Meet Our Team

As co-owners of Baumgart Home Care Inc., Bob and Janet Baumgart bring together entrepreneurial vision and personal mission—redefining what high-quality home care can look like across every community they serve. 

Since purchasing their first Home Instead franchise in Waukee and Ames, Iowa in 2014, Bob and Janet have expanded their organization thoughtfully and strategically, with the Columbia, Missouri office representing their third Home Instead franchise. Their continued growth is grounded in a shared mission: 

• To help older adults age in place with dignity and joy 

• To be an employer of choice for compassionate caregivers 

• And to lead the home care industry through innovation, heart, and high standards 

Janet, a Registered Nurse, brings decades of clinical and family-centered care experience. While she is not involved in daily operations at the Columbia office, her insight and values continue to shape the company’s approach—especially in meeting the needs of older adults facing cognitive decline and complex health journeys. 

Bob’s leadership is rooted in business strategy and operational excellence. With a passion for coaching teams and creating scalable systems without sacrificing human connection, he remains actively involved in guiding franchise leaders and ensuring each location—including Columbia and Jefferson City—reflects their unwavering commitment to quality, trust, and personal service. 

Together, Bob and Janet lead with purpose. For them, home care is more than a business—it’s a way to create impact, empower families, and offer older adults a better way to age. 

Leading strategic growth and quality home care delivery across Iowa and Missouri 

Amy Alden brings over 20 years of experience in home care leadership to her role as Vice President of Operations for Baumgart Home Care Inc., where she provides strategic vision, operational guidance, and core process development for a growing network of Home Instead franchises, including the Columbia, MO office serving Columbia, Jefferson City and surrounding communities.

Amy began her career with Home Instead in 2004 and has spent the decades since redefining what’s possible for families who want meaningful, dignified alternatives to institutional care. Her expertise lies in developing deeply personalized, long-term care solutions — particularly for those living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and cognitive loss — and scaling those systems without sacrificing human connection. 

Amy’s leadership has been shaped by both professional expertise and personal conviction. After witnessing her own grandmother’s painful experience in a nursing home, she became committed to building a better model — one where older adults are seen, heard, and honored, right in the homes they love. She has served as an advisory board member for Central Iowa’s Area Agency on Aging, a longtime board chair for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, a HERO volunteer, and a former board member of Heartland Senior Services, which supports low-income aging adults through essential services like adult day programs and transportation. 

Today, Amy focuses on building scalable processes that keep individual preferences and quality outcomes at the forefront. She works closely with each location’s General Manager and admin team, ensuring that the company’s purpose — to help people age on their own terms — drives every decision. 

Her leadership is values-driven, people-first, and fueled by a simple belief:  

“Caring for people is never simple — and it may never be perfect — but our commitment to creative solutions, continual growth, and unwavering values allows us to deliver care experiences that rise far above the status quo” 

Proudly serving Columbia, Jefferson City, and surrounding Missouri communities with trusted in-home senior care

Leanna Baudendistel serves as the General Manager of Home Instead in Columbia, Missouri, where she leads a passionate and professional team committed to delivering exceptional in-home care for seniors across Columbia, Jefferson City, and neighboring areas. Her leadership ensures that aging adults and their families receive personalized, compassionate support that promotes independence and peace of mind.

Leanna brings a strong foundation in leadership, customer service, and operations from her successful background in retail management. She joined Home Instead seeking a more meaningful path—one that combines her talent for team-building with her heart for service. She has since become a powerful advocate for families navigating the complexities of aging in place.

In her role, Leanna champions collaboration, high standards, and continuous improvement. She works side-by-side with her client care coordinators, schedulers, and recruitment team to ensure that each client receives not only high-quality home care, but the right care—delivered by professionals who understand the importance of connection and dignity.

A culture-builder at heart, Leanna believes deeply in Home Instead’s mission and values. Her favorite core value is Connection:

“Most things in life start with a great connection and blossom from there.”

Under her leadership, the Columbia office has seen stronger team alignment, renewed energy, and a deeper commitment to providing care that truly makes a difference.

When she’s not guiding her team, Leanna enjoys life on her rural Missouri property—spending time with her husband, their three bonus daughters, training horses, reading, and caring for their many family pets.

Kim serves as a Client Care Coordinator for Home Instead in Columbia, Missouri, focusing on client care oversight and quality assurance visits to ensure every senior receives safe, consistent, and compassionate support at home. She plays a key role in advocating for clients and guiding families through the complexities of aging with clarity and confidence.

