Jennifer (Jen) Dexter, CDP
Jennifer Dexter is a seasoned business professional with over 15 years of experience in entrepreneurship and banking. Her journey began with a deep-seated desire to leverage her extensive business acumen for a greater purpose, leading her to establish an Assisting Hands Home Care franchise in Rockford, Illinois. Jennifer’s transition into the home care sector was driven by her unwavering commitment to positively impact her community, ensuring that each interaction and service provided enhances the lives of her clients.
At Assisting Hands Rockford, Jennifer’s leadership is characterized by her empathetic approach and the genuine relationships she fosters with those she serves. She views her clients as extensions of her own family, a perspective that deeply influences her business philosophy. This belief in compassionate care is mirrored in her personal life, where she cherishes her roles as a wife to Harry Dexter and a mother to her children, Tatum and Olivia. Jennifer’s family values are at the core of her mission to provide exceptional and heartfelt service to every client.
Jennifer’s insight into the critical importance of high-quality care is profoundly personal, as she also dedicates herself to caring for her father, who is in the late stages of Parkinson’s disease. This first-hand experience with a challenging health condition reinforces her determination to ensure that every client receives the utmost care and support.
Jennifer’s goal for Assisting Hands Rockford is ambitious yet straightforward: to become the most sought-after home care agency in the area. She is committed to achieving this by consistently delivering superior care and by ensuring that her team adheres to the highest standards of professionalism and kindness. Under Jennifer’s leadership, Assisting Hands Rockford strives to set a benchmark for quality and reliability in the home care industry, making it a beacon of trust and excellence for families seeking support for their loved ones.
Harry Dexter, CDP
Owner
After working for over 25 years as an Electrical Engineer and Project Manager, Harry joined Assisting Hands as the Director of Outreach and Education. The ability to positively impact individuals, families and communities through service is what brought Harry to this opportunity. With having a personal connection to veterans (his late father served in the Navy), Harry strives to connect with the veteran population to educate them on resources that are available and facilitate access to these resources. Additionally, Harry is committed to building relationships within the communities served to connect those in need of both caregiving services as well as providing opportunities to care for others.
While Harry finds great fulfillment in this role, as it aligns with his core values, his greatest joy in life comes from his wife Jennifer and their two children.
Brisa(Bri) Cardenas, CDP
Director of Operations
As an Alumna of Northern Illinois University, Brisa holds a Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Organizational Leadership. Brisa is a strategic and driven professional with over 20 years of experience in healthcare operations. She has developed expertise in maximizing revenue growth and optimizing workforce planning. Brisa also possesses a strong ability to manage P&L operations effectively. Additionally, she has a proven track record in centralizing procurement and establishing clinics by fostering a cohesive team and providing leadership while integrating and transitioning multiple joint-venture sites into the organization. Her commitment to continuous improvement is steadfast. Brisa is focused on serving as an impactful leader, leveraging lean methods, best practices, and strategic analysis to promote a culture of continuous improvement.
Before joining Assisting Hands Home Care, Brisa was a Senior-level Operations Director responsible for the comprehensive operational strategy for one of the top 10 Urgent Care/Occupational Medicine establishments in the Midwest, comprising 43 locations across four states. Over ten years, she was aggressively promoted from Regional Operations Director to Senior Director of Operations to Head of Operations/Interim Vice President. She was an Instrumental leader in the expansion of the business via organic growth, joint ventures, and acquisitions. Her contributions assisted in doubling the number of clinics in under 5 years.
While Brisa is proud of her career and achievements, her unwavering focus remains on nurturing her family. She and her husband, Uber, are the proud parents of four incredible daughters. They also enjoy visiting their three grand pups.
