Valparaiso resident building his own team after years of working for others
Michael Heinold always knew his career would lead him home.
After several decades of leading teams for other companies, he is building his own in the heart of Northwest Indiana.
“I always thought there was a good chance I’d come back home someday,” he said.
He did just that when he launched a Seniors Helping Seniors franchise last spring. Seniors Helping Seniors connects active adults with seniors who need support and companionship.
“I’ve lived here most of my life, but I haven’t been able to work here most of my life,” he said.
His first job was at his family’s four-generation agriculture business, once called Heinold Elevator Co. He thought he would work there forever, but the family sold parts of the business twice, so he needed a new opportunity.
He found his niche transforming businesses at FranklinCovey for more than a decade in its Chicago office. There he helped leaders build a culture of trust for their employees.
“When I look back over my career, the common thread has always been people,” he said. “Whether helping leaders become more effective, helping organizations grow, or helping seniors remain independent, the work has always been about creating positive outcomes for people.”
That goes for former employees like Brad Smith, who Heinold hired at FranklinCovey, which is based in Utah.
“He’s the best leader I’ve ever had,” said Smith, who lives in Canada.
Heinold was managing director of territories in the Midwest U.S. and Canada for FranklinCovey.
“He’s very transparent … and that leads to him being a very trustful person,” Smith said.
Smith said Heinold hired him again at another company.
“He’s the kind of person who is very easy to follow,” Smith said. “The world needs more Mike.”
Plus, Heinold is fun to be around, Smith said, but don’t let that mindset fool you. He’s also “a quiet risk taker.”
Heinold ultimately wanted to give back to the community he calls home.
“One thing that hasn’t changed in Northwest Indiana is the character of its people,” he said. “There is still a strong sense of community and people genuinely looking out for one another.”
He remembers hearing his great-grandfather’s stories.
“I was the kid when I was young that sat around the kitchen table and listened to my grandfather and uncles tell the old stories about starting businesses,” he said.
Heinold realizes now that listening to his elders helped him decide on a Seniors Helping Seniors franchise.
That decision also was influenced by his grandmothers, who lived with his family when he was growing up. One had Lou Gehrig’s disease and needed more care than was available then. She ultimately was placed in a nursing home for 10 years.
“When your family’s not there every day, when you don’t have those sorts of interactions, it’s just not the same,” he said.
His partner, Vanessa Banovic, had a different experience. Her 100-year-old grandmother still lives at home, and her grandfather lived there until 106 years old.
That dichotomy wasn’t lost on Heinold. When he found himself looking for a new opportunity, he answered a franchise recruiter’s email.
He then spoke with Seniors Helping Seniors President Namrata Yocom-Jan, who described the company’s mission-driven model.
“We’ve become a leader in this industry by prioritizing the best possible care for our seniors, and that means partnering with only the most passionate and hard-working franchise owners,” Yocom-Jan said. “That’s exactly what we’ve found with Michael as a new franchise owner, who is well-equipped to provide unparalleled in-home services to those in need throughout Indiana.”
Heinold purchased the franchise territory for Northwest Indiana and officially started recruiting employees and looking for clients. So far, he’s pleased with the progress he’s made.
While the company name is Seniors Helping Seniors, Heinold isn’t holding employees to an age limit.
“We really are seeking mature, passionate, empathetic people who can connect with seniors,” he said.
Helping seniors helps families, too, he said. Many people take care of parents and children. They forgo jobs, promotions and opportunities to take care of their loved ones.
“Supporting our seniors is an economic development issue also,” he said.
More than 160,000 people 65-plus live in Northwest Indiana, according to the Northwest Indiana Forum.
“My goal is to build a successful mission-driven organization that serves a population that deserves our attention, that deserves our respect and that deserves their own personal dignity,” Heinold said.
He also knows that without margin, there’s no mission.
“We want to build something successful for the future,” he said. “I want to build something for us and our community instead of always building for somebody else.” •
Read more stories from the current issue of Northwest Indiana Business Magazine.
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