In his native Philippines, Ferdinand Vasquez was a civil engineer. He spent years working in the public and private sector, overseeing a variety of infrastructure projects and construction sites. After participating in the build-out of a service center for a car air-conditioning company, he was asked to join the firm. By Jessica Jones
In his native Philippines, Ferdinand Vasquez was a civil engineer. He spent years working in the public and private sector, overseeing a variety of infrastructure projects and construction sites. After participating in the build-out of a service center for a car air-conditioning company, he was asked to join the firm.
“They admired my customer service and appreciated the way I communicated on the job site,” Vasquez said. “It was perplexing to me because I had spent my entire career building, mixing sand and cement, but they wanted to hire me to work in customer relations. I was intrigued so I decided to try it for a few months. I ended up working with them for 10 years, managing all five of their branches, responsible for 300 personnel.”
Vasquez, affectionately referred to as “Ferdie” by all of his employees, had found his niche. Working with people was an inspiration and a welcome challenge. After a decade of working in the automotive industry, he decided to branch out and become his own boss, launching a Mail and More franchise in his hometown.
“My children were young and I wanted to build a business that offered a more flexible lifestyle,” he said.
Vasquez’ first experience in franchising was successful – he earned his return on investment (ROI) within a year and operated a productive business for several more. But when his wife’s career as a registered nurse prompted a move for the family to the U.S., Vasquez decided to sell his franchise and start a new life.
“I supported her career because she supported mine for many years,” Vasquez said.
He started working in the car-rental industry in Las Vegas and was quickly promoted because of his customer-service skills. But a good deal of stress came along with his sales position and he decided to pursue other options. A former schoolmate working at 1Heart Caregiver Services headquarters introduced him to the company.
“In the Filipino culture, we place great importance on caring for the elderly,” Vasquez said. “Since this franchise is focused on caregiving, I happily inquired.”
An in-home care agency that specializes in providing services to the elderly and other adults who require assistance in meeting their health-care needs, 1Heart Caregiver Services has been in operation since 2003. Franchised in 2015, the company offers low start-up costs, several available prime territories, hands-on coaching and extensive training.
“I learned the business through the support of the franchise and immediately felt the benefits of brand recognition – the 1Heart name is well respected in many communities,” he said. “After the onboarding and licensing process, my franchise started providing quality care to clients in the convenience of their own homes.”
Now in his third year with the company, Vasquez said his work with 1Heart Caregiver Services is extremely rewarding.
“This franchise focuses on the wellness, not on the illness,” Vasquez said. “That’s their guiding principle and it’s a very gratifying way of doing business.”
To welcome his new clients, Vasquez sends a bouquet of yellow roses or Bundt cake and personally visits his homes every other week to make sure everything is running smoothly. He even pitches in with some simple house repairs when necessary.
“My primary concern is helping to build a better community,” he said. “I love this franchise because it allows me to do just that.”
For more information about starting a 1Heart Caregiver Services franchise visit 1heartfranchise.com or email franchise@1Heartcares.com for your interest in specific territory.
– Jessica Jones