Turning Personal Passion into Professional Pursuit: Why This Finance Executive Is Opening a TruBlue Franchise in Monroe, North Carolina

Wendy Linker, a new TruBlue Total House Care franchisee in Monroe, North Carolina, comes from a diverse background in finance, including personal, church and construction finance. However, her path toward franchising was forged from personal circumstances and a desire to help those in need, especially senior adults like her parents. 

When Linker found herself struggling to find reliable and affordable help for her disabled father's household needs, she realized there had to be a better way. This personal experience, combined with her life-long passion for helping seniors and her dissatisfaction with her current career, led her to discover TruBlue. The franchise provided a solution to the challenges her parents faced in maintaining their home, and it also offered an opportunity for Linker to make a difference in the lives of other busy adults and seniors needing support. Now, she is doing just that with her new TruBlue franchise, set to open in the summer of 2023.

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?

Linker: My background is in finance, personal finance, church finance and construction finance. Although I had a long history in finance, what ended up leading me to TruBlue was my experience with my dad. My passion has always been helping senior adults, and my parents are in that age group. My dad is disabled, and he is in need of a lot of help on the weekends. Our time is limited. We have small children, and both my husband and I work full-time. It is always a lot of work to come in and help him, and hiring someone else was very expensive. My parents just needed a pressure wash on the house, and the cost was astronomical. That got me thinking that there has to be a better way. So I started doing some research. That is when I found TruBlue. 

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?

Linker: My husband and I always wanted to own our own business. I didn’t know how franchising really worked. But when I reached out to TruBlue, I was blown away by how helpful they were throughout the whole process. They latched on and have been true partners with us the whole way. They help you embrace a dream. It's not just about money. 

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

Linker: I knew TruBlue was the answer we were looking for. It could help my parents and others like them solve the problems that they were facing at their home, whether it was minor tasks or maintenance around the house. I knew the TruBlue franchise would be a great way to help others. 

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

Linker: My biggest mission is to reach people like my parents, people in our church groups, people in the local community — anyone who is in the same boat as us. The people who just need a helping hand. There is a lot of unmet need. Once your eyes are open to that need, it feels like it is everywhere. Everybody is affected by aging parents at some point. The question is: How are you going to handle it when it comes to your door? That is where my heart is — hoping we can be a help to people in the community that want to age in place. 

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

Linker: When I was in middle and high school, I volunteered at a senior-assisted living center and interviewed all of the residents there to learn their life stories. Those memories are some of my most treasured. I fell in love with helping seniors. You learn so much from people in that age group. I find a lot of energy and joy from being around seniors. 

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

Linker: My main advice is to always trust your gut. 

About TruBlue Total House Care:

TruBlue Total House Care® provides a helping hand around the home — inside and out. TruBlue’s services include handyman services, to-do list chores, maintenance, yard work, emergency repairs, seasonal work and preventative maintenance, all handled by a personal House Care Manager. TruBlue strives to provide affordable, worry-free living for seniors and hassle-free living for busy adults by providing trustworthy home maintenance services. TruBlue franchise owners are required to complete the Senior Home Safety Certification program through Age Safe® America. As specialists, TruBlue franchisees will be able to perform Senior Home Safety Assessments and can make those recommended safety modifications if needed.