The CAREpreneur Show

Meet Matt Reiners - co-founder of Eversound, a technology company dedicated to ending social isolation for older adults by giving every resident the gift of hearing.  After seeing his Grandmother struggle with hearing, Matt, along with his other co-founders, saw an opportunity to help improve senior living resident's quality of life through better listening experiences.  

A serial entrepreneur, Matt has helped start two companies in the past eight years and is an up and coming player in the senior living industry.  Matt started his entrepreneurial journey with silent discos. Instead of emitting music through speakers, Matt and his business partner used headphones to create a unique musical experience. Soon after his silent disco venture grew, senior care companies were reaching out to use his silent disco headphones in a new way.  

This is how Matt and his co-founders created Eversound. Since then, the business has exploded. Matt and his partners were able to create a solution for seniors who experienced senior loss. Through Eversound, thousands of seniors are able to connect with their loved ones, and participate in an auditory experience they once were unable to partake in. 

Matt is a recipient of 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30, 2019 Argentum Senior Living Leader Under 40, and 2018 National Association of Activity Professionals Business Affiliate Award of Excellence. 

#entrepreneurship #innovation #seniorcare #headphones

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TIMESTAMPS:  

0:00 Intro 1:43 When you were in highschool, what did you want to be when you grew up? What led you into this field? 

2:20 How Matt started out 

3:40 The inspiration for Eversound 

4:30 The need for Eversound presents itself 

5:33 Now, is this for them to be able to communicate with each other, or are they able to listen & experience something they once weren't able to do? 

8:03 So, are they wearing headphones similar to what you are wearing now? 

9:00 How did you come to meet him (Sound Engineer) 

9:32 What time frame is all of this in? 

9:57 So this was back when you were like working out of a garage, isn't it? 

10:16 So at that point in time did you think, "Hey, let's go start a business in senior care."? 

11:24 So when you think about today, what is your ultimate goal for Eversound? 

12:36 When you think about the #1 reason someone might use Eversound, what would that be? 

14:48 What has always interested you the most within your job role? 

16:15 How old are you? 

16:40 When you think about your favorite book, what comes to mind? 

17:24 Does anyone come to mind when you think of a mentor? 

18:54 When you think about attracting other people into this space (senior care), what do you think it needs to bring people in? What can WE do to bring people in? 

20:45 Closing Remarks 

21:29 Outro

Meet Serg Lupescu, owner and administrator of Legion Manor Assisted Living in Mesa, AZ. Before devoting his time to his assisted living home, Serg obtained a degree from Southwest Baptist University in nursing, working as a certified nurse assistant in his earlier years.  Shortly after, Serg furthered his passion in the healthcare industry and pursued his goal in opening a residential assisted living home. Along his journey, Serg discovered that the industry is far more complex and that success is not easily achieved.   

Through his time working in the industry he learned the tools needed to guarantee a promising business, in which he passionately wants to share with others.   

After successfully developing his business, he started his YouTube channel with one goal in mind, to help others achieve their dreams of opening up their own residential assisted living home.   Shortly after the launch of his YouTube channel, he noticed that there was a need in this industry and the inquiries started overflowing with questions and the search for answers.   

So, he started Legion Assisted Living Academy which is designed to help individuals with the same common interest and goal of opening their very own residential assisted living home.   As of recently, he started an additional branch off which is Legion Assisted Living Advisors, where he mentors students but also allows them the option to work alongside advisors to obtain their documentation needed to operate their own assisted living business.  

Serg is also a Co-Founder/Managing Partner of Valley ALF Ventures, LLC, a real estate syndication firm focused on acquiring and leasing residential assisted living facilities.   #entrepreneur #seniorcare #assistedliving

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TIMESTAMPS: 

0:00 Intro 

1:30 How did you get started in the field of healthcare? 

8:09 Was your aunt the reason for your inspiration to go into assisted living? 

10:29 So when did you pull the trigger? Did you purchase a house with the intention to do residential living? 

13:36 How old were you when you decided to move to Phoenix? 

14:26 So did you have any plans set in place before moving? 

17:15 The initial move 

18:14 The bomb drop 

19:23 So when this scam happened, there were no residents living there yet? 

19:32 So did you live at the facility or were you managing it from afar? 

20:32 So at what point did you transition into the residents that you have today? 

21:23 The beginning of Serg's YouTube career  

21:34 When you started, was your facility full then? 

21:45 How was your facility's structure set up? 

22:36 So how do you have your facility set up today? 

22:56 Do you still manage from afar? 

23:40 So you started your YouTube channel, academy, and advisory. What has that journey looked like? What does your future look like? 

25:21 Explanation of Serg's advisory package 

25:36 Is your advisory package focused on Arizona? Or is that more nationwide? 

26:21 The SECOND bomb drop 

31:28 The work-around 

32:05 So it the goal then to create the startup for different properties and then lease them to different owners? 

33:52 What do you think was the reason behind how you were able to make so many successful connections? Was it YouTube, social media, networking . . .? 

34:45 The advantages that being young and putting yourself out there can create 

38:51 Is there a favorite book that you have? 

39:41 Serg's favorite quote 

40:00 Closing remarks

Meet Daniel Lawson, a natural born entrepreneur, who started with aspirations of a career in pharmaceutical sales and evolved into a Co-Founder of an innovative new startup called Viking Pure Solutions.   

Daniel comes from a family of successful entrepreneurs and has always admired the drive, skillfulness, and dedication that it takes to be an entrepreneur. He graduated from Lasalle University and their Integrated Science Business and Technology Program. Afterwards he landed his first job with Pfizer.  

