To Kerry, Service, Relationships Were Top Priorities
Home Instead franchise owner Kerry Pareja recently retired on a high note after nearly 18 years at the helm of her award-winning office in Shelby Charter Township, Michigan.
The Detroit Free Press newspaper presents awards to the Top Workplaces in Michigan, and it’s an honor to be selected for just one. Under Kerry, Home Instead of Western Macomb County won six awards. Honor years for the franchise were 2014 through 2017, as well as 2019 and 2020. There were even more honors. Kerry’s company earned four straight “Caring Stars” from 2017 through 2020. The Caring Stars are the coveted Best U.S. Senior Care service honors. In consumer rankings and reviews, the franchise received top 5-star ratings, which elevated Kerry’s office nationally among the many Caring Star agencies.
As impressive as the awards are, Kerry did not measure success by the number of honors she had accumulated. Her fulfillment came from serving society’s most vulnerable population and from working with her Home Instead office staff and CAREGivers, whom she considered family. Her franchise helped thousands of seniors and employed hundreds of CAREGivers. The tenure of many of her employees showed the company’s dedication to their mission.
- Scheduler Heidi Ingersoll said: “I am where I am today because of Kerry and cannot thank her enough for being there for me. I have never had a boss who cared so much for her employees.” Heidi, who joined Home Instead in 2013 as a CAREGiver, formerly held the franchise’s bookkeeping position.
- Debbie Gambino, the client care coordinator and nurse liaison, said: “Kerry, best wishes for a well-deserved and happy retirement. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me over the years. You brought so much joy, dedication and inspiration to us every day. It was a wonderful journey working with you. Enjoy your new life to the fullest.”
- Human Resources Manager Bernadette Duncan said: “Although our time together was short, I’m thrilled I was able to work with Kerry. I appreciate the faith she put in me when I joined her outstanding business and staff. All my best to you, Kerry.”
- Staff member Kristin Zuchora: “Thank you so much for being an amazing boss. I learned so much working for such a strong, smart woman. Enjoy your retirement!”
- Home Instead Corporate Business Performance Manager Kerri Nikunen said: “I am so incredibly happy for you, Kerry. You’ve changed so many lives over the years. May your next years be filled with love and blessings.”
During Kerry’s final 18 months, she navigated a steady course during a treacherous caregiving time. Seniors perhaps have never faced a bigger single health threat than the one posed by COVID-19. Kerry’s franchise was front and center with its assistance and protection for clients and their family members in western Macomb County since the beginning of the outbreak.
“When the COVID-19 challenge arose, we had 55 courageous, skilled and compassionate CAREGivers. They are heroes. There’s no other way to describe them because they faced so many challenges that demanded nimbleness and adaptations almost weekly since the start of the crisis. It involved coordination and constant communication with our staff. There’s no doubt our CAREGivers stood in the breach, hung unwaveringly tough and kept protecting their clients,” Kerry said.
Kerry saw many challenges while serving in the medical community before taking over as a Home Instead owner in November 2003. She worked as a registered nurse for more than 25 years, serving as a surgical ICU nurse at Henry Ford Hospital and as a nurse at Crittenton Hospital in Rochester Hills. Kerry also provided one-on-one patient care and accumulated business knowledge from work as a visiting nurse and manager of a neurology office.
Kerry said: “Thank you to my family, co-workers, friends and business associates for all of their love and support during the past 18 years with Home Instead. Our CAREGivers all made such a difference in this world. They rose to the occasion and continue to help our community. The clients, their families, our office staff and I thank you. I could not be prouder.”
Honor Management Group, Inc., owned by CEO Seth Michael and COO Bert Copple, took over ownership of the Home Instead franchise Aug. 16. Seth and his wife Hannah also own the Home Instead franchise in Livonia, Michigan. Bert and his wife Stephanie own the Home Instead office in Clawson, Michigan.
Together, they are teaming to acquire and grow their footprint in the home-care market to assist as many seniors as possible to age in place. Their franchises are some of the largest in the Home Instead network.
They have been recognized for 11 straight years as Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces and were named the No. 1 Healthcare Workplace in America in 2021 by Energage. They believe the caregiving profession needs to be elevated and live by a core value that “Happy CAREGivers Equal Happy Clients.” During the transition, Victoria Bednard was promoted to general manager.
