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

After 27 years of dedicated military service in the U.S. Army, Christopher “Hope” Hopes is embarking on a new mission as the proud owner of a Griswold franchise 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 give back on a more personal level.

“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 Griswold.

“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 the brand’s core values of trust, compassion and service — qualities that have been ingrained in him throughout his life. 

“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: https://1851franchise.com/griswold.