After 12 years in the field of medical device sales he discovered Hypochlorous Acid - a wound debridement solution made of salt, water, and electricity. Later on, Daniel and his business partners would turn this solution into a patented design that would eliminate the need for toxic and harsh sanitizing products in the healthcare industry.    

In 2019, he was laid off from his job but was given the opportunity to go all in on his business venture. Today, Daniel is the President of Business Development and Co-Founder of Viking Pure Solutions which is a cleaning innovation company that is committed to removing toxic chemicals from senior living companies. Learn how Daniel Lawson is transforming the future of senior care.   

#entrepreneur #seniorcare #sanitization 

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TIMESTAMPS  

0:00 Intro 

1:35 The Back Story 

2:19 From University to the Career Field 

3:23 With pharmaceutical sales, did you travel a lot? 

4:30 The underlying motive 

5:10 What inspired you to want to start Viking? 

5:41 The Discovery 

6:25 The Science 

7:57 So, is what you're selling bottled? 

8:49 Entrepreneurial Tip - Utilize your network 

10:09 Entrepreneurial Tip - Track your metrics 

10:51 At what point did you realize you were ready to make this venture your full-time job? 

13:08 Were you plugged in enough to take full advantage of the opportunity COVID-19 presented for your company? 

15:23 What is your primary role compared to your partners? 

18:38 What does the future look like for you? 

21:28 Outro

Meet James Lee, the Legendary Leader in Senior Living, who started as a caregiver and became the CEO and Co-Founder of an exciting new startup called Bella Groves.   

After the Great Financial Crisis, James began his journey applying to law school. He took a part time job at a local senior living facility near where he lived.   

Before starting his law school journey, he decided to commit full time to senior living and worked his way up to being the Executive Director at that community.   

Later, he joined the corporate world as a sales trainer and as someone who would bridge the gap between the "corporate" teams and the individual communities because James always lead by example.   

Eventually, he decided to risk it all and venture out on his own by starting his own company. Today, James is the CEO and Co-Founder of Bella Groves which is a unique senior living concept made up of two parts.   

Bella Groves is one part a dementia and memory care community and another part, "senior living as a service," which is their family caregiver training, education and support platform.  

Learn how James Lee is transforming the future of senior care. 

Meet James Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seniorlivingguy/

Meet Dominick Manfredo, CEO of The Community at Sunset Wood in New York. You're going to love his inspirational journey from Secretary to CEO.  Dominick began doing traveling car sales after college where he learned a lot about the art of the deal and the sales process.   

Then the financial crisis hit and new car sales dried up. In 2013, Dominick returned home to an economy with no jobs. He applied to 30 different places each day with no luck.   

Eventually, he landed a job as a secretary at an employee benefits company. He was determined to be the best at whatever job he was able to get. In this case, he was going "to be the best dang secretary he could be!"  

Then, he took a position as the Director of Marketing for an Independent Living community and a year later at the beginning of the COVID outbreak he took over as the CEO.   

Learn how Dominick has overcome many hurdles to be in the position he is in today and how he is making a huge impact on the future of senior care.   

Meet Dominick Manfredo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominick-m-manfredo-24074542

Elli and Mark Baldwin started their careers in IT recruiting but they knew they were missing something and wanted to make a bigger difference in people's lives. Therefore, they decided to hang up their IT recruiting hat, quit their comfy jobs with a comfy salary, and go all-in on Sunways Senior Living Concierge, a full-service senior living placement agency in SWFL. Tune in to learn more about Mark and Elli’s entrepreneurial journey into senior care!

Meet Andrew Sokolowski, the founder of LiveWell Health in Southwest Florida.

Andrew has spent nearly a decade within the health and wellness field helping individuals live a happier, healthier life. Andrew has always, and continues to be a student of the field.

Andrew received his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from the University of Bowling Green. Along with various certifications within the health and wellness field, Andrew also holds a Master of Arts in Gerontology from the University of Southern California.

With an extensive exercise and aging educational background Andrew intends to combine both fields in order to promote successful aging throughout southwest Florida and beyond.

How many 25 year olds do you know who are on a mission to change the lives of seniors? Join Andrew and I today and learn why he is so passionate about helping seniors!

Melissa Lockhart, a local entrepreneur and the owner of Helping Hands SW FL LLC shares her entrepreneurial journey of starting a home health agency almost ten years ago to assisting her wife Tiffany in building a successful pool service and repair company, Native Sun Pools.

Today she embarks on a new journey as she campaigns for the Punta Gorda City Council, District 5.

As a long-time resident and local small business owner, Melissa is passionate about preserving the beautiful community she calls home while advancing progress in a healthy and sustainable way.

Visit Melissa Lockhart for City Council, District 5 to support her campaign!

Join us today, to learn more about Melissa’s journey and the positive impact she wants to leave on our community.

I am super excited to welcome Danny Nix Jr. with The Nix Team, Nix & Associates Real Estate, Realtors in Southwest Florida on today’s CAREpreneur Show!

Join us has we talk about entrepreneurship, the importance of leadership and community.

Danny and his wonderful wife, Carla Nix, are a pillar in the community and have done so much for Charlotte County.

I have a feeling they are just getting started and we are grateful to them for all they do!

Meet Sarah Desrosiers, PA-Realtor and her husband Ryan Desrosiers who are a staple in Charlotte County.

In this episode of The CAREpreneur Show, Sarah shares her journey from being a legal secretary in a law office to making the big leap as a Realtor in 2015.

Sarah’s motto is to “Believe in yourself and just do it!”

She also reveals the story behind her celebrity status on the HGTV hit show, "My Lottery Dream Home!"

Lastly, we covered the amazing work, Valerie's House is doing for children grieving the loss of a loved one.