CBJ: You've changed the name of your company to Partners in Care of the Carolinas. Why?

OLIN: The goal of the name change is to better reflect our company's expanded service area throughout both North Carolina and South Carolina. My wife and I started our senior in-home care business after the challenging experience of caring for our own mothers, and as we've grown from that very personal beginning over the past 8 years, a large percentage of our growth has come from communities outside "Charlotte proper," including South Carolina. So our new name more accurately represents the fact that we are proud to provide our award-winning caregiving services to families in both states.

CBJ: What's driving your expansion into more communities outside of Charlotte?

OLIN: As seniors retire, more and more have decided to move to smaller communities outside of Charlotte, whether it's due to reduced cost of living, less traffic, or the smaller community lifestyle. So we're finding ourselves providing service in plenty of towns outside of Charlotte Metro now. Plus, our staff of professional caregivers, CNAs and RNs has grown by leaps and bounds, and we're boasting a 93% retention rate these days (remarkably high compared to the national industry average of 50%) - meaning quite simply that we have a large, vibrant staff and can service a much larger area than most of our competitors.

CBJ: What's been the biggest change in your business since it was founded?

OLIN: I would say one of the biggest changes in our business has been the amount of competition entering the senior in-home care industry. Since opening our doors in 2003, we've gone from being a small fish in an uncongested pond to being a big fish in a crowded pond, so we continue to highlight our years of experience to differentiate Partners In Care of the Carolinas from all the other companies out there. Also, there have been continued changes in state regulations, so when we won the coveted NOVA Award from the State of North Carolina and The Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence, we were able to start leading the way in helping the state keep oversight in pace with the extraordinary growth of our aging population.

CBJ: What advice do you have for other family-owned businesses?

OLIN: Well, Wake Forest University just named us North Carolina's Family Business of the Year, so I guess we do have a little advice to impart here! The very foundation of Partners In Care is our passion for helping other families care for their loved ones. Our company is fortified by our own family values, and these principles guide our response to each and every client's unique family situation, as well as how we treat our staff. We always treat all employees - be they family or non-family - exactly the same. Everyone on staff needs to feel that they are on an even playing field. When opportunities for promotions come up, we make them available to all, not just family members.

If you or someone you know could benefit from the services of Partners In Care of the Carolinas' dynamic team of caregivers and CNAs, then please contact us at 704-554-9904. More information is also available online at www.partnersincare-nc.com.