November 3, 2025 • 21 mins
Brittany Rayburn and Desiree Nidiffer are the co-founders and CEOs of Agape United Home Care LLC. The company, which is based out of Mansfield and Cleveland, got started back in 2024.
Desiree and Brittany went to college together at North Central State and are registered nurses.
Agape takes care of seniors in their home and helps them with a lot of things daily. The main goal is to keep people in their homes.
Learn more about Brittany, Desiree and their company on the podcast.
Desiree and Brittany went to college together at North Central State and are registered nurses.
Agape takes care of seniors in their home and helps them with a lot of things daily. The main goal is to keep people in their homes.
Learn more about Brittany, Desiree and their company on the podcast.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
CEOs you should know here from local leaders in the community,
made possible by witcom and hess CPAs and financial advisors.
We're excited this morning. We have two guests with us
in studio from a gop A United Home Care. We
have Brittany Rayburn and Desiree night Offer. Good morning to
you both, Good morning, thank you for coming in. I'm excited.
(00:22):
I recently heard about your company, so we're excited to
dive in and learn about it. Brittany, let's begin with you.
I think you're going to explain. You guys recently had
an excitement ribbon cutting and all of that. So could
we start at the top and tell people what you
guys do? Tell us about your company?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Hi?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
So we're at GAPE United Homecare. We are a non
skilled homecare agency based out of Mansfield and Cleveland, Ohio.
We are women owned and we are both registered nurses.
So I feel like our approach to homecare is a
lot different than other homecare agencies in Ohio.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
So, as we talk about a gop BA United Home Care,
somebody here's the word home care. Could you kind of
explain one of you, either of you, about what exactly
do you do? They hear home care. Could you kind
of give us some examples and things that you guys do.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
So, we do a lot of non skilled services. We
take care of seniors and their homes.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
We help them with.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Daily activities as far as running people to appointments, picking
up groceries from the store, lighthousekeeping, bathing, medication reminders, meal preparation,
help with their pets, things like that.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yeah, and we also do fill in a lot for
hospice and dimensioned Alzheimers, so we can staff up to
twenty four to seven keep people in their homes out
of nursing homes or memory care centers.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Okay, so you guys provide a very important service.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yes, our main goal is to keep people in their
home indefinitely. A lot of people don't realize that this
is a realistic option for them. We also offer like
financing options and can put them in connections with waivers
and programs that they might qualify for to get free
and homecare.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
We were hearing the voices this morning of Brittany Rayburn
and Desiree night For they are co founders with Agape
United Home Care. So let's kind of back up. You've
been in operation since early in twenty twenty four, So
could you give us a little bit of the history
of the company.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Yeah, So we actually officially opened April twenty twenty four.
It kind of started where Brittany and I graduated or
college with each other, not high school, but yeah, we
graduated college with each other back in twenty twenty from
North Central. We reconnected as friends over a lunch and
during that discussion we had noticed a huge gap and
(02:40):
the in home care, the negative stigma for it. I
was going through a situation with my grandma at the time,
who was also needing in home care and just finding
out how difficult it was. When her and I sat
down and had the conversation, it was supposed to be
lunch and then four or five hours later turned into
dinner and we ended up but proposing the idea of
(03:02):
opening up Agape, And within the next four or five
weeks we kind of got everything going as far as
logo design LLC establishment, and.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
We've designed everything ourselves, from our logo to our website
to our policies and procedures. Everything has been built from
the ground up from her and I, so we're really
proud of that fact.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Yeah, and from the healthcare standpoint too, which when she
was saying the different approach, we I do have a
small history of business, but a large history of healthcare,
and Brittany has a large history of healthcare as well
and small in business too. So we took such a
healthcare approach to going into home care, which has been
such a phenomenal thing for us. It's definitely services.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Yeah again, you're hearing the voices this morning of Brittany
Rayburn and Desiree night Of for they are co founders
of Agape United Homecare. Somebody may be wondering the name
Agape could any explanation there? People, I'm sure are curious there.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
So gotbe is one of the highest forms of love.
It's a non sexual love, but an intimate love between
friends and just one another. It's something that we really
feel embodies our company and the moral and standard that
we want to have on how we treat our clients,
how we also treat our employees. Our aids are extremely
(04:20):
important to us. They're the backbone of our company. We
want to make sure we're showing up with love as
much to them as we do for our clients.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
A gape spelled Agape Agape United home care again. Brittany
and Desiree, co founders of the company with Us, are
featured CEO you should know this week. Let's talk You
mentioned you know, Mansfield to the Cleveland area. To talk
a little bit about the coverage area. I know here
we're talking in a studio in Mansfield. You cover a
good portion of north central Ohio. Could you share a
(04:49):
little bit of the coverage area.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Sure, I can share my area and then desire can
share up in Cleveland because that's where she is based.
