Debbie Williams saw firsthand how overwhelming caregiving could be after walking alongside her mother through the challenges of Alzheimer’s. While that experience was painful, it also planted a seed for Debbie. She wanted to help other families facing the same uphill climb. At the time, her husband Kelly, who brought years of business leadership to the table, was looking for something that aligned with both purpose and potential. In August, the couple is opening the doors of their new Griswold office in Richmond with a clear goal in mind: to deliver compassionate care and make a meaningful impact right where they live.
1851 spoke with the couple to learn about their backgrounds, their personal mission and their plans for the future.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Debbie Williams: A few years after my dad passed, my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. As the disease progressed, my sisters and I were committed to caring for her at home as long as possible. We experienced firsthand how devastating that disease is — it slowly took her memories and independence. And as caregivers, trying to balance full-time careers and raising kids, we realized how difficult and emotionally draining that role can be. It really showed me how vital it is to have support — not just for the person needing care, but for the whole family. That experience stayed with me and created a passion to help others going through the same thing.
Kelly Williams: I’ve seen firsthand how passionate Debbie is about this. We were sitting on the patio at our lake house, talking about starting a business, and I’d been researching franchise opportunities. A lot of articles kept pointing back to one key thing — make sure you're doing something you really love. We wanted a business that felt noble and worthwhile. That got me looking into home care. I’d never worked in the medical field, but I understand business and how to make it successful. When we put our skills together, this felt like the perfect fit.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Debbie: I spent almost 30 years in ophthalmology — first as a technician, then clinical supervisor, and finally as the clinic manager. It was a rewarding health care career, but I always had this dream of doing something with seniors. I’ve always had a servant’s heart, and I wanted to use that passion in a bigger way. When we started researching this and everything fell into place, I decided to retire and pursue this full-time.
Kelly: I worked in logistics for about 20 years — started at FedEx and then moved into the environmental solutions industry, where I’ve been for 13 years now. I’m the vice president of network operations, so I’ve been involved in every aspect of the business. But for a long time, I’ve wanted to run my own business. This was the right opportunity at the right time.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you’re in it?
Kelly: We didn’t want to do anything brick-and-mortar or retail-related — we wanted something more people-focused. When we started looking into home care, we talked to three different consultants. They all said that going the franchise route was the easiest way to enter the industry. It gave us structure and support from the start instead of trying to build it from scratch.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Debbie: It was Griswold’s long-standing reputation and Jean Griswold’s story that really drew me in. Her story was so inspiring. When we started talking to other franchisees and then went to Discovery Day, it just confirmed everything. It gave us the confidence that this was the right path. It’s comforting to know we’re partnering with a company that shares our values and our passion for helping others.
Kelly: We interviewed 10 or 11 different home care franchises. We were looking for the best — top quality. We asked ourselves, who do other brands look to as the standard? One of our consultants told us Griswold was at the top, and that really stuck. When we talked to their franchisees, it became clear that was true. Now that we’re working with them, our opinion hasn’t changed. They’re the best-in-class.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Debbie: We would love to eventually expand into another territory. Our goal is to build a reputable, lasting business that truly gives back to the community — something meaningful that could be a legacy for our children and extended family if they want to be part of it.
Kelly: We’re always thinking about how to expand. There’s a lot of population growth happening in this part of Texas, and that opens up more opportunities. We’ll definitely be looking at adding more territories in the next few years.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Debbie: We have eight children, and family is at the heart of everything we do. Kelly and I both love music, traveling and being out in nature. But above all, our faith in God guides our lives and our decisions. Our values are deeply rooted in service, compassion, and wanting to make a meaningful difference in other people’s lives.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Kelly: Start working on your capital early. It’s time-consuming to pull all of that together, and once you get into launching the business, you don’t want to be juggling finances. Also, be diligent. Talk to current franchisees and really listen to their experiences — that will help guide your decision.
Debbie: Pick something you’re truly passionate about. That really makes a difference. Your brand should align with your values and your long-term goals. That passion will carry you through the challenges and make the work feel worthwhile.
ABOUT GRISWOLD
With 196 locations across 31 states, Griswold is one of the country’s top home care companies, providing professional, compassionate Caregivers 24/7. 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. In 2024, Griswold was ranked #206 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 and named a 2023, 2024 and 2025 Best of Home Care® Endorsed National Provider. For more information, visit www.griswoldcare.com or call 215.402.0200.
Griswold
SPONSORED
After years in health care and business leadership, this husband-and-wife duo found purpose in launching a Griswold franchise, inspired by Debbie’s experience caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s.
