Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenya Gallman
Hi Kenya, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I must first say that starting Comfort Care Providers was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done, but I know that God led me through the entire process, and He still does to this day. All things are truly possible with God!
Once Comfort Care Providers was established on February 1, 2010, I have always referred to it as my baby. I am so thankful that God has place me in a position to do something that I would believe to have been impossible for someone like me, and I’m also grateful that it is in alignment with my passion for helping others.
I faced many hardships as a child growing up. After leaving home at 17, I then faced significant obstacles in pursuing higher education. My mother’s influence delayed my full-time entry into college until I became what was considered to be “independent” for financial aid assistance at the age of 24. Until then I attempted to pay for credit hours here and there. At 19, I experienced a profound loss when my grandmother passed away on the day I was scheduled to take my Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exam. The night before the exam, she made me promise to return to school and become a nurse—a commitment I wholeheartedly made to her. My grandmother was a private duty caregiver throughout my life and was supposed to pick me up that day for my exam; however, she never arrived. Shortly after completing the exam, I was informed by the staff at the American Red Cross that I needed to go across to the hospital, where I learned of my grandmother’s tragic passing in a car accident while she was en route to get me.
Struggling to process my grief—particularly as I faced blame from my family for her death—I sought solace by channeling my energy into caring for her clients. I began working for one of her clients the very next day, marking my first experience in home health care. However, as a recent graduate, the client preferred a more seasoned caregiver, which led me to work briefly in a nursing home. Unfortunately, the distressing conditions I witnessed there, including verbal and physical abuse of patients and a lack of seriousness among some nurses, were overwhelming and saddening to me. I could never imagine my family being treated in such a manner.
Despite my determination to fulfill the promise I had made to my grandmother, I encountered numerous health challenges that hindered my attempts to pursue a nursing education. If it wasn’t one thing, it was definitely another. I began to feel like I would never be able to accomplish much of any thing especially being that I suffered from PTSD and social anxiety, which I believe caused my chronic depression. I never let go of my determination and desire for something more. Giving up for me was not an option, so at the age of 22 I took a course at the old Buck Mickel Center to become a phlebotomist and while doing so I was diagnosed with stage 4 thyroid cancer. I worked as a phlebotomist and a CNA while undergoing surgery and treatment. Two years later I was blessed with a beautiful baby girl, but then a few years later the doctors found a pituitary tumor. I honestly felt doomed, but I would always revert back to the things that my grandmother taught me. My faith had to be greater than my obstacles, however, I was eventually taken out of work due to my mental and physical health issues.
Knowing my responsibility to provide for my daughter and her future, I sought an alternative path.
One evening, while sitting in our bedroom with my now ex-husband (who is still a friend) and our four-year-old daughter, I proposed the idea of starting an in-home care business. I envisioned a place where families could feel secure knowing their loved ones would receive compassionate, dignified care while preserving their independence at home. Unsure of what to name the business, I presented our daughter with two options, and she chose “Comfort Care Providers,” a name that I felt encapsulated our mission perfectly. Thus, Comfort Care Providers was born in the spare bedroom of our apartment in Greer, South Carolina.
To establish our presence, I sought our first client through Craigslist, offering my services for free to gain visibility in the community. With our tax return, we purchased a desk, laptop, printer, and some decor from the Family Dollar store to create a functional office space. We utilized the remaining funds to apply for the necessary licenses and insurance. This endeavor was undeniably daunting.
Initially, I knew I could not fully commit to Comfort Care Providers due to my chronic depression, anxiety, and frequent doctor appointments, so I recognized the need to build a supportive team. However, I was unaware that securing contracts would take so much time, and we were being faced with eviction and the imminent disconnection of our utilities. In desperation, I approached a former employer to discuss the possibility of selling what I referred to as my “paper business.” I explained my motivation for starting this venture, fearing his reaction since I had once been a CNA for him while pregnant. To my surprise, he offered to partner with me instead, agreeing to cover my rent and utility bills for that month and to oversee the administrative duties of the business, in exchange of receiving 50% of the business. What I believed to be support at that time transformed Comfort Care Providers from a spare bedroom business concept into a brick-and-mortar business.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A smooth road? Lol, absolutely not! But are there really ever any smooth roads? There have been many obstacles, but each of them has been a learning experience, to say the least. I probably have too many to list, as we are constantly learning something new every day. However, I would say my first lesson was probably my most valuable and painful one and that is that the things we see the on soap operas and TV shows like Empire, Dynasty, and Power actually happen in real life. I would have never believed that had I not experienced it firsthand, but what I learned from that experience is to be slow in speech , diligently listen with not only your ears but also with your eyes, use discernment, and to ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS document not only the important things but the small things as well. Additionally, it’s crucial to do your due diligence when working with others no matter the position they may have in the company.
The other obstacles I believe are the typical ones seen in this industry, such as frequent changes from DHHS and DHEC, retaining and maintaining good quality and reliable employees, and unfortunately not being able to accommodate every client in the way that our company would like to due to certain regulations beyond our control.
