Taking a Break Lasted Three Months Before This Health Care Data Executive Found His Next Chapter With Griswold

Kris Morgan spent 16 years building a successful corporate management career in health care data. When that career ended, he thought he was ready to take a break from professional life.

It lasted about three months.

Morgan quickly realized he still wanted the challenge and sense of purpose that came from building something. He had reached a point in his corporate career where, as he put it, he wasn’t “growing,” and he wanted his next chapter to engage parts of his professional skill set that had been dormant for a while.

The question was what that next chapter should look like. For Morgan, the answer came from an experience that had shaped his family for more than a decade.

Morgan's mother lived with Alzheimer's dementia before her passing in 2023, and for 12 years, his family relied on in-home Caregivers to help her remain safe and comfortable. As an only child without much additional family support, Morgan saw firsthand how much compassionate Caregiving could mean to a Client and the people who loved them.

“I sat on the Client side of the table, and I know what those anxieties, worries, and lack of answers feel like,” Morgan said. “I realized my next pursuit should be to help other families navigate those same issues.”

Once Morgan decided to pursue in-home care, franchising offered a way to enter the industry without building a business entirely from scratch. At 47, he wanted a framework that would allow him to focus on serving Clients and building his operation rather than developing every system himself.

That search eventually led him to Griswold. Morgan was drawn to the brand's mission and support structure, as well as the experience that comes from more than 40 years in the in-home care industry. After spending years on the Client side of Caregiving, he saw Griswold as an opportunity to put his own experience to work for families facing many of the same questions he had.

Morgan is preparing to open his first Griswold location in Charlotte this October, with a second unit planned for next year. After only a few months of ‘retirement’, he is back to building something of his own and taking on the responsibility that comes with it.

Morgan sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss why his break didn't last and how his family's experience with in-home care shaped what he wanted to do next. Here's what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story in one sentence.

Kris Morgan: I saw how truly compassionate in-home care changed my mother's life for the better, and now I want to give that opportunity to other people and their loved ones.

1851: What was happening in your life that made you realize it was time to make a change?

Morgan: I left a successful corporate management career, and it took about three months before I started looking for the next phase and chapter in my professional life. My mother had Alzheimer's dementia and passed away in 2023, but we had in-home Caregivers for her for 12 years. Through that, I got a very up-close, personal look at what good care looks like and what bad care looks like. Living with dignity, comfort, and safety for as long as possible was incredibly important. I'm an only child, so I don't have brothers or sisters or much other family, and witnessing this firsthand changed and saved our family in many ways. When I started to look at my next career path, I kept coming back to in-home care because it felt natural. I sat on the Client side of the table, and I know what those anxieties, worries, and lack of answers feel like. I realized my next mission should be to help other families navigate those same issues.

1851: Why did you choose this franchise over every other opportunity?

Morgan: I met with my neighbor, a franchise consultant, because at 47, I didn't want to start over from scratch, which made the franchise approach highly appealing. We looked at a handful of other in-home care agencies, but Griswold really felt like home. With other franchises, I got the impression they were just playing a numbers game—throwing as many units against the wall to see what sticks—which wasn't appealing to me. Griswold took a much more thoughtful and methodical approach to who they awarded franchises to. Beyond that, it came down to their support model. From the start, it was clear this is a serious, mission-driven organization where Gene Griswold is still very much at the center of what they do. I also liked that Griswold was just Griswold; many other in-home care franchises I talked to were part of larger staffing corporations or conglomerates where in-home care was just one arm of their business, and I didn't want to have a partner that served a 3rd party.

1851: What is it really like preparing to open a Griswold franchise?

Morgan: I haven't officially opened our doors yet as we wait on our state licensing, but what really helped early on was going to Griswold's national convention right after I signed my paperwork. I didn't even know what most of the conversations were about because they were using terms I wasn't familiar with, but it was great. I got to meet other franchisees, hear about their struggles and what has been working, and see how joyful everyone was even through the pain and stress of the business. It felt like they genuinely enjoyed the work, which meant a lot to me. Also, the corporate support staff who helped me through the licensing process and business setup have been fantastic. The path is clear, and the steps are very well thought out and easy to follow.

1851: How has this opportunity changed your life?

Morgan: In corporate management, you can easily get into a cadence and honestly, professional growth is harder. Larger companies are very siloed and as you advance, it gets harder to find opportunities to grow your full skill set. But when you venture off on your own and the buck stops with you, you have to develop new skills because you are wearing a lot of hats. Preparing to run this business has let me use parts of my brain and professional skill set that have been dormant for a while.

1851: If your best friend had enough money to buy this franchise tomorrow, what would you tell them?

Morgan: I would tell them to be prepared for a long road to getting open because of the licensing and all of the things that have to be in place before you can open your doors — which is just a reality of doing business in North Carolina. But if you are deciding between different in-home care groups, Griswold should be high on your list because they try to make that process as easy as possible. They offer a lot of organized support, and because they have been doing this for more than 40 years, it is a proven model that shows in the training and pre-work.

1851: What's the one thing you wish someone had told you before you bought this franchise?

Morgan: I wish someone had told me a little bit more about how difficult the hiring process was going to be. I knew it intellectually, but actually experiencing the "no-show" interviews and people not getting back to you has been a real eye-opener. I would have liked to receive a few more tips on how to get people to sign on with you when their math is different than yours. Hiring Caregivers is night and day compared to hiring for corporate roles where employees work exclusively for you.

ABOUT GRISWOLD:

With over 200 locations across 32 states, Griswold is one of the country’s top home care companies, providing and referring professional, compassionate Caregivers around the clock. Griswold’s “Live Assured” promise gives both Clients and their loved ones peace of mind, so they can live without the weight of worry. Griswold helps adults maintain quality of life despite advanced age, onset of illness or post-surgery recovery through services including companion care, home services, personal care and respite care. Founded by the late Jean Griswold in 1982, the company has maintained its founder’s profound sense of empathy for older and disabled adults and those living with chronic conditions. Griswold has been recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500® and named a 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 Best of Home Care® Endorsed National Provider. For more information, visit www.GriswoldCare.com or call 215.402.0200.