- 23 June, 2001 -

When ServiceMaster Company in Chicago downsized Constance Hill in 2001, rather than bemoan her situation, she decided to reexamine her goals. It was also just before this period that her father's health began to deteriorate, because of several debilitating conditions. Her mother opted to care for him at their home in Cleveland. "I'm one of four children," says Ms. Hill. "It made sense that I try to help. It was difficult. After about two months, he died. "Through that very personal experience," she says, "I learned about caregiving at home and how it affects the spouse and children." With time available to reflect on her future, Ms. Hill decided to make the transition from her corporate career as a healthcare management consultant to a different kind of professional challenge. Rather than rely on the job contacts she made through networking, she let her fingers do the walking or clicking, as it may be. While perusing the Black Enterprise magazine website, she found a career exploration link. After keying in her responses to a series of questions regarding interests, values, and goals, she awaited feedback. Then she saw a banner on the computer screen that read "Visiting Angels." Intrigued, she clicked on its "purchasing a franchise" link. The link led her to her new vocation: Visiting Angels franchise owner. Visiting Angels, she learned, is a business that sends caregivers or "angels" to the homes of the elderly. These caregivers provide nonmedical care, such as hygiene assistance, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, shopping, and companionship. With a degree in speech communication from Case that she earned in 1980, followed by a master's in health services administration in 1982 from the University of Southern California, Ms. Hill thought Visiting Angels to be a good fit. She had considerable experience in healthcare management, though for a time she worked on an equity sales and trading desk. "A good friend told me that I should do something for myself. I was wise enough to save and invest during those years I worked for Kaiser [Permanente] and Merrill Lynch, so I was able to purchase the franchise." The next key decision was where to set up shop: St. Louis, where she last maintained a residence, or Cleveland, where her mother and other family members lived. She chose Cleveland, because of its strong medical and healthcare systems and, more important, to be closer to family. Her Cuyahoga County Visiting Angels is the first in Northeast Ohio, and one of about 135 franchises that operate in thirty states. With slightly more than a year being her own boss, Ms. Hill says that she is glad she made the "click." "I was really burned out from the day-to-day operations of healthcare management. I am committed to the senior population. I also like this notion of being an entrepreneur."

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