Name of person Featured: Tammy Maurer

Name of Business: Care Advantage Inc.

Address: 111 E. Second Ave.

Phone number: (757) 562-3065

Operating Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

E-mail address: tmaurer@careadvantageinc.com

Nature of Business: Home health care. Our business provides personal care services in the home, as well as staff relief for facilities

Year Founded: Twenty-plus years — we are owned and operated by Debra Johnston, RN.

Prior Location(s): 13 locations throughout Virginia

Number of employees: 20 plus

How’s business? There is such a need for quality home care; we have found our niche and are moving full force.

One thing you wish everyone knew about your business: We are not only concerned about our clients but our community as well. We are very involved in helping in any way we can to improve each client’s quality of life, to bettering our staffing and supporting our communities through fundraisers.

Something you offer that a customer won’t find elsewhere: Awareness events. We offer our hearts to help find you the help, even if we can’t provide services.

Advice to young entrepreneurs: Be present: If you don’t hear your clients, who will? Care about what you do, who you’re doing it for and why you’re doing it. Play. If you don’t enjoy your work or if your employees can’t enjoy working for you, you won’t have any work to do.

Your role model (in business or in life generally): My mom gave me some very wise advice growing up and only now 20 years later do I finally understand it.

The key to a successful business is: Learn all aspects of your job and do it well.