With more than 300 locations across the United States and 25 new franchises added in 2019, BrightStar Care laid the foundation for a major expansion in 2020. Then came Covid-19. By Jessica Jones
More Than 100 Franchise Brands Associated With International Franchise Association Access PPE As Result of BrightStar Care and Franworth Partnership.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — In the midst of COVID-19, there have been many examples of companies innovating and partnering to solve unprecedented challenges. To ensure the safety of BrightStar Care clients and franchise employees to continue providing the highest quality of in-home care during the pandemic, CEO and founder Shelly Sun and her team leveraged resources across the globe and quickly secured necessary PPE. With over $2 Million invested in the procurement side of the equation, the BrightStar Care team enlisted the help of Franworth, a franchise-focused growth equity firm led by immediate past International Franchise Association (IFA) Chair David Barr and Founder and CEO John Rotche. BrightStar Care leveraged the Franworth’s state-of-the-art Fulfillment Division to facilitate and accelerate distribution of crucial PPE materials for its franchise system. Now BrightStar Care and Franworth are offering access to the PPE inventory to the franchise community at cost.
With nearly 340 locations, each BrightStar Care independently owned and operated agency employs nurses and caregivers who are on the frontline, providing in-home care and ensuring the most vulnerable population can remain safe at home and out of hospitals. Through the rapid capabilities of the Franworth Fulfillment Division proprietary supply chain system, BrightStar Care was able to fill and distribute orders for all franchise owners of essential PPE including N-95 masks, face shields, digital thermometers, disposable gloves and hand sanitizer bottles. As a result, Franworth’s services enabled BrightStar Care’s independently owned and operated small businesses to continue serving and protecting the safety and well-being of their staff and clients.
“It’s been a long journey, but we wanted to support the entire franchise community in the fight against this pandemic by making PPE available for everyone regardless of who they are caring for during these times. Partnering with Franworth has made this all possible,” said Shelly Sun, CEO and Founder of BrightStar Care. “We always want to do the right thing, so we have invested more than $2 million in PPE and vetted all sources thoroughly so that our franchisees can instead focus on their business. Our goal is to protect BrightStar Care clients and ensure that our offices’ employees can continue providing the highest quality of in-home care during the pandemic. We also want to empower the entire franchise industry to truly make a difference in their local communities and taking the workload away from them when it comes to sourcing PPE frees them up to do what they do best.”
With PPE supplies in high demand, many businesses are struggling to determine how to prepare for reopening while maintaining the safety of staff and customers and items remain scarce. As leaders within the franchise industry, BrightStar Care and Franworth have expanded their partnership in an effort to help more franchisors gain access to the materials they need, extending PPE at cost to fellow IFA members through the reliable and unparalleled services of Franworth’s Fulfillment Division. Since the launch of this initiative, BrightStar Care and Franworth have fulfilled PPE orders for more than 100 franchise companies, providing them with the resources they need to reopen their business while following the health and safety guidelines of their local community.
“Limited access to PPE materials is one of the biggest challenges facing businesses today, and we’re proud to be partnering with BrightStar Care and leveraging the capabilities of Franworth’s Fulfillment Division to support the franchising community,” said Franworth President of Procurement Dan Hannay. “We know that our technology and supply chain resources can alleviate some of the burden for franchisors who are trying to support their franchisees through the COVID-19 pandemic. Having an opportunity to make a positive impact on fellow IFA members has been incredibly rewarding and we look forward to helping more brands facilitate their PPE distribution needs and navigate the challenges of these unprecedented times.”
Franworth’s Fulfillment Division is an invaluable warehousing, procurement and distribution resource for its portfolio and affiliate franchise brands, providing value to companies of all sizes.
For more information on how Franworth can help support distribution and fulfillment needs for your business, visit www.franworth.com/liberty.
For more information on BrightStar Care please visit www.brightstarcare.com.
