Shelley Wilson, the force behind Wilson Care Group, is celebrating 20 years of service in the Hawai‘i home care business this year. Raised in a small farming town in Iowa, Wilson joined the Army National Guard hoping to see the world, but a car accident following basic training set her on a different path. The injuries she sustained gave her great empathy for people with limited mobility. During her recovery, she conceived the plan to start a home care business, which has since evolved into Wilson Homecare and Wilson Senior Living.

Wilson Care Group has endured challenging trends in the home care industry, such as the influx of competition arising from increased demand for baby boomer care. Wilson attributes her group’s longevity to continuous quality improvement and staying true to its mission of caring for those in need. “When I stay focused on the needs of our clients, there’s typically a very clear answer for tough decisions,” Shelley says.

Shelley feels one of her greatest management skills is the art of listening to her staff. “I learn a lot when I stop, slow down and just listen,” she says. “I get people to work with me, not for me, in pursuit of our shared passion for helping people.”