About: Leadership Team
Libby Bush
President & CEO
Libby is a second-generation aging services professional who has great passion for creating the best possible experience for residents, staff, and others.
Born in Ohio, and raised in Kansas City, Libby went to the College of Wooster for undergraduate studies, and received her master’s degree at the University of Maryland at the Erickson School. As a licensed nursing home administrator, preceptor, and certified aging specialist, Libby’s life mission is to highlight each individual’s best self. As a prior Leadership Academy Coach, Libby lives her mission through her daily work and also at a more macro community level.
Prior to coming to Deerfield, Libby was the chief executive officer for Vinson Hall Retirement Community in McLean, Virginia. Prior to that, she was chief operating officer for Ingleside, a multi-site senior living organization in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia region. Over the last thirty years, Libby has served in multiple administrative positions in Life Plan Communities. Richmond, Virginia, was home for 20-plus years, where Libby spent her professional life at Westminster Canterbury Richmond, and started a family with her husband of almost 30 years, Jeff. Libby completed evaluator training for the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission, and has served on community and association boards, most recently as Chair of LeadingAge Virginia.
Robert Chandler
Chief Financial Officer
Robert has been Controller/CFO since he joined Deerfield in 1999. He is responsible for the financial operations of the Corporation, including financial reporting, the annual budget, and forecasting. Robert is a graduate of Texas A&M University with an accounting degree. He is a CPA and began his career with Peat Marwick and worked as a controller for a financial services firm for 10 years and also worked for a New York accounting firm. Robert has completed Evaluator training for the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission. Currently, Robert serves on the Board of Adjustments for the Town of Biltmore Forest and serves on the Investment Committee of Dogwood Health Trust.
Matthew Sharpe
Executive Director
Matt joined Deerfield in March of 2004 and is responsible for Wellbeing Services, Health Services, Marketing & Transitions, and serves as liaison to the Residents’ Council. Upon joining Deerfield, he was part of the Administrator in Training Program through the State of North Carolina and earned his Nursing Home Administrator License in October 2005. He has a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and also a Masters in Business Administration from Western Carolina University.
Faith Perkins
Chief Human Resources Officer
Faith Perkins became the Chief Human Resources Officer in 2023. She brings more than 25 years of HR expertise to her role. Faith has focused on HR transformation for many years, and has a passion for helping people grow their careers while creating a space for them to do great work. While the early part of her career was focused in for-profit organizations, Faith shifted her focus to non-profit endeavors a decade ago after helping her father through his pancreatic cancer diagnosis and end-of-life process. The care her father received inspired Faith to seek out ways to do her work in organizations with a great mission, and she is excited to blend her sense of purpose with the work of Deerfield.
Keith Einsmann
Chief Facilities Officer
Keith joined Deerfield in January 2015 and is responsible for the Dining, Transportation, Grounds, Maintenance, Security, Housekeeping and IT departments. Keith’s position is also responsible for managing risk management and construction projects, both small and large. He is a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in Industrial Management and holds the classification of Certified Healthcare Facilities Manager and also Certified Healthcare Engineer. Keith has managed multiple hospitals, outpatient, surgical, physician, and ambulatory care facilities in Western North Carolina and has overseen multiple expansion and renovation projects. Prior to his work in healthcare, Keith worked as the Director of Operations at Biltmore Baptist Church and also has experience managing manufacturing plants in the textile industry. In 2023, Keith received the Engineer of the Year award at the NC Healthcare Engineers Association’s 71st Annual Conference.
Michelle Wooley
Executive Director, Deerfield Charitable Foundation
Michelle joined our Deerfield team in 2017 and has a passion for assisting residents as they connect their resources with their passions. As Executive Director of our Foundation, she works to support Deerfield’s mission to be a leader in the field of aging services through relationship-building among residents, team members, and the greater community. Promoting volunteer engagement, creating strategic partnerships with other senior service providers, and raising funds to enhance the lives of all who live and work at Deerfield are her priorities as she leads our philanthropic efforts. Michelle raised three children with her husband of more than 30 years, Ben. After 10 years in Denver, Colorado, they moved their family to Asheville in 2005. And now, as “empty nesters” they love hiking the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, spending time with friends and watching their goofy pups, Guster and Willow, frolic in the yard.
Brian King
Director of Health Services
Brian began with Deerfield as Director of Therapy Services through Rehabcare in 2010. Prior to that he was owner/operator of his own contract therapy company in the Asheville area for 16 years where he provided speech, physical, and occupational therapy services to area nursing homes. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1989 with an occupational therapy degree and focused on geriatric rehabilitation through the bulk of his professional career. He formally joined the Deerfield team in July of 2013 when he entered the Administrator in Training Program through the state of North Carolina and has been a licensed Nursing Home Administrator since April of 2014. Brian oversees operations for skilled nursing, assisted living, and the independent living clinic.
The Rev. Richard Lindsley Walton
Director of Spiritual Life
Lin has been an Episcopal priest since 2000. He received a Bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology from Gordon College in Wenham, MA; a Master’s of Theological Studies from Duke University; and a Master’s of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary. Following his undergraduate studies, he was a research assistant at a Harvard-affiliated research project in the area HIV/AIDS prevention, and is a trained counselor by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Before coming to Deerfield, Lin served a wide variety of churches in Maryland, Florida and North Carolina; and was also a lecturer in Ethics at the University of Belize, Central America, for three years. He has done short-term relief work in Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda, Honduras and the Dominican Republic. Lin is fortunate to be married to the Rev. Christie Olsen Walton; and they share two lovely children, Sophie and Jeremiah. Lin is profoundly thankful for each day given to him at Deerfield, and while away from campus is an avid Appalachian Trial backpacker, scuba diver and a lifelong aspiring herpetologist.
Kathy Foster
Director of Marketing & Transitions
Kathy started at Deerfield in 2013 in the position of Director of Marketing. She is responsible for managing the marketing and sales functions, joining Deerfield after two years of consulting in senior living communities and over twenty five years in senior living and healthcare. Kathy holds a B.S. in Marketing and Advertising from Granite State College in New Hampshire, and is certified as an Aging Services Professional through the Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS). She currently serves on the Community Advisory Committee for the Western Piedmont Regional Ombudsman’s Office and with the Kiwanis Club of Morganton. She resides in Morganton, NC on a small farm with her husband Tom, where they rescue and share life with an array of delightful animals, big and small.
Taryn Tindall
Director of Wellbeing Services
Taryn joined the Deerfield team in 2011 as a nurse in the Simonds Health Care Center. She enjoyed serving in myriad roles in nursing leadership, including 9 years as Director of Clinical Services, before transitioning to administration and joining the senior leadership team in 2022. As Director of Wellbeing Services, Taryn is responsible for the Deerfield Clinic and Independent Living nursing services, as well as the Culinary and Resident Life departments. Taryn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and is currently working toward a Master of Business Administration through Western Carolina University. She is licensed in the state of North Carolina as both a Registered Nurse and a Nursing Home Administrator.