So we do have a home office here in Mansfield
just for legality, but we are cletely virtual, so we
operate off of software. We have an app that's where
people clock in and out kind of things, so we're
able to be all over right now. We're in Ruschland County,
Ashland County, Crawford County, Knox, Medina, Sandusky, Sandusky you're on.
(05:15):
We have expanded up to Cleveland and we're starting to
partner with the passport Waiver up there where and works
with that right now to cover more counties with that.
But we do cover all of Cleveland privately.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
We do a lot of West Cleveland right now, but
our options are not as.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Wide as what they are out here.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
We don't have the Passport Weaver out there quite yet,
but we are in the works of it.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
So we do just operate off.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
A private payout in Cleveland area from anywhere from Vermillion
all the way over to Lakewood Rocky River, and.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
We are also working on getting certified with the VA,
our local VA as well as the VA and Cleveland.
We are doing our best to get in so that
we can serve our veterans because their home care is
so important and things like that, so we're trying to
really tap into that space and support those clients as well.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
We are hearing this morning from Agape United Home Care.
Where are you located at? Specifically in Mansfield for those listening.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
In Mansfield as far as a home office, so there's
nowhere really for anybody to come. So it is completely virtual.
So with our website and our direct numbers stuff like that,
people can get in contact with us, so there's no
Employees don't come to an office, clients don't come to
an office. It's very convenient for both actually, because our
time is spent in their home, so why make people
(06:34):
come in when we're coming there. It's just we've really
eliminated a lot of the stress. We've really put ourselves
in the age shoes. What would we like from a
company as well as how would we like someone to
treat our family members from a business point of view.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
So, if somebody wants to get more information learn about
you guys, could you give us your website? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yeah, they can visit us at www dot Agape United
Homecare dot com. That's spelled aga U n I T
ED Homecare, h O M E c A r E
dot com.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
All right, so Agape United Homecare dot com. As you
just heard the voice there of Desiree Night were also
Brittany Raeburn. They are co founders CEOs of Agape United Homecare.
All right, so let's talk about staff members. How many
are are we talking here? You help so many people
you mentioned in so many countries? Do we have a
ballpark number on employees?
Speaker 3 (07:30):
So employees? We are over forty employees at the moment.
We have actually serviced and helped over fifty clients and
their families over the past year as well.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
So it's been very, very phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Sounds like a great start for you guys. You both
are just smiling, you know, So it's yeah, exactly, Well,
you mentioned off to a nice start. You're helping people
something you both definitely have a passion for, right for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
And I have specialized in private duty for the last
five years as a nine and just seeing like the
family dynamic and seeing how much better people do staying
in their home and wanting just to kind of perfect
that with our own business.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
How do we do this the right way?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
How do we support the family as well, because a
lot of these family members fall into the caregiver role
instead of spending time with their loved one, they're constantly
caring for that loved one. So we're able to help
them from like even a medical standpoint, to be able
to pull back from being a caregiver being present with
their family and allowing the help to where that dynamic
is a little less stress, a little more comforting, you know,
(08:33):
they're spending quality time with one another instead of just
heightened emotion all the time. So we're kind of like
therapists in a way too. For our client family members.
We have a lot of long conversations with people to
kind of help them through like these types of chapters
that they're going through because a lot of agencies. I
don't want to generalize that, but a lot of people
aren't really empathetic or have the patience or time to
(08:53):
take out of their day to really talk to people.
Because even if we can't help them, we always try
to refer them to someone give them resources, because ultimately,
our goal is the same whether we're making money or not.
It's to keep people at home. And if we can't
do that, we want to still help you be able
to do that as well.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
We are learning about a local company this morning, Agape
United Home Care, with their co founders CEOs, Britney Rayburn
and Desiree Night. If we're with us in studio, all right,
so let's step away from work and find out a
little bit more about you. Let's start with Desiree. We
were just talking to Britney a moment ago. So where
(09:30):
are you from? Where'd you go to high school?
Speaker 2 (09:32):
All all that?
Speaker 1 (09:33):
So give us a little bit of your story.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Okay, so my story. I'm actually from a small town
called Pemberville, Ohio. It is a small, little one stoplight
town out by boy and Green. Born and raised in
that area. Graduated high school at Eastwood High School.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
I remember that name from football ah, do you I do.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Yeah, I was like a lot of people here Pemberville.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Yeah, Pumberville Eastwood, I remember that being a high school.
Yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
We had a heck of a soccer team.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
All right.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
But I ended up going out to Akron, did college
out there for about a year before I ended up
sick and got redirected down here to Mansfield. So I
ended up finishing my college at North Central State College.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
All right, and we'll slide over to Britney. Tell us
a little bit where you're from high school as well,
a little bit of your story.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Okay. So I'm originally from Mansfield, Ohio. Moved a lot
as a kid, came back to Mansfield, Ohio, and kind
of just put my own roots down here. I went
to Ontario High School and I did go to North Central.
I was a young mom. I've been married to my
high school sweetheart for almost twenty years, and we started
(10:41):
our family and I started college. Decided to expand our family,
so I had a son, I have a daughter and
a son, and then kind of just did the stay
at home mom thing, which I'm so grateful that I
had that time home with my children. And then when
the time was right. I went to nursing school. I
was thirty and Dusary and I met in nursing school.
Had some lectures and labs together, but no really hanging
(11:02):
out like we were. Yeah, you just you're cordial. You're
with people that you're with twelve plus hours a day.
You can't not talk. That's where I met her. So
graduated as an RN and I started doing private duty nursing.
Really had a passion for it. I liked the flexibility
of being able to be a mother, not having to
work twelves, and still being able to be present at
home with my family. So that's kind of my backstory
(11:24):
with that.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Well, and you both mentioned that the idea came you
gut I think was at lunch, but came dinner. You
were mentioning if people missed it a little bit of
how this actually came to be.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Yeah, yeah, so us getting together.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
I actually, when I was done travel nursing, I started
a staffing and recruiting company back in twenty twenty three.
That was one of the most challenging things I'd ever
done by myself, and I was completely solo when I
had started that. So I ended up selling that company
early twenty twenty four and then at the time I
(11:59):
was offered and exchange of equity in order to develop
the home care side of things. I kind of was
being guided in a different direction. I wasn't understanding why,
because being in business for fifteen months at the time,
it was quite the offer. However, I didn't know what
direction I was meant to go in. Something was drawing
me to Brittany to reach out to her. I was,
(12:20):
I had been I know, look at that beautiful face.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
It's radio but she smiled, I know, I know.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
So yeah, I was staying caught up with her on
social media.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
She was doing really really well for herself in terms
of doing her own little business adventures and then also
doing that independent nursing and so I reached out to
her and was like, I'd love to learn more about
what you're doing. And I had no idea we were
going to start a home care agency. It wasn't a
thought at the time. We seriously just sat there and
just chit chatted more than what I think we ever
(12:52):
did throughout nursing school and the whole time, and like
we were maybe blocking out about two hours and then
we just kept going and going, and next thing you know,
it's the afternoon and we're about to leave, and I'm
getting ready to give her a hug by, and I
was like, wait a second, what if we do a
home care agency? Because you can see the passion, I
mean even you can hear it in her voice when
(13:13):
she talks, like she is one of the most driven
people I'd ever met, and she offers a type of
support that I never had when I went and did
the business alone, you know, So when her and I
stepped into doing that with each other, it was a
complete learning curve. I may have done the staffing and
recruiting previously, but did not do home care. So we
(13:34):
learned everything together, and she helped significantly with Medicaid.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
So you can't meet each other very well, Like a
lot of her strengths were new to me that I
have had to learn, just as our business and vice versa,
like to where she's had to learn a lot of
the skill that I've had to learn with contracts and
working with the state and figure because everything's compliant, everything
is very it's healthcare very regulated, so just making sure
(14:02):
we're on top of those things.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
So we do.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
We compliment each other really well, and we try not
to talk every day, but I think we've talked every day.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
We're basically married at this point.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
She's like, I'm sorry, it'll be my fifth commin. Don't
apologize call me any time, like, because we're navigating this
and we're building this company.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Well, as I hear you both talk, one of the
things I was thinking about was you both have strengths,
and that's what That's what a good partnership, a good
business is. You know, you both have strengths and that
makes the business overall great, Right, I do.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Yeah, And we were actually able. At the beginning of
this year, we were on a reality entrepreneur show to
compete for the best new startup and we did very
well our season airs this fall. But she and I
really learned a lot during that where our strengths and
weaknesses were and what we needed to do more of,
but also what we were doing right. So it was
a lot of fun and a good experience for us.
(14:56):
We definitely made our mark.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
We were memorable. There is no way.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
So we were given about five to seven minutes to
prepare a pitch that we had to give. Well, we
had won our pods the very first day, which was
super exciting, but then we had to go up on
stage and now have five to seven minutes to prepare
this pitch that we were giving in front of over
one hundred entrepreneurs and reality TV cameras, in front of
(15:21):
a green screen with lights blasting in your face. There
is no way that I think I could have gotten
through that if I was not just staring at Brittany
the whole entire time. I was like, I can't look
at the crowd, I can't look at anybody. Brittany like
looked at me, and she kept giving me.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Like the face of reassurance, so I'm like, okay, I know.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
She kept doing like the mom like the thumbs up,
like you're doing so good, honey.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
It's good encouragement. Absolutely great story this morning, learning about
a local company helping people not only in Richling County.
