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Meet Our Team

Ellen S. Platt, MEd, CRC, CCM

Ellen S. Platt, MEd, CRC, CCM

President & Certified Aging Life Care Manager

MD/Main Number: 410-667-0266
[email protected]
Ellen Platt is the founder and owner of The Option Group, LLC. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Certified Care Manager, and a Certified Aging Life Care Manager. She has over 30 years of experience providing care management, advocacy, placement, and care coordination services to those with catastrophic injuries, chronic diseases, disabilities, and those that are aging and navigating longevity.

Under her leadership, The Option Group has been a trailblazer in the senior industry. The Option Group has worked tirelessly to collaborate with other leaders to provide high-quality services that help families navigate complex and emotional situations.

Ms. Platt is still dedicated to serving more clients with even more services to meet their needs. The Option Group will be rolling out several innovative programs over the next two years to address the needs of our clients and allow them to live the richest, most functional lives possible while keeping safety, comfort, and dignity in mind.

Stacy Alcide, RN

Stacy Alcide, RN

Certified Aging Life Care Manager

MD/Main Number: 410-667-0266
[email protected]

Stacy Alcide joined The Option Group in June of 2016 as a Nurse Care Manager. Most of her 22 years of nursing experience has been dedicated to caring for seniors, with a large part of her time spent in the long-term care field. One of Ms. Alcide’s favorite things about working at The Option Group is the experienced team that loves to collaborate to find beneficial outcomes. No two days are alike. She enjoys working with clients and assisting them with their individual needs.

Diana (DeeDee) Bycoffe, RN

Diana (DeeDee) Bycoffe, RN

Nurse Care Manager

MD/Main Number: 410-667-0266
[email protected]

Diana (DeeDee) Bycoffe is a nurse care manager and who has been with The Option Group since January of 2020. She really enjoys working with all clients and finds it rewarding when she can help families work on long term plans, sort through feelings that they have about a loved one who needs different choices, and then help them carry the plans through. Ms. Bycoffe has been a nurse for 25 years in numerous fields including cardiology, interventional radiology, the ER, the surgical intensive care unit, and home health care. If Ms. Bycoffe doesn’t have the answer, she will find it for you.

Samantha Morelock, MA

Samantha Morelock, MA

Care Manager Associate

MD/Main Number: 410-667-0266
[email protected]

Samantha Morelock joined The Option Group in May of 2017. She has a Master’s degree in Counseling, with a concentration in marriage and family therapy. Her past clinical experience includes working with at-risk families doing both individual and family counseling. In her current position as a Care Management Associate, Samantha has gained valuable experience working with seniors, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with dementia. Samantha is passionate about preserving the dignity of every individual and is proud to be an advocate for each client’s care.

Katie Schmitz, RN

Katie Schmitz, RN

Certified Aging Life Care Manager

MD/Main Number: 410-667-0266
[email protected]

Katie Schmitz has been a certified nurse case manager for over 30 years. Her prior hospital experience was in rehabilitation. Over the past 8 years, Ms. Schmitz worked predominantly with catastrophic care coordination for multi-trauma injury diagnoses covering a 5-state territory that borders Maryland. Ms. Schmitz has worked on The Option Group assignments for several years and, since August 2019, has been a full-time member of the team.

Jackie Tangires, LCSW-C

Jackie Tangires, LCSW-C

Certified Aging Life Care Manager

MD/Main Number: 410-667-0266
[email protected]

Jackie Tangires joined The Option Group in February of 2018. She earned her Certification in Case Management and is also a member of the Aging Life Care Association. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the State of Maryland with over 30 years of experience in different areas of health care. She worked in hospitals in Maryland, Michigan, Washington, and Hawaii. Prior to The Option Group, she worked with University of Maryland, Upper Chesapeake Health, where she provided Medical Case Management services and discharge planning services for orthopedic, neurological, and oncology patients. She belongs to the Academy of Certified Social Workers and is a member of NASW (National Association of Social Workers). Jackie enjoys her job at The Option Group because of the positive environment and the countless opportunities for growth.

Faith Patterson, PT

Faith Patterson, PT

Certified Aging Life Care Manager

DE: 302-858-6449
[email protected]

Faith Patterson joined The Option Group in June of 2021 as a Care Manager in the New Castle Delaware area.

Faith has over 40 years of experience working in the health care field.  As a Physical Therapist, she has worked in a rehabilitation center, home care setting, and as a Rehab Director in a Skilled Nursing Center. She most recently worked in healthcare marketing and sales for a Skilled Home Care and Hospice company.

Faith is returning to her passion for caring for clients to improve their quality of life.  As a care manager, she will evaluate each client and meet their needs by locating appropriate resources.  Advocacy is a big part of her job, and she relishes the opportunity to serve.

Faith is thrilled to be a part of The Option Group and make a positive difference in each person’s life.

