AMOREM names new Chief Executive Officer

LENOIR — On July 15, the AMOREM Board of Directors named April Moore as the organization’s new chief executive officer.

Moore began her career in hospice in 2004 as a volunteer coordinator with Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, which integrated with Burke Hospice and Palliative Care in 2021 to form AMOREM. It was during this time as a volunteer coordinator that she said the volunteers and her peers inspired her and opened her eyes to the true philosophy of hospice care.

During her 20 years with the organization, Moore has held multiple roles and has been privileged to work closely in each of AMOREM’s service areas. Her mentor, and former CEO of AMOREM, Cathy Swanson, worked closely with Moore throughout her tenure at the organization. Like Swanson, Moore has invested most of her professional career with AMOREM.

Formerly, Moore served on AMOREM’s senior leadership team as the chief operating officer where she oversaw facilities, business operations and AMOREM’s palliative medicine program. She has had much experience in leading large and diverse teams with a mission-driven approach.

“April embodies the qualities of an exceptional proven leader,” says Swanson. “I am excited to learn of her appointment as the CEO of AMOREM. For 19 years, I worked very closely with April, first at Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care and then we integrated with Burke Hospice and Palliative Care to become AMOREM in 2021. I often referred to April as my “right arm”. She worked in various leadership positions and demonstrated high degrees of integrity, work ethic and most importantly, commitment to the core mission of the organization. AMOREM is fortunate to have a trusted, knowledgeable and committed leader to move the organization forward to continued success.”

Moore played an integral role in many of AMOREM’s developmental moments. Her career began when the legacy Caldwell hospice organization changed its name from Caldwell County Hospice to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care. She can recall having only one location at the time, which was the Kirkwood campus in Lenoir. During her tenure, she played a part in the additions of Ashewood Grief Support Services and the opening of the Jack and Shirley Robbins Center in Hudson.

In 2020, she was appointed as a vital member of an exploratory committee that worked together to discuss the plans and the execution of the integration between Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care and Burke Hospice and Palliative Care. The two organizations integrated to become one in 2021 under the name AMOREM. During that time, she also played a key role in developing AMOREM’s mission, vision and values – something she takes very seriously.

Since the integration, she oversaw the building project for AMOREM’s palliative care center in Boone. She currently leads the building project for AMOREM’s patient care unit in Boone, set to open in early 2025.

“During the last 20 years, I have had the privilege to learn from some incredible leaders and work with a supportive team of coworkers,” says Moore. “I have experienced and helped navigate many changes over the years but my passion for our mission, my commitment to our values, my appreciation for our team and my love for our organization and the communities we serve has not and will not change.”

Former CEO Cathy Swanson retired from AMOREM in July of 2023. Since then, Edie Riddlespurger served as the organization’s interim CEO to allow AMOREM’s board of directors plenty of time to find the right person to officially fill the vacancy.

“I am thrilled to hand the leadership of AMOREM over to April,” says Interim CEO, Edie Riddlespurger. “She has provided leadership within this organization for 20 years with a complete focus on the mission, providing the highest quality of care to our communities served and with a genuine heart for hospice. I have all faith and confidence in April’s leadership.”

Moore has seen many changes within the organization and the hospice industry. She steps into the role of CEO with a profound understanding of the hospice and palliative world and how to maneuver through these changes.

“The Board of Directors is thrilled to announce the hiring of April Moore as CEO of AMOREM,” AMOREM Board of Directors Chairman Jordan Greene said in a statement to staff on Monday evening. “April has shown 20 years of leadership, dedication and love for our organization. Her commitment to the mission, vision and values of AMOREM is second to none. April is the definition of the hospice heart. We are confident that with her leadership we will continue to provide loving, thoughtful and quality care to our patients and their families for years to come.”

Moore is backed by an experienced team of senior leaders, many of whom she has served alongside for multiple years. Her senior leadership team is made up of Anna Blanton, chief clinical officer, Noy Xaysanavongphet, chief financial officer, Bobbie Self, chief regulatory and experience officer and Kerri McFalls, chief growth and development officer.

AMOREM’s locally governed Board of Directors will work closely with Moore to ensure a smooth transition into her new role and will continue to support AMOREM’s mission to provide quality, thoughtful, loving care to patients and support to families and to offer education and grief support to communities served.

AMOREM is proud to be your local, nonprofit, hospice and palliative care provider with more than 40 years of experience in providing the highest quality care to its communities served. To learn more about AMOREM services or to make a referral, please visit www.amoremsupport.org or call (828) 754-0101 to speak with a team member.