We're here in Mansfield talking, but across the state of Ohio,
Agape United Home Care. We have the co founders, the CEOs,
Britney Rayburn and Desiree Night with us in studio. Before
(16:02):
I got a couple quick questions before I let you go.
I didn't get to what you like to do in
your spare time away from work, you're relaxing hobbies. Brittany,
Let's start with you. What do you do when you're
not working?
Speaker 2 (16:14):
So when I'm not working, I do have a senior
in high school right now, so I am spending as
much time with my family as possible. I still prn
as an RN and I love spending time with my family.
I've been learning sign language. That's something that I like
to do while my friends sing, learning to interpret for
them and just trying to tap into a space where
(16:35):
I can be more accessible to not just clients, but
people in my life. And I also like the winter
and I like to ski.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
And that is about it, all right, terrific, Desirae. When
you're not working, I am not working.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
I love hiking with my little teddy bear dog, Archie.
He is my best friend and little companion. I really
enjoy weightlifting and traveling. Really, I really love traveling. I
go international quite a bit. Just recently took my brother
out of country. So anytime I can share experiences with
my friends or family really close to me is what
(17:12):
I like to do.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
All right, terrific. Now let's circle back to work, and
is there anything we missed that somebody's listening this morning
and we've covered you opened in April of twenty twenty four.
Things are going really well expanding. Oh I do I know.
I want to bring this up. You guys told me
Agape United home Care you are hiring right now. So
(17:34):
who are you guys looking for.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
So we're looking for STNA, CNAs Patient Care Assistance PCAs
a caregiver. Just we look for experience because some people
have experienced taking care of family members, just have never
completed any schooling. So we're hiring a broad range of
all caregivers STNA and under.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
So if somebody here's your voice and they say, hey,
that would that would fit them really well? How do
they reach out?
Speaker 2 (18:01):
So they can reach us on our website www dot
a gopyunit at homecare dot com, or they can call
us at four one nine three seven zero zero four
three one. We have Mansfield and Cleveland options, and we
also have a tab for employment options on our direct
line and on our website. We also hire PRN RNs,
so that is an opportunity for urns who want a
(18:21):
little more flexibility to do assessments for us. They can
inquire there as well.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Could you give us the number one more time?
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Sureott's four one nine three seven zero zero four three
one all right.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
And a Gape is spelled Agape Agape United Home Care.
Brittany Dansaree, co founders of the company CEOs you should know.
Is there anything we've missed this morning that we haven't
touched on to say, hey, a Gape United Home Care,
something we missed that you help that people should know about,
(18:52):
or just an overall message you'd like to leave our
listeners with.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
One thing I would like to add on with our
company that is a bit different with us being virtual,
is we have a lot of people's kids that are
reaching out to us out of state who are trying
to care for their parents, but.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
Obviously that the distance barrier is pretty huge.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
So we have an online portal for them where they
can actively go on and see all the care notes
that our caregivers leave, and they can also be very
in tune and in touch with what's going on with
their loved one, even super far away.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
So that is always an option and something that makes
us stand out.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
I think I'll ask one more question. If somebody is interested,
you know, how do they get the process started? How
does it work? They reach out to you? And you'd
have somebody you know, head out to the home that
kind of thing, maybe walk us through briefly how that looks.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
So we get do initial phone call, We gather information
what they're looking for. A lot of times families don't
know what they're looking for, so we schedule and are
in assessment with them. We send our RN out to
the house. Usually within forty eight hours. Our URN can
make that happen and they develop a care plan for
that family, see what they're looking for, what kind of
hours they recommend, and then we go from there. We
(19:59):
usually can start Karen as little as forty eight hours,
even sometimes same day.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
All Right, share with us again. Website phone number. If
somebody wants more information, Yeah, so they.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Can call us at four one nine three seven zero
zero four three one, or.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
That you can get ahold of us on our website
at www dot Agape United Homecare dot com.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
All Right, Agape again, Agape Agape United Homecare. Brittany Raeburn
desire Night for co founders of the company. It was
great to learn your story and everything you guys have
going on. We appreciate you coming in and we wish
you both continued success.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
So much for having me.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
We appreciate your time.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
The CEO you should know shares the background invision of
area leaders.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Hi.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
I'm Aaron Bates, CEO of Wickhaman Hess, CPAs and Financial Advisors,
helping you plan, grow and thrive in your business and
in life. We are excited to highlight dynamic CEOs from
middle Ohio. Visit us at witcomb dot com
CEOs you should know here from local leaders in the community,
made possible by witcom and hess CPAs and financial advisors.
