Britney ZoBell, our Business Growth Leader, reflects on 25 years of memories at Classic LifeCare. She was initially drawn to Classic Caregivers (as it was previously known) after seeing an advertisement seeking individuals “who love seniors”. Britney joined the Vancouver team in 1999 and her responsibilities included scheduling and payroll. At the time, Classic was still a small business, with only 6-7 office employees. Little did Britney know that many of these would become her closest friends.
Recognizing Britney’s friendly demeanor and ability to connect with others, Susanne asked Britney if she wanted to try marketing for Classic. Britney recalls Classic’s owner, John Sherwood saying: “Love it, love it, want more of it?” While scheduling and payroll remained her priorities, she began marketing when she had some free time.
Britney appreciated the flexibility that she was given in her role to meet clients: “I believe I was hired because of my genuine love and interest in helping seniors. My favourite part of my role as a Scheduler was visiting clients in their homes and hearing their stories. The visits highlighted the impact of our services, and they helped me to better understand the importance of my role.”
Classic LifeCare Opens in Calgary
In 2005, after her child was born with a rare genetic disorder, Britney made the difficult decision to relocate to Alberta. This would allow her to be close to her family and offer better healthcare prospects for her daughter. However, this wasn’t the end of Britney’s Classic LifeCare journey. Observing a demand for home care in Calgary and equipped with six years of experience across scheduling, payroll, and marketing in Vancouver, Britney was prepared to establish a new branch. Building Classic LifeCare’s Calgary branch marked a proud moment in her career.
This move set the foundation for subsequent expansions and acquisitions. “I find great joy in researching other businesses and talking to competitors. Ultimately, we all have a common goal of providing the best care to our community, so I believe it is important to stay connected with other home care agencies. Friendly interaction with other agencies has resulted in many acquisitions over the years. It’s an honour for others to let Classic carry on their vision when they are no longer able to do so.”
A significant milestone for Classic LifeCare was when our Calgary branch started providing pediatric home and school care services. Before 2013, Classic only served adults therefore it was a new area to explore. “Our goal was to help anybody with their home care needs, regardless of their age. We were awarded the pediatric AHS contract, which we proudly still hold to this day.”
Heartfelt Connections and Profound Moments
Britney’s devotion to Classic shines through her reflections: “Classic is my family, and my family is the love of my life.” She acknowledges the personal and professional growth she’s experienced within the company and expresses her deep gratitude to John and Susanne for their guidance. Describing Classic as “Grounded, Memorable, and Respected,” Britney expresses her gratitude to Classic LifeCare owner John, “I’m grateful he took me on his journey over the years and included me in his vision. I have years’ worth of stories, experiences, and relationships that I will forever cherish.”
One touching memory involves a special relationship with a 92-year-old man whom Britney danced with at her wedding. She was also by his side in his final moments. “The last time I saw him, I was sitting by his hospital bed while his son played his guitar. There was a small circle of us, including my two daughters, and we sang the song You Are My Sunshine.”
Another memory was the catastrophic Calgary flood in 2013, a time of anxiety and uncertainty. It challenged Classic to create emergency plans and support clients during evacuations. Britney recounts the office’s collective effort to support their clients: “Our office and many of our clients lived in areas that had to be evacuated. We needed to create a plan to continue helping our clients during this time. I remember a client who lived in a high-rise building and had lost their power and water. It was all hands on deck as the caregivers pulled together to cart buckets of water from the building’s swimming pool, up the stairs so that they could flush the toilet. The office staff drove around delivering water and charging client’s cell phones from our cars.”
Embracing Change and Growth
Reflecting on the company’s evolution, Britney highlights Classic’s accreditation in 2014 as a significant change. The process of formalizing internal practices led to more sophisticated systems.
Looking ahead, Britney hopes for Classic to continue attracting passionate individuals dedicated to caregiving. She stresses the importance of nurturing a workforce driven by the company’s values, even aspiring to welcome future generations into the Classic family. “With technology advancements, maintaining personal service through face-to-face interactions remains crucial”.
Britney’s 25-year journey embodies commitment, resilience, and dedication to Classic LifeCare. Her enthusiasm and positivity play a pivotal role in the business’s growth and development.
