment. He also coordinates technology and Web application feasibilities to help FirstLight continually look for new, additional ways to help franchisees succeed and leverage technology.

Julie A. Doyle, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, Executive Director of Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Client Care Services

Julie joined First Light Home Care in 2017 to lead the HR team and to develop the talent acquisition and people strategy of the organization. She works closely with the other executives to cultivate the culture and execute the people strategy to support the organizational goals.  Julie holds a BS in Human Resources Management from the University of Cincinnati, as well as the SHRM-SCP, and SPHR certifications.   She has experience leading the strategic human resources and talent acquisition function in many different industries, including large franchise businesses, manufacturing, distribution, and hospitality.  Julie’s strengths include people development, talent acquisition, strategic thinking, implementation to integration and extensive communication skills and has 25+ years’ experience developing people and helping organizations achieve their goals.

Her passion for developing people and advancing the HR profession is evident by Julie’s volunteer roles over the last ten years. She volunteers her time to local and state human resources associations and is the immediate Past President of the Greater Cincinnati Human Resources Association, a local SHRM Affiliate chapter in the Cincinnati area.  The Cincinnati Chapter is one of the largest in the state and has won numerous awards for chapter excellence from the Society of Human Resources Management. Julie led a board of 16 HR professionals to provide professional development and networking opportunities for the 700+ local members.  She also serves in a leadership role on the Ohio SHRM Conference Committee which plans and executes the annual HR conference that draws over 1,000 attendees state wide.

Jeff Goebel, Vice President, Business Development & Team Support

Jeff Goebel is vice president of business development and team support for FirstLight’s northeast and mid-atlantic regions. He provides ongoing operational support to FirstLight franchise owners in 14 states, serving as a dedicated business coach and subject matter expert in key aspects of FirstLight’s business. He brings significant industry knowledge to the FirstLight corporate team. A three-time business owner, he previously owned a successful franchise for another home care company, where he oversaw all operations of the business. His franchise was frequently ranked as the top office in the Midwest and one of the top 10 offices in the nation. Goebel also served at the national level, earning a variety of national honors and awards. Goebel’s other business ventures include real estate, manufacturing and electrical systems.

Danielle Cantin, Executive Director of Brand Development

Danielle Cantin is our Executive Director of Brand Development. A strategic and creative leader, she has developed creative and effective solutions for a variety of clients, particularly helping companies with multiple locations work together to create a unified brand experience. She has combined her brand leadership expertise and her passion for the senior community to help companies serving seniors create positive, engaging experiences for their clients. She is a well-respected senior brand expert, speaking at expos and leadership conferences. Danielle obtained her undergraduate degree from College for Creative Studies. She was honored with the 2013 Vanguard Award for Innovation in Communication from the Association of Women in Communications. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, including her mom Patricia, her dog Henry and 17 nieces and nephews. A natural born seeker, Danielle is always pursuing advanced education and training opportunities.

Allyson Waters, Director of Marketing

Allyson Waters serves as the Director of Marketing for FirstLight Home Care. In this role, Allyson oversees marketing, public relations and social media programs to drive national and local brand awareness for FirstLight Home Care. She brings over 20 years of sales and marketing experience to the organization. Prior to joining FirstLight, she served as the SVP Marketing Director for Cole Taylor Mortgage, managed her own marketing consultancy business whose main client was a 26-unit senior living community, and has extensive experience in the banking and customer care industries.

Bill McPherson, Executive Director of Franchise Development

Bill is our Executive Director of Franchise Development. He is a seasoned franchise executive with more than 26 years of proven success in Franchise Sales, Leadership, and Operations within the franchise industry, including previous leadership experience in home care. A Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) as acknowledged by the International Franchise Association, he and his teams have been the recipients of numerous industry awards including Best Franchise Development Process and Website (Franchise Update Media 2009 , 2010, 2013, 2014). Bill’s extensive franchise experience includes both domestic and international expansion, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Larry France, Director of Franchise Development

Larry is our Director of Franchise Development.  He has over 20 years of inside and outside sales and management experience.  In addition, Larry has 12 years experience in franchising with another home care concept.  He is a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) as acknowledged by the International Franchise Association.

