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- Meet Our Team
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Meet Our Team

Todd Houghton

President

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Laurel Graham

Vice President of Products

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Curtis Wiederin

Vice President of Growth & Program Delivery

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Nicole Brackett, LPN, CEE

Director of Quality and Care Delivery

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Karin Palmer

Business Operations Manager

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Joe Nay

Business Operations Manager

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Meghan Smith

Manager of Growth

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Mikaela O’Brien

Marketing Coordinator

Lejandro Jason (LJ) De Ramos

Business Analyst

Jenna Perese

Franchise Development Manager

Samantha Wallace

Franchise Development Manager

Karen Riker

Franchise Resale Manager

Nate McFarland

Sr. Marketing Director, Indoor & Emerging Brands

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Lindsay Valenti

Communications Manager

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Take the Next Steps to Success

If you’re interested in joining a network of business owners who’ve utilized a proven model to create a successful, compassionate, and trusted team of home care professionals, contact us today. We’re ready to answer your questions at (888) 718-5318.

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"I looked at about half a dozen home care companies when I was deciding to open this franchise and there are a few reasons I went with Homewatch Caregivers, the first is their high standard of training!"
Matthew Peterson

"I own the Homewatch Caregivers office in Crystal Lake, Illinois. What I love about this business is being able to make a difference in people's lives one person at a time."
Tamera Mongin

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Why Us
Meet Our Team
Services Offered
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888-718-5318

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© 2025 Homewatch CareGivers Franchising SPE LLC. All rights reserved. Each location individually owned and operated.
Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Choices

This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for information purposes only. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Within the U.S., we offer franchises solely by means of our Franchise Disclosure Document. If you are a resident of one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements that apply in your jurisdiction.

Todd Houghton

President

Todd Houghton joined Homewatch CareGivers in November of 2022 as our brand President. With 20+ years of franchise experience, Todd focuses on defining success and developing operational excellence within a brand. He has spent several years in the homecare sector with Brightstar Group Holdings and Comfort Keepers/Sodexo. Focused on brand growth, quality of care, and technological advancements are a few of the core areas he has led. Todd graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics/Business. He resides in Colorado and enjoys all the outdoors has to offer with his family and dogs.

Laurel Graham

Vice President of Products

Laurel joined Homewatch CareGivers in April 2021 as Director of Products. The purpose of her role is to own product strategy and roadmap for critical business systems and lead the product team supporting franchise owners. Laurel has strong product development and operational experience working on both the vendor and client sides. Prior to joining Homewatch CareGivers, Laurel was managing a full product suite at Comcast Technology Solutions and established integration with various industry partners for the product suite. She graduated from the University of Denver with a Master of Science degree in Public Relations and Advertising Management, and she is a certified PMP (project management professional). Fun fact: Laurel enjoys cooking, traveling, and dancing Zumba dancing at her free time.

Curtis Wiederin

Vice President of Growth & Program Delivery

Curtis Wiederin brings a decade of dynamic leadership experience in the home care sector to our team. His journey in home care began by providing dedicated support to seniors facing intellectual disabilities and coping with various mental and physical challenges. He then transitioned to an independent home care company based in Iowa, which was later acquired by BrightStar Care.

At BrightStar Care, Curtis excelled in his roles, starting with the management of one of the largest BrightStar Care branches. His exceptional performance led to his promotion as a Regional Director, where he skillfully oversaw operations across multiple locations. Curtis’s significant contributions continued as he assumed the position of Vice President of Excellence and Standards. In this pivotal role, he played a crucial part in crafting innovative programs and best practices that upheld the company’s commitment to delivering the highest standard of care. Thanks to Curtis’s leadership, the company experienced remarkable growth, expanding its company-owned locations from three to an impressive twenty-nine within just 11 months.

Curtis is well-equipped academically, holding a Bachelor of Business Administration. He has also completed the Harvard Professional Development Series on Leading Others and is currently in the process of obtaining a SIGMA certification.

Outside of his professional life, Curtis is a devoted family man, cherishing his son, daughter-in-law, and two beloved grandchildren who reside in Iowa. Curtis himself calls Daytona Beach, Florida, home, where he shares his space with his loyal canine companions, Molly and Chandler. When he’s not immersed in work, Curtis passionately supports the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Pittsburgh Steelers, all while indulging in his love for mixed martial arts.

