Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Chamberlain.
Scott, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was in Mortgage Lending for 30 years, working with major corporations like Citicorp, until 1988. I opened my own Company in 1988 and built a good operation employing about 80 people. Sold the company in Stone Mountain and moved to the Country.
After my Dad died in 2001, I moved my Mother from Alabama to live near me. She eventually became unable to walk and was wheelchair bound. In seeking services to get her to doctor appointments I was amazed at the lack of care providing transportation for our Seniors and the disable. The vans were dirty, drivers that just didn’t care about their clients, never delivered to appointments on time, and once the appointment was completed a patient could wait for hours to be picked up for return trip.
I felt there had to be a better way. When I investigated numerous companies in different, they were all the same, like this was the way it was going to be. Basically you had three options for transportation by wheelchair or stretcher. Ambulance, which was and is very expense, Medicaid non-emergency vans, the ones I had to use, or public transportation, in many area’s not available.
With my self-employed business experience I decided to change non-emergency transportation and do one simple thing. Transport one person at a time, assist them throughout their transport, provide a driver that truly cared about their wellbeing, and a vehicle that was comfortable, clean, and easy for accessing. I and my middle son, Ryan Chamberlain, started with our first van in Athens, Georgia. Wow… The reception was overwhelming. Facilities, Doctor’s Offices, Hospitals, and just about every medical operations recognized the quality of the service and care we were providing.
Before I started this business, my Mother never wanted to go anywhere, thinking that she was just too much trouble, picking her up, putting her in our car, loading the wheelchair etc. Once I purchased our first van, she blossomed, wanting to know where we were going to eat this weekend, if I had known that a van would change her attitude the way it did I would have purchased one even if I didn’t use for business.
My next idea was to provide transportation for wheelchair or stretcher clients to social events, like Weddings-Funerals-Birthday’s-Church Functions. This has really opened the possibilities for a lot of disabled Seniors. Example: Thanksgiving…We pick up clients at the nursing home, take them to their families for dinner, then after their visits, we return them to their facilities or homes. This has been a blessing even more than I imagined we started.
I hire a lot of drivers that are retired, just wanted to make a little extra money, but really like serving our Senior community. They are patient, enjoy conversations with the clients, and generally make them feel comfortable getting out of their surroundings.
Once we saw the effect this was having in our area, we opened up distributorships/franchises in other area’s to provide the same service under one simple rule “treat our clients the way we would want someone to treat our mom/dad.”
We now have operations in Woodstock, Rome, North Atlanta, Lawrenceville, Buford-Gainesville, Griffin, Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Milledgeville, Macon, Augusta, Savannah, and Columbia South Carolina. We are seeking franchises in other areas in the southeast, but have concentrated only in Georgia to date.
It was a challenge when we opened in 2007, with the banking industry virtually disappearing from being there for the small businesses like ours, but personal lines of credit and personal assets kicked start what I am proud to say is a great business. Not only that we are a thriving business but to hear the thousands of customers that have appreciated our service. I now have all my three of my sons in the business which have leaped us forward with technology and hard work to help us achieve our next steps. Our Goal…To be an advertiser at the Super Bowl someday. Ha Ha
I know my Mother would have never realized what she started.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Startup as stated. During the years 2007 through 2012 Banks were almost non-existent. Dodd-Frank policies had handcuffed the banks that decisions could not be evaluated on a case by case basis. Strict guidelines prevented any risk evaluations for growing companies like mine.
That’s ok, now I don’t need them and they are suddenly interested in our operation.
Please tell us about Caring Man in a Van.
I didn’t realize the questionnaire was breaking each area down. I think I covered in the initial writing.
We provide ambulatory, wheelchair, and stretcher transportation for Seniors and the Disabled.
Please view our website to see more. www.caringmaninavan.com
We were one of 11Alives Random Act of Kindness in 2013 for a disabled veteran. You can view on our website under the tab testimonials
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Day to Day minor changes only. Technology should have been utilized earlier to save a lot of unnecessary hours of work.
Nothing takes the place of good ole fashion care for someone. Everybody feels good after…
Contact Info:
- Address: 1021 Industrial Blvd.
Suite B
Watkinsville, Georgia 30677 - Website: caringmaninavan.com
- Phone: 855-342-1566
- Email: scottc@caringmaninavan.com
Image Credit:
Dorothy Della H. Chamberlain
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