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.”

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 the 2022-2023 President Elect after 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

Linda is also an active member of the following associations that focus on healthcare and case management:
CMSA- Case Management Society of America- Chicago Chapter (President-Elect 2022, board member 2015-2022)
ACMA – American Case Management Association
SCSCC- Senior Citizens' Services Coordinating Council (Oak Park/River Forest),
SSWLH- Society for Social Work Leadership in Healthcare, LaGrange Business Association,
West Suburban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Oak Park Chamber of Commerce

Wendy Jaffe, MSN, RN, CCM   - Nurse Educator

Wendy joined BrightStar Care of Chicago and La Grange to be our Nurse Educator and fullfill her goal of helping others in their quest to sharpen their skills in healthcare. Wendy will be doing new employee orientation and competency as well as on-going education of our # HHA, #C.N.A. AND #NURSE (#RN & #LPN) field staff.

Wendy brings her experience as a Registered Nurse- RN, CCM- Certified Case Manager her Accredited Case Manager designation in 2000
and her certificate as a Gerontological Nurse to our team. She has worked in private duty home care utilizing her skills to advise patients and their families on the best resources to remain in their home as well as when she was working at UI- University of Illinois-Chicago hospital for 21 years. 

Wendy is also an active member of the following associations that focus on healthcare and case management:
CMSA- Chicago and National (Case Management Society of America)- Wendy has been on the board as well as the Public Policy, Conference and Education committees.
ACMA-Illinois (American Case Management Association)
Continuity of Care- COC Alpha Chapter

Questions about our care team or services?

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