We're excited this morning. We have two guests with us
in studio from a gop A United Home Care. We
have Brittany Rayburn and Desiree night Offer. Good morning to
you both, Good morning, thank you for coming in. I'm excited.
(00:22):
I recently heard about your company, so we're excited to
dive in and learn about it. Brittany, let's begin with you.
I think you're going to explain. You guys recently had
an excitement ribbon cutting and all of that. So could
we start at the top and tell people what you
guys do? Tell us about your company?
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Hi?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Sure.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
So we're at GAPE United Homecare. We are a non
skilled homecare agency based out of Mansfield and Cleveland, Ohio.
We are women owned and we are both registered nurses.
So I feel like our approach to homecare is a
lot different than other homecare agencies in Ohio.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
So, as we talk about a gop BA United Home Care,
somebody here's the word home care. Could you kind of
explain one of you, either of you, about what exactly
do you do? They hear home care. Could you kind
of give us some examples and things that you guys do.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
So, we do a lot of non skilled services. We
take care of seniors and their homes.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
We help them with.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Daily activities as far as running people to appointments, picking
up groceries from the store, lighthousekeeping, bathing, medication reminders, meal preparation,
help with their pets, things like that.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yeah, and we also do fill in a lot for
hospice and dimensioned Alzheimers, so we can staff up to
twenty four to seven keep people in their homes out
of nursing homes or memory care centers.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Okay, so you guys provide a very important service.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yes, our main goal is to keep people in their
home indefinitely. A lot of people don't realize that this
is a realistic option for them. We also offer like
financing options and can put them in connections with waivers
and programs that they might qualify for to get free
and homecare.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
We were hearing the voices this morning of Brittany Rayburn
and Desiree night For they are co founders with Agape
United Home Care. So let's kind of back up. You've
been in operation since early in twenty twenty four, So
could you give us a little bit of the history
of the company.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
Yeah, So we actually officially opened April twenty twenty four.
It kind of started where Brittany and I graduated or
college with each other, not high school, but yeah, we
graduated college with each other back in twenty twenty from
North Central. We reconnected as friends over a lunch and
during that discussion we had noticed a huge gap and
(02:40):
the in home care, the negative stigma for it. I
was going through a situation with my grandma at the time,
who was also needing in home care and just finding
out how difficult it was. When her and I sat
down and had the conversation, it was supposed to be
lunch and then four or five hours later turned into
dinner and we ended up but proposing the idea of
(03:02):
opening up Agape, And within the next four or five
weeks we kind of got everything going as far as
logo design LLC establishment, and.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
We've designed everything ourselves, from our logo to our website
to our policies and procedures. Everything has been built from
the ground up from her and I, so we're really
proud of that fact.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
Yeah, and from the healthcare standpoint too, which when she
was saying the different approach, we I do have a
small history of business, but a large history of healthcare,
and Brittany has a large history of healthcare as well
and small in business too. So we took such a
healthcare approach to going into home care, which has been
such a phenomenal thing for us. It's definitely services.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
Yeah again, you're hearing the voices this morning of Brittany
Rayburn and Desiree night Of for they are co founders
of Agape United Homecare. Somebody may be wondering the name
Agape could any explanation there? People, I'm sure are curious there.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
So gotbe is one of the highest forms of love.
It's a non sexual love, but an intimate love between
friends and just one another. It's something that we really
feel embodies our company and the moral and standard that
we want to have on how we treat our clients,
how we also treat our employees. Our aids are extremely
(04:20):
important to us. They're the backbone of our company. We
want to make sure we're showing up with love as
much to them as we do for our clients.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
A gape spelled Agape Agape United home care again. Brittany
and Desiree, co founders of the company with Us, are
featured CEO you should know this week. Let's talk You
mentioned you know, Mansfield to the Cleveland area. To talk
a little bit about the coverage area. I know here
we're talking in a studio in Mansfield. You cover a
good portion of north central Ohio. Could you share a
(04:49):
little bit of the coverage area.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
Sure, I can share my area and then desire can
share up in Cleveland because that's where she is based.
So we do have a home office here in Mansfield
just for legality, but we are cletely virtual, so we
operate off of software. We have an app that's where
people clock in and out kind of things, so we're
able to be all over right now. We're in Ruschland County,
Ashland County, Crawford County, Knox, Medina, Sandusky, Sandusky you're on.
