Nicole Whitmer serves as the Vice President of Clinical Operations at HWS Best Health, where she leads with compassion, clarity, and a deep commitment to high-quality, client-centered care. In her role, Nicole oversees and manages the organization’s clinical programs, supporting both leadership and frontline providers to ensure services are effective, ethical, and grounded in integrity. From maintaining regulatory compliance to guiding day-to-day clinical decisions, she helps ensure that clients receive care that’s both comprehensive and deeply human.

Nicole has spent her career working across multiple levels of care, including residential, intensive outpatient (IOP), and outpatient settings. She has provided direct therapy in both mental health and substance use treatment programs and has held leadership roles in both nonprofit organizations and private practice. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), with a strong focus on trauma-informed care, and brings significant expertise in treating substance use disorders.

Nicole holds a Master of Social Work and is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervisory designation (LISW-S). Known for her servant leadership style, she believes in standing beside her team during both successes and challenges, offering support, direction, and a steady presence. As she puts it, “My team can’t pour from an empty cup. I want to empower and uplift them, and sometimes that means standing in the rain with them.”

For Nicole, the work is as rewarding as it is meaningful. She’s driven by the resilience of the individuals and families her team serves, and she finds equal joy in celebrating the personal and professional wins of her colleagues. Her leadership is marked by empathy, active listening, and a calm objectivity that brings steadiness in moments of uncertainty.

Outside of work, Nicole finds peace and perspective on her farm, especially when she’s bottle-feeding calves and lambs or spending time outdoors. She’s also a lifelong writer, with a few published pieces and a short stint as a newspaper columnist.

“In leadership, I believe my role is to support and empower others so that they can accomplish their goals.”