Meet Our Team

Eric grew up in Joliet, IL. In 1998, he joined the United States Coast Guard and went on to career in construction for a steel company. Eric joined Home Instead alongside his wife, Courtney, in 2012.

"Courtney & I are so fortunate to have such an amazing Administrative Team and incredible Care Professionals that are committed to the seniors in our community and to the Home Instead mission. It is so rewarding to know that I have the opportunity every day to make a difference in the lives of seniors and their families in the very community I grew up in. Additionally, I get to meet so many fascinating people- clients and Care Professionals alike- everyone has a story and I get to hear it. Building strong relationships with clients and Care Professionals is a primary focus every day. Often times we are the shoulder to lean on whether it is a potential client, existing client, client family or employee. I am honored to be a trusted source to help people find solutions."

eric.pucel@homeinstead.com

Courtney holds a BS from Illinois State University and an M.Ed from DePaul University. She grew up in New Lenox, IL and has been with Home Instead since 2004.

"It is an honor to provide quality care to seniors throughout our community. Everyday I get to work side by side with an Administrative Team that focuses on client and Care Professional needs. We have the common goal of providing seniors with quality Care Professionals who will assist in maintaining each client's integrity and needs in mind. We do all that we can to give families peace of mind whether they are near or far. It can be really daunting on a daughter / son / spouse over time when they become the primary caregiver for their loved one. We put great emphasis on doing what we can, as the care provider, to help them maintain their role as a loved one. We have a compassionate team in place that understands both personally and professionally what this means. Daughters need to be daughters, sons need to be sons, and spouses need to maintain their role as husband or wife. We are proud of what we do and continuously seek out the most compassionate people to carry out our mission; to enhance the lives of seniors and their families through trusted quality care and allowing every senior to age successfully."

courtney.pucel@homeinstead.com

Crystal joined our team in 2017 as a Care Professional. Crystal was promoted in 2017 to Office Coordinator. She has brought great value to our team and has grown within the organization. From Office Coordinator, Crystal was promoted to Client Care Coordinator and her success in that role naturally progressed into her current role as Home Care Manager.

As the Home Care Manager, Crystal is responsible for meeting with clients and families to build the best plan of care. She is the face of Home Instead in the community and works closely with our referral providers. She builds partnerships with trusted resources in the community to better meet the needs of our clients.

crystal.nava@homeinstead.com

Sidney joined our Home Instead team in 2021. Sidney worked for 3 years as the Recruitment & Engagement Manager in which he focused on identifying, onboarding, and retaining qualified Care Professionals to join our Home Instead family. In 2024, Sidney transitioned into the role of Home Care Consultant.

As the Home Care Consultant, Sidney is responsible for building meaningful relationships and partnerships with Referral Providers throughout our service area. In addition to his focus on generating business, Sidney identifies Referral Providers who are crucial resources for our current client base. Client needs change and we want to ensure their needs are being met. He works closely with the Client Care Team to provide resources for clients as those changes occur.

Sidney is a University of Illinois graduate with a focus on Healthcare Administration. 

sidney.brooks@homeinstead.com

Grisel joined our team in 2021 as Service Coordinator. As Service Coordinator, Grisel is responsible for scheduling clients and meeting Care Professional desired hours.

As Service Coordinator, it is crucial that client and Care Professional matches are successful. Grisel works day in and day out to ensure these matches are a success, working closely with the team to know and understand the various needs. 

Alyna joined our team in 2023 as Office Coordinator. As Office Coordinator, Alyna works closely with all departments by providing additional support. Her primary responsibilities include recruiting, engagement, and scheduling.

Alyna is a recent graduate of Loyola, working toward her career in the medical field. While she prepares for her MCAT exam, we are fortunate to have this future doctor on our team! 

Maria joined our team 2024 as the Office Coordinator within the Recruitment & Retention Department. As Office Coordinator within this department, Maria is responsible for onboarding Care Professionals.

Maria has worked as a CNA and caregiver. In addition, she previously owned a women's boutique. She brings great experience and skill to her role at Home Instead.

Nicole joined our team in 2015 as a caregiver. As a Lead Care Professional, Nicole spends her weekends conducting quality assurance visits, introductions, shadow shifts, on-site training, and fills in as needed.

Nicole holds a full-time position in the medical field and brings great value to her role here at Home Instead.

Mandi joined our team in 2023 as a Care Professional. Since then, she has completed her CNA certification.

As Lead Care Professional, Mandi is responsible for quality assurance visits, introductions, on-site training, shadow shifts, and fill-in shifts as needed.

Mandi brings great experience and knowledge to her role at Home Instead.