Griswold

After 27 years of dedicated military service in the U.S. Army,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-hopes-736279302/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=military-veteran-brings-hope-with-new-griswold-franchise-in-columbia-maryland-2727559" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Christopher “Hope” Hopes</a> is embarking on a new mission as the proud owner of a&nbsp;<a href="https://griswoldhomecarefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=military-veteran-brings-hope-with-new-griswold-franchise-in-columbia-maryland-2727559" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Griswold franchise</a> in Howard County, Maryland. Hopes is ready to bring his passion for service, leadership and compassion to the non-medical home care industry, helping older adults and individuals with disabilities receive quality care in their own homes.“I held various leadership roles and served in elite and specialized units,” said Hopes. “After my final deployment to Afghanistan in 2021, I started thinking about my next chapter. I wanted something that would be fulfilling for me personally and rewarding for my family and community.”After a remarkable career filled with countless deployments and more than 20 relocations, Hopes decided to settle in Maryland with his wife and daughter. Despite several offers for lucrative positions within the Department of Defense, he felt drawn to a path that would allow him to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/why-this-former-engineering-manager-is-supporting-and-caring-for-elders-with-griswold-home-care-2720082">give back on a more personal level</a>.“I wanted to do something my growing daughter would see as righteous and noble,” Hopes said. This drive led him to explore franchising opportunities in various industries, ultimately discovering&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info">Griswold</a>.“Franchising appealed to me because there’s already a system in place,” Hopes said. “With a franchise, you can take the established framework and really run with it, and Griswold provided the perfect fit.”After researching multiple industries, home care immediately resonated with Hopes. “I stumbled upon home care while researching different industries, and Griswold stood out to me right away. I did discovery days with several competitors, but Griswold was night and day compared to the others. The culture is really awesome — transparent, engaging and genuinely helpful.”Hopes’ ultimate decision to invest in Griswold was solidified by&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/griswold-stands-out-in-a-sea-of-sameness-with-new-brand-evolution-centered-around-its-live-assured-promise-2720889">the brand’s core values</a> of trust, compassion and service — qualities that have been ingrained in him throughout his life.&nbsp;“The people at Griswold are relatable and trustworthy,” Hopes said. “They’re people I would trust to care for my own mother, which is something you can’t say about every brand.” Founded in 1982 as the first non-medical home care franchise in the United States, Griswold is backed by over 40 years of experience providing quality home care to the elderly, disabled adults and individuals recovering from illnesses. Griswold was founded by Dr. Jean Griswold, a senior care professional who had multiple sclerosis (MS) and recognized firsthand that the elderly often lacked the assistance they needed to remain independent at home.Looking ahead, Hopes says his mission is simple: “My main goal is to alleviate the suffering of older adults and those with disabilities. I want to reach as many people in my community as possible. Maryland is my home, and I have a growing nine-year-old daughter. After spending a lot of time in the military, I’m now enjoying this new chapter of reaching out and helping others.”For more information on franchising with Griswold, please visit:<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold">&nbsp;https://1851franchise.com/griswold</a>.

Military Veteran Brings Hope with New Griswold Franchise in Columbia, Maryland

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After years of serving his country, Christopher “Hope” Hopes is now focused on serving his community, bringing the same level of dedication and integrity to his Griswold franchise. 

This brand page has been paid for by GRISWOLD. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

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How These Griswold Franchisees Scaled to Six Territories in Six Years

Griswold Celebrates Record-Breaking Best of Home Care Recognition, Including No. 1 Ranked Provider Nationwide