About Franworth
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Franworth accelerates value for brands and independent unit value for franchisees using our proven franchise systems, professional support services and shared resources platform. Partnering with Franworth gives franchise concepts access to an expansive suite of best-in-class processes, talent, technology, proprietary supply chain system and logistics designed to help scale their businesses efficiently to achieve profitability and maximize their potential for success. Led by a team of industry veterans with more than 450 years of combined experience, Franworth’s executive board and leadership team includes Founder, CEO and Managing Director John Rotche, CFE; Managing Director and Partner David Barr; Partner Drew Brees; President and Chief Operating Officer Dave Keil; General Counsel and Chief of Staff Jonathan Koudelka; Chief Financial Officer David Taccolini, President of Procurement Dan Hannay, Operating Partner and Professional Services Division Lead Mike Skitzki; and Operating Partner and CEO of The Lash Lounge Meg Roberts. Franworth’s current portfolio of franchise brands includes The Lash Lounge®, skoah®, CITYROW® and Madison Reed Color Bar®. For more information on Franworth or to learn more about how it can help your company grow, visit franworth.com.
About BrightStar Care
Based in Chicago, BrightStar Care is a national private duty home care and medical staffing franchise with nearly 340 locations which provide medical and non-medical services to clients within their homes, as well as supplemental care staff to corporate clients. BrightStar Care franchise locations across the country employ over 20,000 caregivers and over 3,500 nurses who play a unique role in overseeing the care for each individual client. In addition, BrightStar Care is the only national home care franchise to receive The Joint Commission’s Enterprise Champion for Quality award every year since the award’s inception. For more information on BrightStar Care please visit www.brightstarcare.com.
BrightStar Care Honors Their Nurses by Providing Starbucks to All During National Nurses Week.
GURNEE, Ill. — BrightStar Care, a national private duty home care and medical staffing franchise with over 300 locations, is always looking for new ways to honor their hardworking and trustworthy staff. Nurse-led care has been the differentiator for the brand and celebrating nurses as they go above and beyond to keep their clients safe during this pandemic prompted BrightStar Care to do something special to truly show their appreciation. This year, the independently owned and operated agencies will be honoring their team of over 3,500 hardworking and dedicated nursing staff during National Nurses Week (May 6-12) with Starbucks gift cards to help them get through the late nights and early mornings.
“Our nurses are the heart of what we do at BrightStar Care, and we wouldn’t be where we are without the support and commitment each nurse displays every single day,” said Shelly Sun, CEO and Founder of BrightStar Care. “Their courage to serve with immense passion is something we all strive for. They are the reason our most vulnerable clients can stay at home safely during this difficult time, and we are grateful for all they do.”
BrightStar Care agencies’ nurses and caregivers are front-line heroes against COVID-19 as they continue to provide in-home care to ensure the most vulnerable population can remain safe at home and out of hospitals. BrightStar Care is doing what they can to protect the nation’s elderly demographic and the nurses and caregivers who care for them. Earlier this month, BrightStar Care announced that they created a centralized fulfillment center for their franchisees to equip all independently owned and operated BrightStar Care agencies and their staff with necessary personal protective equipment to be able to ensure the safety of staff and caregivers as they continue to deliver the highest standard of care.
At BrightStar Care, healthcare is not simply a career, it is a calling. As a result of providing the highest quality of care, BrightStar Care has earned the Enterprise Champion for Quality designation from The Joint Commission®, the same organization that accredits the nation’s best hospitals, seven straight years.
For more information on BrightStar Care please visit www.brightstarcare.com.
ABOUT BRIGHTSTAR CARE
Based in Chicago, BrightStar Care is a national private duty home care and medical staffing franchise with over 300 locations which provide medical and non-medical services to clients within their homes, as well as supplemental care staff to corporate clients. BrightStar Care franchise locations across the country employ over 20,000 caregivers and over 3,500 nurses who play a unique role in overseeing the care for each individual client. In addition, BrightStar Care is the only national home care franchise to receive The Joint Commission’s Enterprise Champion for Quality award every year since the award’s inception. For more information on BrightStar Care please visit www.brightstarcare.com.