Nicole Brackett, LPN, CEE

Director of Quality and Care Delivery

Nicole Brackett graduated from the Academy of Health Sciences Command – Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. During nursing school, she served our country through Operation Desert Storm, and then became a veteran during an eight-year tour of duty with the United States Army Reserves.

Nicole’s passion is mentoring and teaching others to provide top quality client care. She has worked as an LPN in long-term care for over 30 years, and her background includes over 30 years’ experience in Alzheimer’s/Dementia care. In addition, Nicole has been an integral part of introducing professionally developed tools that support quality outcomes and a customized approach to care.

Nicole was instrumental in bringing the Homewatch CareGivers University opportunity to our network. Caregiver training increases the quality of the services and helps our owners retain top caregivers by providing opportunities for professional development.

Nicole has successfully completed several certifications with The Eden Alternative to include “Dementia Beyond Drugs” and is a Certified Eden Educator. This important designation allows her to participate in a world-wide movement that is changing the culture of care and embracing a person-centered approach to care-partnerships.

Nicole plays an active role on the Optimizing Well-Being Committee with the Dementia Action Alliance. The Dementia Action Alliance (DAA) is a diverse coalition of passionate people creating a better society in which to live with dementia.

Nicole has a certification in Business Acumen to broaden her knowledge and support of franchise owners and their teams.

Karin Palmer

Business Operations Manager

Karin Palmer joined the Homewatch CareGivers team in September 2023. With over 20+ years in the franchising industry as a franchise owner and a business consultant, Karin understands the unique challenges of franchise ownership from both perspectives. As a Business Operations Manager Karin’s goal is to provide support and resources to franchisees, encouraging operational success and increased profitability.

Joe Nay

Business Operations Manager

Joe joined the Homewatch CareGivers family in 2024, bringing with him a wealth of experience and passion for empowering franchise owners. With over 8 years of expertise in franchise business coaching, Joe is committed to helping owners who have been in business for over 18 months achieve the perfect balance for success. In his role, Joe focuses on implementing effective strategies in marketing, salesmanship, and financial acumen to guide franchise owners towards optimal growth. He understands that the key to a thriving franchise lies in achieving the right scale. One of Joe’s primary objectives is to ensure that franchise owners maintain the highest Brand Standards. Joe will build processes and train franchise owners on the routines to conduct Annual Background Checks, conduct in-person Quality Assurance visits, ensure employees receive the required amount of annual training, and to have a system in place to answer their phones live. Brand Standards lift the system as a whole. Joe Nay is deeply invested in the quality and integrity of the Homewatch CareGivers brand. His commitment to excellence, paired with a genuine desire to see franchise owners flourish, makes Joe Nay a valuable asset to our team and another part of the Homewatch CareGivers success story.

Meghan Smith

Manager of Growth

Meghan Smith is a seasoned professional in the homecare industry, bringing over 12 years of expertise in sales and marketing to her role as Manager of Growth at Homewatch CareGivers since January 2024. With a passion for empowering businesses to thrive, Meghan, in her previous role, dedicated the last 8 years to coaching and consulting over 100 homecare agencies, helping them achieve sustainable growth and success. Her strategic insights and innovative approaches have earned her recognition as a leader in the field, consistently driving impactful results for her clients. Meghan’s commitment to excellence, coupled with her extensive industry knowledge, makes her a valuable asset to the Homewatch CareGivers team, where she continues to spearhead initiatives that drive business development and foster long-term partnerships.

Nate McFarland

Sr. Marketing Director, Indoor & Emerging Brands

Marketing leader with 14 years of experience building and scaling organizations and brands through startup and growth stages. Direct experience shaping marketing & communications strategy (brand, media, content, growth, paid marketing, lead generation, and more) and execution across a variety of industries including entertainment, consumer packaged goods, renewable energy, and home services.

Lindsay Valenti

Communications Manager

Lindsay Valenti is the Communications Manager for Homewatch CareGivers. Lindsay is based in Halfmoon, New York, where she lives with her husband and two children. She is an avid runner, writer, mental health advocate and proud dog mom to her fur baby Gia.

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Why Us
- Meet Our Team
- Home Care Services Offered
Steps to Ownership
Competitive Advantage
FAQs
Investment
- Discount Opportunities
Territories
Blog

Become an Owner