Meet Our Team

Cooper was born and raised in the Black Hills region, trudging through snowy winters and sweating through hot summers. With the full support of a single mother, Cooper has not only found community through family, sports, music, church, and social media; but has also become familiar with the diversity of the world and the people in it through travel, and conversation. Holidays with family and collaborations with friends have provided Cooper with a solid foundation of his role in community as a passive leader, bringing a humble confidence that can draw attention. Between a couple summers at his uncle's ranch, years as a Subway sandwich artist, years as the only worker for a foreman, and odd jobs at retail in between, Cooper has learned to balance confidence and humility in his work, never afraid to try his own method but willing to accomplish goals through the direction of his teams.

Nicole Macdonald is our Training and Engagement Coordinator. She was born and raised in the Black Hills. Nicole has a Bachelor of Science degree from South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Her focus was in Health Science with a minor in Applied Biological Science. She has a passion for helping others. After working as a CNA, she joined the team as a CARE Professional in August of 2018. She fell in love with the one-on-one connections that Home Instead creates with our clients. She joined the office in June of 2019 and has helped in several roles. Her background in many facets in the caregiving field makes her a perfect fit to help prepare our CARE Professionals and keep them active. Nicole is blessed with two daughters, one of whom has special needs. Her children have led her to being very patient and understanding. Nicole has a love for learning and enjoys spending her free time trying new things.

Sarah joined the Home Instead team in August of 2015. Sarah started as a Care Professional and then worked her way into our office; first as the Service Coordinator, then quickly transitioned into the role of Client Care Coordinator, and eventually Client Care Manager. She has a Bachelor of Science which she obtained in 2012 from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD. This is where her history in senior care began. She started working at a nursing home in Spearfish in November 2005 while working on her degree and never looked back. She came to Home Instead with experience in floor work as a CNA and medication aide at nursing homes and assisted livings and has worked in two facilities specific to Alzheimer's and other dementias. Her most recent position prior to Home Instead was an Activity and Social Service Coordinator in Yankton, SD. Sarah has a passion to help others in any way possible - anything to see them smile! To further assist our clients with their care needs, Sarah recently completed the accelerated nursing program through SDSU and obtained her RN licensure in January 2023. She is originally a New Englander and, of course, a Patriots fan! She also has an enormous passion for animals and nature and even interned at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. In her free time, she has a husband, six children, and five pups, all of which keep her busy! She enjoys spending time with them, going on walks or hikes, swimming, fishing, and traveling.

Valarie Phillips is our Service Manager who has been with the company since August of 2016 after 14 years of being a stay-at-home mom. She started out as a Care Professional providing all levels of care. She quickly moved into a part-time office position while balancing her client. She has assisted with recruiting, retention, and training of staff, and has been the main voice you hear after hours since 2020. In July of 2022, she became a full-time office member handling all scheduling, client appointments, billing, long term insurance claims, and more. She is a native HOOSIER girl who moved to the Black Hills area in 2012 with her 3 children. Now that her kids are all grown and out of the house, you can find her up in the hills off-roading with her Jeep, spending time with her English Bulldog, Remo, and is always ready to meet with friends in her free time.

Larry spent 9 years working at the Home Instead Global Headquarters in various roles supporting franchise owners and office staff. During his time at the GHQ, he discovered a great passion for keeping people home. Growing up in Scottsbluff, NE he has always loved the Black Hills, and when the opportunity came up in February of 2023 to buy the Home Instead in Rapid City, he jumped at the chance to live and work in the Hills. When not at work, you can find Larry hanging out with his two sons, Jameson and Damien, or his smarter half Jamie. They love the outdoors, travel and anything Nebraska Cornhusker related!