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Michigan Business Beat | BrightStar Care Franchisee of the Year, Chris Miller Overcoming Challenges!

Michigan Business Network
January 13, 2023 4:00 PM

thumbnail_BrightStarCare Logo copy CroppedJeffrey Mosher welcomes Chris Miller, Franchise Owner BrightStar Care HomeCare, East Lansing, MI.

Hear Chris and Jeffrey discuss, how he had to overcome the Auto-No-Fault Law change, the pandemic & difficult economic conditions in the SoundCloud Podcast shared below.


I understand you first worked for your family business in manufacturing and decided to make a change by getting into the home care business. Why did you make this decision?

You started your business in East Lansing in October 2015 and today you operate four offices in Michigan. Tell us about that?

You were named BrightStar franchisee of the year? Why were you recognized with this national honor?

Like most businesses, the past three years have been difficult economically and your industry faced a new state law change. Tell us about your challenges.

How have you been able to deal with the tight labor market?

How has your business been able to expand during such difficult times?

Chris' team also shared a release with more information on this topic:

Owner Had to Overcome Auto-No-Fault Law Change, Pandemic & Difficult Economic Conditions


East Lansing, Mich. — Chris Miller was working in his family manufacturing business when he realized he wanted to make a change and do something more people-orientated and to help others. In October 2015, Miller got into the home care business as a franchise owner of BrightStar Care Home Care.  

Miller opened his first BrightStar Care office in East Lansing. Today, he has four territories and owns and operates four offices in Michigan. Miller was named the 2022 BrightStar Care Franchisee of the year. “It’s a significant honor for my franchise and team,” said Miller. “I’m proud of this accomplishment. I’m thankful to have such a dedicated team and do something so meaningful by helping people stay home and receive care.”

Miller was recognized for his diligence and strength in his community for standing up for the preservation of home care services in his home state. Miller said he has learned that nothing is guaranteed.

“Who would have thought the past few years would be so challenging due to the change in the Michigan Auto Insurance Reform Law, the COVID-19 pandemic, and difficult economic conditions including inflation and staffing,” acknowledged Miller. “When the Michigan Legislature cut home care benefits by 45 percent in the middle of a tight labor market and inflation, I lost a large chunk of my business. I didn’t realize that I would spend so much time in the state capitol advocating for the restoration of the home care cuts but it has become very personal to me. My time in Lansing was not only important for my business but more importantly for my clients and their families. People want to stay home and receive care with their loved ones around them, they don’t want to be institutionalized and move away from home.”

Miller has other BrightStar Care locations in Ann Arbor, Brighton/Howell, and Novi. Miller said with the tight labor market, he has been able to retain team members by leading by example.

“I’m willing to do anything that I expect my team members to do such as helping with scheduling in the office, sitting with a client in their own home, or even taking late-night phone calls from staff and clients.  Rather than use the word manage, we use leading, coaching, and supporting. Sometimes team members have difficulty getting to work and we do what we can to get them to their shifts, I’ve been known to snow blow driveways and drive team members to and from work as well as my office team. Through COVID especially, we paid for many staff members to get to work by using Uber to get them to their shifts. Our caregivers need to work, and our clients need the caregivers to do their activities of daily living, so it is important that we help support our staff in taking care of our clients.

The award ceremonies held in October 2022 included nineteen different award categories. These franchisees each demonstrate what a high standard of care means, with the attentive, compassionate treatment their clients receive hand-in-hand with their business savvy and talent for expansion. These award winners were selected by the franchise support team at BrightStar Care, who have closely observed the many achievements of BrightStar Care franchisees all over the nation.

https://www.brightstarcare.com/brightonhowell/gmf-1?utm_source=google&utm_medium=NAcpc&utm_campaign=BSC_GMF_MI_Howell_BD_EX&_vsrefdom=p.4781&gclid=Cj0KCQiA7bucBhCeARIsAIOwr-_fBcWxyhw6HTQsRXjzVIgP0rahwsWTKByRtmWIvOZzt19bGcXkICQaAgUIEALw_wcB\ 

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Michigan Business Network is an online broadcasting company that provides knowledge, news, and insights into Michigan’s businesses, industries, and economy.