Personal well-being and health have long been a passion for Melissa Janicke. Before owning and operating a BrightStar Care, she was a personal trainer, worked in medical sales, and then owned and operated a health club franchise for almost 10 years. By Elice Morgenson
Dean Ulizio Joins Leadership Team as CSO.
CHICAGO — BrightStar Care, a national franchise specializing in providing A Higher Standard of Care in medical and non-medical in-home care services, has announced the promotion of Dean Ulizio to the role of Chief Strategy Officer (CSO).
Ulizio brings with him over 14 years’ experience with BrightStar Care. After joining the leading in-home heath care brand in 2006 as a franchisee in Colorado, Ulizio moved to the Franchise Support Center team in 2010 and led the overhaul of BrightStar Care’s technology at a time when the brand was experiencing rapid growth in sales and new units. More recently, he has been serving as BrightStar Care’s Executive Vice President of Global Strategic Development. During that time, he was tasked with responsibility for new brands, product development, innovation pilots and growth through acquisitions. As Ulizio takes on his new role as CSO, his responsibilities will focus on developing and executing the company’s business strategy, including leading and sustaining strategic initiatives that drive top line growth. His overarching goal will be to continuously improve the BrightStar Care model offered to franchisees, driving quality, efficiency, standardization and growth.
“Dean comes with a depth of knowledge of the company and its history – making him well-suited for evaluating strategic growth opportunities and nurturing innovation,” said Shelly Sun, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BrightStar Group Holdings, Inc.
In addition, Ulizio’s role will be imperative for driving strategic growth in BrightStar Senior Living communities and overseeing product development.
“BrightStar Care is well positioned to take advantage of today’s powerful healthcare industry trends for increased care in the home and more holistic solutions for people with complex needs,” said Ulizio. “It is an exciting time to be part of this team and have the opportunity to work with our partners to find new and better ways we can deliver the highest quality care to our clients.”
BrightStar Care recently announced a successful 2019 as it was awarded several new rankings, including Entrepreneur’s prestigious Franchise 500, the ninth consecutive year for BrightStar Care on the list. Franchise Business Review named BrightStar Care a top franchise for 2020, marking its 10th year receiving the award. That milestone officially makes BrightStar Care the newest member of the Franchise Business Review’s Hall of Fame, rewarding franchises that have proven their dedication to corporate culture and franchisee success. The brand also hit its 14th consecutive year as a World Class Franchise, as determined by the Franchise Research Institute, and came in at No. 175 on Franchise Times’ Top 200 list. Topping the list, BrightStar Care has kept its recognition as the Enterprise Champion of Quality for the seventh year in a row, the only company to have received this designation from the Joint Commission every year since the award’s inception.
BrightStar Care offers both medical and non-medical private duty home care services, as well as medical staffing. Each BrightStar Care location employs a Registered Nurse as their Director of Nursing who tailors unique, personalized plans of care for each client and oversees a professional care team of well-qualified, experienced caregivers. The company began franchising in 2005, and it has since grown to a $500 million system with over 300 locations across the United States.
For more information about and BrightStar Care, please visit www.brightstarcare.com.
About BrightStar Care
Based in Chicago, BrightStar Care is a national private duty home care and medical staffing franchise with over 300 locations which provide medical and non-medical services to clients within their homes, as well as supplemental care staff to corporate clients. BrightStar Care franchise locations across the country employ over 2,500 registered nurses who play a unique role in overseeing the care for each individual client. In addition, BrightStar Care is the only national home care franchise to receive The Joint Commission’s Enterprise Champion for Quality award every year since the award’s inception. In 2019, the company was ranked #1 by Forbes Magazine as the top franchise opportunity in the low investment category and ranked in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 for the 10th consecutive year. For more information on BrightStar Care please visit www.brightstarcare.com.
by Jill Abrahamsen
After 18 years on the road in sales and business development, George Sanchez was ready to spend more time with his family and enjoy a more meaningful career. So Sanchez sold his business and invested in an existing BrightStar Care® franchise, which provides in-home health care in Austin, Texas. “I looked at hundreds of options in all different areas, but BrightStar Care made the most sense,” he says. “There is a never-ending demand for this service, and you can truly make a difference.”