Rebecca Rushing, Director of Client Care Services

Rebecca Rushing serves as the Director of Client Care Services for FirstLight Home Care. Rebecca oversees the development and implementation of FirstLight’s companion and personal care services, caregiver training and state licensing process for local offices. She brings more than 30 years of nursing experience – and her passion for the well-being of seniors – to FirstLight Home Care. Prior to joining the company, she held nursing and leadership positions at numerous Cincinnati-area hospitals, hospice and senior care facilities. Rebecca has also shared her extensive nursing expertise as a classroom and clinical instructor for nursing students.

Dave Lindgren, Director of Business Development & Team Support

David Lindgren has over thirty years of managerial and business work to his credit, and has operated several business divisions within the retail, computer technology, and home care industries. He has over eleven years of experience in home care, including owning and operating his own award-winning, multi-unit non-medical home care agency for nine years. He has extensive experience in all aspects of running a home care agency, including operations, sales and marketing, administration, accounting, finance, human resources and caregiving. In his recent position as the personal services agency liaison for the Indiana Association for Home & Hospice Care, he provided education, advocacy, support and expert advice for its agency members. David obtained his MBA from Bethel College. He and his wife, Susan, have been married for over thirty years, and they have four daughters and three grandchildren. He enjoys social media, travel, golf, watching baseball and football games, and playing cards.

Jeanette Weinz, Director of Business Development & Team Support

Jeanette Weinz, is director of business development and team support for FirstLight’s central region. She also serves as the company’s national alliance liaison. For more than 20 years, she has used her expertise to shape strategy, improve performance and deliver results in both the staffing and healthcare industries. She has expertise in the development and implementation of budgets and forecasts to increase profits, and is skilled in developing business plans and market opportunities in an effort to sustain revenue growth. She also is a leader in innovative staffing solutions, helping startup and growing companies thrive as they attract a talented workforce to meet the needs of the business and its clients.

Melissa Bollinger, Director of Business Development

Melissa Bollinger is the Director of Business Development for FirstLight in the northeast region. In this role, Melissa helps maximize the success of each FirstLight franchise within her region through leadership and support of new location launch, operations, business development and networking, as well as providing ongoing coaching and counsel.

Specializing in market entry, demographic data analysis and business plan development, Melissa has spent nearly a decade focusing on senior advocacy, dementia care and palliative and hospice care services. Throughout her career, she’s been a trusted partner to organizations and franchisees, helping ensure successful market entry and supporting the achievement of ongoing business goals. She has extensive experience in providing the tangible, step-by-step resources and counsel home care franchisees need during what is the most critical period for their business: start-up.

Melissa has lived and worked all over the northeast, and she has extensive experience with the home care segment and the issues and needs driving its growth. She was the youngest person in New Jersey to become a Division of Aging Services Advocate, and was the youngest board member of the Department of Health and Senior Services in the state’s history. Melissa earned two bachelor’s of science degrees – in administration and health policy – from The Pennsylvania State University and the University of Kentucky. Her studies also included minors in geriatric studies, long-term care management, labor employment relations and demography.

Kitty Vradenburg, Director of Business Development

Kitty Vradenburg is our Director of Business Development for the West Region. Kitty comes to us with an extensive knowledge of the Home Care industry. Most recently serving as Director of Special Operations for a national Home Care organization, Kitty was responsible for all aspects of on-boarding, training and supporting franchise offices. In addition to her 9+ years in the Home Care industry, she has worked as a Recruiter, Educator and Trainer for several companies including Inamax Medical Staffing, Bayada Nurses, and Gentiva Healthcare Services to name a few.