Meet Our Team

Eric and Angela Thomas bring over 25 years of dedicated service to seniors as co-owners of three Home Instead franchises in Northern Indiana. Their journey reflects a profound commitment and calling to improving the lives of elderly individuals through high quality personalized care.

Eric, who earned his MBA from St. Ambrose University and a BA in Business Administration from The University of Northern Iowa, has been a pivotal force at Home Instead since 2015. Before joining Home Instead, Eric served as President & CEO at Stonehill Franciscan Services in Dubuque, IA. There, he expanded the campus, managed successful fundraising campaigns, and spearheaded strategic growth initiatives.

Angela, with a BA in Elementary Education from The University of Northern Iowa, plays a crucial role alongside Eric in managing the franchises. Her previous experience includes serving as a Youth Minister, where she guided teens in volunteerism. Angela’s commitment to community service extends to her involvement with local Montessori schools and St. Pius X Church, where she and Eric are active members.

Eric and Angela relocated from Iowa to Indiana while their children were still in school. Eric managed the business during the transition, and Angela brought the family to join him at the end of the school year. An interesting chapter in their family life began when Angela’s mother and grandmother moved in with them after the kids had left for college, adding a new dimension to their home life that they hadn't anticipated but are cherishing every minute of. Outside of work, Eric and Angela value time with their 5 kids and 2 dogs. They embrace a healthy lifestyle, enjoy spending time with their grandkids, and have a range of personal interests including quilting, reading, and early morning basketball games. Both are actively engaged in the daily operations of their business.

Their combined expertise and passion ensure that Home Instead delivers exceptional, individualized care, enhancing the quality of life for their clients with each and every interaction.

Emily began her journey with Home Instead in June 2017 as a Quality Assurance Coordinator, following her graduation with a B.S. in Health and Human Science from Bridgewater College. Now, as a Home Care Consultant, she connects with community members and families to explore how Home Instead can be a trusted partner in aging. Emily’s work is deeply personal. She was closely connected to each of her grandparents and played a significant role in helping them age in place with different accommodations and care plans until they passed. This experience fuels her passion for making the aging process smoother, attainable and more dignified for others. In her role, Emily has been instrumental in several key initiatives. She spearheaded Home Instead's participation in the Indiana Pathways program and secured credentialing with all three MCEs: Humana, Anthem, and UHC. She also achieved certification as a Virtual Dementia Tour facilitator, helped Home Instead become certified as a Readmission Prevention Team, and obtained her Indiana Medicaid Navigator licensing, making her a vital resource for families navigating the Medicaid process. Emily is also committed to making long-term care insurance more manageable and user friendly, serving as a liaison to simplify the process for families. Home Instead’s partnership with the Indiana FSSA Health & Wellness Waiver and its ability to accept MAPA hours further enhances the support offered to clients in this underserved area of care. In addition to her professional responsibilities, Emily volunteers with the legislative branch of the Alzheimer’s Association, advocating for better care and support for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Emily and her husband are active fosters for Tracking in the Shadows and have a whole gaggle of pets at home! Emily's goal is to be a resource for families, ensuring that the transition of aging is as seamless as possible. She’s always active in the community, so if you see her around, feel free to say hello!

April began her journey with Home Instead as a Caregiver in 2013, and in 2017, she took on the role of Quality Assurance Coordinator in our Mishawaka office. Her commitment to enhancing clients' quality of life is evident in her daily Quality Assurance visits, where she ensures that clients’ conditions remain stable and addresses any updates or concerns with care and attention.

Beyond her professional role, April skillfully balances her responsibilities as the primary caretaker for her mother and the joys of parenting a preteen son. Her experiences at home bring a unique perspective to her work, enriching her interactions with clients. April and her husband are also deeply involved in their community as active members of Living Stones Church.

April’s dedication to personal engagement and our motto, "To us, it's personal," highlights her passion for making a positive and lasting impact in the lives of those she serves, both at work and in her community.

Angel came to Home Instead as a caregiver for a second full time job while still working at a factory full time. She has had many cherished moments and carries a lot of memories. Angel often visited with her grandparents and treasures those memories.  She volunteered at nursing homes and sang for the residents, spent time talking with them and even brought her kids to visit. When her grandma was 90, Angel became her Caregiver to keep her home until her passing at age 95. She has three daughters all in the healthcare field and two sons, one in the factories and the other who just finished high school. She loves working with her clients and their families and treats them like her own.