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When&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-myhre-certified-senior-advisor-csa-%C2%AE-cdp-9a25889/">Brett</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-myhre-50a926a0/">Nicole Myhre</a> first launched their&nbsp;<a href="https://griswoldcare.com/">Griswold</a> business in the Greater Twin Cities, they weren’t thinking about six territories. They were focused on doing everything themselves and doing it well.“We were doing everything and wearing multiple hats,” Brett said. “As we continued to steadily grow, we started to add more people to the team to be able to keep up with the demand.”That demand came quickly. Within just two years,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/how-this-graphic-designer-and-hairstylist-found-a-new-passion-with-griswold-franchise-in-minnesota-2725561">the couple had already outgrown their initial setup</a>, moving into a larger office and expanding their team with key roles like case managers and recruitment coordinators.&nbsp;<h2>Scaling With Purpose, Not Just Speed</h2>Today, the Myhres own six territories across the Twin Cities, which is a milestone that didn’t happen by accident. “Part of that is the fact that there weren’t really any Griswold locations in the Twin Cities area, so when we brought it here, it was kind of a double-edged sword because no one had ever heard of the brand, but we also had room to grow,” Brett said.That lack of brand recognition meant the Myhres had to build trust from the ground up by educating families, establishing credibility, and proving their commitment to high-quality care.As their reputation grew, so did demand, often beyond the boundaries of their initial territories. Expanding into adjacent areas became both a natural next step and a way to better serve Clients already seeking their care.“We were getting Clients in different areas, and now that we have purchased those, we are locked in,” Brett said. “We had to work really hard to build that brand recognition in the area. That has really paid off.”<h2>Leveraging the Griswold System to Grow</h2>While much of their growth has been driven by local execution, Brett credits&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info">the Griswold system</a> with helping them scale effectively.&nbsp;“When we first bought our first territory, their branding was already great,” he said. “We had only been in business for maybe a year, and they decided to do&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/griswold-embraces-innovation-with-new-brand-evolution-2722028">a big rebrand update</a>. We were really on board for it. When they did the rebrand, it really helped support our growth by making it more recognizable. The timing really worked out well for us because it set us up on a new path with all new branding and recognition.”Combined with Griswold’s established systems and tools, the refreshed brand gave the Myhres a stronger platform to expand into new territories with consistency.“We are at well over 100 Caregivers at this point,” Brett said. “And that is a big responsibility — that is a lot of people relying on us to provide opportunities for them.”That responsibility shapes how they lead. “I think it’s very important that you treat everybody fairly,” he said. “Our whole branding is about Living Assured. For Clients, we are going to show up and do a good job. For Caregivers, we can give you the consistent hours you need to take care of your families. We want to ensure they know that we can’t do this without them.”<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/griswold-celebrates-national-caregivers-day-by-announcing-winter-scholarship-winners-through-the-jean-griswold-foundation-2731484">By prioritizing Caregiver support and stability</a>, the Myhres have built a culture that supports both employee retention and consistent Client care.“It’s been so rewarding — this career and this business is not easy by any means,” Brett said. “You are dealing with people. Sometimes it can be tough because there is a lot of unknown.”Providing reassurance during those moments is what makes the work meaningful. “For us, being part of people’s care plan and giving that reassurance is great,” he said. “When you have those days when the family reaches back out to you, it really feels great. That’s the reason we do it.”<h2>Growing Without Losing What Matters</h2>Even with six territories and two office locations now in operation, the Myhres are intentional about how they approach the future.“About a year ago, we opened another office location,” Brett said. “We now have two offices open that manage the six territories. Our focus right now, for this year especially, is to focus on providing high-quality care.”As they look ahead, the Myhres are spending as much time improving the business they already have as they are thinking about the next territory. Growth is still on the table, but only if they can&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/griswold-celebrates-record-breaking-best-of-home-care-recognition-including-no-1-ranked-provider-nationwide-2731912">maintain the standard of care that got them this far</a>.“As far as long-term growth, we plan to continue expanding, but at a pace that aligns with the quality too,” Brett said. “We aren’t going to keep growing just to grow. We are going to do it the right way.”From a single territory to six in just six years, the Myhres have built a scalable business by combining operational discipline, community trust, and a clear sense of purpose.To find out more information steps to owning a Griswold franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info">https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info</a>.

Nicole and Brett Myhre are building one of the largest Griswold footprints in the Twin Cities without sacrificing the quality that fueled their growth.

