Devoted to Quality Care: From Family Roots to Franchise Owners

For Eric and Brittany Smith, opening a BrightStar Care location is more than a business venture; it is a homecoming rooted in family, community, and purpose. Scheduled to open in late January, their Grand Rapids location represents the next chapter in a lifelong commitment to helping others, building culture, and creating opportunity for their community.

Shared Backgrounds Create a Passion for Helping Others

Before BrightStar Care, both Eric and Brittany built careers centered on leadership and service. Eric spent more than a decade as a senior executive in the K-12 education sector, helping grow multiple companies through acquisition. After completing his latest post-acquisition integration, Eric felt secure but wanted to find a new and deeper purpose in his career.

Brittany’s background is equally rooted in service and leadership. A longtime volleyball coach at both the high school and collegiate levels, she also holds a master’s degree in social work and previously worked in nonprofit management. Since returning to Michigan, she has been volunteering to manage two homes for single mothers, helping with transportation, childcare, and job networking.

Together, their careers revealed a shared desire to lead with purpose and create lasting impact beyond the workplace. “We wanted to build something meaningful that would also allow us to serve our community,” Eric and Brittany both state.

Why BrightStar Care

For the Smiths, the decision to pursue home healthcare was deeply personal. With aging parents and firsthand experience within nonprofit and clinical environments, quality standards mattered. These factors led Brittany and Eric to BrightStar Care. Our brand stood out to them because of our mission to provide a higher standard of quality care.

“We asked ourselves a simple question,” Eric explained. “Is this the kind of care we would trust for our own parents? With BrightStar, the answer was yes.”

The ability to work closely with a Director of Nursing, maintain accountability, and lead with clinical excellence was a defining factor. Brittany added that our brand’s flexibility and multiple revenue streams aligned perfectly with the specific needs of the Grand Rapids community. “The ability to provide a full continuum of care is amazing,” she states. “That flexibility allows us to fulfill the needs in our community.”

Support From Day One

Throughout the discovery process, the Smiths were struck by the depth of support from the BrightStar Care leadership team. “The team has been incredibly proactive; sometimes we’ve had to ask them to slow down,” Eric joked. “They consistently ask how they can better support us.”

Just as impactful were conversations with other owners across the system. “They didn’t sugarcoat the challenges, but they also showed us exactly how to navigate them. Those conversations gave us the confidence to move forward.”

A True Homecoming to Grand Rapids

Although the Smiths spent several years in the Chicago area for Eric’s career, COVID accelerated their return to West Michigan in 2021, back to the place they both now consider home. Brittany grew up in Grand Rapids and worked for her grandfather, who was also a franchise owner. He operated six restaurant locations across West Michigan and set a lasting example of community-focused business ownership.

“This truly feels like coming home for us,” Brittany shared. “And opening here means everything.”

With four children, all of whom may someday work within the organization, the Smiths are focused on building something enduring. “We’ve seen what it takes to grow a business,” Eric said. “And we wanted to do it for ourselves, for our family, and for a mission we truly believe in.”

Are you ready to build an impactful business in your community? Contact us today to learn more about opening a BrightStar Care in your area.

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FAQs

Q: What is the BrightStar Care franchise opportunity?

A: The BrightStar Care franchise opportunity allows owners to operate a locally owned home care and medical staffing business supported by a national, nurse-led care model.

Q: Does BrightStar Care offer multiple revenue streams?

A: Yes. BrightStar Care operations can generate revenue through companion care, personal care, skilled nursing, medical staffing, and additional care programs, depending on regional needs and licensing.

Q: Is BrightStar Care a nurse-led franchise model?

A: Yes. Every location operates under a nurse-led care model, with clinical oversight from a Director of Nursing to ensure quality and compliance.

Q: What makes BrightStar Care different from other home care franchises?

A: BrightStar Care is known for our nurse-led model, JCAHO accreditation standards, full care continuum, national accounts, and emphasis on clinical excellence and local community integration.

Q: Is BrightStar Care a good opportunity for multi-unit expansion?

A: Yes. Many franchise partners pursue expansion through additional locations and regional development opportunities, depending on market availability and qualifications.