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After a combined 70-plus years in their respective corporate careers,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-ciconte-422b358/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=siblings-launch-seniors-helping-seniors-treasure-coast-2729303" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kim</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chip-ciconte-7a7a1629/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=siblings-launch-seniors-helping-seniors-treasure-coast-2729303" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chip</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-ciconte-4938a34/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=siblings-launch-seniors-helping-seniors-treasure-coast-2729303" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Jeff Ciconte</a> found themselves in a great place, personally and professionally, to take on their new venture. With kids off to college, they had more time on their hands, and with personal experience with in-home care for family members, the Cicontes were drawn to and resonated with the&nbsp;<a href="https://seniorshelpingseniorsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=siblings-launch-seniors-helping-seniors-treasure-coast-2729303" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Seniors Helping Seniors®</a> model. The move to franchising with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/seniorshelpingseniors/info">Seniors Helping Seniors®</a> offered them the perfect blend of entrepreneurial spirit and community impact. It created an opportunity for the three of them to reconnect, joining forces to make an impact in the Treasure Coast, Florida community.The Cicontes took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what they had to say:1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?Kim Ciconte:&nbsp;I'm a career corporate America person. I have spent my career working in sales and business development, with the majority of that time in the staffing industry. But prior to that, I was in the semiconductor industry. So, I've worked for large global companies throughout my career.&nbsp;Chip Ciconte:&nbsp;I'm similar to Kim in that I'm coming from 22 years in corporate America. My background has mainly been in the insurance brokerage business, where I focused on servicing and growing a book of business, as well as directly servicing clients for the last couple of decades.Jeff Ciconte:&nbsp;My history is similar to both Kim and Chip. I bring 26 years of experience in corporate America, specifically within the banking industry.1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Kim:&nbsp;I decided franchising made sense for me because, with my last child leaving home soon, I really wanted to do something where I had more ownership, something I felt a greater emotional connection to. It also offered the opportunity to leverage the skills I've gained over the years and potentially create a family business.Chip:&nbsp;The decision to explore franchising came about as Kim approached me with the idea of starting our own business. I think we all have a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit, and after working in corporate America for so long, the idea of having more control and building something ourselves at this stage of our lives, with our kids growing up, was really appealing.Jeff:&nbsp;Given that we've all been in corporate America but bring different experiences and levels of expertise, it felt like a good match for us to come together and try to build this business.1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchise owner, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Chip:&nbsp;Truthfully, beyond the very common examples like McDonald’s and sports teams, I knew nothing about the business model or how the inner workings of being a part of a franchise or owning a franchise actually work. So, this whole process has been very new to me, and really interesting, eye-opening and exciting.Jeff:&nbsp;I didn’t know a ton before starting this, but I loved the concept of being able to run our business and have that independence while having the backing of the larger franchise organization.&nbsp;Being a part of a franchise means you don’t feel like you’re out there completely alone. It’s a really good balance to have.Kim:&nbsp;I agree with Jeff. Having attended some seminars and having done some initial research about what franchising really is, there were no major surprises.&nbsp;What stood out to me, and what I think people should know, was the volume and variety of businesses that you don’t even typically think of that actually operate under a franchise model.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Kim:&nbsp;I worked with a franchise consultant, and I knew from the start that I wanted to do something service-oriented rather than a storefront selling products or whatnot.&nbsp;We've actually had personal experience using senior in-home care services for our grandparents in the past, and we have aging parents ourselves, so we certainly see the value of having the ability for them to live independently with the help that they need. Specifically, Seniors Helping Seniors® was very interesting to me because of their unique model of having the caregivers also being seniors.Chip:&nbsp;We settled on Seniors Helping Seniors® for a few key reasons. But also, from a personal standpoint, as Kim touched on, beyond just having a business, it's in an industry or an area where we do have personal experience. We're even going through it right now with my father-in-law's advanced Parkinson's disease. Seeing the toll it takes not only on him but also on my mother-in-law and the rest of our family has been really eye-opening, highlighting the significant need for assistance. So, I'm excited to be able to not just run a business, but to help people in our community.Jeff:&nbsp;It really feels like a way to not only build a successful business but also kind of do good in the community by providing a much-needed service. It checks a lot of the boxes that I was hoping for, and I'm genuinely excited to kind of get this adventure going and see the positive impact we can have.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Kim:&nbsp;For us, the primary goal is creating a family legacy — something that brings our family closer together and gives our kids an opportunity to learn important things and develop an awareness of the social needs and what’s going on in the community.Beyond that, we’re in a territory that is growing rapidly, so we aim to fill a significant void and meet a real need in the community. Looking ahead, we would certainly want to explore expanding to multiple territories to spread the positive impact in the coming years.1851:&nbsp;Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Kim:&nbsp;The fact that we’re all coming together from three different industries, each with our own unique experiences and skill sets, is what I love about our journey. We have a strong family history, and the fact that we have seven kids, between the three of us, who are all at very similar life stages and eager to be involved, makes this a true multi-generational story.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Kim:&nbsp;Really focus on the due diligence process. We had a really great franchise consultant who guided us through some excellent steps, but it’s important to really immerse yourself in the process.Especially when you start to really like a particular franchise, like we did with Seniors Helping Seniors®, make an effort to attend every opportunity call and learning sessions you can, call all of the different franchise owners to hear their experiences, and listen to every little piece of information available. That comes together to build a comprehensive picture and allows you to make a truly informed decision.Chip:&nbsp;On top of Kim’s excellent points, one key piece of advice I would offer is to really consider what you genuinely want to do. You’ve got to have a passion for whatever type of business you decide to get into. You’ve got to have your heart in it.&nbsp;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 moving to the U.S. in 1995 and marrying 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 home care 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 400 territories nationwide and over 200 franchise partners in 37 states. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home care, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=siblings-launch-seniors-helping-seniors-treasure-coast-2729303" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Franchisee Spotlight with Kim, Chip, and Jeff Ciconte and Seniors Helping Seniors Logo

From Corporate to Care: Siblings Launch Seniors Helping Seniors Franchise

1851 Franchise

With Seniors Helping Seniors®, Kim, Chip and Jeff Ciconte are leaving the corporate world to provide compassionate senior care in the Treasure Coast, Florida community.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. 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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