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How This Power Couple Is Redefining Home Care With Kentucky’s First Griswold Franchise

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Driven by a Heart for Service, One South Carolina Entrepreneur Turns to Griswold After 30 Years in HR

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image of christina depalma and eric schuster from griswold international franchise owners  Ocala, FL

Christina Depalma and Eric Schuster Launch Griswold Home Care in Ocala and The Villages, Florida

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<a href="https://www.griswoldcare.com/">Griswold</a>, the non-medical in-home care franchise, is celebrating a milestone year in the&nbsp;<a href="https://activatedinsights.com/articles/activated-insights-announces-2026-best-of-home-care-award-winners/">2026 Best of Home Care Awards</a>, earning top national recognition across both franchisee-specific and industry-wide categories. Most notably,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyrhawkins">Gary Hawkins</a>, owner of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.griswoldcare.com/berks-county/">Griswold Home Care for Berks County, Pennsylvania</a>, has been named the No. 1 home care provider in the country out of more than 4,300 participating locations.The honors, presented annually by Activated Insights, are based entirely on third-party Caregiver and Client satisfaction surveys. This year, Griswold achieved:<ul><li>No. 1 Client Net Promoter Score (Franchise Category)</li><li>No. 1 Client Satisfaction (Franchise Category)</li><li>No. 1 Caregiver Employee Net Promoter Score (Industry-Wide)</li><li>No. 1 Caregiver Satisfaction (Industry-Wide)</li></ul>“It’s a big deal, especially this year,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-ericksen-32b75a77">Matt Ericksen</a>, vice president of sales and operations at&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info">Griswold</a>. “Gary has been operating for 37 years, and he is a great example of why Griswold has embraced these awards and how franchisees see them drive their business success, both from a growth standpoint and a recognition of what they’ve always done right. It’s been a record year for us — just for the number of awards given overall for the brand, and the top spot being won by Griswold.”<h2>A 37-Year Legacy Comes Full Circle</h2>For Hawkins, the recognition is deeply personal. “We really just wanted feedback from the Clients and Caregivers,” Hawkins said. “So getting this award after 37 years for doing something we’ve always done is very nice.”Hawkins’ journey with Griswold began in 1989, when he served as director of residential services for a company that supported individuals with developmental disabilities. At the time, he was overseeing more than 50 group homes when he learned of an opportunity to open a Griswold office in Berks County.“I went down and got interviewed, and I liked what I heard, but I was still unsure if I wanted to leave my comfortable job,” he said. “After I met founder Jean Griswold, I knew I wanted to do this. There was something about her that was overwhelming. She was talking to me about her vision, her dreams, and her hopes. I really fell in love. Thirty-seven years later, I am still carrying her dream.”Leaving the security of corporate leadership was daunting. “The idea of having to start a business from the ground up, with no Caregivers or Clients, was scary,” Hawkins said. “I remember that first morning, looking at the office and thinking, ‘Oh my God, what do I do now?’”He printed flyers. He educated his community about non-medical home care. He hired his first Caregiver, who stayed with him for 26 years. “We treat our people so well that the average time a Caregiver stays with us is 15 years,” Hawkins said. “I have three people who have been with me since the beginning.”<h2>Built on Love, Compassion, and Community</h2>Today, Griswold's growth in Berks County is largely driven by word-of-mouth referrals. At the heart of his office’s success is a philosophy rooted in&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/how-griswold-has-grown-and-evolved-over-40-years-2723561">Jean Griswold’s original mission</a>.“We treat our Caregivers and our Clients like family,” Hawkins said. “When Caregivers thank me for giving them a job, I’ll stop them halfway through and tell them, ‘No, thank you for helping us carry on Jean’s philosophy.’ We aren’t any of the other companies — we are based on love, compassion, and caring. That comes down to how we treat people and each other. I’ve been in this for over five decades. It’s all about helping others.”When he learned he had been named the No. 1 provider in the country, Hawkins was overwhelmed.“Last year I was number 11, and I was really thinking about where I would be this year,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it — I cried. I recorded the announcement on my phone. I was totally blown away. We had finally been recognized for something that we’ve done for over 30 years. I attribute that award to our staff, our Caregivers, and Jean Griswold. Jean would be thrilled. If she were alive, she would be so proud.”<h2>Third-Party Validation of a 40-Year Vision</h2>The Best of Home Care Awards, presented annually by&nbsp;<a href="https://activatedinsights.com/">Activated Insights</a>, are determined exclusively through third-party satisfaction surveys completed by both Clients and Caregivers. Participating agencies must meet strict eligibility requirements, including achieving a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 8.75 out of 10. Results are benchmarked against other providers at the regional and national levels using a formula-based scoring methodology, ensuring agencies are measured objectively against their peers. Because the awards are based entirely on direct feedback — not nominations or internal reporting — they are widely regarded as one of the most credible and respected recognitions in the home care industry.“It’s all based on Caregiver and Client surveys,” Ericksen said. “The Best of Home Care Awards are third-party validation of Jean’s original vision for the brand, and our owners continue to pick up that torch and carry it and validate our brand.”Beyond Hawkins’ individual achievement, the brand itself received confirmation that it holds the highest Caregiver and Client satisfaction scores among franchise competitors. “We’ve always coached to outcomes — are your Caregivers and Clients happy? If you follow that, the results speak for themselves,” Ericksen said. “That’s why we set a new record every year for awards and recognition.”<h2>Raising the Standard in Home Care</h2>With record-breaking participation, top national rankings, and industry-leading satisfaction scores, Griswold’s 2026 Best of Home Care recognition underscores what the brand has prioritized for more than four decades:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/griswold-celebrates-national-caregivers-day-by-announcing-winter-scholarship-winners-through-the-jean-griswold-foundation-2731484#featured">people first</a>.“It was all based on that concept that was created by Jean,” Ericksen said. “We are here to help each other. That is the philosophy that I go by and live by.”<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/griswold-closes-out-2025-with-record-franchise-growth-and-positions-brand-for-continued-momentum-in-2026-2731320#featured">As Griswold continues to grow nationwide</a>, the message remains clear: when Caregivers and Clients are treated like family, excellence follows.To find out more information on costs to buy a Griswold franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info">https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info</a>.

