We are Amada

We are continuing our inspiring conversation with Amada Senior Care franchise owner Lilla O'Dwyer in part two of this two-part series! Moving deeper into the operational and strategic realities of running a successful senior care business, Lilla shares transparent insights about scaling her location, navigating competition, and building meaningful community connections. 

Whether you are considering franchise ownership or looking for motivation in your current business, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and authentic industry experiences.

Topics and Questions Covered in This Episode:

• Long-Term Care Insurance Realities
• Alternative Funding Solutions
• Marketing and Referral Strategies
• Transitioning to Business Ownership
• The Art of Delegation and Growth
• Goals and Core Values
• Setting Healthy Boundaries
• Navigating Industry Competition

Lilla's journey demonstrates how competitive drive, consistency, and genuine compassion can transform a business into a vital service for the community. Be inspired by her relentless work ethic and client-first mindset—take the leap, embrace your entrepreneurial spirit, and start your own path toward business ownership today!

In this episode of the We Are Amada podcast with Lilla O'Dwyer, owner of Amada Senior Care in the Denver area, we discuss the rapidly growing Senior Care territory in West Denver, Boulder, and Northern Colorado. Lilla shares her journey as a Registered Nurse turned business owner and discusses how Amada Senior Care differentiates itself through its dedicated handling of long-term care insurance claims for families.

Topics and Questions Covered:

• Franchise Growth and Territory Expansion
• Long-Term Care Insurance Advocacy
• The Advantage of a Registered Nurse Background
• Hospital Discharge and Readmission Gaps
• Why Competitors Avoid Handling Insurance Claims
• Unlocking Policy Value

This episode is ideal for current or prospective franchise owners, healthcare professionals, case managers, and discharge planners interested in navigating long-term care insurance and home care operations. It is particularly valuable for individuals like Lilla, as well as families seeking guidance on how to navigate and maximize long-term care insurance policies for aging loved ones.

Happy Listening!

Welcome to the second half of our deep dive into senior care entrepreneurship! In this part 2 of 2 episode, we sit down with Amada Senior Care franchise owner Lina Lopez to discuss her inspirational path toward becoming a business owner, how personal life challenges fuel business success, and why showing up consistently is the real key to growing a long-lasting care business.

In this Part 2 episode, we discuss:

• The importance of consistency and measuring KPIs for business growth
• Using operational and historical data to track performance accurately
• Lina’s background in fashion and her shift into driving children with special
• A personal health scare and back surgery that revealed the crucial need for caregiving
• Inspirational encounters that led Lina toward opening a home care business
• The emotional impact and power of presence when caring for seniors
• Facing small-business challenges without regret and persisting through hardships

Whether you are an established entrepreneur, an aspiring business owner, or someone looking to explore the rewarding possibilities of an Amada Senior Care franchise, this episode offers invaluable real-world perspective. Lina's story illustrates how overcoming personal adversity can ignite a true passion for service, showing how empathy, persistence, and continuous data tracking can build a resilient, purpose-driven home care franchise.

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In this episode, we welcome Lina Lopez, owner of the Amada Senior Care West Long Beach, CA. Lina transitioned from a career in the fashion industry and running a family business in Colombia to becoming a dedicated home care entrepreneur. Her path into senior care was shaped by her own personal health challenges and her heartfelt caregiving experiences. Driven by empathy and purpose, Lina has built a thriving care business guided by strong core values and a deep commitment to serving others.

In this episode, we talk about:

• First Client Experience: The realities of starting out, setting clear milestones, and unexpected hurdles 
• Business Operations & KPIs: Early growth cycles, staying centered, and discipline
• The Immigrant Entrepreneur Journey: Advice on building confidence, staying true to your identity, overcoming communication barriers, and pursuing the opportunities of small business ownership.
• Leveraging Reviews & Social Media: The impact of digital feedback on creative marketing and authentic community engagement
• Purpose-Driven Leadership: Finding deep personal meaning in home care, handling operational hardships, and true compassion

Whether you are a prospective franchisee, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone interested in how business success intersects with human compassion, this episode is full of honest, actionable wisdom. Tune in to hear Lina’s inspiring transition from receiving care to building a mission-driven business, and discover how staying consistent, following proven operational frameworks, and leading with empathy can turn initial challenges into long-term impact.

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In this Part 2 episode of the We Are Amada Podcast with host Marcos Moura, we pick up where we left off in Part 1 with Keith Bercun, Owner of Amada Boca Raton, FL. In this half of the conversation, Keith turns up the heat on the specific systems, technologies, and strategies that helped him achieve an incredibly successful, record-breaking first year in a highly competitive market.

We discuss a wide range of topics, including:

• How a fast start can be achieved by utilizing lead systems
• Why communication and conversion tracking are vital to rewarding lead relationships
• How to leverage remote virtual assistants to create repeatable workflows and scale a business without overspending ahead of revenue
• Why integrating AI platforms like ChatGPT and Claude is an absolute necessity for modern operational workflows
• How utilizing specialized AI SEO can drastically optimize business visibility in modern search algorithms
• Why the home care service industry remains economy-proof, interest rate-proof, and pandemic-proof

If you're a savvy business owner driven by heart who wants to move beyond administrative tasks to maximize client-facing growth, you need to hear the passion of this Amada owner. Keith's precise approach to micro-level systems and cutting-edge technology proves that there has never been a better time in history to scale a service-based business. Tune in to find out how you can apply these same principles to outpace the competition and streamline your own operations!