What sets Kim apart is her deep commitment to helping families find solutions—especially in difficult or uncertain moments. She is known for her attention to detail, strong sense of responsibility, and unwavering care for both clients and Care Professionals.

Kim’s passion for senior in-home care is rooted in personal experience. Having supported multiple family members through aging and end-of-life care, she understands how overwhelming the process can be—and how critical it is to have someone knowledgeable and compassionate advocating on your behalf. One of her most meaningful experiences came during COVID, when she worked tirelessly to coordinate hospice care and bring her mother home from a facility despite significant barriers. That moment solidified her calling to ensure other families don’t have to navigate those challenges alone.

Since joining the team, Kim is especially proud of stepping in on short notice to help coordinate 24-hour home care for a client whose spouse required an unexpected medical procedure—ensuring continuity of care when it mattered most.

Guided by a strong belief in compassion, Kim approaches every client with the mindset that everyone deserves the best possible quality of life, no matter their stage. She is motivated daily by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference for both seniors and their families.

Outside of work, Kim enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and making handmade baby blankets for loved ones.

Proudly serving families in Columbia, Jefferson City, and surrounding Missouri communities

Emily Sturgess is the Client Care Advisor at Home Instead in Columbia, Missouri, where she helps older adults and their families navigate the path to exceptional in-home care. With a deep belief in dignity, independence, and personal connection, Emily supports families throughout Columbia, Jefferson City, and nearby areas with warmth, professionalism, and heart.

From the very first conversation, Emily’s focus is on trust and understanding. She takes time to listen to each family’s unique needs, explain care options clearly, and ensure clients feel seen and supported. Once services begin, Emily continues to nurture the relationship—collaborating with caregivers and families to provide compassionate, high-quality care at home.

Emily’s dedication to aging in place is personal. All four of her grandparents were able to remain at home as they aged, with help from family and in-home caregivers. She saw firsthand the peace of mind that comes from receiving care in a familiar, loving environment, and she’s committed to creating that same experience for the families she serves today.

Prior to joining Home Instead, Emily held leadership roles in operations, sales, and event management—honing her ability to unite people behind a shared purpose and drive exceptional outcomes. Today, she channels those strengths into meaningful, purpose-driven work in home care.

Emily’s favorite Home Instead core value is Integrity, because she believes lasting relationships are built on honesty, consistency, and follow-through. Whether supporting an overwhelmed family member, coordinating with care staff, or guiding a new family through their care journey, she leads with transparency and heart.

Outside of work, Emily is all about family. She and her husband stay busy raising their children—walking to the park, swimming, playing, and soaking up every joyful moment together. She also enjoys solo workouts, which help her reset and recharge. A favorite quote she lives by comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived—this is to have succeeded.”

Emily is proud to make that kind of difference every day for seniors and families in the Columbia and Jefferson City areas.

Morgan serves as the Recruitment & Engagement Coordinator for Home Instead in Columbia, Missouri, where she leads the effort to attract, hire, and retain high-quality caregivers who deliver exceptional in-home senior care.

With nearly a decade of experience in recruiting, human resources, and people operations, Morgan brings a deep understanding of what it takes to build strong, values-driven teams. She has led HR initiatives, managed full-cycle recruitment, and specialized in hiring within the home care industry—giving her a unique perspective on both the challenges and the impact of this work.

At the core of Morgan’s role is one mission: connecting the right caregivers to the right clients. She is passionate about identifying individuals who see caregiving not just as a job, but as meaningful, purpose-driven work. By focusing on alignment with Home Instead’s values, she helps ensure that every caregiver is equipped to provide compassionate, personalized care that truly makes a difference.

Morgan is especially driven by the human side of her work. She believes that connection and accountability are essential to building trust—with caregivers, clients, and team members alike. Her approach centers on understanding people deeply, fostering strong relationships, and creating a stable, supportive environment where both caregivers and clients can thrive.

What motivates Morgan most is the long-term impact of care. She recognizes that while every life journey is different, we all share the need for care and dignity at both the beginning and end of life. Her work is rooted in the belief that every person deserves to be supported by someone who genuinely cares—and she is committed to making that a reality for every client served.

Outside of work, Morgan enjoys spending time with her family, especially cheering on her two kids at their sporting events. She values quiet moments to recharge, whether that’s relaxing at home, cooking as a creative outlet, or enjoying time outdoors with her partner, Josh.