a look at...
Scott Kistler and Bill Brown
Photography by Win Wolloff
Scott Kistler of Empath Health and Bill Brown of William
Dean Chocolates, who live in Dunedin, met while Bill
was working in software in Atlanta. On February 15,
2020, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their first date,
they were married in a small ceremony on Clearwater Beach
with a small gathering of family and friends.
Bill began William Dean Chocolates in Belleair Bluffs in
2007. He was born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas, along
with his two brothers and two sisters. He graduated from
Kansas State University with a teaching degree and later took
graduate courses at the University of Kansas in history. He
spent seven years working for Houston’s Restaurants (now
Hillstone) in various roles and as a corporate trainer. He then
spent five years working in software sales/training before
moving to Atlanta in the ‘90s to co-found a software company,
ThinkWorks Inc. Subsequently, he joined another emerging
dot.com, ePanacea, as the director of sales. When Bill
relocated to the Tampa area, he took an entry level position at
Ceridian Corp. and within five years had moved into senior
management. During his time there, he came upon a new
hobby, chocolate, which would redefine his career.
Scott, who is vice president for strategy and business
development for Empath Health, grew up in western
Pennsylvania and has a bachelor’s degree in social work
from Penn State. He held a variety of positions in the fields of
mental health/developmental disabilities and elder services
before pursing a master’s degree in health care administration
at the University of Minnesota. After graduate school, Scott
moved to Florida to begin his hospice career, which has now
spanned 30 years. He began working for Suncoast Hospice
almost 24 years ago.
Scott serves on the boards of Empath Partners in Care, the
American Cancer Society and the Humane Society of Pinellas.
Bill supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation since he has two
nieces living with the disease, and the Ryan Wells Foundation.
The couple’s most treasured possessions are their two little
Aussiedoodles, Pepper and Scout.
What could you talk about for hours?
Scott: I could talk about the importance of good end-of-life
care, but the conversation invariably turns to the subject of
good chocolate.
Bill: I think most would say what couldn’t I talk about for hours.
What is your favorite word?
Scott: Compassion
Bill: Chocolate, of course
140 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | MARCH/APRIL 2021
What do you do on your day off?
Scott: Play with the pups, read or make deliveries for the
chocolate shop
Bill: What day off? When I take one, I like to watch sports.
Who is your role model?
Scott: Mine is Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of the
modern-day hospice movement. She was a physician, nurse
and social worker.
Bill: My dad
Why do you do what you do?
Scott: My mom died under the care of hospice four days short
of her 60th birthday. My paternal grandmother died three
years later under hospice care. I was a primary caregiver with
both and soon understood this was to be my life’s work.
Bill: Making chocolate reignited a creative spark in me.
What don’t people know about you?
Scott: I am bilingual. I speak English and am fluent in sarcasm.
Bill: I’m a history major.
What are your favorite words of wisdom?
Scott: When people show you who they are, believe them…
the first time.
Bill: Don’t cry over anything that can’t cry over you.
What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Scott: Caring for my mother, grandmother and father in their
final days of life
Bill: The closeness of my family
How do you think other people would describe you?
Scott: Passionate, humble and kind. Sometimes, funny.
Bill: Outgoing and friendly
What is your idea of happiness?
Scott: Spending time with family and close friends. Life is short.
Bill: Not feeling like I need something to make me happy
What talent do you wish you had?
Scott: I’d love to have an amazing singing voice.
Bill: Playing the piano
What did you want to be when you were younger?
Scott: As a boy, I was obsessed with dogs and wanted to be a
veterinarian.
Bill: A professional baseball player
What is your favorite thing to eat?
Scott: Thai food, hands down. I could eat it everyday.
Bill: Movie popcorn
How would you like to be remembered?
Scott: That I made a difference
Bill: Hopefully, for how I made people feel. 9
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