After caring for elderly parents, Sanchez had firsthand knowledge of what quality care looks like. “I understand the value of the service we provide. I know what it means when a caregiver doesn’t show up or isn’t a good fit. We strive to give our customers the very best service. I’ll only hire people whom I would send to care for my own family.”
With more than 200 employees, Sanchez has tripled the business since he bought it in 2013. “The first few years weren’t easy. I had to invest to grow, but it was well worth it. We have a great team and a thriving business now.”
The best part for Sanchez is giving back, both directly and indirectly. Besides the gratification of helping clients every day, he and his staff are very involved in the community and raise money for charitable organizations.
Sanchez loves getting to know his patients and their families. He recently paid tribute to client Dr. John McKetta, a chemical engineering legend and professor at the University of Texas. Drawing on his artistic talents, Sanchez sculpted and presented a bronze bust to McKetta on his 103rd birthday, just a few months before his death. “It was a great way to pay tribute to a man who has given so much to the world,” he says.
Sanchez’s passion has been a driving force in the success of his business. In 2018 his location was honored with the Best of the Best Home Healthcare Award by Austin’s American-Statesman electronic newspaper. “Owning this business has been great on so many levels,” he says.
For more information, call (877) 689-6898 or visit www.franchise.brightstarcare.com.
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by Jill Abrahamsen
After 18 years on the road in sales and business development, George Sanchez was ready to spend more time with his family and enjoy a more meaningful career. So Sanchez sold his business and invested in an existing BrightStar Care® franchise, which provides in-home health care in Austin, Texas. “I looked at hundreds of options in all different areas, but BrightStar Care made the most sense,” he says. “There is a never-ending demand for this service, and you can truly make a difference.”
After caring for elderly parents, Sanchez had firsthand knowledge of what quality care looks like. “I understand the value of the service we provide. I know what it means when a caregiver doesn’t show up or isn’t a good fit. We strive to give our customers the very best service. I’ll only hire people whom I would send to care for my own family.”
With more than 200 employees, Sanchez has tripled the business since he bought it in 2013. “The first few years weren’t easy. I had to invest to grow, but it was well worth it. We have a great team and a thriving business now.”
The best part for Sanchez is giving back, both directly and indirectly. Besides the gratification of helping clients every day, he and his staff are very involved in the community and raise money for charitable organizations.
Sanchez loves getting to know his patients and their families. He recently paid tribute to client Dr. John McKetta, a chemical engineering legend and professor at the University of Texas. Drawing on his artistic talents, Sanchez sculpted and presented a bronze bust to McKetta on his 103rd birthday, just a few months before his death. “It was a great way to pay tribute to a man who has given so much to the world,” he says.
Sanchez’s passion has been a driving force in the success of his business. In 2018 his location was honored with the Best of the Best Home Healthcare Award by Austin’s American-Statesman electronic newspaper. “Owning this business has been great on so many levels,” he says.
For more information, call (877) 689-6898 or visit www.franchise.brightstarcare.com.
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Leading In-Home Care Franchisee Partners with Top Local Agency to Provide Higher Standard of Care in California
CHICAGO — BrightStar Care, the nation’s leading in-home care franchise, is igniting its growth strategy of targeting independent in-home care agencies that make viable candidates to convert to the BrightStar Care system. In the most recent development, a BrightStar Care franchisee acquired Sacramento’s Harmony Home Care, going into effect on Monday, April 1. BrightStar Care, whose higher standards of care are well known in the home care industry coast-to-coast, offers national resources, such as nurse-led care, skilled nursing and the same accreditation as the country’s best hospitals and nursing homes.
The Harmony Home Care acquisition is led by Sacramento BrightStar Care owner, Ignacio Cespedes. Cespedes, who was named BrightStar Care’s 2018 Franchisee of the Year, states, “With the growing need for care and the increasing shortage of caregivers, we found great synergy in incorporating the Harmony Home Care team to our business. We envision a future with continued organic growth as well as homecare industry consolidation.”
