Right at Home expands in Connecticut to further provide in-home care

Growing up in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, David Babcock has always had a desire to contribute to the area’s economic development while also being able to give back and help people. After graduating high school from Suffield Academy, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Geology and Geography from Denison University. In 1989, he founded Babcock Environmental Engineering, where he prepared consulting reports for some of Connecticut’s public school system and various real estate businesses. In 2006, at the age of 43 and with more than 20 years of work experience, Babcock made the decision to enroll in Harvard University’s Graduate School of Business, Owners, Presidents and Managers (OPM) Program. [caption id="attachment_17092" align="alignright" width="192" caption="David Babcock"][/caption] Looking for a career change, he joined his family’s business Five Star Products Inc., a manufacturer of high performance cement and epoxy products.  In 1997, he was named Director of Manufacturing and Quality Control before assuming the role of CEO and President in 2002. Leading the successful turnaround through difficult times, Babcock was responsible for bringing in new senior management and creating the company’s first strategic plan. As a result, the company doubled in sales over six years and saw a 21 percent annual EBITDA return over an eight-year period. Through his experiences, Babcock developed a sense of comfort working with customers, operations staff and board members, as well as business partners throughout the world. Satisfied with all of his accomplishments with Five Star, Babcock resigned from the company and began a new journey. His father passed away from Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s, igniting Babcock’s interest in the healthcare industry. When his mom was ill several years ago, and he and his siblings were taking care of her in shifts, Babcock quickly developed many of the skills and tools that caretakers possess. The family eventually decided they needed in home care for their mother; but they had great difficulty finding the right caregiver. That was Dave’s a-ha moment; he realized this is an industry where he could make an impact. While searching for his next career, a FranNet consultant informed Babcock about Right at Home*. After researching the company, Babcock saw Right at Home as an opportunity to make an impact with a company that truly catered to and cared for its patients. Babcock decided quickly that this was his next calling. Babcock consulted with an old friend, Brian Gilbert, to help with the day-to-day operations, and before he knew it, Babcock signed with Right at Home. How did you find out about Right at Home? I was actually contacted by a FranNet consultant Luc Deslauriers who knew my profile and brought the opportunity to me. I was not a fan of franchising and was unsure, but learning about Right at Home, I saw the brand as up-and-coming with plenty of room for growth. Why did you choose an opportunity with Right at Home? I liked the fact it was not too recognized, it gave me motivation to become the brand’s best advocate.  After I met with Right at Home and saw the professionalism, it was a done deal. It was very personable, and I saw they truly cared. The culture of helping people added to the mix, as well. What personal experience do you have in your own family with caring for a senior? My father passed away from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s; going through that was very difficult. However, getting to know the industry really took place when my siblings and I took care of my mother and realized we could not be there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When I was taking care of my mom, I realized the amount of work it took and grew to greatly respect the caregiver side of things.