(05:15):
We have expanded up to Cleveland and we're starting to
partner with the passport Waiver up there where and works
with that right now to cover more counties with that.
But we do cover all of Cleveland privately.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
We do a lot of West Cleveland right now, but
our options are not as.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Wide as what they are out here.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
We don't have the Passport Weaver out there quite yet,
but we are in the works of it.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
So we do just operate off.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
A private payout in Cleveland area from anywhere from Vermillion
all the way over to Lakewood Rocky River, and.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
We are also working on getting certified with the VA,
our local VA as well as the VA and Cleveland.
We are doing our best to get in so that
we can serve our veterans because their home care is
so important and things like that, so we're trying to
really tap into that space and support those clients as well.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
We are hearing this morning from Agape United Home Care.
Where are you located at? Specifically in Mansfield for those listening.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
In Mansfield as far as a home office, so there's
nowhere really for anybody to come. So it is completely virtual.
So with our website and our direct numbers stuff like that,
people can get in contact with us, so there's no
Employees don't come to an office, clients don't come to
an office. It's very convenient for both actually, because our
time is spent in their home, so why make people
(06:34):
come in when we're coming there. It's just we've really
eliminated a lot of the stress. We've really put ourselves
in the age shoes. What would we like from a
company as well as how would we like someone to
treat our family members from a business point of view.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
So, if somebody wants to get more information learn about
you guys, could you give us your website? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yeah, they can visit us at www dot Agape United
Homecare dot com. That's spelled aga U n I T
ED Homecare, h O M E c A r E
dot com.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
All right, so Agape United Homecare dot com. As you
just heard the voice there of Desiree Night were also
Brittany Raeburn. They are co founders CEOs of Agape United Homecare.
All right, so let's talk about staff members. How many
are are we talking here? You help so many people
you mentioned in so many countries? Do we have a
ballpark number on employees?
Speaker 3 (07:30):
So employees? We are over forty employees at the moment.
We have actually serviced and helped over fifty clients and
their families over the past year as well.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
So it's been very, very phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
Sounds like a great start for you guys. You both
are just smiling, you know, So it's yeah, exactly, Well,
you mentioned off to a nice start. You're helping people
something you both definitely have a passion for, right for sure.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
And I have specialized in private duty for the last
five years as a nine and just seeing like the
family dynamic and seeing how much better people do staying
in their home and wanting just to kind of perfect
that with our own business.
Speaker 4 (08:10):
How do we do this the right way?
Speaker 2 (08:11):
How do we support the family as well, because a
lot of these family members fall into the caregiver role
instead of spending time with their loved one, they're constantly
caring for that loved one. So we're able to help
them from like even a medical standpoint, to be able
to pull back from being a caregiver being present with
their family and allowing the help to where that dynamic
is a little less stress, a little more comforting, you know,
(08:33):
they're spending quality time with one another instead of just
heightened emotion all the time. So we're kind of like
therapists in a way too. For our client family members.
We have a lot of long conversations with people to
kind of help them through like these types of chapters
that they're going through because a lot of agencies. I
don't want to generalize that, but a lot of people
aren't really empathetic or have the patience or time to
(08:53):
take out of their day to really talk to people.
Because even if we can't help them, we always try
to refer them to someone give them resources, because ultimately,
our goal is the same whether we're making money or not.
It's to keep people at home. And if we can't
do that, we want to still help you be able
to do that as well.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
We are learning about a local company this morning, Agape
United Home Care, with their co founders CEOs, Britney Rayburn
and Desiree Night. If we're with us in studio, all right,
so let's step away from work and find out a
little bit more about you. Let's start with Desiree. We
were just talking to Britney a moment ago. So where
(09:30):
are you from? Where'd you go to high school?
Speaker 2 (09:32):
All all that?
Speaker 1 (09:33):
So give us a little bit of your story.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Okay, so my story. I'm actually from a small town
called Pemberville, Ohio. It is a small, little one stoplight
town out by boy and Green. Born and raised in
that area. Graduated high school at Eastwood High School.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
I remember that name from football ah, do you I do.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Yeah, I was like a lot of people here Pemberville.
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Yeah, Pumberville Eastwood, I remember that being a high school.
Yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
We had a heck of a soccer team.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
All right.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
But I ended up going out to Akron, did college
out there for about a year before I ended up
sick and got redirected down here to Mansfield. So I
ended up finishing my college at North Central State College.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
All right, and we'll slide over to Britney. Tell us
a little bit where you're from high school as well,
a little bit of your story.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Okay. So I'm originally from Mansfield, Ohio. Moved a lot
as a kid, came back to Mansfield, Ohio, and kind
of just put my own roots down here. I went
to Ontario High School and I did go to North Central.