The leading in-home care franchise has earned top national honors for Client and Caregiver satisfaction, with Berks County franchisee Gary Hawkins named the highest-rated provider in the country.

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<a href="https://www.griswoldcare.com/">Griswold</a>, the non-medical in-home care franchise with more than four decades of experience serving families nationwide, has been named a&nbsp;<a href="https://activatedinsights.com/articles/activated-insights-announces-2026-best-of-home-care-award-winners/">2026 Best of Home Care Endorsed National Provider</a>, a prestigious recognition awarded by&nbsp;<a href="https://activatedinsights.com/">Activated Insights</a>.The Endorsed National Provider title is one of the biggest achievements in the Best of Home Care program. It means a national home care company has earned high satisfaction scores and hit high service quality goals across many of its locations. It shows the company delivers a consistently high standard of care throughout its network. The recognition is based entirely on independent third-party satisfaction surveys completed by Clients and Caregivers.For&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info">Griswold</a>, the endorsement reinforces a legacy dating back to founder&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/how-griswold-has-grown-and-evolved-over-40-years-2723561">Jean Griswold’s original mission</a>: providing compassionate, relationship-driven care that allows seniors to live independently at home.“It’s all based on Caregiver and Client surveys,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-ericksen-32b75a77">Matt Ericksen</a>, vice president of sales and operations. “The Best of Home Care Awards are third-party validation of Jean’s original vision for the brand, and our owners continue to pick up that torch and carry it and validate our brand.”<h2>A National Standard for Care</h2>The Best of Home Care Endorsed National Provider award is granted to organizations that demonstrate exceptional performance across the key satisfaction metrics measured by Activated Insights, including Caregiver engagement, Client satisfaction and overall service quality.Unlike recognition programs based on nominations or internal reporting, the Best of Home Care Awards rely entirely on feedback from those closest to the care experience — the Clients receiving services and the Caregivers delivering them. Agencies must meet strict scoring thresholds and consistently outperform industry benchmarks to qualify.Because of this rigorous methodology, the endorsement signals that Griswold’s standards of care are not limited to individual offices but are reflected across the brand’s nationwide network.“We’ve always coached to outcomes — are your Caregivers and Clients happy?” Ericksen said. “If you follow that, the results speak for themselves.”<h2>Carrying Forward Jean Griswold’s Vision</h2>Founded in 1982 by Jean Griswold, the company pioneered the concept of non-medical in-home care built on compassion, dignity and personal connection. That philosophy continues to shape how the organization operates today.Across its franchise system,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/why-these-care-professionals-continue-to-grow-with-griswold-22-years-later-2723735">Griswold offices prioritize building long-term relationships with Caregivers and Clients</a>, emphasizing respect, consistency and support. For many franchise owners, the brand’s culture of care translates directly into the satisfaction scores that drive recognitions like the Best of Home Care awards.“It was all based on that concept that was created by Jean,” Ericksen said. “We are here to help each other. That is the philosophy that we go by and live by.”<h2>Recognition That Reflects Real Experiences</h2>Because the Best of Home Care program is built on verified feedback from Clients and Caregivers, the Endorsed National Provider designation carries significant credibility within the home care industry.The surveys measure satisfaction across several performance categories, including communication, reliability, Caregiver professionalism and overall Client experience. Providers that achieve top-tier scores across these metrics are recognized as leaders in delivering quality home care.For Griswold, the endorsement highlights the strength of a franchise network built around a shared mission of helping families navigate aging with dignity and support.<h2>A People-First Approach to Growth</h2>With the need for senior care constantly rising across the country, Griswold’s earning the Best of Home Care Endorsed National Provider title shows the brand’s dedication to keeping quality high, even as it grows.For more than 40 years, the company has focused on creating meaningful relationships between Caregivers and Clients — an approach that continues to set the brand apart in an increasingly competitive home care landscape.“When Caregivers and Clients are treated like family, excellence follows,” Ericksen said.With national recognition and a mission rooted in compassion, Griswold continues to demonstrate that high-quality care begins with putting people first.To find out more information on costs to buy a Griswold franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info">https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info</a>.

