The HEalth Coach Team

 Tanya is a licensed clinical social worker who was born and raised in Niagara Falls, NY. She then went to Stonybrook University in Long Island for the first part of her bachelor’s degree and returned to Buffalo, NY to complete her degree closer to home. She completed her bachelor’s degree in social work in 2003 and graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Master’s Degree in Social Work from University of Buffalo in 2005. Tanya worked as a mental health therapist and substance abuse counselor in a community mental health clinic for seven years prior to moving to Florida. Tanya moved to Florida in 2010 to be closer to her aging grandparents and provide support through the aging and dementia process. She worked in home health as the medical social worker and clinical liaison specializing in Senior Advocacy and medical social work for almost eight years until she realized the immense need for a community program to help families navigate the aging process. This is when Tanya's husband Matt encouraged her to start a program to provide medical advocacy in the ever changing and complex world of healthcare. She developed The Health Coach LLC in 2018 to meet the needs of the community which has rapidly developed into a team of high-quality professionals. 

Tanya is a devout Christian and enjoys reading the bible and sharing the gospel with others. In her spare time, Tanya enjoys planting both indoors and out. She loves camping, hiking, going to the beach and watching her kids play sports. 

Matt joined The Health Coach, LLC in May 2022 as our Business Administrator. Matt manages business development from an operations standpoint. He handles all of our Human Resources, invoicing/billing, payroll and operations. 

 Matt spent the past 25 years of his career in management in the industrial world of electrical maintenance for powerhouses around the state of Florida. He was managing at a very high level and seized the opportunity to join our team to help grow The Health Coach and ensure quality in all that we do.  Matt has an entrepreneurial spirit and also owns Preferred Dumpster, LLC, a dumpster rental company serving all of Polk County, FL. 

In his spare time, Matt loves going to church, reading his bible, and spending time with his family camping. He and Tanya enjoy quality time with their three young children and watching their sporting events. 

Brianna Hampton joined The Health Coach in April 2023 as our Administrative Assistant and was promoted to Office Manager in 2024 due to her diligence and conscientiousness. Brianna jumped right in and mastered her role above and beyond expectations. Brianna manages our office at the highest level of expertise and is great support to our care managers and teammates. Her calm, sweetness and professionalism provide a sense of relief and reassurance needed when working with delicate issues. 

Prior to working with The Health Coach, Brianna was a preschool teacher for many years. She then went on to work for a busy dermatology practice and developed a base of medical knowledge and office skills that have helped her to excel her career. 

Outside of work you can find Brianna baking sour dough bread masterpieces, sewing, trying new local restaurants and spending time with her husband and fur babies. 

Katelyn Meeks joined The Health Coach in April 2023 as a Care Manager and was promoted in 2023 to Care Management Supervisor. 

Katelyn Meeks began her care management career in 2019 and earned her Care Manager Certification in 2020. Katelyn received her Master of Science in Health Education in 2018 from the University of Florida and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®). She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Education and a minor in Disabilities in Society. She is a member of Engage, the Bartow Chamber's young professional Group, and the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA). Katelyn is in the Bartow Leadership XX Class and looks forward to learning more about our community's impact on a local and national level. 

Katelyn’s focus is holistic care management, which includes planning, implementing, and evaluating techniques to improve quality of life, and advocating for clients and their families. She values professional development and participates in educational opportunities through trainings, webinars, and conferences.

Katelyn served as the ALCA Florida Chapter’s Membership Committee Chair for 3 years and is now the ALCA Florida chapter President. Katelyn received the 2022 Rising Star award for the National Aging Life Care Association. Katelyn also serves on the National Academy of Certified Care Managers’ (NACCM) board and Item Review Committee to help promote and enhance the CMC certification. Katelyn is an active board member for the Bartow Junior Service League. She also serves as the advisor to the Vice President of Academic Excellence for the University of South Florida’s Sigma Kappa chapter. 

Katelyn enjoys spending time with family and friends and relaxing by the pool or on the boat. She also likes to go shopping and try new restaurants. She enjoys traveling and is looking forward to several upcoming trips.

Sharon Philpot joined The Health Coach in May 2023 and has quickly become a blessing to our clients and families.   

Sharon Philpot was born and raised in South Carolina. Prior to moving to Florida in 2015, she lived in North Carolina for 16 years. Sharon entered this field after struggling to help her grandmother meet her care needs. Sharon shared that “I knew I did not want any other family to feel as helpless and hopeless as I did.” 

Sharon went back to college at Winston-Salem University in Winston Salem North Carolina, graduating with honors in Sociology and a minor in Social Welfare. She most recently expanded her skills and qualifications by obtaining her CMC-Care Management Certification through the National Academy of Certified Care Managers in 2023. Sharon is currently working on her Dementia Practitioner Certification and is focused as our dementia specialist.

With almost 20 years of experience working with the elderly and disabled adults, Sharon strives to provide quality care that she would expect for her own family. She also worked for Adult Protective Services for nine years before moving to Florida, which has proven very valuable in her work as a Care Manager. Sharon has worked in Senior housing as a social worker as well as a Care Manager for a previous local care management company. Sharon dedicates herself to her profession, so that families do not feel helpless or hopeless and they can go back to enjoying their loved one rather than the stress of managing their care and conditions. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 29 years and their two kids.

Tonya Smith joined The Health Coach in 2024 as an Aging Life Care Manager. Working in Social Work has been a lifelong dream for Tonya, she believes the Lord put it in her heart as a young person. After raising her family, she went back to school to fulfill this calling. She earned her bachelor's in social work from Warner University.  

Tonya brings a wealth of knowledge to our team. She worked in a chiropractic office for 22 years and earned her x-ray license and Chiropractic Medical Assistant certification. She spearheaded the development of the physical therapy department for the clinic. After obtaining her social work degree, Tonya worked as a Medical Discharge Planner for Winter Haven Hospital for 7 years and developed a social work program for the ER. Tonya feels that the most rewarding part of that job was to bring resources to people in crisis and let them know that there is help. She guided individuals on how to access resources and brought great relief to those who did not know where to turn to. This is where Tonya first encountered The Health Coach. Tonya has also worked in Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living, and Memory Care settings. She feels rewarded when she provides solutions to caregivers who are becoming overwhelmed. She recognizes that transitional periods are emotional and tasking for everyone involved and strives to provide a listening ear and a safe environment for sharing challenges.  

Tonya feels that working for the Health Coach is a full-circle moment for her. She truly believes that each step of her journey has trained her to be the best advocate she can be. She is a lifelong learner and looks forward to growing in her role and experiences. 

Tonya is originally from Missouri and moved to Florida in 1986. She spends most of her spare time with her 3 adult children and 11 grandchildren. She loves to be an active part of their lives, whether it is a vacation, a sporting or dance event, a school program, or a day by the pool. Time with her family is always a joy!