In this episode of the We Are Amada Podcast, Marcos speaks at length with Amada Senior Care owner in Boca Raton, FL, Keith Bercun. Keith's deep commitment to the seniors and families on care at Amada is a pleasure to hear about, as is his extensive experience and knowledge about Long Term Care insurance. 

In this episode, they discuss:

• Long Term Care insurance differentiators at Amada Senior Care
• Keith's unique professional background that led him to Amada
• A variety of personal experiences in the senior care sector

From start to finish, this episode challenges what you may believe about business ownership, the senior care industry, and what it means to be an owner driven by heart and mind. 

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In this episode, we sit down with Denise Gott, the CEO of ACSIAS Partners. As a leader in her organization, Denise oversees a framework of approximately 130 long-term care specialists who focus exclusively on long-term care planning. ACSIAS Partners is recognized as one of the largest long-term care insurance brokerage firms in the country.

Together, they discuss the following topics:

• Denise's 27-year background in the insurance industry, moving from field agent to management.
• The growing market opportunities in senior care and caregiving being driven by an aging population.
• The 12-year partnership between ACSIAS Partners and Amada, emphasizing Amada's quality of care and responsiveness.
• How Amada assists clients by reviewing long-term care policies prior to filing claims to streamline the process.
• Leveraging technology to better communicate benefits with policyholders and their children.
• The critical importance of planning in advance to protect physical and financial assets down the road.

If you're considering transitioning your career into the senior care space or looking to better understand the long-term care insurance industry, then the insights and information in this episode is for you!

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In this episode of the We Are Amada podcast, our outstanding guest shares his views and insights from behind the scenes at Amada Senior Care! Tyler Hincy, Vice President of Corporate Locations, talks about his journey from high-level retail and e-commerce into the world of senior care. 

Despite having no prior healthcare experience, Tyler explains how he applied universal business principles to his new role, resulting in a revitalized Orange County Amada location, and ongoing industry-leading performance.  

In this episode, we talk about:

• Transitioning from Retail to Home Care
• The Power of Advocating for Clients and Veterans
• Building a High-Performance Team Through Insights and Recognition
• Referral Relationship Management and Building Trust
• Raising the Standard for Caregiver Recruitment and Retention Strategies 
• Urgency in Business Operations and Beyond 

This episode is a must-listen for the entrepreneurs who are led by their hearts as well as their business sense. This conversation is perfect if you are looking for a financially viable business model that also provides profound fulfillment through human connection. 

Tyler’s insights and authenticity are hallmarks of the types of professionals that excel in the senior care space, and his ability to thrive on problem-solving, building community relationships, and his strong sense of urgency are undeniably motivating!

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In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Hall, a dedicated franchise owner of Amada Senior Care serving the Elgen, Illinois, area. Kevin’s journey into senior care is deeply personal, rooted in his childhood experiences with family, and coming full circle later in life. Kevin shares how his path eventually led him from the corporate world to a purpose-driven business that honors the legacy of his first best friend and great-grandmother.

Kevin’s background is a fascinating blend of technical expertise and high-level sales. Despite starting with an IT degree and an early career as a business systems coordinator, he eventually transitioned into the pharmaceutical industry, where he excelled as a national sales trainer. This unique combination of systematic thinking and marketing prowess prepared him for the "perfect storm" of opening his own senior care agency alongside his wife and partner, Amber.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• What Started it All - The Halls’ Origin Story
• Navigating the move from a corporate pharmaceutical career to full-time entrepreneurship
• Tips for successfully running a business with your spouse 
• Why the upcoming demographic shift (The "Silver Tsunami"): makes senior care one of the most critical industries today
• The vital role Amada plays in helping seniors successfully file LTCi claims and navigate complex policies

Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or someone approaching a career crossroads, Kevin’s insights offer a masterclass in lead-with-your-heart leadership. He provides a transparent look at the heavy responsibilities of business ownership while highlighting the profound rewards of serving a community. 

Tune in to learn why Kevin isn't just satisfied with being a successful agency owner and why he’s on a mission to bring light to the darkest days of the families he serves.

Happy Listening!

In this episode of the Amada Senior Care Podcast, Marcos Moura sits down with Gwen Smith, co-owner of Amada Senior Care in Charlotte and Lake Norman, North Carolina, for a candid conversation about business ownership, leadership, marriage, faith, and the heart behind serving seniors and their families.

Gwen’s journey is more than a story about opening a senior care business. It is a real look at what happens when a husband and wife step into entrepreneurship together, lean into their complementary strengths, and build something meaningful in a space where trust, compassion, and consistency matter every day. From the uncertainty of the early months to the demands of leading in healthcare, Gwen shares what it takes to keep showing up, growing, and building relationships that last.

In this episode, Gwen shares:

• What it is really like to build and run a business with your spouse
• How faith, trust, and communication have shaped her partnership with Brad
• Why the first 18 months can feel like “building the plane while flying it”
• What new owners should understand if they have never considered themselves “salespeople”
• Why success in senior care often comes down to presence, not persuasion
• How showing up in the community can create trust before a sale ever happens
• Why compassion, responsiveness, and consistency matter in every client relationship
• The value of franchise support, shared experience, and learning from other owners

This conversation is a powerful reminder that building a senior care business is not just about systems, strategy, or growth; It’s about people. Gwen brings honesty, warmth, and practical wisdom to the realities of franchise ownership, especially for anyone wondering what it really takes to lead, serve, and succeed in this deeply personal industry. Listen in for an inspiring look at how commitment, community, and compassion can become the foundation for a thriving Amada Senior Care business.

Happy listening!

Happy Listening!