Homewatch CareGivers of WNC

Local Agency Owners

Brenda & Ernie Konkoli

Ernie and Brenda Konkoli, residents of Mills River, are the local owners of Homewatch Caregivers of Western North Carolina.  Brenda serves as Office Manager and Ernie as President.  Happily married for over 36 years, they have raised two great children who are now grown and living on their own. 

With a BS in Engineering and a Masters Degree in Business Administration, Ernie has enjoyed a successful 36 year career in corporate America providing leadership at the Vice President and General Manager levels for several world class aerospace manufacturing companies.

Most recently Ernie has completed intensive training and passed national testing to be able to serve the community as a Certified Senior Advisor demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of more than 20 key areas that affect seniors such as physical and cognitive effects of aging, nutrition, housing, governmental programs including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, financial and estate planning, care giving and home and community-based services.

Brenda brings to the Homewatch CareGivers team many complementary skill-sets and personal caregiving experiences, including:

• Supervising the maintenance and operation of five county homes for the mentally handicapped. 
• Serving in the local school system by providing direct support for disadvantaged children’s learning skills programs.
• Founding a collaborative program with local nursing homes and elementary schools called “Adopt a Grandmother”.  The unique program received full support from school and nursing home administration due to the mutually beneficial, results to nursing home residents and elementary school children.

"After years of serving corporate America and our local institutions, Brenda and I are excited to be able to combine our passion, effort and skills to add value to our community by building Homewatch CareGivers of Western North Carolina into the highest quality, client-focused home

care company in the region.  We know that this can only be accomplished by recruiting and developing the most technically competent and compassionate team of caregiver associates and by working closely with the many excellent health care professionals who share our commitment to quality service".  Ernie Konkoli, Certified Senior Advisor.

Agency Director

Suzannah Tebbe Davis

Suzannah Tebbe Davis has served in professional leadership roles in the Health and Human Services sector for over 30 years. She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts did MSW work at the University of Connecticut with a focus on Community Organization and obtained Certifications in Somatic Therapy from the Center from Healing Arts and Sciences and Sacred Centers. Suzannah has always served in an advocacy role, starting with active participation in the deinstitutionalization movement for individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities.

Always an inquisitive student, Suzannah is passionate about lifelong learning and has developed, led and collaborated on a variety of curriculums and workshop experiences. She believes that we all thrive and grow together when we can live in community with a strong, diverse, intergenerational network of support.

Having worked as an Executive Director in state government, for-profit and not-for-profit agencies serving a variety of populations in both rural and urban settings, Suzannah has seen the consequences of the deterioration of community throughout our country. She believes there is a direct correlation between the health of the individual and the health of the community.

“An integral part of a healthy and vibrant community is the ability to learn from the wisdom of our elders, a gift that is often forgotten. To play a part in supporting health and wellness to our senior citizens is a great honor and responsibility. It requires integrity, compassion, creativity, critical thinking, openness, and humor. It also requires that we each take full responsibility for our own health and wellness, by caring for our body, mind and spirit.”

“I am fully committed to the Vision, Mission, Aim and Core Commitments of Homewatch Caregivers of WNC and the principles of Servant Leadership.  And I am very excited and grateful to be able to co-lead with the talented team at Homewatch CareGivers within this rich and diverse community of Western North Carolina, which I feel blessed to call Home.”

Supervisor, Client Care Services

Terri Lu Bencar, RN

Terri Lu Bencar, RN, has been honored to work with the elderly for many years.  Prior to becoming a Registered Nurse in 2005, she provided non-medical care to home-bound seniors, while also raising her two daughters, Violet Ray and Glory Dawn.  As an RN, Terri Lu has worked with a variety of patient populations such as male drug and alcohol addicts, juvenile offenders and the multi-diagnosed psychiatric patient.  Her bachelor degree in Human Potential has provided a strong foundation for the care she provides.  Terri Lu practices a committed adherence to meeting people where they are and assisting them with identifying ways of using their god-given human potential.  She sincerely feels it is her privilege to contribute to someone else’s improved sense of comfort, health and overall well being.

Ms. Bencar has been personally involved with professional efforts to keep elders at home, including coordinating a senior respite program.  “Recognizing the reality of caregiver burn-out is a critical piece with providing care for seniors.  Even though mom may be caring for dad, she needs a break too, for her own health.”  One of Terri Lu’s most enjoyable jobs serving the elderly was when she worked as the good-humored, song-singing bus driver for Given’s Estate.

Terri Lu Bencar believes that our senior citizens are perhaps the most overlooked and underserved in our community.  “With the advent of technology, medications and facilities, the elderly are often neglected in ways that are too subtle for many to realize.  They are institutionalized for never having committed a crime other than growing old.  By bringing in competent, dependable and affordable home care, our parents and grandparents can hold on to what is most precious and valuable to them:  their home, their independent lives, everything familiar and faithful.”  

“I am proud to join Homewatch CareGivers, a high quality home care agency of like minded professionals committed to addressing not only the body, but the mind, spirit, economic, social and vocational needs of our elders.”