Faces of Hope: Casha Whitaker, Financial Specialist

July 20, 2020

Casha Whitaker has been at HopeWay for a little over a year, and during her time here, she has played a vital role in many clients entering treatment. As one of the Financial Specialists, she works with clients and families to help navigate their insurance and finances during the admissions process and throughout treatment. This can be a confusing and stressful topic for many clients and families, especially on top of addressing a serious mental health issue, but Casha works tirelessly to advocate on their behalf and help them understand the intricacies of this process.

Casha is from the very small town of Sharon, South Carolina. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Health Care Management from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. Casha began her professional career working in finance for a hospice company, and then transitioned into long term care, specifically nursing homes. She worked as a Financial Specialist as well as a Medicaid Resource during her time in long term care, and both positions were incredibly rewarding and gave her a solid foundation for her career in finance.

Q: So far, what is one of your favorite moments at HopeWay?
A: Receiving my very first thank you letter from a client. Finance can be a difficult subject to talk about, so being told I helped make someone’s experience easier really meant a lot to me.

Q: Why did you decide to work at HopeWay? 
A: My co-worker, Jen Cash, actually told me of an open position in the finance department. I did some research, and I loved the mission of HopeWay. Mental wellness is something very dear to my heart, and having the opportunity to help others achieve that peace of mind is exactly where I wanted to be.  

Q: If you could pack your bags and leave for vacation, where would you go and why? 
A: I would go to the Dominican Republic. My husband and I went there for our honeymoon, and it remains my favorite vacation spot.

Q: What is one thing people do not know about you that you would like to share?  
A:  I love fishing and really anything that relates to the outdoors. My summers are spent boating on Lake Wylie.

Q: Who do you most look up to and why? 
A: My grandfather. He witnessed things most people could not imagine, but he never let those experiences define him or change his character. He was a simple man, who led a simple life, but it was one full of love and purpose. My hope is to one day be half the person he was.