Two New Members Named to Bluegrass Care Navigators Board

Care Navigators • March 3, 2021

Bluegrass Care Navigators is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its governing board for 2021. John Austin and David Royse began their three-year appointments to the Board of Directors earlier this month. In addition, Richard Hopgood, board member and attorney with Valvoline Inc., will serve as the chairperson for the board in 2021.


John Austin comes to the board as the Senior Vice President of the Lexington Market at First State Bank, and previously the Vice President/Market Leader for BB&T, managing the main branches in Winchester and Irvine, Kentucky. He is a Leadership Central Kentucky graduate and served on the Kentucky Technical School Advisory Board, Clark County Partners in Education and the Winchester Clark County Chamber of Commerce where he was also the Board Chair for two years.


David Royse, a partner with the law firm of Ransdell, Roach, Royse PLLC, has handled major litigation for many of Kentucky’s top businesses and has represented individuals and families in serious injury and wrongful death cases. Royse was appointed as Plantiffs’ Liaison Counsel for the Plantiffs’ Steering committee in the Comair 5191 litigation. He has been appointed by two Governors to serve as a Special Justice on the Kentucky Supreme Court. He is former Chairman of the Board of Junior Achievement and has served in a number of civic leadership positions in Lexington and his hometown of Nicholasville, where he resides with his wife Carolyn and his son Ben, a junior at LCA.


Hopgood assumed the chairperson role from Shannon Arvin, who continues to serve on the board as Past Chair. Hopgood is an attorney with Valvoline, Inc., where he has practiced for the past 2 years. Previously, Richard was a member of the law firm of Frost Brown Todd, LLC and Wyatt Tarrant & Combs, LLP. He was also a Board member of Bluegrass Airport from 2008-2016 and served as Chair from 2011-2013.

The nonprofits’ slate of officers also includes Vice Chair David Brennen, Secretary David Fogg and Treasurer Zachary Moore.


2021 Board Members include:

Richard Hopgood, Chair
Shannon Arvin, Past Board Chair
David Brennen, Vice Chair
Zachary Moore, Treasurer
David Fogg, Secretary
Liz Fowler, President & CEO
John Austin
Jim Blancet
Anne Bolton
Jenna Canning
Bo Cofield
Laura Feltner
Steve Fryman
Amanda Henson
Katie LaMonica
Rhonda Love
Steve Matherly
Nana Mensah
Ellen Miller
Greg Milward
Zachary Murray
Ron Ring
Robert Rosenstein
David Royse



To learn more about Bluegrass Care Navigators, call 855.492.0812 or visit www.bgcarenav.org.


By Emma Powers, Music Therapist September 14, 2026
I recently had the opportunity to work with a patient who was struggling with depression and grief as his illness progressed. As he lost abilities and became more homebound, the hospice team knew he could benefit from additional emotional support. However, he had repeatedly declined visits from the chaplain and social worker.
Massage therapy helps patients feel less alone.
By Jeff Zutaut, Massage Therapist September 14, 2026
Over the years, I've seen how massage therapy can help ease physical discomfort, anxiety, and stress for hospice patients. But one of its most meaningful benefits is something less visible: helping patients feel less alone.
Massage therapy with Bluegrass Care Navigators helped lessen a patients anxiety.
By Jeff Zutaut, Massage Therapist September 14, 2026
A patient living with Parkinson's disease and advanced prostate cancer was recently referred to our Integrative Medicine team. While his wife was a strong supporter of hospice care, she wasn't aware that Bluegrass Care Navigators also offers integrative medicine therapies such as massage, that complement the medical care for the nursing team.
An adult coloring in a coloring book.
By Whitney Clay, Integrative Medicine Program Coordinator September 14, 2026
At Bluegrass Care Navigators, our Integrative Medicine and Volunteer teams have been working together to create new opportunities for meaningful patient connections through art and music. This year, we launched a program that trains volunteers to incorporate creative activities into companionship visits with patients.
Seniors music activity
September 11, 2026
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) empowers seniors to remain independent at home with comprehensive support.
Grieving man sitting in chair with his hands folded and near his chin
September 2, 2026
After a loss, many people ask the universal question: “How long will my grief last?” This is especially true for a first loss. Some people ask for ways to hurry through the grieving process, but there is no shortcut. It is difficult to accept that one has little control, but with grief work, the sense of loss can slowly improve.
The Wilkins family with BCN Home Modfication Occupational Therapist.
September 1, 2026
For the Wilkins family, peace of mind came in the form of a handrail.
July 24, 2026
Bluegrass Care Navigators has received grant funding from Truist Foundation and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) to purchase an additional transportation van for Bluegrass PACE participants in Fayette County. The new van will expand Bluegrass PACE Care’s existing transportation fleet, helping meet growing demand and ensuring participants can reliably access the care and services they need.
Northern Kentucky Voluteer Flower Program Participants
July 9, 2026
The dedication of Bluegrass Care Navigators’ Northern Kentucky Flower Program volunteers was recently recognized at the Garden Club of Kentucky Annual Convention, highlighting the powerful impact of their service to BCN patients. In addition to celebrating 22 awards earned for a wide range of gardening projects throughout Boone County, the Boone County Garden Club was also honored with the prestigious Club of Honor for its outstanding partnership with Bluegrass Care Navigators. This recognition reflects the heartfelt commitment of our volunteers and the meaningful difference they make in our community.
Mom and family find hope through Bluegrass Grief Care
July 9, 2026
Grief arrives without warning. For Crystal Huddle and her children, it came in an instant, through a car accident that took her husband’s life and forever changed their family.