After lifetime of achievements, retired CPA starts business with his children
At 80 years old, Carl Bossung has no plans to retire. “I’ve got too much energy,” he said recently after returning from a walk.
Bossung spent four decades as a certified public accountant. During that time, he worked for Crowe, one of the nation’s leading accounting firms. He eventually became a partner in charge of the South Bend office.
As he was approaching 65, he contemplated what he wanted to do during his retirement age. Settling down, wasn’t on his mind. He knew whatever was next in life was going to involve his children: Kyle, Corey and Patrick.
Bossung started Senior1Care with his children in 2008 after leaving Crowe.
The home care agency has headquarters in Mishawaka and also has offices in Elkhart, Fort Wayne and Carmel.
“We started at our kitchen table,” Bossung said.
Senior1Care began with a couple of caregivers. The company has flourished and now employs about 500 people.
Bossung said he thought that, if he could impart to his kids what he learned, that would be a real gift. “If we can do something that helps people, give back to the community, that would be even better.”
At that time, his mother needed care, but she didn’t want to go to a nursing home. While considering options for his mother, Bossung recalled how strategic planning sessions he facilitated for major companies often involved products or services for baby boomers.
“If we can find something that baby boomers need, you don’t have to go out and sell it, they’re going to be coming to you,” Bossung said.
That’s when the light bulb went off in his head, and he decided to pursue the home care agency.
The past 16 years with Senior1Care have “been a lot of fun,” he said, because he had the chance to watch the business grow and see his children excel as leaders.
“It’s an amazing experience,” Bossung said of working with his children. “I never thought it would be as great as it is.”
His son Kyle Bossung is grateful for the opportunity.
“I’m truly honored to work alongside him as we continue to make a positive impact on the lives of seniors and their families,” he said.
When Senior1Care was formed, Carl Bossung thought it would be a lot different from his work as a CPA, but it didn’t turn out that way.
He said the home care business is almost identical to the CPA business except for the type of people working there.
“If you just switch CPAs and consultants with caregivers, it’s almost the same business in terms of what you have to do to make that business successful,” Bossung said. “It’s all about providing great quality of service.”
He said in both industries, the best advertisements are satisfied clients.
“That was true at Crowe, and it’s true at Senior1Care,” Bossung said.
Although he’s been away from the accounting world for 16 years, the industry’s leaders haven’t forgotten about him.
In November, Bossung received the Recognition of Lifetime Achievement by the Indiana University Kelley School of Business Accounting Department.
Bossung said the Kelley School of Business has one of the top accounting schools in the nation, and he wasn’t expecting to be selected for the prestigious honor.
“I was surprised but very humbled and honored because of the thousands of accounting grads that come from the Kelley School of Business,” he said.
Bossung received the award because of his many contributions to the accounting industry. During his 40 years in the field, he mentored numerous CPAs. He also was selected for the award because of his decades of leadership in business and the community.
“(Bossung) is the personification of the IU Kelly culture,” said Professor Joe Schroeder, chair of the graduate accounting programs, and PWC Faculty Fellow at the Kelley School of Business. “His career reflects that strong Hoosier work ethic, considerable ingenuity and an entrepreneurial spirit that has led to a lifetime of achievements making his community better. He’s a true inspiration to us all.”
Kyle Bossung thinks so too.
“I am immensely proud of my father’s achievements and his unwavering commitment to his professional endeavors,” he said.
And although Carl Bossung has already had a lifetime of achievements, he is ready to accomplish much more.
At 80 years old, he said he doesn’t want to slow down. He runs 3 miles every other day, and he walks on the days in between those running sessions.
“I feel much younger,” Bossung said. “I’m as active as I was 25, 30, 40 years ago.”
He also joked that when he started Senior1Care, he thought one of his children would learn how to care for him as he ages.
“They’re not quite there yet in terms of my quality of standards,” he said with a laugh. “I’ve got to keep working.”
Read more stories from the current issue of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine.
