32nd Annual Loudoun Small Business Awards Finalist Spotlight: Homewatch CareGivers
Thank you to Tim & Rebecca Bodor, owners of Homewatch CareGivers, for sharing their story with us. Congratulations to the Homewatch CareGivers team on being named a finalist for the 32nd Annual Loudoun Small Business Awards!
Tell us the story of your business and how it has evolved.
When we first opened the office in 2015, it was just Rebecca in the office. The phone seldom rang, and the thought of having actual clients was more of a dream than anything that might be real.
It’s not clear how our first client found us. He just called one day needing transportation home from outpatient surgery. We were proud and excited as we waited for him outside the post-op area and drove him home after a stop at CVS.
The core of our team has been with us for many years. Linda Perry, our Senior Nursing Administrator, joined us in 2016. Audrey Johnson, our Director of Operations, has been with us for seven years. Our recruiter was with us for over five years before leaving in July to attend graduate school. 
The secret to our growth is that we focus not so much on revenue, but on what is best for our clients and our employees. It may sound like a cliché, but it’s true. By treating people well and building good relationships, our business has grown on its own.
What are you most proud of when it comes to your team and/or business?
We are most proud of our caregivers, who come from all over the world. Many come from Sierra Leone, Ghana, Eastern Europe and, of course, the USA. Patty Parker, our longest-serving employee, has been with us continuously since early 2016.
The heart of our team is our office staff. Their biggest strength is the way they communicate clearly and openly with our clients. But we are most proud of the way everyone on our team works well together and truly likes each other.
What sets your business apart?
Our goal is clear communication and excellent customer service. We prioritize a one-to-one relationship with our clients, assigning a client manager to every prospective client who follows them from the initial consultation throughout the client’s time with us. The client manager knows the client, selects the right caregivers and manages the whole relationship with a personal touch.
In what ways do you give back to or stay involved in the Loudoun community?
As a company that cares for vulnerable people in their own homes, you would think that helping our clients would be the obvious answer. But we are also proud of the way we help hardworking families by giving them good jobs with decent wages and benefits. 
We help people enter or re-enter the workforce, and we literally help many people pull themselves out of poverty with the work we provide. We have helped people get their first cars or move into their first homes.
What would it mean to you and your team to win a Loudoun Small Business Award?
We don’t advertise a lot, relying on word of mouth to gain new clients. Since we opened our doors, we have always felt like we have been a bit under the radar and not well known.
Winning a Small Business Award would be amazing, but whether we win or not, we feel that we have finally been recognized as a valued part of our community.
Who is one person who has influenced you most in your career?
We were most influenced by our parents. Tim’s father was a local builder from the 1950s until the early ’80s, and Tim’s biggest lesson was the importance of quality and honesty.
Rebecca grew up in Rockville with parents who had struggled during the Great Depression. They taught her the importance of hard work, quiet perseverance, character and integrity.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A creative person, Rebecca wanted to do something in the field of design. Tim wanted to be a pilot. 
When you’re not working, where can we find you or what is another passion you have?
We love the outdoors. Every weekend, you’ll find us in the woods walking with our dog, whether it’s at Morven Park, Frying Pan Farm or along the Potomac. We also love visiting the wineries in Middleburg and Western Loudoun.
How do you see your business evolving over the next five years?
We have been working all year to earn our skilled nursing license and CHAP accreditation. We see ourselves offering more and better services to a growing population. But no matter how big we get, we don’t want to lose sight of the fact that our business is built on individual relationships.