Faithful Companions began as a dream of its co-founder, Diana Ross, in the summer of 2002, while she was working as an independent care giver. She was recuperating from an injury suffered while working with a home care agency as a nurse and accepted the position to help a friend whose father had Alzheimer's Disease. After several months in the position, she wanted to get back into nursing and agreed to help the family interview non-medical home care agencies for their father's assistance. It was during this stage that she began to think about and formulate ideas about starting her own company.
She discussed the idea with the family for whom she was caring and they were completely supportive of the idea and excited that her company would continue to care for their Dad. It was at this point that she decided to discuss the idea with her husband, Ken, a CPA and manager of information systems. Ken was also excited about starting the business and the planning began. Soon afterward, several months of developing marketing ideas, writing a business plan, meeting with friends who operated small businesses and incorporation followed. After researching several franchisees, the founder's decided that with Diana's nursing and home care talents and Ken's business background, they could form the company on their own.
The founders have a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ and it was decided that these principles and values would be incorporated in the mission of the company. Our name, Faithful Companions, and our logo were designed to clearly state this belief.
On December 16, 2002, after hiring the first care giver, Faithful Companions began operations out of the founder's home in Mentor, Ohio. Our first patron initiated with a referral from our church. We began serving our friend's father in early January 2003.
Steady growth continued throughout 2003 and by end of the first full year over 11,000 patron hours had been worked. In September 2003, a newly revised business plan was entered in a competition sponsored by the Council of Smaller Enterprises, a division of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association. Faithful Companions was recognized as runner-up in the category of female owned businesses and used the cash award to further expand marketing and business development.
With expansion, we recognized the need to hire administrative and marketing assistance. The office was moved out of the founder's home in April 2004, and soon after an office manager was hired. We hired a Director of Community Relations in July 2004.
In October 2004, we began a radio show hosted by Diana on WELW 1330 that addresses caregiving and home care issues.
Today, we have served over 200 patrons, and continue to grow and serve more people throughout the northeast Ohio area from our offices in Euclid, Ohio.