Morgan Fezza

Morgan Fezza

Care Manager

DE: 302-858-6449
[email protected]

Morgan Fezza joined The Option Group in July 2021 as a Care Manager in the Delaware area. She brings over eight years of health care experience in the fields of hospice, pain medicine, and home care.

Morgan’s strengths are working with families and patients to build strong bridges between them and imperative resources to achieve their care goals and help achieve a better quality of life. She relishes the one-on-one connection.  The relationship dives into interesting stories, diverse backgrounds, and life lessons learned.  All of this has had a huge impact on her own life. Morgan lives by the motto, “If you’re not making someone else’s life better, then you’re wasting your time. Your life will become better by making other lives better.”
– Will Smith

Morgan is from the Sussex County DE region.  In addition to her work, she is currently enrolled as an AS student at Del-Tech to earn her nursing degree. In her spare time, she loves traveling with her family and being in the company of her two dogs. She’s a major book lover, admitted Foodie, and enjoys photography as a side hobby.

Join us in welcoming Morgan to the team!

Heather Gibbon

Heather Gibbon

Care Manager

PA/Main Numbers 610-885-8899 or 215-896-6756
[email protected]

Heather Gibbon joined The Option Group in August of 2022 as a Care Manager in the Pennsylvania area. She has worked in senior living for 20 years, the first 10 years in non-medical home care, and the last 10 years in senior living. Her passion is working with seniors and their families to find solutions! She currently lives in Chester County, PA with her husband Fred and two Pomeranians – Sophie and Phoebe. She enjoys playing pickleball, reading, gardening, and cooking.

Kim Flash

Kim Flash

Care Manager

MD/Main Number: 410-667-0266
[email protected]

Kim Flash, LCSW, joined The Option Group recently as a Care Manager. She has been a social worker for 24 years and brings 15 years of hospice experience to her work. Kim believes in the importance of seeing the dignity and worth in every person. She enjoys helping family members work through difficult conversations to find and implement common goals. She is a member of the Maryland chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Kim lives with her family in Baltimore County and enjoys reading and gardening.

Amy Vernon

Amy Vernon

Liaison

MD/Main Number: 410-667-0266
[email protected]

Amy Vernon joined The Option Group recently as a Liaison. She has over twenty years of experience in administrative work in several industries and at various levels.  Amy moved to Baltimore from Minneapolis after college to be closer to family and began working in the administrative offices of Johns Hopkins Emergency Department supporting, at different times, the Clinical Director, the Director of Nursing, and the Director of Special Operations. She also coordinated the medical student rotations through the department each month. She then spent over ten years in the accounting industry before taking positions supporting the President of Loyola University and the CEO of a local non-profit focused on support and care of differently abled individuals. Amy’s career focus is centered on finding soul-satisfying work that allows her to help others and try to leave situations better than she found them.

Her position as a Liaison is as close to a match as she’s been looking for.  Amy likes being surrounded by like-minded, caring individuals with the same intention. In her free time, Amy loves to cook, feed the birds, and garden.

Michele Gillum

Michele Gillum

Vice President of Operations

MD/Main Number: 410-667-0266
[email protected]

Michele Gillum has been with The Option Group since 2012. She manages and coordinates the daily operations of the company with impeccable attention to detail ensuring implementation of efficient operations. Michele strives to foster a collaborative work environment with the team to best address the needs of their clients. Outside of work, she enjoys walking, playing games, and spending time with family.

Noel White

Noel White

Community Outreach Liaison

MD/Main Number: 410-667-0266
[email protected]

Noel White joined The Option Group in February 2020. A graduate of Towson University, Mr. White has spent the bulk of his professional career working for The Chimes, Inc, The American Lung Association of Maryland, and sales and management for home health equipment and pharmaceutical companies. He is pleased to bring his experience to Ellen’s growing team and assist with connecting our message of expertise, professional resourcefulness, care, and hope to the community he is committed and honored to serve. Mr. White is married to Pastor Lisa Arrington and has two wonderful adult children.

Michelle Tillman

Michelle Tillman

Administrative Assistant

MD/Main Number: 410-667-0266
[email protected]

Michelle Tillman joined The Option Group in September of 2016. She has a professional background in education, having taught arts and special needs students of all ages, as well as assisting in the offices of the Maryland public school system. Michelle values the enthusiasm and dedication of the entire Option Group staff as they strive to help families navigate life’s challenges.

Laura Gately

Laura Gately

Administrative Assistant

MD/Main Number: 410-667-0266
[email protected]

Laura Gately is from the Carroll County area and joined The Option Group as our Administrative Assistant in December of 2020. She has extensive experience in a variety of health care fields, working in the nursing home, hospital, psychiatric and residential rehabilitation and homeless outreach arenas.

One of her many strengths is the ability to build relationships with people of various backgrounds. She enjoys individual life stories as they are rich in perspective and wisdom. Laura especially likes that she is helping others navigate and resolve issues. In turn, it is her hope that each person feels peace of mind that their concerns are important and are being addressed.

In her spare time, Laura enjoys time at the beach with her family, and riding bikes on the NCR trail.