After Providing Long-term Care to a Loved One, Brad Lemen Opens St. Louis’ Second Griswold Home Care Location

Griswold Home Care, the 170-plus unit non-medical home care franchise, has welcomed a new franchisee in St. Louis, Missouri. Brad Lemen, a St. Louis business owner, has branched out from his steel pipe distribution company, CB&B LLC, to open a Griswold Home Care business in the area.

“The state of the steel industry led me to wanting to look into other options,” Lemen explained. “However, a more personal situation influenced me to join the care services industry. For the past eight or so years, I have been the primary caregiver for my girlfriend, who has a chronic and debilitating illness.”

Lemen explained that his time spent as a caregiver has made him acutely aware of the challenges that come along with caring for a loved one in a way that someone without firsthand experience may not understand.

“I know exactly what these caregivers are going through. Not only is it a large time commitment, but more importantly, there’s an emotional toll — anxiety, frustration, mental and physical exhaustion, strain on relationships, and so on. I understand those feelings and live them daily,” he said.

Career background

Before franchising, Lemen’s primary focus was his steel pipe distribution company. It opened in 2018 and is still in business today. When the steel industry slowed down, however, he began investigating franchising opportunities. After looking at over 25 brands, he settled on Griswold.

Because Lemen has firsthand experience in caregiving and is very invested and active in his community, he says he is excited to expand Griswold’s reach in the area and provide additional support. Not only will his business provide care to clients in need, but it will also provide employment opportunities for local caregivers.

Industry growth prospects

The home care services industry is projected to grow by 33% between 2020 and 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. As families continue to seek out compassionate, personable caregivers, Lemen’s perspective will allow him to meet the need seen in his area with quality caregivers and a network of individuals who truly care for each other and their community.

“I grew up believing that having a caring, giving, loving nature is key to developing relationships within my community,” he explained. “I attribute much of that to my parents, who positively influenced the lives of hundreds of children during their forty years as educators. The values and principles that Griswold was founded on matched my values. That, along with Griswold’s size and brand support, allowed me to hit the ground running.”

“We are delighted to welcome Brad to the Griswold team,” said Mike Slupecki, Griswold’s CEO. “We are looking forward to growing in St. Louis, and the opportunity to do so with a franchisee who has such a personal connection to what we do makes this expansion that much more meaningful.”

Lemen understands the intricacies of the care services industry all too well. After personal experience serving as a primary caregiver for almost a decade, he decided to franchise with Griswold and serve his local community.