I was a young mom. I've been married to my
high school sweetheart for almost twenty years, and we started
(10:41):
our family and I started college. Decided to expand our family,
so I had a son, I have a daughter and
a son, and then kind of just did the stay
at home mom thing, which I'm so grateful that I
had that time home with my children. And then when
the time was right. I went to nursing school. I
was thirty and Dusary and I met in nursing school.
Had some lectures and labs together, but no really hanging
(11:02):
out like we were. Yeah, you just you're cordial. You're
with people that you're with twelve plus hours a day.
You can't not talk. That's where I met her. So
graduated as an RN and I started doing private duty nursing.
Really had a passion for it. I liked the flexibility
of being able to be a mother, not having to
work twelves, and still being able to be present at
home with my family. So that's kind of my backstory
(11:24):
with that.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Well, and you both mentioned that the idea came you
gut I think was at lunch, but came dinner. You
were mentioning if people missed it a little bit of
how this actually came to be.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Yeah, yeah, so us getting together.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
I actually, when I was done travel nursing, I started
a staffing and recruiting company back in twenty twenty three.
That was one of the most challenging things I'd ever
done by myself, and I was completely solo when I
had started that. So I ended up selling that company
early twenty twenty four and then at the time I
(11:59):
was offered and exchange of equity in order to develop
the home care side of things. I kind of was
being guided in a different direction. I wasn't understanding why,
because being in business for fifteen months at the time,
it was quite the offer. However, I didn't know what
direction I was meant to go in. Something was drawing
me to Brittany to reach out to her. I was,
(12:20):
I had been I know, look at that beautiful face.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
It's radio but she smiled, I know, I know.
Speaker 4 (12:27):
So yeah, I was staying caught up with her on
social media.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
She was doing really really well for herself in terms
of doing her own little business adventures and then also
doing that independent nursing and so I reached out to
her and was like, I'd love to learn more about
what you're doing. And I had no idea we were
going to start a home care agency. It wasn't a
thought at the time. We seriously just sat there and
just chit chatted more than what I think we ever
(12:52):
did throughout nursing school and the whole time, and like
we were maybe blocking out about two hours and then
we just kept going and going, and next thing you know,
it's the afternoon and we're about to leave, and I'm
getting ready to give her a hug by, and I
was like, wait a second, what if we do a
home care agency? Because you can see the passion, I
mean even you can hear it in her voice when
(13:13):
she talks, like she is one of the most driven
people I'd ever met, and she offers a type of
support that I never had when I went and did
the business alone, you know, So when her and I
stepped into doing that with each other, it was a
complete learning curve. I may have done the staffing and
recruiting previously, but did not do home care. So we
(13:34):
learned everything together, and she helped significantly with Medicaid.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
So you can't meet each other very well, Like a
lot of her strengths were new to me that I
have had to learn, just as our business and vice versa,
like to where she's had to learn a lot of
the skill that I've had to learn with contracts and
working with the state and figure because everything's compliant, everything
is very it's healthcare very regulated, so just making sure
(14:02):
we're on top of those things.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
So we do.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
We compliment each other really well, and we try not
to talk every day, but I think we've talked every day.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
We're basically married at this point.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
She's like, I'm sorry, it'll be my fifth commin. Don't
apologize call me any time, like, because we're navigating this
and we're building this company.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
Well, as I hear you both talk, one of the
things I was thinking about was you both have strengths,
and that's what That's what a good partnership, a good
business is. You know, you both have strengths and that
makes the business overall great, Right, I do.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Yeah, And we were actually able. At the beginning of
this year, we were on a reality entrepreneur show to
compete for the best new startup and we did very
well our season airs this fall. But she and I
really learned a lot during that where our strengths and
weaknesses were and what we needed to do more of,
but also what we were doing right. So it was
a lot of fun and a good experience for us.
(14:56):
We definitely made our mark.
Speaker 4 (14:58):
We were memorable. There is no way.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
So we were given about five to seven minutes to
prepare a pitch that we had to give. Well, we
had won our pods the very first day, which was
super exciting, but then we had to go up on
stage and now have five to seven minutes to prepare
this pitch that we were giving in front of over
one hundred entrepreneurs and reality TV cameras, in front of
(15:21):
a green screen with lights blasting in your face. There
is no way that I think I could have gotten
through that if I was not just staring at Brittany
the whole entire time. I was like, I can't look
at the crowd, I can't look at anybody. Brittany like
looked at me, and she kept giving me.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
Like the face of reassurance, so I'm like, okay, I know.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
She kept doing like the mom like the thumbs up,
like you're doing so good, honey.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
It's good encouragement. Absolutely great story this morning, learning about
a local company helping people not only in Richling County.