The Best of Home Care Endorsed National Provider award confirms what Griswold has been doing for four decades: providing compassionate, Client-focused non-medical in-home care. 

Griswold Named 2026 Best of Home Care Endorsed National Provider

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BLUE BELL, Pa.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://www.griswoldcare.com/">Griswold</a> is kicking off 2026 with recognition from two well-known names in franchising: Entrepreneur and Franchise Business Review. The non-medical in-home care brand with more than 40 years of experience supporting families across the United States was named to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500">Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500</a> and also earned several honors from&nbsp;<a href="https://franchisebusinessreview.com/">Franchise Business Review</a>.<a href="https://griswoldhomecarefranchise.com/">Griswold’s</a> placement on the 2026 Franchise 500 reflects the brand’s continued momentum over the past several years. Published annually by Entrepreneur, the ranking evaluates franchise systems across areas such as growth, financial strength, and overall performance.“We’d like to thank everyone who has contributed, from the Home Office team to our entire nationwide franchise network and everyone in between,” the company said in a statement announcing the recognition.In addition to the Entrepreneur ranking,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/griswold/info">Griswold</a> has also been named a 2026 Top Franchise by Franchise Business Review, an honor based entirely on feedback from franchise owners. The award recognizes franchisors that deliver strong support, effective leadership, and meaningful financial opportunities for their franchisees.Franchise Business Review also recognized Griswold with five additional awards based on feedback from more than 30,000 franchise owners nationwide, further reinforcing the strength of its system and franchisee experience. These honors include:<ul><li>Most Profitable Franchise</li><li>Top Recession-Resistant Franchise</li><li>Top Franchise</li><li>Top Franchise for Veterans</li><li>Top Franchise Culture</li></ul>“As we reflect on our growth, we are proud to celebrate Griswold being recognized with five awards from Franchise Business Review,” COO Steven Turner said. “Each award reflects the hard work, passion and commitment of our owners and staff that make Griswold stand out. We are grateful for our network and excited for what’s ahead in 2026.”The awards underscore what has helped Griswold keep growing: a support structure for franchisees, a culture rooted in care, and owners who are deeply connected to the communities they serve.ABOUT GRISWOLD:With over 200 locations across 31 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&nbsp;<a href="http://www.griswoldcare.com">www.GriswoldCare.com</a> or call 215.402.0200.

Griswold Franchise - Entrepreneur 500 - FBR Award - 1851 Franchise

With more than four decades in home care, the brand continues to strengthen its network through consistent support, steady growth, and a focus on owner success.

Military Veteran Brings Hope with New Griswold Franchise in Columbia, Maryland

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