Meet Kerin Zuger, Chief Operations Officer at Caretech Inc. (Caretechinc.com).

Tell us a little about your business. – Caretech is an incredible organization that has grown through the passion of our providers and employees. We focus on person centered care for all ages and those living with disabilities. Our goal is to help them live as independently as possible. Our caregivers become part of our clients family, as we are in their home before other providers are there, while other providers are there and long after other providers have left. Anywhere, anytime, Caretech has been around for 25 years, providing the care and support our clients need, regardless of income level.

How did you get started in the business? – I’ve been in healthcare for over 20 years now. However, my entry point was on the acute side, with an air medical company. We supported hospitals across the United States coordinate the transfer of patients that needed a higher level of care. I became fascinated with the challenges across the entire healthcare ecosystem, when it comes to patients ability to access care. There are so many people that are simply unable to get the care they need, for a variety of reasons. My passionate for helping solve this problem, drew me into the post acute world, where I served as the Chief Strategy Officer for a global Home Care franchise. I focused almost exclusively on interdisciplinary partnerships and innovative solutions to get our most vulnerable populations the care they need, in their home… regardless of where home was.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – Well, each role has been a little different. But ultimately, I think the biggest challenge, was more a learning opportunity. As a leader it is so important that you carving enough time out for your biggest asset of all…. Your people. Dedicating time to just talk and get to know them, and understand their dreams, hobbies and challenges. I’ve learned over time, if your people are happy and supported, everything else typically falls into place.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? – Well, I’m pretty proud of my overall track record and ability to adapt to not only different business models, but completely different industries. I like a challenge. The bigger the challenge, the bigger the win, and that is how my career has grown. Each opportunity a little differently than the last, but again, I will stress. There is no winning, unless you have the right team on the field. So, building, developing and supporting teams of successful professionals is probably my proudest accomplishment.

Tell us a little about your family. – Oh boy, I’ll try to keep this short, but my family is and always will be my life’s biggest accomplishment. I have a wonderfully supportive husband of 20 years, and two of the most amazing children a mother could ever ask for!! I don’t know how I got so lucky!! My son is 16 in two weeks (eeks!) and my daughter is 14. They are smart, kind, funny… perfect little humans. Meanwhile, we are blessed to have a huge family in Omaha. I am one of six children, and my mother was my ‘day care’. She has been ‘mimi’s daycare’ for all the grandchildren in Omaha, and still is with my youngest niece being only 10 months. At almost 80… she is REMARKABLE!!! I count my blessings daily. Literally, every morning I start the day with a prayer of gratitude. It always gets me off on the right foot!

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 697-5121 | kerin@caretechinc.com | Caretechinc.com.