However, I say again each obstacle has been an opportunity to learn, so we welcome the challenges. Well, not initially, but once we conquer them, my team and I feel very proud and accomplished.
How does the quote go? “Anything worth having doesn’t come easy.” Please don’t quote me if I’m wrong lol, but I think it was Theodore Roosevelt that said that or something along those lines. Either way it’s true all the same.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We’re an in-home care service provider established in 2010, located in Greenville, South Carolina. We are often told by both employees and clients that we are the best in-home care company in the Upstate and the surrounding areas. We take pride in providing reliable, dependable, genuine, compassionate, and quality care to our clients, giving their families peace of mind.
We offer assistance with both non-medical and medical care. We provide support with everyday living tasks, including bathing, dressing, laundry, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, going for walks, companionship, bill organization, errands, post-operative care, and much more.
We are one of the highest paying in-home care companies in the area. Not only do we go above and beyond for our clients, but we also extend the same love to our team. I would like to believe that we’re all an extension of each other’s families and the only family for some.
We specialize in children’s care and the care of those with special needs and disabilities, but welcome and love all of our clients equally.
One thing that sets us apart from other companies is our recent partnership with Bluford Healthcare and Associates to provide services to our employees and clients if an event occurs where they are unable to leave their home to seek medical attention. We work with Sigma Chi Theta Sorority, Incorporated, a nonprofit organization that I am also a founder of, to help potential employees of other companies’ obtain affordable pre-employment background checks, in addition to that we offer affordable pre-employment drug screens at our Greenville location. We’re looking forward to partnering with more companies and organizations in our community.
We are most proud of our ability to give back to our community—not just to our clients and team members but also to those who may be less fortunate. We accomplish this through our “WE CARE” program, winter coat drives, collecting canned goods and non-perishable items to donate to local charities, our annual back-to-school giveaways, sponsorship of a family at Christmas time, and volunteering at the Special Olympics just to name a few.
One of my favorite quotes, which I find to be true, is by Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” At CCP, we strive to make people feel heard, seen, and loved.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice is to never give up! If you can see it, then you can truly achieve it. Place the Most High in the driver’s seat, and you will reach your destination. There will be some rough roads (some may even feel like they’re knocking the Super Mario coins out of your car lol), but keep moving. The only person who can stop you is yourself. It doesn’t take much if you have what I call the triple D’s: Devotion, Dedication, and Determination. Although the road may not be a smooth one, with proper preparation and planning, you won’t run into as many potholes. I promise you, if you want to make something happen and you put your mind to it, increase your faith and release your fears; it can and will happen, even if you can’t see a way for it to occur. Don’t try to do it alone. Build a strong team. One that shares your passion, values, and vision, because those will be the people who will encourage you, support you, and who will work just as hard as you to turn the vision into reality.
I literally started with a tax return and a bedroom. I knew nothing about business loans other than that they were hard to obtain, so I never applied for one. I don’t suggest that you do that, but it lets you know that all things are possible with God. I say pray about it, make a plan, ask questions, find a mentor or coach, place yourself in positions to learn, build your team, and execute your plan. Don’t look back, and block out all negative thoughts—yours and others’. If they ask, “What if it fails?” you ask, “What if it succeeds?” Lastly, they say you can’t succeed without failure, and I say you don’t fail; you grow. Every mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow. Hey, if you make enough of them, you’ll eventually become an expert. Whatever you do, keep pushing! One thing about life it’s going to life. You can either let it beat you down or you can live it. I say live it and live it to the fullest!
I cannot end this interview without taking a moment to express my genuine appreciation to the incredible individuals who have supported me on my journey. First and foremost, I want to thank God and my daughter, Zakiya Gallman, whose love and encouragement have been my guiding light. I also extend my gratitude to Jermar Rookard, Darcel Taylor, Breonna Blackwell, Candace Griffin, Lacey Cartee, Nikela Rouse, Marguerite Willard, Andrika Godfrey-Bluford, and Patrick Godfrey.
Each of you has played a vital role in my personal and professional development, and I am deeply grateful for your unwavering support. I would also like to acknowledge the entire Comfort Care Providers Team. Your dedication and hard work are the foundation of our success, and without each of you, Comfort Care Providers would not be what it is today.
Thank you all for your contributions and commitment!
We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our clients and their families for choosing Comfort Care Providers as your trusted in-home care provider. Your confidence in us inspires our commitment to delivering the highest quality of care. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey.
Lastly, I would like to extend a special thank you to Voyager Magazine for presenting me with the opportunity to share my story and the journey of Comfort Care Providers. Your platform allows us to connect with others and highlight the important and heartfelt work we do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.comfortcareprovider.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comfortcareprovidersgvl/profilecard/?igsh=NHVsMXgyM2R4OW1v
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063643567674
