Firm adds capabilities to help health care-at-home companies grow & address barriers to growth

TOLEDO, Ohio—Transcend Strategy Group, a health care at-home industry’s growth strategy firm, announced two new members of its consulting team as well as promotions of three current team members, designed to further expand its capabilities. Transcend said new and newly promoted team members demonstrate its commitment to helping clients effectively manage change, maximize sales and marketing performance, as well as expand and retain a diversified workforce.

Team additions include:

Tony Kudner, MFA, joined Transcend Strategy Group as chief strategy officer. Kudner recently served as senior vice president of marketing and communications at AccentCare, where he oversaw a complete multimillion-dollar rebrand and communications strategies for some of the largest mergers and acquisitions in company history. Additionally, Kudner has extensive experience at the intersection of marketing and sales strategy for home-based care, including developing referral relationships and account-based metrics. Previously, he worked as a lobbyist and organizer for the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and holds his certificate in PAC and grassroots management from the Public Affairs Council.

Nicole McCann-Davis, MS, joined Transcend as senior client advisor and research director. McCann-Davis brings provider-side experience to the Transcend team and joins the firm from Empassion Health, where she was chief health equity officer and vice president of communications. She previously held health equity and access, communications and multicultural leadership roles at AccentCare. Until recently, McCann-Davis chaired NHPCO’s Diversity Action Council, where she collaborated with Transcend’s team on barriers to access research, culminating in the 2023 “Hospice Through the DEI Lens” report. 

Promotions of existing team members include:

Courtney Penn, MBA, CMS, has been promoted to senior client advisor. Penn is leading census growth and workforce expansion efforts with an emphasis on effective change management. Penn joined Transcend two years ago, previously serving as vice president of marketing and communications for the Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina and an operations director with BAYADA Home Health Care.

Alex Hall has been promoted to creative director. Hall is leading creative strategy for branding initiatives, recruitment marketing and census growth campaigns for Transcend clients. Alex is a long-term veteran of the firm, charting his 15th year in 2024. 

Erin Hefflinger has been promoted to associate director of digital strategy and analytics. Hefflinger is spearheading data-driven advertising strategies designed to help Transcend clients achieve smart growth. Hefflinger joined Transcend seven years ago and is the team’s resident expert on digital advertising and media.