After building successful careers in finance and operations leadership, Christina Depalma and Eric Schuster decided to take a different path, one focused on service and community impact.

Depalma spent more than two decades in financial services, most recently working as a supervisory principal responsible for regulatory oversight and compliance. Schuster built his career leading logistics and operations teams at Amazon. While both had established careers in corporate environments, they began looking for a way to apply their experience to something more personal and meaningful.

For Depalma, the seed for this path was planted while helping care for her father during the final months of his life. Working alongside Caregivers during that time left a lasting impression. Although she continued her career in financial services for several more years, that experience stayed with her and eventually influenced the decision to move into the home care field nearly seven years later.

Schuster had similar experiences watching family members navigate the challenges of aging and memory care. Together, the couple began exploring business opportunities that would allow them to serve people directly while building something meaningful together.

That search ultimately led them to Griswold. Today they are launching their franchise serving Ocala, Summerfield, Lady Lake, The Villages and surrounding areas, with the goal of helping seniors remain safe, comfortable and supported in their own homes.

Depalma and Schuster sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss what led them to Griswold and what they hope to build in their community. Here’s what they had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Eric Schuster: My background is in logistics and operations leadership. I spent several years working at Amazon managing large teams and complex systems. Over time I started thinking about what it would look like to build something of my own where the impact was closer to home.

Christina Depalma: I spent over twenty years in financial services, most recently serving as a supervisory principal responsible for compliance and regulatory oversight. That experience taught me how important integrity, accountability and strong systems are when you’re responsible for protecting others. I bring that same mindset into our home care business, because families place tremendous trust in the people caring for their loved ones.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Depalma: Seven years ago, my sister and I helped care for our father during the last few months of his life. We worked with some wonderful Caregivers, and seeing the care and support they provided really stayed with me. When the company I most recently worked for was acquired, it prompted me to step back and think about the future.

Schuster: I also had family members who needed care, particularly memory care, and those experiences showed me how important good support is for both seniors and their families. When Christina and I started talking about starting a business together, home care felt like something where we could make a real difference. Franchising made sense because it allowed us to build our own business while benefiting from an established system and support network.

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 are in it?

Schuster: My perception of franchises was the belief that’s deeply embedded in a lot of people, that it’s very capital-focused to start up. For anybody considering a franchise, just know that it's not out of your reach as long as you do a little bit of research.

Depalma: Working in finance, I had some familiarity with franchising. For us, the most important factor was choosing the right industry and the right company. We wanted something that aligned with our values and allowed us to serve people in a meaningful way.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Depalma: Specifically, we loved our franchise rep, Carol, and resonated with her in so many ways. We also spoke with about 10 different home care franchisees. Griswold was very transparent about who they are, what they do, and the passion that drives their mission. We’re honored to be a part of that.

Schuster: Griswold was actually one of the first brands we looked at, and the more research we did, the more it stood out. The support structure, the reputation in home care and the overall philosophy of the company made it feel like the right fit for us.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

Schuster: We don't have plans set in stone, but we do have certain goals set. Right now our focus is meeting the goals we’ve set, and if things go well, we would absolutely look at expanding.

Depalma: Our purpose is to help people live with dignity in their own homes while supporting the families who love them. We also value the Caregivers who make that possible and want them to feel respected for the work they do. As we grow, we hope to stay close to the work itself by being present in the field and showing compassion and love through the care we provide.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Depalma: Our faith and our desire to serve others played a big role in choosing this path and we’re grateful for the opportunity to support families caring for loved ones who are elderly, injured, ill or in need of help at home.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Depalma: Choose something you genuinely care about. Starting a business takes a lot of time and energy, and it helps when the work itself matters to you. If you believe in what you're building, the long days feel worthwhile.

ABOUT GRISWOLD:

With over 200 locations across 30 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 and 2025 Best of Home Care® Endorsed National Provider. For more information, visit www.GriswoldCare.com or call 215.402.0200.