With the new ownership, BrightStar Care will maintain the same local commitment to high standards Harmony Home Care has demonstrated. The location will now reap the benefits of not only a strong local reputation, but a strong national reputation and standards as well. The community can rest assured that the transitions will be seamless for clients and employees, as the same care givers will remain in place for the same clients.
“It has been a pleasure to cooperate with BrightStar Care over the years and we feel confident that BrightStar will work tirelessly to maintain the same caring relationships that our customers and employees have enjoyed for the last six years,” said Patrick Philbrick and Jennifer Jarrett, co-owners of Harmony Home Care.
The acquisition comes on the heels of BrightStar Care’s impressive 2018 growth, including 15 signed franchise agreements and 14 location openings across 12 states.
Shelly Sun, Founder and CEO of BrightStar Care, stated “This deepens BrightStar’s commitment to Sacramento, combining one of our very best franchisees with the best of Harmony’s model. In addition, our national account partners, the biggest insurance companies, pharmacies, infusion services providers and third-party administrators in the country, now have new options for delivering care in the Golden State.”
BrightStar Care’s success has also been seen in recent award rankings, including Entrepreneur’s prestigious Franchise 500. The ninth consecutive year for BrightStar Care on the list, the brand came in at No. 184 this year. BrightStar Care was also ranked on Franchise Times’ Top 200 list. The brand also brought in the most number of Best of Home Care awards of any provider, including 23 locations earning the Leader in Excellence award, 105 locations earning the Provider of Choice award, and 102 offices earning the Employer of Choice award.
Based in Chicago, BrightStar Care is a national private duty home care and medical staffing franchise with more than 330 locations which provide medical and non-medical services to clients within their homes, as well as supplemental care staff to corporate clients. BrightStar Care franchise locations across the country employ over 2,500 registered nurses who play a unique role in overseeing the care for each individual client. In addition, BrightStar Care is the only national home care franchise to receive The Joint Commission’s Enterprise Champion for Quality award every year since the award’s inception. The company’s agencies have earned more ‘Best of Home Care’ Awards than any other brand. In 2018, the company ranked No. 75 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list and was included for the fourth consecutive year on Forbes Magazine’s list of top franchise opportunities. For more information on BrightStar Care please visit www.brightstarcare.com; to find out more about BrightStar Care Franchising, visit www.franchise.brightstarcare.com.
AT&T Chief Information Officer adds role as Board Member at BrightStar Care
CHICAGO — BrightStar Group Holdings, Inc., announced today the appointment of Pam Parisian as a Board Member. Ms. Parisian is retiring from AT&T as President of Technology Development.
Ms. Parisian’s appointment expands the Board to four directors. Other board members include David B. Barr, Chairman of PMTD Restaurants, Sidney J. Feltenstein, Operating Partner at Sentinel Capital Partners, and Boris Groysberg, the Richard P. Chapman Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. BrightStar Group Holdings, Inc., is the parent company of BrightStar Care, a premier home care company, as well as BrightStar Technology Group and BrightStar Senior Living.
“Pam is one of the world’s top information technology professionals, and we are honored to count her as an advisor to BrightStar,” said Shelly Sun, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BrightStar Group Holdings, Inc. “We are confident she will add great value to our Board of Directors and that BrightStar’s franchisees, clients, caregivers and families will benefit from her insights, judgment and expertise.”
“BrightStar is a leader in home care technology, having created a proprietary platform, ABS, that manages day-to-day care delivery as well as back office operations,” stated James Kearns, Chief Technology Officer at BrightStar Technology Group. “With Pam joining our Board, we’ll enhance our current capabilities and innovate for the rapidly-developing future of home health care.”
In addition to serving as Chief Information Officer at AT&T, Ms. Parisian has been instrumental in major product launches including the first iPhone launch in 2007 and leading the technology integration for the historic Fortune 100 mergers, including DirecTV, AT&T Wireless, and Cingular Wireless. Ms. Parisian was inducted into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame in 2015, won the Dallas CIO of the Year Orbie Award – Super Global in 2017 and has been recognized numerous times on CIO Magazine’s CIO 100 List.