Debbie Williams saw firsthand how overwhelming caregiving could be after walking alongside her mother through the challenges of Alzheimer’s. While that experience was painful, it also planted a seed for Debbie. She wanted to help other families facing the same uphill climb. At the time, her husband Kelly, who brought years of business leadership to the table, was looking for something that aligned with both purpose and potential. In August, the couple is opening the doors of their new Griswold office in Richmond with a clear goal in mind: to deliver compassionate care and make a meaningful impact right where they live.
1851 spoke with the couple to learn about their backgrounds, their personal mission and their plans for the future.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?
Debbie Williams: A few years after my dad passed, my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. As the disease progressed, my sisters and I were committed to caring for her at home as long as possible. We experienced firsthand how devastating that disease is — it slowly took her memories and independence. And as caregivers, trying to balance full-time careers and raising kids, we realized how difficult and emotionally draining that role can be. It really showed me how vital it is to have support — not just for the person needing care, but for the whole family. That experience stayed with me and created a passion to help others going through the same thing.
Kelly Williams: I’ve seen firsthand how passionate Debbie is about this. We were sitting on the patio at our lake house, talking about starting a business, and I’d been researching franchise opportunities. A lot of articles kept pointing back to one key thing — make sure you're doing something you really love. We wanted a business that felt noble and worthwhile. That got me looking into home care. I’d never worked in the medical field, but I understand business and how to make it successful. When we put our skills together, this felt like the perfect fit.
1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Debbie: I spent almost 30 years in ophthalmology — first as a technician, then clinical supervisor, and finally as the clinic manager. It was a rewarding health care career, but I always had this dream of doing something with seniors. I’ve always had a servant’s heart, and I wanted to use that passion in a bigger way. When we started researching this and everything fell into place, I decided to retire and pursue this full-time.
Kelly: I worked in logistics for about 20 years — started at FedEx and then moved into the environmental solutions industry, where I’ve been for 13 years now. I’m the vice president of network operations, so I’ve been involved in every aspect of the business. But for a long time, I’ve wanted to run my own business. This was the right opportunity at the right time.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you’re in it?
Kelly: We didn’t want to do anything brick-and-mortar or retail-related — we wanted something more people-focused. When we started looking into home care, we talked to three different consultants. They all said that going the franchise route was the easiest way to enter the industry. It gave us structure and support from the start instead of trying to build it from scratch.
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Debbie: It was Griswold’s long-standing reputation and Jean Griswold’s story that really drew me in. Her story was so inspiring. When we started talking to other franchisees and then went to Discovery Day, it just confirmed everything. It gave us the confidence that this was the right path. It’s comforting to know we’re partnering with a company that shares our values and our passion for helping others.
Kelly: We interviewed 10 or 11 different home care franchises. We were looking for the best — top quality. We asked ourselves, who do other brands look to as the standard? One of our consultants told us Griswold was at the top, and that really stuck. When we talked to their franchisees, it became clear that was true. Now that we’re working with them, our opinion hasn’t changed. They’re the best-in-class.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Debbie: We would love to eventually expand into another territory. Our goal is to build a reputable, lasting business that truly gives back to the community — something meaningful that could be a legacy for our children and extended family if they want to be part of it.
Kelly: We’re always thinking about how to expand. There’s a lot of population growth happening in this part of Texas, and that opens up more opportunities. We’ll definitely be looking at adding more territories in the next few years.
1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?
Debbie: We have eight children, and family is at the heart of everything we do. Kelly and I both love music, traveling and being out in nature. But above all, our faith in God guides our lives and our decisions. Our values are deeply rooted in service, compassion, and wanting to make a meaningful difference in other people’s lives.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?
Kelly: Start working on your capital early. It’s time-consuming to pull all of that together, and once you get into launching the business, you don’t want to be juggling finances. Also, be diligent. Talk to current franchisees and really listen to their experiences — that will help guide your decision.
Debbie: Pick something you’re truly passionate about. That really makes a difference. Your brand should align with your values and your long-term goals. That passion will carry you through the challenges and make the work feel worthwhile.
ABOUT GRISWOLD
With 196 locations across 31 states, Griswold is one of the country’s top home care companies, providing professional, compassionate Caregivers 24/7. 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. In 2024, Griswold was ranked #206 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 and named a 2023, 2024 and 2025 Best of Home Care® Endorsed National Provider. For more information, visit www.griswoldcare.com or call 215.402.0200.
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