BrightStar Care

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Unveils New Program for Aspiring Entrepreneurs.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Haslam College of Business via the Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, welcomes the 2023 inaugural class for a brand new offering: The Franchise Certificate Program. The university continues to strive toward the strategic initiative of building a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem across Tennessee and the region, with franchising being a foundational part of that ecosystem.

“More and more people are turning to franchising as a means to entrepreneurship where they are in business for themselves, not by themselves.  That could mean working for a franchisor to support franchisees or becoming a franchisee themselves,” said program donor, and founder and CEO of BrightStar Care, Shelly Sun (HCB, ’92). “When I founded BrightStar Care in 2002, and then began franchising in 2005, it gave me a deeper understanding of franchising and a path to the success that I wish for every entrepreneur. Through this new program we will teach students the fundamentals of franchising and provide them with knowledge that will support whatever career path they ultimately choose.”

BrightStar Care, a home health care franchise dedicated to providing both medical and non-medical assistance for families and individuals in need has grown to more than 365 locations represented by 200 small businesses and reached $639M in revenue in 2021. BrightStar Care is consistently named in Forbes’ Top Ten Franchises under a $150,000 initial investment.

The Franchise Certificate Program provides entrepreneurs with support and training on the many facets of franchising. Students considering a career with a franchisor or simply those that desire deeper franchise knowledge can benefit from the comprehensive curriculum which will include:

• Education on the franchising industry
• Best practices for operating a franchise business
• Insight from franchise industry professionals
• Networking with other students interested in franchising

“The first priority of The Franchise Business Program is to provide entrepreneurial options for potential future business owners,” said Lynn Youngs, executive director of the Anderson Center. “We are not only aiming to educate, but also to make a difference in the community by creating jobs, supporting the next generation of small business owners with a sound basis for entering the entrepreneurial marketplace, and providing innovative strategies for successful business practices.”

To help build the Franchise Certificate Program, Cordell Riley, a franchising expert with nearly 30 years of experience, aims to build the program out in the coming years to include minor and major offerings specifically in franchising.

“Over the next decade we will help to create entrepreneurs that will make a difference in our communities and leverage the ever-so-important entrepreneurial spirit we have as Americans,” said Riley, program faculty member.

An advisory board consisting of franchisors, franchisees, franchise vendors, and other entrepreneurial representatives including Shelly Sun, Lynn Youngs, Tamra Kennedy, Tom Wood, Sherri Fishman and Cordell Riley will advise on the development of program content to ensure the franchise industry and the program work collaboratively to deliver the most knowledgeable future entrepreneurs in the country.

For more information about the Franchise Certificate Program, please visit https://haslam.utk.edu/executive-course/leadership-strategy/franchise-certificate-program/.

World’s Premier Home Care Franchise Receives Prestigious Recognition from The Joint Commission.

GURNEE, Ill. — BrightStar Care, a national private duty home care and medical staffing franchise with over 340 locally owned and operated locations nationwide, was awarded The Joint Commission’s 2021 Enterprise Champion for Quality Award, reinforcing the brand’s devotion to the highest standards of quality and safety in in-home care.

BrightStar Care is the only organization to achieve the title nine years in a row, with more than 95 percent of its franchisees accredited by The Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Additionally, BrightStar Care is one of only two franchisors to receive this title since the award’s inception in 2013.

Receiving the Gold Seal of Approval® from The Joint Commission means that health care organizations have completed a comprehensive on-site review and follow the policies and procedures established by their organization. To achieve accreditation, organizations must incorporate Joint Commission standards and requirements into their policies, procedures and training materials, as well as conduct consistent mock evaluations. Joint Commission accreditation helps organizations improve safety procedures, which became even more important amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since its inception, it has been BrightStar Care’s utmost objective to deliver the gold standard of high-quality in-home care for our patients to stay comfortable and safe in their homes and we are thrilled that The Joint Commission recognizes our efforts by awarding us with its Enterprise Champion for Quality Award for the ninth time in a row,” said Shelly Sun, founder and CEO of BrightStar Care. “This past year illustrated the growing importance of having access to a quality home care for home-bound patients and we will continue collaborating with our franchisees to ensure that our patients receive the high-quality care they deserve.”

“It’s a privilege to be awarded The Joint Commission’s Enterprise Champion for Quality Award for the ninth year in a row as we’re dedicated to continuously improving the quality of care BrightStar Care provides,” said Josie Rhoades, vice president of Clinical Operations at BrightStar Care. “We take great pride in providing a higher standard of care and making sure franchisees are equipped with the right training and resources to remain a recipient of the prestigious honor.”

“We are pleased to recognize BrightStar Care for the ninth consecutive year with the Enterprise Champion for Quality Award,” said Gary Bachrach, executive director, Home Care Accreditation Program, The Joint Commission. “We applaud the BrightStar Care organization for its commitment and effort to work closely with its franchisees to help improve quality and safety for the many individuals and families it serves within the home care setting across the country.”

Joint Commission accreditation is a known quality indicator within the industry as it is the same organization that accredits and certifies more than 22,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. Joint Commission accreditation has allowed BrightStar Care to help its clients continue living safely in their homes and help prevent hospital re-admission.”

BrightStar Care provides the full continuum of home care services comprised of companionship, personal care, dementia care, transportation, medication assistance, skilled nursing and more to improve clients’ health and quality of life.

For more information on BrightStar Care, please visit www.brightstarcare.com.
For more information on The Joint Commission, please visit www.jointcommission.org.