Empowering Dreams and Impacting Lives: Matt and Skyler’s Journey to BrightStar Care

Numerous entrepreneurs venture into the franchising world with a desire for autonomy over their futures and an inspiration to create a meaningful impact within their communities. Matthew and Skyler O’Connor, a father-son entrepreneurial duo, and new BrightStar Care franchisees hold an inspiring testament to this spirit and a commitment to helping others.

Life Before BrightStar Care

Before entering the world of home healthcare, Matt and Skyler had distinct backgrounds that converged seamlessly into entrepreneurship. Skyler graduated from Campbell University with a degree in Trust and Wealth Management and a minor in Financial Planning, which led him to a career in the banking and finance industry.

“I was pursuing a Certified Financial Planning career because I wanted to help people live their best life and eventually fulfill my dream of owning my own business,” Skyler says. “When the opportunity to become a BrightStar Care franchisee presented itself, I realized I could achieve both goals and make a positive contribution in our community.”

After 16 years as a Corporate Executive, leading sales, marketing, and operations for several of the country's top healthcare solutions and services companies, Matt left the corporate world behind to become an entrepreneur. Alongside his son, Skyler, the two began to research franchise opportunities. Luckily, Matt’s twin brother was no stranger to franchising. In fact, Matt’s brother, Mike is a multi-unit BrightStar Care franchisee in Atlanta whose family also works alongside him to deliver a higher standard of care. Matt and Skyler witnessed firsthand the success, both personally and professionally Mike has had with BrightStar Care and the path forward became obvious.

By becoming BrightStar Care franchisees, Matt and Skyler are adding to what has now become a family legacy of providing high-quality care to communities across the nation and developing meaningful relationships with other families.

"I wanted to control my destiny and remain in the healthcare space where I could enhance the lives of people across our community,” Matt explains. “After doing deep due diligence, it became clear that BrightStar Care is not only #1 in their respective space, but a leader in transforming the way health care is delivered in the United States.”

The Motivation for Home Health Care

Despite the clear entrepreneurial vision and experience Matt and Skyler share, their decision to enter the Home Healthcare industry comes from a strong desire to serve their community.

"We aren’t just looking to run a business, we are eager to become a part of the community and provide the support and care our clients deserve,” Skyler emphasizes. Matt and Skyler were particularly impressed by the distinguishing features of BrightStar Care, such as higher operational standards required by Joint Commission Accreditation (JCAHO), Registered Nurse (RN) oversight, and service excellence supported by the best technology and staff training in the industry.

“Those differentiators set BrightStar Care apart as the industry's premier brand,” states Skyler.

The BrightStar Care Standard

In over a decade, BrightStar Care has grown to over 360 locations nationwide and cultivated a legacy of delivering superior care for thousands of families in their homes across the nation. BrightStar Care franchisees have access to our premier brand reputation and multiple revenue streams providing the full continuum of care from infants to seniors which includes companion care, personal care, skilled care, staffing, and national accounts..

“The more we work with BrightStar Care, the more we see how passionate everyone at the brand is about their mission, from the corporate team to the franchise owners,” Matt mentions. “and the support we get is really fantastic, from top to bottom, it’s been really impressive.”

Matt and Skyler both highlight how easy it is to reach out to other BrightStar Care franchisees within the network, which has given them a lot of meaningful insight while they gear up for the grand opening of their location. Both father and son also stress the invaluable support and guidance they have received from the BrightStar Care franchise support team. The franchise support team for BrightStar Care provide franchisees with extensive training, professional marketing materials, quarterly field visits, monthly calls, and insightful advice to ensure they are on the right path and have the best opportunity to succeed.

Plans for the Future

The father and son team is preparing to launch their location in Midtown Raleigh, North Carolina, scheduled to open this January. They both express excitement about working together and emphasize how enjoyable the journey has been so far. Skyler is eager to immerse himself in the healthcare industry and learn as much as possible and is appreciative of the guidance provided by his father. Meanwhile, Matt is enthusiastic about collaborating with his son and envisions him taking over the business in the future.

Matt and Skyler’s future in healthcare extends beyond growing their business; they are dedicated to giving back to the community and looking forward to enriching the lives of the people they serve.

"Becoming BrightStar Care franchisees to us is not just about business, it's about making a profound impact on our community.”

Ready to open a business that has a meaningful impact on your community? Contact us today to learn more about how you can start your entrepreneurial journey with BrightStar Care like Matt and Skyler and bring a higher standard of care to your area.