Meet Our Chicago, IL Home Care Team

Compassion, integrity, family, excellence, trustworthiness, accountability, and diversity

Joe P. Duellman - President/Owner

Joe Duellman came to BrightStar Care after a long and successful career in hospitality and resort management, real estate development, and casino development and operations.     Mr. Duellman earned his bachelor’s degree in Chicago at Loyola University and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School. Having helped his nephew, an Army veteran and Emergency Room Doctor organize a community clinic in Florida, Mr. Duellman felt that home healthcare would be a worthwhile field to employ his experience and expertise.   “I believe that there is great volatility in how health care is provided to our citizens in this country, and this is going to continue into the future. The one thing I am certain of is that people will continue to need high quality care, and I would like to be part of that solution”.

Lenora Alabi- Director of Operations

Lenora Alabi graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Millikin University in Decatur, IL with an emphasis in Pharmacy and Business. Prior to joining the BrightStar Care team, Lenora taught pharmacy related courses as the Lead Instructor for the Pharmacy Technician Program at Everest College for six years, helping to prepare students for careers in pharmacy. She was also the Program Manager for the Massage Therapy Program at Everest. Lenora joined the BrightStar Care Family in 2015 as a Client Care Manager where she exceled and made a significant impact on customers and staff through her passion in delivering a higher standard of care. 

Lenora became Branch Manager in 2016, then Director of Operations in 2021, and continues to exhibit that same passion by ensuring that the highest quality care is provided to all clients and families. She also works diligently to ensure that the BrightStar Care core values are a meaningful part of every activity. “The standards are impeccable, and BrightStar Care is a company that works endlessly to ensure that customers are receiving the best care possible.”

Celeste Gambla MJ RN BSN CCM BCPA - Director of Nursing

Celeste brings to her position, at BrightStar Care of Chicago and La Grange, a multi-focal career with an emphasis on clinical and business nursing, which she supplemented by obtaining a Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law. Celeste is also a Certified Case Manager (CCM), and Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA). She has management experience in both administrative, clinical, patient experience and patient advocacy roles. 
 
Celeste enjoys being a nurse because of her passion for caring for other people and providing them with the kind of value and care every person desires and should have. I love talking to people and making them feel they are valued. I have a great amount of personal investment in keeping clients safe and give them a sense of care that is rewarding to them and their families.  Nursing is about providing quality care and building trusting relationships with clients and families. I encourage my team and our clients to allow people to breath in and out, and have a reassuring day/night, in truth and health,. My team accomplishes this by placing a lot of goodness in their life. I thank each and every client for their business, as they are always in our hearts. I hope to renew some peace in each person's heart, mind and soul, bearing in mind what issues are at hand. 
 

Linda Kunicki- Community Liaison, Marketing Director

Linda has been with BrightStar Care of Chicago and BrightStar Care of La Grange since 2013. She brought her prior experience in healthcare, senior living and elder resources which has made her an asset to our home care agency. Her background includes a lengthy tenure in health care as well as a strong business background.

While her primary focus has been management, training and marketing, Linda has taken on and succeeded at roles in Sales, Human Resources, and Project Management. Every position she’s had has allowed her to fulfil her passion to service others from children to seniors, which gives her joy each day. Her experience has led her to being on the board of the Chicago Chapter of the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) for multiple terms and serving on many committees for Aging Care Connections and local Health and Wellness groups. Linda’s pathway to BrightStar began as a medical assistant for a doctor and hospital and being the caregiver for her mother and grandmother. Her personal experience has given her perspective into the growing need for high quality care in our society, from pediatrics to senior citizens. And she takes great pride in the Gold Seal of the Joint Commission Accreditation earned by BrightStar. It confirms her decision to make this company her employer of choice.

Linda has also owned Shetland Sheepdogs aka Shelties most of her life. For many years, she has been involved in activities with Shelties that have guided her to earn championship and performance titles on many of her own dogs and help others do the same.

Linda’s favorite quote, “You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.” Zig Zigler 

 

 

Questions about our care team?

Please contact us online or call our Cook County offices at 312-382-8888 and we'll be happy to answer them