Conversations with Erica McCrae

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica McCrae.

Hi Erica, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey into entrepreneurship was not something I planned. It was something I was prepared for long before I realized it.

I spent 14 years in corporate America with AT&T, serving in leadership, operations, and project management roles. I built teams, led initiatives, and learned how systems, people, and performance work together at scale. When my role was eliminated due to a corporate surplus, what could have felt like a setback became a divine redirection. That season forced me to ask a deeper question: What am I truly called to build?

I launched Homewatch CareGivers of McDonough in 2022, initially serving a small group of clients with a heart for seniors, veterans, and families who needed dependable care but often lacked access or advocacy. I funded the business myself, learned the industry from the ground up, and focused on building a strong operational foundation rooted in dignity, compassion, and excellence.

Since then, the company has grown into a multi-territory operation now serving McDonough and Middle Georgia, generating seven-figure revenue and supporting dozens of caregivers and clinical professionals. Our work spans personal care, companion care, veteran services, respite care, dementia and Alzheimer’s support, with expansion into skilled nursing underway. We are deeply committed to serving the underserved, particularly veterans and seniors who depend on benefits or subsidized programs to remain safely at home.

Along the way, I expanded into real estate and nonprofit leadership, recognizing that housing stability, caregiving, and economic empowerment are deeply connected. Every venture I lead is built around the same core belief: business should be both profitable and purposeful.

Today, I see my journey not as a single business story, but as a calling to build systems that create access, stability, and opportunity for others. What started as a forced pivot became the foundation for everything I am building now, and I am just getting started.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road, and I do not believe meaningful growth ever is.

Building a home care business comes with unique challenges. Staffing shortages, caregiver burnout, reimbursement delays, and navigating complex regulatory and payer systems are constant realities in this industry. In the early stages, I was building systems while simultaneously serving clients, supporting caregivers, and managing compliance, often with limited resources and little margin for error.

One of the biggest struggles was learning how to scale responsibly. Growth without structure can break a business just as quickly as lack of growth. I had to learn when to slow down, strengthen operations, and invest in leadership before pushing forward. There were also seasons of financial pressure where I had to fund growth personally, trust the process, and stay disciplined while the business caught up to the vision.

Another challenge was carrying the weight of leadership. When you are responsible for vulnerable clients, employees, and their families, the decisions are never just about profit. They are about people. That responsibility required maturity, resilience, and faith, especially in moments when the answers were not immediate.

Every obstacle forced me to refine how I lead, how I build, and how I steward what has been entrusted to me. Those struggles did not derail the mission. They strengthened it. They taught me how to build a business that can endure, not just grow.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At the core of my work is building businesses that serve people with excellence, structure, and heart.

I am the owner and operator of Homewatch CareGivers of McDonough and Middle Georgia, where we specialize in non-medical home care services including personal care, companion care, respite care, dementia and Alzheimer’s support, post-surgery support, and veteran-focused services. A significant portion of our work centers on serving veterans and seniors who rely on benefits, long-term care insurance, or subsidized programs to remain safely at home.

What we are known for is our operational discipline and our people-first approach. We do not cut corners when it comes to caregiver screening, training, or oversight, and we are intentional about building systems that protect both clients and staff. Our focus on quality, compliance, and consistency has allowed us to scale responsibly while maintaining trust in the communities we serve.

What I am most proud of is building a company that has grown into a seven-figure operation while still honoring the dignity of every client and caregiver. We have created jobs, provided stability for families, and helped seniors age in place with dignity. That balance between growth and integrity matters deeply to me.

What sets me apart is my ability to blend strategy with service. I bring a corporate leadership background, advanced education in leadership and psychology, and a faith-centered approach to how I build and lead. I am deeply hands-on in operations, but I also think long-term, focusing on sustainability, access, and impact. I do not believe business success and compassion are mutually exclusive. In my work, they are inseparable.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I would not be where I am today without the people God placed around me at every stage of this journey.

My family has been my first and most consistent support system. Their belief in me, especially during uncertain seasons, gave me the freedom to take risks and remain focused on the long-term vision. That foundation matters more than most people realize.

I am deeply grateful for my leadership team and caregivers. Building a home care business is not a solo effort. Our nurses, office leadership, and caregivers show up daily with compassion, professionalism, and resilience. They carry the mission into clients’ homes, and their commitment is the reason our reputation for quality and trust continues to grow.

I have also been fortunate to learn from mentors and peers who challenged me to think bigger and lead better. Business advisors, board members, and community leaders have helped me sharpen my strategy, strengthen governance, and navigate growth with wisdom rather than impulse. Their insight has been invaluable, especially during pivotal scaling moments.

Our clients and their families deserve credit as well. They trusted us with some of the most sensitive seasons of their lives. Their feedback, loyalty, and referrals have shaped how we deliver care and reinforced the importance of building relationships, not just services.

Above all, my faith has anchored me. There were doors that opened, connections that formed, and provisions that appeared at moments I could not have orchestrated on my own. I do not take that lightly. This work is collaborative by design, and I am grateful for every person who has played a role in helping turn a vision into something sustainable and impactful.

Pricing:

• Private Pay
• Veteran Benefits
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Medicaid
• Supplemental Insurance

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.homewatchcaregivers.com/mcdonough/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hwcgmcdonoughandmiddlega/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomewatchCareGiversMcDonough
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/homewatch-caregivers-of-mcdonough/