We're here in Mansfield talking, but across the state of Ohio,
Agape United Home Care. We have the co founders, the CEOs,
Britney Rayburn and Desiree Night with us in studio. Before
(16:02):
I got a couple quick questions before I let you go.
I didn't get to what you like to do in
your spare time away from work, you're relaxing hobbies. Brittany,
Let's start with you. What do you do when you're
not working?
Speaker 2 (16:14):
So when I'm not working, I do have a senior
in high school right now, so I am spending as
much time with my family as possible. I still prn
as an RN and I love spending time with my family.
I've been learning sign language. That's something that I like
to do while my friends sing, learning to interpret for
them and just trying to tap into a space where
(16:35):
I can be more accessible to not just clients, but
people in my life. And I also like the winter
and I like to ski.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
And that is about it, all right, terrific, Desirae. When
you're not working, I am not working.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
I love hiking with my little teddy bear dog, Archie.
He is my best friend and little companion. I really
enjoy weightlifting and traveling. Really, I really love traveling. I
go international quite a bit. Just recently took my brother
out of country. So anytime I can share experiences with
my friends or family really close to me is what
(17:12):
I like to do.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
All right, terrific. Now let's circle back to work, and
is there anything we missed that somebody's listening this morning
and we've covered you opened in April of twenty twenty four.
Things are going really well expanding. Oh I do I know.
I want to bring this up. You guys told me
Agape United home Care you are hiring right now. So
(17:34):
who are you guys looking for.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
So we're looking for STNA, CNAs Patient Care Assistance PCAs
a caregiver. Just we look for experience because some people
have experienced taking care of family members, just have never
completed any schooling. So we're hiring a broad range of
all caregivers STNA and under.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
So if somebody here's your voice and they say, hey,
that would that would fit them really well? How do
they reach out?
Speaker 2 (18:01):
So they can reach us on our website www dot
a gopyunit at homecare dot com, or they can call
us at four one nine three seven zero zero four
three one. We have Mansfield and Cleveland options, and we
also have a tab for employment options on our direct
line and on our website. We also hire PRN RNs,
so that is an opportunity for urns who want a
(18:21):
little more flexibility to do assessments for us. They can
inquire there as well.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Could you give us the number one more time?
Speaker 2 (18:27):
Sureott's four one nine three seven zero zero four three
one all right.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
And a Gape is spelled Agape Agape United Home Care.
Brittany Dansaree, co founders of the company CEOs you should know.
Is there anything we've missed this morning that we haven't
touched on to say, hey, a Gape United Home Care,
something we missed that you help that people should know about,
(18:52):
or just an overall message you'd like to leave our
listeners with.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
One thing I would like to add on with our
company that is a bit different with us being virtual,
is we have a lot of people's kids that are
reaching out to us out of state who are trying
to care for their parents, but.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
Obviously that the distance barrier is pretty huge.
Speaker 3 (19:10):
So we have an online portal for them where they
can actively go on and see all the care notes
that our caregivers leave, and they can also be very
in tune and in touch with what's going on with
their loved one, even super far away.
Speaker 4 (19:22):
So that is always an option and something that makes
us stand out.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
I think I'll ask one more question. If somebody is interested,
you know, how do they get the process started? How
does it work? They reach out to you? And you'd
have somebody you know, head out to the home that
kind of thing, maybe walk us through briefly how that looks.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
So we get do initial phone call, We gather information
what they're looking for. A lot of times families don't
know what they're looking for, so we schedule and are
in assessment with them. We send our RN out to
the house. Usually within forty eight hours. Our URN can
make that happen and they develop a care plan for
that family, see what they're looking for, what kind of
hours they recommend, and then we go from there. We
(19:59):
usually can start Karen as little as forty eight hours,
even sometimes same day.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
All Right, share with us again. Website phone number. If
somebody wants more information, Yeah, so they.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
Can call us at four one nine three seven zero
zero four three one, or.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
That you can get ahold of us on our website
at www dot Agape United Homecare dot com.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
All Right, Agape again, Agape Agape United Homecare. Brittany Raeburn
desire Night for co founders of the company. It was
great to learn your story and everything you guys have
going on. We appreciate you coming in and we wish
you both continued success.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
So much for having me.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
We appreciate your time.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
The CEO you should know shares the background invision of
area leaders.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Hi.
Speaker 5 (20:43):
I'm Aaron Bates, CEO of Wickhaman Hess, CPAs and Financial Advisors,
helping you plan, grow and thrive in your business and
in life. We are excited to highlight dynamic CEOs from
middle Ohio. Visit us at witcomb dot com
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.