Our Staff at BrightStar Care® Venice

Sir Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”  I have always had a passion for helping others; especially when the help is being provided for someone who honestly can’t help themselves.  As a young boy my parents taught me the there is no greater feeling than to look back on the efforts of a hard day’s work and see the fruits of your labor; and there is no greater reward than for one’s labor to be in service to others.  Over the past several years, I have witnessed within my own family the impact of aging grandparents.  To see their needs change, and the impact of those changing needs have on the lives of my parents and family members.  When Lisa Marie approached me about the opportunity to own a Home Care Agency, I knew it was something we had to pursue.  

How long have you been a nurse? 
I have been a Registered Nurse for 15 years.

What expertise and experience do you bring to BrightStar Care? 
Most of my nursing career has been in the Hospital setting, caring for people with acute illnesses and post-surgical procedures.  After a few years I began precepting many new nurses and advanced my career in the Charge nurse role. I then was promoted to Assistant nurse manager for night shift.

What part of your job are you most passionate about? 
I love being a nurse leader. A great leader instills confidence in staff and helps develop their skills, this I what I love most about being a manager and director. In the assistant nurse manager role, I would help promote nurses into a preceptor or charge nurse role. Providing the training and education needed to succeed in these roles. As Director of nursing, I will use my clinical expertise and my nursing leadership experience together in this role to provide excellent care.

What are three unique strengths you bring to BrightStar Care? 

1. I have a passion for excellent nursing care and hold myself to a high standard.  
2. I have excellent Clinical skills.
3. I am a creative thinker, and I am a problem solver.

I have been performing sales and marketing successfully for about 30 years, but never for healthcare prior to Brightstar Care. The recruiter convinced me I would be a good fit with Brightstar Care to help develop the business. Never in my life could I have imagined I would love it so much. I’ve been here for about four years and find it so inspiring and fulfilling to help families and clients who are in distress. To be effective, It is essential to be a good listener to understand their needs, to educate them and to provide some solutions in a very prompt way.  My goal is to always help, whether with our amazing team of nurses and caregivers or with any of the partners I have developed over the years. It has been very rewarding to help so many families and to help grow the business. On a personal side, I enjoy the company of my husband of 30 years, our daily sport activities, cooking for family and friends as well as traveling.

As a proud veteran of the United States Army, I served two tours of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom. After my military career, I began working in Human Resources. I enjoy the HR field because it gives me the opportunity to influence the well-being and productivity of employees in the workplace, creating a more positive workplace culture. I joined BrightStar Care in 2020, with over 20 years of experience in Human Resources. At BrightStar Care of Venice and Port Charlotte our mission is Making More Possible Through A Higher Standard of Care.  My Goal as the Director of Human Resources is to make it possible for our employees to provide for themselves and their loved ones by providing a great workplace environment where they are rewarded, recognized, and appreciated for all they do to service others.  
 

Being the Branch Manager for BrightStar Care is something I didn't ever see myself achieving, but once I started, I instantly fell in love with it. I start as a Customer Care Manager helping our clients and caregivers with scheduling. As I learned more about the company, I took on more responsibilities and became the manager of our branch. I am here to offer comfort and resolutions for our staff, clients and their families. Being a mother of 2 wonderful kids and being a military spouse makes me so much stronger to tackle everything that comes my way. I am passionate about my work, and I enjoy every minute of it.  
 
"It always seems impossible until it's done." - Nelson Mandela