about us
Mr. Robert F. Wernet, Jr.
President and CEO

Mr. Wernet is the President and CEO of the Deerfield Corporation since he joined in 1998.  Mr. Wernet received a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University and a Masters in Gerontology from North Texas State University.  He is a licensed Administrator in North Carolina and Florida.  He served in multiple administrative positions in CCRC’s in Florida and has been developing/managing CCRC’s since 1981.  He has been involved in and was responsible for oversight of three major expansions each over 400,000 new sq. ft.  He currently serves o n the Board of the Asheville-Biltmore Rotary Club, the University of North Carolina at Asheville School of Business Advisory Board, and Buncombe County Medical Society Advisory Board. Mr. Wernet has completed the Evaluator training for the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission.

Mr. Robert Chandler
Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Chandler has been Controller/CFO since he joined the staff in 1999.  He is responsible for the financial operations of the Corporation, including financial reporting, the annual budget, and forecasting.  Mr. Chandler is a graduate of Texas A&M University with an accounting degree.  Mr. Chandler is a CPA and began his career with Peat Marwick and worked as a controller for a financial services firm for 10 years.  He also worked for a New York accounting firm.  He has completed Evaluator training for the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission.  Currently, he serves on the Finance Committee of Mission Health Systems, Inc. in Asheville, NC and the Financial Ministries Committee for the Episcopal Diocese for Western North Carolina.

Mr. Ken Rhew
Director of Facility Services

Mr. Rhew joined Deerfield’s staff in 1997 as the Project Manager and Owners Representative for Deerfield’s major expansion project and then became Director of Facility Services.  He is responsible for the physical plant, grounds and security, including construction design, development, and risk management.  He has a degree in Industrial Engineering and is certified by the State of North Carolina as a Health Care Engineer. Prior to joining Deerfield, Mr. Rhew was an Assistant Director and Director of Engineering of two large North Carolina hospital systems.  He was also a Manufacturers Consultant for Energy Conservation and a Senior Industrial Engineer for several industrial facilities, responsible for utilities and construction management.

Mrs. Kyle R. Robinson
Director of Marketing

Mrs. Robinson joined Deerfield’s staff as Director of Marketing in 2011.  She is responsible for marketing the Community, primarily the Independent Living residences, and maintaining high-level occupancy.  She is also responsible for Deerfield’s strategic marketing plan, creation and production of marketing communications, public relations, and conception and oversight of special events.  Mrs. Robinson has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Masters of Arts in Communication Studies, and a graduate certificate in Gerontology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  Prior to coming to Deerfield, Mrs. Robinson was the Director of Communications with Spectrum Consultants, Inc., a firm specializing in CCRCs.  She also worked for Ernst & Young, a “Big Four” accounting firm in the Americas’ Business Development division.

Mr. James Kastetter
Director of Development

Mr. Kastetter joined Deerfield in 2009 as Fund Development Officer.  He is responsible for Deerfield’s fundraising and contributions.  Prior to coming to Deerfield, Mr. Kastetter was employed as the Executive Director of both Downtown Hendersonville, Inc. and Hendersonville’s Historic Seventh Avenue District, administering the National Main Street Program from 1999 to 2009.  Prior to moving to Hendersonville, Mr. Kastetter retired from a 30-year career teaching, coaching, and administrating in independent boarding schools.

Mrs. Shirley Burnette
Human Resources Director

Mrs. Burnette has been with Deerfield for 30 years.  She is responsible for the Human Resources department for the entire campus.  Prior to that, she spent 18 years as the Food Service Director.  She received certification as a Dietary Manager through the University of Florida’s Continuing Education program.  She also has a Certificate of Achievement as an Activity Coordinator.  Mrs. Burnette completed the Human Resources Management Program at Western Carolina University.

Mr. Matthew Sharpe
Director of Resident Services

Mr. Sharpe, Director of Resident Services joined Deerfield in March 2004.  He is responsible for managing several Departments including Dining Services and Resident Life, as well as managing many contract services such as, salon services, massage therapy, exercise instruction, and art.  He is also responsible for a wide variety of special administrative projects such as certification, satisfaction surveys, and Deerfield’s internal website.  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.

Mr. Jim Bailey
Director of Housekeeping

-to come

Rev. Morgan Gardner
Director of Pastoral Care Services

The Rev. Morgan Gardner is the Chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care Services at Deerfield. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Appalachian State University and a Master’s degree from the Virginia Theological Seminary, of which he is a past Fellow. An Episcopal priest since 1976, Fr. Gardner served congregations for over 25 years before coming to Deerfield in 2000.  He received his certification as a gerontological chaplain from the Center for Aging, Religion, and Spirituality at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2005.  He has been active in leadership capacities in various community ecumenical social outreach organizations and in the area of medical ethics and aging.  Fr. Gardner was also awarded the Star of Merit Medal with Commendation for his work as a Fire Department Chaplain.   He is a member of the American Society on Aging, the Association of Professional Chaplains, and the Society for Spirituality, Theology, and Health.  He teaches in the areas of spirituality, aging and dementia, and health care ethics.