Meet Our Team

Dr. Aaron and Ada Christopher are multi-unit owners of Home Instead franchises in Illinois and Iowa. They have two children and live in Port Byron, IL. They both have a passion for working with seniors and making a positive impact in their community.

Ada has a Bachelor’s in Business and two Master’s Degrees; an MBA and a Masters of Accounting and Financial Management. Throughout her professional career, she has worked in a variety of leadership roles in the healthcare field and service organizations. This includes non-profits serving under-served populations and economically challenged families, as well as Federally Qualified Health Clinics. She learned early on that her calling was serving others and is passionate about serving seniors and families.

Aaron is a practicing Certified Public Accountant. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Accounting and his PhD from Claremont Graduate University. He has worked in public accounting, as an accounting professor, and as the Chief Financial Officer for several large organizations. Aaron owns several practices in staffing, finance, accounting services and investments.

Their mission is to enhance the lives of seniors by providing a network of reliable, compassionate, and well-trained Care Professionals. They are on call to quickly answer your questions and accommodate your senior in-home care needs.

Sara brings over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry,
including 15 years in home healthcare and home care. She is a
certified graduate of the Stagen Leadership Academy, where she
developed the leadership skills necessary to build strong teams,
coach employees, and foster a positive, mission-driven culture.
Sara is passionate about helping others and creating meaningful
connections—especially with older adults and their families. Her
focus is always on ensuring that seniors live their best lives with dignity, purpose, and care.
She enjoys engaging with the community and building partnerships that strengthen the
support we provide to our clients.
Outside of work, Sara has been married to her husband, Shawn, for 17 years. Together,
they have three children—Kallie, Joey, and Aubree—and a beloved dog named Jack. Her
favorite pastimes include camping at Lake Shelbyville, enjoying live music and concerts,
and spending time with family and friends—often from the back of a motorcycle with her
husband.
Sara is truly excited to be part of the Home Instead family and looks forward to serving
you with dedication, compassion, and heart.

Tracy joined Home Instead in October after retiring from a 30-year career with the State of Illinois. She was ready for her next chapter, and Home Instead proved to be a natural fit.

She has been married for nearly 30 years, has two adult sons, and shares her home with her bull terrier, Louise Gertrude.

Tracy’s passion for Home Instead is deeply personal. After the loss of her father in 2020, her mother moved in with Tracy and her family, giving her firsthand experience supporting an aging loved one. This journey has strengthened their relationship and deepened Tracy’s appreciation for the mission of Home Instead. She feels grateful to be part of an organization that helps families navigate aging with care and dignity.

Amber began her healthcare journey at 18, working in dietary services at a long-term care facility. Over time, she advanced through roles in reception, office administration, and medical records, gaining a strong foundation in healthcare operations.

In 2021, she transitioned into home care, where she served as a scheduler, office manager, and client care manager. It was in this role that Amber discovered her passion for connecting with seniors and supporting families—listening to their stories, understanding their needs, and helping guide them through their care journey.

Amber lives in a small town just outside Champaign and enjoys spending her free time outdoors, traveling, and being with loved ones.

Amber Hearn is our Billing, Payroll and Compliance Coordinator for Home Instead. Hailing from the Quad Cities.  She recently earned her associates degree in Business Management from Eastern Illinois Community College.  She enjoys spending time with her family, watching sports or reading a good suspense novel.  Known for her hard work and determination, she excel at handling challenging tasks and making tough decisions.  She also enjoy collaborating with others and maintaining a positive mindset.  

Joy brings over 11 years of experience in compliance-focused operations, quality auditing, and administrative support across e-commerce, real estate, and BPO environments. She specializes in ensuring adherence to policies, regulatory standards, and internal controls, with a strong eye for detail and accuracy.

In her recent roles, Joy has played a key role in conducting quality and compliance audits, evaluating processes, and identifying risks and gaps before they impact business performance. She is highly skilled in reviewing documentation, monitoring CRM and operational workflows, and delivering clear, actionable audit findings that drive continuous improvement and accountability.

Known for her integrity and analytical approach, Joy works collaboratively with cross-functional teams to strengthen compliance frameworks, improve operational efficiency, and maintain high standards of accuracy and consistency. Her work reflects a deep commitment to ethical practices, risk mitigation, and service excellence.

Outside of work, Joy is a dedicated mother of three daughters. She values quality family time and enjoys encouraging their passion for reading, storytelling, and music.

Mary Kate is the Franchise Training Manager with Home Instead, supporting multiple franchise offices across the region through structured training, operational alignment, and leadership development. Previously, she served as General Manager for the Quad Cities, overseeing both the Moline and Bettendorf offices, where she led teams across recruiting, onboarding, scheduling, client care, compliance, and day-to-day operations.

Mary Kate brings a strong background in management, training, and human resources, supported by a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources from Purdue Global. She joined Home Instead as a recruiter, where she built a deep understanding of talent acquisition, onboarding, and retention—experience that now directly informs her training approach.

In her current role, Mary Kate partners closely with General Managers and key players to develop consistent onboarding processes, role-specific training, and operational best practices. She is passionate about creating clear expectations, scalable systems, and meaningful development opportunities that empower teams to perform at a high level while staying aligned with Home Instead’s mission and values.