Rebecca Matthews, RN

President

Becky began her career as a hospice nurse and transitioned to various roles in sales and leadership. She was the Regional Vice President of hospice in the Midwest for 10 years before retiring at the end of 2021. Becky has a passion for hospice and ensuring that patients receive the highest quality of care at the end-of-life and has been serving as a board member since 2020. Becky enjoys traveling with her husband, Jim, and spending time with her grandchildren in Texas and Michigan.

Libby Lashwood

Treasurer

Spanning over 23 years in the financial services industry, Libby’s roles in banking have included treasury management, branch management, consumer lending, collections, operations, and card services.  Libby’s current role at County National Bank, focuses on the promotion and sales of Business Online Banking, ACH Services, Remote Deposit, and Payment Solutions. Libby attended Jackson Community College for Business Administration, where she served as Treasurer of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She is an active member of Jackson Commercial Contractors Association and Jackson Rotary, and she also volunteers with Junior Achievement, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Michigan Center School District. In her free time, Libby enjoys gardening, kayaking and spending time with my family.

Michelle Jackson, RN

Board Member

Michelle is a dedicated healthcare professional with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northwestern State University and 20 years of experience in patient care spanning positions in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Labor and Delivery, Home Health, and Hospice.

Hospice is her true passion—a space where she finds purpose in transforming loss into moments of hope, peace, and comfort. With nearly a decade of hospice experience, she cherishes the countless stories that have left a lasting impact on her heart.

Under her leadership, her hospice branch in Monroe, LA became one of only two 5-star branches within the Elara Caring enterprise, earning her the distinguished title of 2023 Branch Administrator of the Year.

Beyond her career, she is blessed with a loving and supportive husband and a beautifully blended family of six daughters, one son, two granddaughters, three grandpuppies, and even a grandgecko! She believes in the power of human connection and is grateful for every opportunity to positively impact the lives of those she meets.

Bobby Ganton

Vice President

A Spring Arbor native and Spring Arbor University graduate, Bobby brings over a decade of experience in senior care as the owner/operator of Arbor North Living Center in Jackson, Michigan. His deep appreciation for Hospice care, inspired by personal experience, fuels his passion for supporting residents and families during life’s transitions.

Now living in Concord, Michigan, with his spouse and three children, Bobby jokes that he’s also the family’s “free taxi service” for soccer practices. When he’s not embracing the joys and chaos of parenting, he enjoys hunting and fishing to recharge.

Sarah Thurston

Secretary

Sarah’s professional career began as a clinician in hospice social work, gradually transitioning into leadership roles in learning and development.

In 2022, her career path shifted into the talent space. Currently working as the VP of Talent at Elara Caring, she oversees various aspects of talent management, including new team member onboarding, leadership development programs, performance management, and talent development initiatives.

Despite working in a new capacity at Elara Caring, Sarah’s heart remains deeply connected to hospice.

We are grateful to have Sarah on our board where she continues making a meaningful impact on the quality of life for hospice patients and their families.

Morgan Tousley

Board Member

Morgan is the owner of PostNet, bringing shipping and printing services to downtown Jackson and surrounding areas. Before PostNet Morgan was a dedicated healthcare professional with more than 20 years of experience serving in diverse and impactful roles. Throughout her career, she has worked across multiple areas of the healthcare field—including pharmacy, hospice, and palliative care—bringing compassion, expertise, and a deep commitment to patient-centered service. Her strong leadership and operational insight also led her to serve as Director of Operations for a visiting physicians office, where she helped shape high-quality care for patients in need.
Morgan balances her professional work with a vibrant creative life. As both an artist and musician, she finds inspiration in expression, community, and the beauty of everyday moments.

Tara O'Rourke

Executive Director

Tara is grateful and humbled to serve as Executive Director of the Elara Caring Hospice Foundation, joining the organization in 2025. With an extensive background in healthcare leadership and healthcare fundraising, she brings her operational knowledge and philanthropic insight together in leading the Foundation. As an avid proponent of individuals and families accessing Hospice services at end-of-life, Tara strives to thoughtfully steward the resources generously gifted to our organization to enhance the quality of life for those patients journeying through their final days, providing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual support and comfort.

In her free time, Tara enjoys cooking, reading, crafting, traveling, and being active outdoors with her husband, children, and Goldendoodles, including gardening and nature walks.

Nikki Wagoner

Development Coordinator

Nikki Wagoner serves as Development Coordinator for the Elara Caring Foundation, where she transforms generosity into meaningful support for hospice patients and their families. With a strong background in healthcare, she has a deep understanding of the profound impact donors can make.

Bringing expertise in strategic vision, board collaboration, fundraising, donor relations, program development, financial planning, marketing, and CRM/data management, Nikki applies a comprehensive skill set to advancing the foundation’s mission. Outside of her career, she is a creative force, channeling her talents into crafting, decorating, and spending quality time with her family.