How Rochelle and Ryan Zapanta Are Honoring Their Heritage Through Business Ownership with Griswold

For Rochelle and Ryan Zapanta, caring for the elderly isn’t just a business — it’s personal. Each raised by their respective grandparents, the couple saw firsthand the importance of providing seniors with dignity, comfort and a high quality of life. When their grandparents passed, they knew they wanted to build something that honored the people who had shaped them.

After exploring various business opportunities, they discovered Griswold and immediately connected with the brand’s mission and values. Now, as new franchise owners set to open their Griswold office in Yorba Linda, California, they are focused on making a meaningful impact in their community while building a legacy for their family.

1851 spoke with Ryan to learn more about their story, what drew them to Griswold and their plans for the future. 

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

Ryan Zapanta: My wife and I were both raised by our grandparents. When hers got older, she took care of them, ensuring they had a comfortable and fulfilling life in their later years. Unfortunately, they both passed a few years ago.

We’ve always wanted to own a business, but we wanted to do something that really spoke to our heritage and upbringing. That’s when we started researching different ways to serve the elderly and came across Griswold. When we read about Jean Griswold and the company’s history, we immediately connected with their values.

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

Ryan: My background is in engineering — I managed backend systems for video games like “World of Warcraft” and “Starcraft.” Eventually, I transitioned into sales roles with companies like Oracle and Google, but my goal was always to move into something more fulfilling.

My wife worked in accounting before she left her career to take care of her grandparents. We both wanted to transition into something that allowed us to serve others while building something meaningful for our family.

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?

Ryan: We actually tried to open a laundromat two or three times, thinking it would be a great passive income opportunity. But each time, something fell through — a deal didn’t work out, or someone backed out at the last minute.

We’ve always had traditional careers that provided stability, but long-term, we knew we wanted to be our own bosses and build something that we could pass down to our children.

The idea of working with a reputable franchise was appealing because this is our first business endeavor. There’s so much involved in starting a business, and even if you think you’re prepared, there are things you don’t even realize you need to know. That’s why we did extensive research before making a decision.

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

Ryan: Griswold stood out because of its strong reputation, and the more we learned about Jean Griswold’s legacy and how the company has maintained its culture, the more we were drawn in.

What really stood out was that it didn’t feel like a transaction. It felt like they were interviewing us just as much as we were interviewing them, making sure there was a mutual fit. It was clear that they had a vested interest in our success, and since joining the franchise, they’ve lived up to that every step of the way.

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

Ryan: We have three daughters, and my wife has two sisters who also have three children each. Our mindset is to support our families as much as we possibly can.

We are the first ones in our family to start our own business, and we’d love to grow it in a way that allows our family members to join us. Down the road, we hope to expand into additional territories so we can continue to serve more families while building something sustainable for future generations.

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

Ryan: It’s good to feel nervous and have a lot of questions — if you don’t, you may not be thinking things through properly.

Take your time, do as much evaluation as you need and talk to as many people — especially franchisees — as possible. Gather as much objective data and input as you can to make sure it’s the right decision for you. If you do that, you’ll feel confident in your choice.

About Griswold Home Care

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.