Compassion, integrity, family, excellence, trustworthiness, accountability, and diversity
At BrightStar we know selecting a caregiver for your loved one is a very serious decision. That is why we have an industry leading screening process to ensure the person we provide would be welcome in your home. Here are just some of the steps in our long process:
- Federal, State and County background checks
- In office drug screen administered by our staff both initially and ongoing
- State medical certification checks
- Tuberculosis status checks
- Several reference checks
- Personality “fit” screenings
When we meet with you, we will ask for your needs in care and document all the extras like “Mom enjoys word games.” We then match your needs with the skills and personality of our caregivers. We even offered a Guaranteed Match.
Mark E. Woodsum, President & Chief Executive Officer
Mark E. Woodsum was born in 1958 and lived in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, until his graduation from Bowdoin College in 1980, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.
Mr. Woodsum did post-graduate work in philosophy and theology at the Pontificium Institutum Pro Missionibus Exteris (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions), associated with the University of Detroit, and later at Dartmouth College, where he attended The Amos Tuck School of Business Administration.
He also attended the three-year Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Birthing of Giants program for CEOs of hyper-growth companies.
In 2009, Mr. Woodsum completed a Master of Divinity degree at the Bangor Theological Seminary in Portland, Maine.
From 1982 until 1986, Mr. Woodsum worked for the Department of Defense, first engaged in Special Operations with the Army Rangers (involved in counter terrorist operations, to include hostage rescues) and later as the Commanding Officer of a Nuclear Emergency Search Team (NEST).
At the time, there were only two NEST units worldwide.
Their mission was to deal with nuclear threats of any sort, but primarily to focus on nuclear terrorism (either a device capable of a nuclear detonation or a more rudimentary dispersion device), whether state-sponsored or by an independent terrorist organization.
Depending on the particulars of the mission, he would work directly with the following organizations: Department of State, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central Intelligence Agency, and the United States Secret Service.
Mr. Woodsum also worked with foreign governments in establishing similar capabilities around the world.
From 1986 to 1990, Mr. Woodsum was a Diplomat with the Department of State, specializing in Economic and Science & Technology issues.
During his tenure with the Department of State, a period of significant tensions worldwide with regard to nuclear proliferation issues (especially between China, India, and Pakistan), Mr. Woodsum was unique in his broad range of expertise regarding Nuclear issues – from energy production to deliverable weapons systems to Improvised Nuclear Devises (a goal of many terrorist organizations).
The thinking at the time, and even more so today with the events of 9/11 and subsequent findings in the Middle East and Afghanistan, was that it is not a matter of if, but rather a matter of when and where a terrorist nuclear event will occur.
His last tour of duty was as the Vice Consul in Bombay, India.
In 1990, Mr. Woodsum founded The Foreside Company in Camden, Maine, and, as its Chief Executive Officer, managed annual budgets of nearly $20 million.
The Company is an international wholesale distributor of home accents and home furnishings.
By the end of 1996, The Foreside Company had grown by over 3,000% and was listed as the 48th fastest growing privately held company in the United States, based upon the annual Inc. 500 List.
The Company operated offices throughout the United States and in India, China, and Indonesia.
Mr. Woodsum sold the company in 2010.
In 1997, Mr. Woodsum founded The Foreside Management Company, a real estate holding and management company, and in 2009 he founded Tao Investments, an investment management company focusing primarily on domestic and international securities and the foreign exchange market.
He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of both entities.
He has also been the Chief Executive Officer of The Foreside Foundation, an entity that he founded in 1991 to undertake a variety of non-profit work both domestically and internationally, in keeping with his broad ranging international career.
In 2014, Mr. Woodsum purchased four BrightStar Care territories, ranked #1 by Forbes magazine in the home healthcare field by investment potential, in south Orange County and northern San Diego County, California.
With the ability to take on both skilled and unskilled home healthcare in one of the fastest growing sectors of the US economy, this represents a substantial opportunity for future growth.
Cindy Gross, RN, MN PHN CEN NEA-BC, Director of Nursing
Cindy Gross has long been recognized in the healthcare industry as a passionate health care professional dedicated to patient advocacy and quality patient care. With over 35 years as a licensed registered nurse, her experience has allowed her roles in nursing administration, performance improvement, education and clinical care. Ms. Gross has an established reputation as a leader in the health care community, along with a strong background in California State regulations and Joint Commission standards. Moreover, she serves as a nursing professor for nursing programs in Southern California, developing and fostering the growth of future compassionate and competent licensed nurses.
In addition to an expansive health management background, Ms. Gross is pursuing a Doctorate in Nursing Practice degree from Gonzaga University with a scholarly focus on the community based older adult population. In conjunction with professional disciplines, she has developed an assisted home-based exercise program for high to moderate fall risk older adults aimed at reducing fall risk and fear of falling. The benefits of this program will serve to enhance the quality of life for the rapidly expanding older adult population in the United States
Leticia Oppermann, Branch Manager
Questions about our care team?
Please contact us online or call our Orange County offices at (949) 837-7000 and we'll be happy to answer them.