Crocin is a registered nurse from the Philippines, having earned her Master of Arts in Nursing with a focus on Adult Health in 2012. She initially joined Home Instead as a caregiver in October 2022. After passing the NCLEX exam in July 2023, she transitioned into the role of VA Care Coordinator. Since then, she has been committed to ensuring that the veterans under their care receive the highest quality of service. Working closely with veterans is both an honor and an opportunity to give back to those who have served the country. Home Instead, known for its exceptional home care for veterans, has allowed her to contribute to making these heroes feel appreciated and well cared for. She is immensely grateful to her employers for the opportunity to be part of this dynamic and competitive company that provides personalized care to its most valued clients.

Crocin has been married to her husband for many years prior to moving to the US and has three boys who keep her on the go!

Celine is a Psychology major with a strong background in healthcare recruitment, having spent the past five years specializing in placing travel nurses across the United States. She has always been passionate about the healthcare industry, being able to bridge the gaps between caregivers and clients seeking the care they deserve and need. Outside of work, she likes to travel, play video games, and bond with her toy poodle and Persian cats.

Sandi was a Care Professional with Home Instead for three years.  She has an Associates Degree as a Medical Assistant, and was a Safety Director for a large automotive manufacturing company in Michigan prior to coming to Home Instead. Shortly after starting as a Caregiver, Sandi began doing the Caregiver training for the new Care Professionals. She moved into the office doing Quality Assurance, and later moved into the HR Manager position.  Her hobbies are football, making and collecting jewelry, and her two German Shepherds and two cats!  She loves working with the Care Professionals to try to make the difficult jobs they do, better any way she can.

A displaced Californian, I have spent 15 of the last 20 years in Northern Indiana. My employment history began in Corporate Collections and Accounts Payable. From there, I transitioned to Business-to-Business Telemarketing and assisting in sales for a high-tech company in Silicon Valley, followed by a role at a robotic control company in Richmond, CA. Since moving to Indiana, my primary work has been in Recruiting and Human Resources. I love helping people and never realized how much fulfillment I would find in this role. I also enjoy reading, quilting, knitting, crocheting, cooking, and more.

Denise came to Home Instead in January of 2024 after retiring as an RN from Goshen Hospital for 33 years. She has a bachelor's degree in nursing from Goshen College and has been a nurse for 46 years with experience in Intensive Care, Progressive Care, Surgery and Infusion and Cancer Care. Desiring something totally new to do, she began at Home Instead as a part-time Care Professional Trainer. She enjoys meeting the many new care professionals and getting to know them. It is very rewarding for her to be able to assist them in transitioning into becoming care professionals at Home Instead. Denise is married, has two grown children and two not so grown dogs. She enjoys exercising with her dogs (and husband) camping, hiking, traveling, reading and spending time with her family.

Melisa helps our Care Professionals and clients find good matches for each other. She also runs the On Call/After Hours line. She is a general jack of all trades during the hours of 5p-8a and is able to schedule, answer client's questions and encourage our team of Care Pros. Melisa joined our team in 2018, working with our Transition to Home partnership. When she and her family relocated to Florida she took on the after hours role to help us all out but we're so thankful to have her back!

I started working at Home Instead because I was looking for an opportunity to serve elderly people in my community. I love meeting people, hearing their stories the opportunity to spread joy. I enjoyed my time as a caregiver getting to interact with clients one on one and providing personalized care and connection, and now relish the opportunity to help our clients in a broader capacity as a client coordinator. When not at work you can catch me, enjoying time outdoors, swimming, biking, rollerblading and skiing and spending time with family and friends. A huge highlight of my job is getting to talk to our incredibly diverse and skilled team of caregivers and of course our wonderful clients. I am thankful to be part of an Epic Team.

Justin has been with Home Instead since 2020 as the Billing and Payroll Manager. He thoroughly enjoys interacting with people and shooting the breeze. Born and raised in the Midwest, he lived his entire life in Iowa before relocating to Michigan. When not at work, he is an avid outdoorsman and can be found along the banks of the river fishing or up in a tree stand deer hunting.

Moved to South Bend from Michigan City 22 years ago. Have worked in the Health care field during that time, primarily in long term care. Have a passion for helping the elderly and like everything Home Instead offers their clients.

Gabe started working at Home Instead after getting his associates degree from Southwestern Michigan College. Over the years, he has done various jobs, including yardwork, filing, and answering phones among other things. He currently works in the Elkhart office where he assists with hiring and onboarding caregivers. He lives in Niles, Michigan with his wife Meghan and their dog Mowgli. In his free time, he enjoys reading, watching movies, playing pickleball, taking walks outdoors, and keeping up with his favorite sports teams.

Cydney joined Home Instead with a passion for caregiving. With 4 years dedicated to direct caregiving and an additional 3 years in healthcare management, she brings an understanding of both the personal and administrative sides of elder care. Initially drawn to Home Instead as a caregiver, Cydney then transitioned into the role of Office Manager at the Kendallville office. Now, she oversees operations with a commitment to ensuring the highest standards of care and support for clients and their families.