Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Oppenheimer-Marks.
Nancy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My name is Dr. Nancy Oppenheimer-Marks and I was born in Mineola New York in 1950 and graduated high school in 1968. Therefore, my story is not brief. I largely failed high school, and then worked in Manhattan for four years after which time I enrolled as a non-matriculated student in the accounting program at a New York City community college.
In 1972 I graduated with an Associate’s degree and then enrolled in a 4-year school at Baruch College where I was inspired by a science professor. I then switched majors to biology and graduated with honors in 1976. My partner of six years and I married in Manhattan, and then I went off to graduate school at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. We spent what little money we had to travel back and forth from New York to Pittsburgh, and after one year I decided to transfer to New York University.
Before I began at NYU, my husband, a Ph.D. candidate at the time, got an opportunity to move with his lab to Dallas, so we loaded a truck with our motorcycle and cat and drove to Dallas. In 1978 I went back to school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas (today known as UT Southwestern Medical School). I worked in Fred Grinnell’s cell biology lab and gained interest in cell recognition and adhesion. With my drive and dedication, I graduated in 1982 with my Ph.D. in cell biology.
During my studies and after, I also taught Human Anatomy to freshman medical students, for 13 years. Fortunately, I was able to secure a post-doctoral position with Dr. Morris Ziff, a renowned rheumatologist who shared an interest in cell adhesion. After two years I was accepted as a non-tenured assistant professor in the Rheumatic Diseases division of the Dept. of Internal Medicine. I had a widely acknowledged and respected cell adhesion and migration lab for several years, so you can imagine how exciting this was for me.
In 1998, the chair of my department told me how highly regarded my research was, but I would have to support myself and bring in grants to cover 100% of my salary. I believe that the 1980s and 90s were struggling times for women in science, unlike our current situations. By then I was an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, and also at this time my parents had passed away within six months of each other. I knew I would not grovel for money for the rest of my career nor live under the control of others, so I decided to reinvent myself, knowing I wanted to advocate for seniors.
Remarkably, I learned about Home Instead Senior Care from a small business magazine at Barnes and Noble. A young company that started in 1994 that shared my same mission to take care of seniors. In 1999, I bought my own franchise office in Central Dallas and had not looked back since. When I started, I was one of about three in-home care companies that provided non-medical in-home care to seniors. Today there are over 1000 licensed agencies in the Dallas/Ft. Worth areas.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes and no. My biggest struggle at that time was being treated fairly in the Internal Medicine department because I am a Ph.D. and not an MD, and I am a woman, who was of childbearing age, and may not have been taken very seriously.
Currently, we are always struggling to hire the right people to go into the homes of seniors and dealing with the myriad of other agencies. It seems that my “cut of the pie” has decreased with regard to hiring and identifying clients. However, my team and I always are up for a challenge and I know we are one of few agencies who truly take it personal and will do whatever it takes.
Please tell us about Home Instead Senior Care.
We provide non-medical in-home care to seniors in their home, wherever home may be. We are licensed by the State of Texas to provide personal care, Alzheimer’s Care, homemaker services, and so much more. My franchise is in Central Dallas, and today, I am there are about 11 other Home Instead franchise offices in the DFW metroplex. This is an advantage for everyone since we can provide service across the metroplex in a seamless fashion.
For 20 years I have been the franchise owner and Administrator of my Central Dallas office, and I have admin staff who have been with me for 12 years. This longevity gives us an advantage as most other companies are relatively new and have high turnover rates. I am most proud of my staff, who think and act as I would. We cross our T’s and dot our I’s. Our motto is, “whatever it takes”.
My staff also includes my caregivers who make up the foundation of my business. If it weren’t for their stellar compassion, I would not be here today. They all represent me and share my same values. I look at my entire staff as my family and I know they feel the same about me.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My life was turned upside down when my parents divorced in 1962. Before this I always was happy when I made either laugh, and have several very silly memories of that like writing an elementary school essay saying whales stay warm because they have a blanket. I have other similarly silly memories. I grew up after 1962. Today, I have been told I have a subtle sense of humor.
Pricing:
- we discount our rates for veterans
- rates begin at $23 per hour
Contact Info:
- Address: 5720 LBJ Freeway Suite 185 Dallas, TX 75248
- Website: homeinstead.com/centraldallas
- Phone: 972-239-3934
- Email: centraldallas@homeinstead.com
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/HomeinsteadCenD/125241644185945
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/HomeinsteadCenD
Image Credit:
Deandra Maxwell, Alicea Zanotti, Kelly Turner, Cindy Hallo, Debbie Downs, Nancy Oppenheimer-Marks, Natalie Guillen, Kimberly Maxwell, Archie and Edith, my dogs, Esther Ogueri, Shankia Frenchie, Ann Donahoe, Mimi Meselech
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