“Joining the Board at BrightStar gives me the opportunity to help Shelly and her team do what they do so well, improve people’s lives,” said Ms. Parisian. “My family also struggles with home health care needs and I’m passionate about using technology to improve the home health care experience.”
Based in Chicago, BrightStar Care is a national private duty home care and medical staffing franchise with more than 330 locations which provide medical and non-medical services to clients within their homes, as well as supplemental care staff to corporate clients. BrightStar Care franchise locations across the country employ over 2,500 registered nurses who play a unique role in overseeing the care for each individual client. In addition, BrightStar Care is the only national home care franchise to receive The Joint Commission’s Enterprise Champion for Quality award every year since the award’s inception. The company’s agencies have earned more ‘Best of Home Care’ Awards than any other brand. In 2018, the company ranked No. 75 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list and was included for the fourth consecutive year on Forbes Magazine’s list of top franchise opportunities. For more information on BrightStar Care please visit www.brightstarcare.com; to find out more about BrightStar Care Franchising, visit www.franchise.brightstarcare.com.
SOURCE BrightStar Care
CHICAGO — According to the Census Bureau, the elderly population will double between now and 2050, with one in five Americans considered elderly. Meeting this demand with its best-in-class standards is BrightStar Care, the nation’s leading in-home care franchise. The brand’s success has been reflected this past year with numerous openings, award rankings, and promising projections for 2019.
BrightStar Care offers both medical and non-medical private duty home care services, as well as medical staffing and each BrightStar Care location employs a Registered Nurse serving as Director of Nursing who tailors unique, personalized plans of care for each client and oversees a professional care team of well-qualified, experienced caregivers. The company began franchising in 2005, and has since grown to a $400 million system with more than 330 locations across the United States and Canada.
In 2018, the company, led by Shelly Sun, signed 15 franchise agreements, and opened 14 locations across 12 states. Growth continues in 2019 with openings slated in Minnesota, Washington, Pennsylvania and more. In addition to targeted traditional growth in markets such as Houston, Nashville and Dallas-Fort Worth, BrightStar Care is targeting independent in-home care agencies that make viable candidates to convert to the BrightStar Care system.
“As the in-home care market continues to seek demand, we’re honored that our world-class services continue to be the top choice for consumers,” says Shelly Sun, CEO and Founder of BrightStar Care. “In 2019, we’re looking forward to building on our momentum by bringing more entrepreneurs to the successful BrightStar Care family as we continue to grow and innovate.”
BrightStar Care’s success was also proven by its recent award rankings, including Entrepreneur’s prestigious Franchise 500. The ninth consecutive year for BrightStar Care on the list, the brand came in at No. 184 this year. BrightStar Care also came in at No. 172 on Franchise Times’ Top 200 list. The brand also brought in the most number of awards of any home care provider in the industry from Homecare Pulse, including 23 locations earning the Leader in Excellence award, 105 locations earning the Provider of Choice award, and 102 offices earning the Employer of Choice award.
For more information on BrightStar Care and its franchising opportunities, visit www.brightstarcare.com.
Based in Chicago, BrightStar Care is a national private duty home care and medical staffing franchise with more than 330 locations which provide medical and non-medical services to clients within their homes, as well as supplemental care staff to corporate clients. BrightStar Care franchise locations across the country employ over 2,500 registered nurses who play a unique role in overseeing the care for each individual client, a service that no other private duty home care provider offers. In addition, BrightStar Care is the only national home care franchise to receive The Joint Commission’s Enterprise Champion for Quality award every year since the award’s inception. In 2018, the company ranked No. 75 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list and was included for the fourth consecutive year on Forbes Magazine’s list of top franchise opportunities. For more information on BrightStar Care please visit www.brightstarcare.com; to find out more about BrightStar Care Franchising, visit www.franchise.brightstarcare.com.