Originally published in Franchise Dictionary Magazine on February 27, 2021.
In its efforts to evolve and drive the brand forward, BrightStar Care is currently experiencing a pattern of growth. The national private-duty home care and medical-staffing franchise, which operates over 340 locations across the country, is focused on recruitment and retention, recently naming Russ Nykaza as vice president of talent management.
“This past year has shown us that home care will continue to be on the rise, as families are thinking of long-term options more than ever before,” noted Nykaza, the former vice president of human resources at ATI Physical Therapy. “I am looking forward to utilizing my experience in helping BrightStar Care reach new levels of excellence and build meaningful relationships with the wonderful BrightStar Care franchisees.”
Nykaza joins BrightStar Care with more than 25 years of experience in the human resources field and a proven track record of driving brand growth.
“I’m looking forward to putting programs in place to provide the support our owners need in their efforts to identify and attract the right talent – talent that reflects the commitment and qualities of the BrightStar Care brand,” Nykaza said. “We will leverage existing platforms as well as introduce new ones to provide increased visibility into staff utilization and availability. The goal is for heightened engagement levels throughout the employee life cycle with a focus on improving retention.”
As vice president of talent management, Nykaza will ensure that franchisees are receiving the support they need when it comes to recruiting and retaining their staff members. Nykaza will forge new relationships that provide franchisees the opportunity to share their stories as business owners while giving transparency to programs and strategies that will benefit the brand’s overarching goals. He will also develop strategies on a regional level to help franchisees succeed within their local market.
“We are honored to welcome Russ to the BrightStar Care family,” said Shelly Sun, CEO and founder of BrightStar Care. “As a brand, we always set our sights on leaders who hold a strategic vision for our company’s recruitment needs. I’m confident Russ’ background in talent retention will be beneficial for our franchisees as we continue to grow and focus on our commitment to recruitment.”