Operations Manager Puts Helping Others First With Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise

Nina Hines had a successful career as an operations manager for over 25 years but still felt like something was missing. After being laid off on two separate occasions from an industry that she wasn’t finding fulfilling, Hines did some soul-searching and realized she was craving an opportunity to help those in need and build a legacy for herself as someone who served others. 

After turning down franchise coaches for years, Hines decided to consider franchising as a way to break into a new industry that better suited her values. When her franchise coach suggested Seniors Helping Seniors®, the in-home care service brand with over 125 franchise partners and 260 territories nationwide, Hines felt immediately drawn to the brand. What really sold her on the idea, however, was the founder's 14 years of training with Mother Teresa, as she felt this was evidence that the brand’s mission was genuine. 

1851 Franchise spoke with Hines about her journey into franchising and her plans for the future. 

PROFILE QUESTIONS

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Hines: After working for a credit card marketing company for 25 years, I was part of a mass layoff in 2019. I went to work for a company that provides pre and post hire background identity solutions, such as background checks. I ran their project management office and their continuous improvement team, but after a corporate restructure,  I was laid off again. 

This caused me to do some soul-searching. When I left my last employer, I had a franchise coach call me. Franchise coaches had reached out to me before, but I always said I wasn’t interested. This time, I thought about how I wasn’t really happy with what I was doing and didn’t feel fulfilled. I felt like I was being pulled to do more and use my communication and solutioning skills to help others in need. 

Something was missing, so I decided to look into franchising. I talked to about five different franchise companies, and Seniors Helping Seniors® was the only one that felt right from the beginning and all the way through. 

It was a place where I could use those 30 years of leadership experience that I had gained to lead a business and also use the strong communication tools that I have. Beyond that, it fulfilled my desire to nurture and help others.

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?

Hines: I previously talked to one franchise company about 20 years ago. The investment was pretty significant and at that point in time, I was still new in a management level career, I had 2 children under 2 and was continuing to promote within my company. It didn't make sense for us.

When I worked with a franchise coach more recently, I saw that you could drive what level of investment you were willing to commit. I also learned that there are so many creative funding options. You shouldn't just assume it isn’t possible for you. There are people out there that can help you understand if it's possible and the ways that you can make it happen.

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

Hines: Seniors Helping Seniors® was presented to me by a franchise coach. What I liked about it is that the founder worked side by side with Mother Teresa for 14 years. I was not only looking for a company that could help me drive my future with my family, but also a brand that stood behind what they say their values and mission are. 

As a 12-year Catholic parochial school student, hearing that Mother Teresa was part of their founder’s life told me she couldn't be a bad person. She had 14 years of coaching with that servant heart. 

My grandmother (my Nonna Nina) and I had a beautiful relationship.  My parents had moved out of state, so it was just Nonna and I to visit with each other.  She enjoyed my company and I enjoyed hers. We talked about her life in Sicily and growing up and I told her about American culture and young adults! I truly valued every moment of that time with her. It’s also where I learned to value the older population and to listen to their stories and their personal history.  It always amazes me the experiences they have seen over the years.  

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

Hines: I think growth is definitely an option. A lot of the territory around me has been purchased, but there's one main property that hasn't, so we'll see how this goes. I hope to expand so this can go beyond being my day-to-day job and provide for my family in the future and for our retirement. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Hines: I don't want to die and have people say, “She could really deliver a project like nobody's business!” I want them to say, “Wow, she really helped other people, and she really made sure they were cared for, nurtured and valued.” I don't know that I could do that delivering a credit card project, so that’s why I’m doing this now.

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

Hines: Don't limit yourself to how you think life is supposed to go, and don’t just assume that it's too risky. Outline what's important to you and see if what you're doing now is checking off those boxes or if it’s time to explore.

I spent way too long in a place that didn't check all those boxes, and I feel like I lost valuable time. I learned a ton. I'm very grateful for the experiences that I had with those companies because it's made me a really well-rounded leader, but I want to see what else is out there. I just want to change my legacy.

ABOUT SENIORS HELPING SENIORS:

Seniors Helping Seniors® franchise system was founded by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran, who grew up in India, later worked to advance humanitarian efforts alongside Mother Teresa. After Kiran moved to the U.S. in 1995 and married her husband Philip, the Yocoms felt called to provide loving care to seniors and to cultivate an exchange of gifts at every generational level. Together, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home services in 1998, opening the brand up to franchising in 2006. With a mission to be the most respected and rewarding homecare provider in the U.S., Seniors Helping Seniors® locations stand apart from competitors as the only company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts. Seniors Helping Seniors® service aligns caregivers and care recipients based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services. Seniors Helping Seniors® network has grown to 200-plus locations, 125 franchise partners in 30-plus states and international markets. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care, visit seniorshelpingseniors.com.