Jennifer Teller is in no rush to transition out as the owner of Comfort Keepers of Berks County, a Spring Township-based in-home care company she’s led for more than 20 years.
When she eventually does retire, however, there’s no one she’d rather leave with the business than her son, Michael Mish.
Mish, 23, already is a part owner and works closely with Teller, learning every detail of how the business works while considering new ideas for the future.
Together, the mother and son team is exploring new ways that technology could benefit clients and employees, while continuing their work to improve the hands-on care they provide.
“Our plan is to keep building on what Mom has done and to continue finding ways to serve our clients even better,” Mish explained. “We have a vision for the future, and we wanted to keep the business in the family.”
Mish, who graduated from Northampton County Community College with a degree in criminal justice, is no stranger to Comfort Keepers, having spent many hours in the office as a child and teenager.
“I’ve been hanging around here since I was two or three years old,” Mish said. “I practically grew up in this building.”
Comfort Keepers of Berks County, 2209 Quarry Dr., Spring Township.(BILL UHRICH/MEDIANEWS GROUP)
A Nurturing, Helping Culture for Employees and Clients
Amid mounting challenges in the field of health care, Teller is committed to providing a nurturing environment for the more than 150 people she employs.
“We recognize the need to care for our caregivers,” she said. We’ve really taken off in assuring a culture that makes this a place where people want to work.”
Valued and cared-for employees, she explained, are better able to provide superior care for clients.
“We want to be the very best resource we can for the people we serve,” Teller said. “Our employees don’t just perform tasks for clients; they engage and connect with them.”
That interactive caregiving, she explained, encourages trust and closeness between an employee and a client, which helps to reduce hesitancy on the part of the client and create a comfortable relationship.
Comfort Keepers staff also serve as liaisons between clients, families, and outside resources, connecting clients with senior living facilities, hospice care, or other services, as needed.
“We’re serving our families in as many capacities as we can,” Teller said.
Planning for the Future
Although Teller, who is 52, plans to continue working for about another 10 years, she has already begun transitioning the business over to her son.
“I’m handing over pieces of the business to Michael, making sure he completely understands and feels good about the components he’s taking on,” she explained. “And we need to navigate having people accept that he’ll be in charge. Some people here still call him Mikey.”
Meanwhile, they are looking to consolidate their office space and a nearby location that houses a skills lab where employees are trained before they begin interacting with clients.
As the population ages and the need for care increases, it will be helpful to maximize their space and resources to be able to hire and train more employees.
“We are all about growing and expanding in a thoughtful way,” Mish said.
Jennifer Teller, left, has owned Comfort Keepers of Berks County for more than 20 years. She is starting to think about the future of the company, and preparing her son, Michael Mish, to eventually take on a leadership role. (BILL UHRICH/MEDIANEWS GROUP)
Coming Full Circle
Teller comes to caregiving naturally, she said, and currently cares for her aging mother, who suffers from dementia.
Her natural tendency toward caring for others has been passed along to her son.
“I feel that Mom and I are both empathetic and able to relate to older people,” Mish said. “And watching her take care of my grandmother has just reinforced my determination to provide the very best care we can for our clients and their families.”
Comfort Keepers of Berks County celebrated its 25th anniversary in July with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception to honor local caregivers and seniors living in Berks County.
With Mish preparing to lead the company, Teller is optimistic that the company will continue to improve and expand.
“I have the experience and the industry perspective and am working to hand those things along to Michael,” Teller said. “He’s got the new ideas and the energy to keep things moving forward. Between us, the company will be in good hands for the foreseeable future.”