GRAND FORKS – Deanna “Dee” Decimus Holmes of rural Grand Forks has been named North Dakota Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Holmes will be honored, along with other state and U.S. territory winners, in a ceremony that will kick off National Small Business Week, May 4-10, in Washington, D.C.
During the ceremony, the National Small Business Person of the Year will be announced by SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler.
Holmes is planning to attend, and is excited for the opportunity to network with other entrepreneurs and business founders, she said. She is looking forward to asking questions and growing professionally to “gain knowledge and gain ideas about how I can be looking at my trends … (and learn) how we could pivot to be more adaptable to the individuals that we support. How can we serve our people better.”
About being named North Dakota Small Business Person of the Year, Holmes said, “I’m so honored. I have worked so hard.”
Choking back emotion audible in a phone conversation with the Herald, she was moved to know that the organization “sees my hard work and is recognizing that it’s paying off for the community.”
Holmes is the founder and owner of All Embracing Home Care, which she launched April 19, 2019. Serving 109 clients, the private in-home services care business provides daily living assistance for individuals and respite care for caregivers. Across clients and locations, employees work a total of 1,600 shifts per week; the shifts can range from a half-hour to 12 hours. Six clients receive 24/7 care.
Clients include individuals who have been injured in an accident or are recovering from hip surgery, for example, Holmes said.
With more than 170 employees, the business operates in nine North Dakota counties and, about a month ago, expanded to serve Maricopa and Pinal counties in Arizona, with headquarters based in south Phoenix. The North Dakota counties are Grand Forks, Cass, Griggs, Nelson, Steele, Traill, Walsh, Morton and Burleigh.
All Embracing Home Care focuses on providing optimal in-home care to persons of all ages. From assistance with grocery shopping and bill paying to bathing and toileting, the business tailors its services to the needs of each client.
As she started to develop her business, All Embracing Home Care, in 2018, Holmes turned to SCORE mentors.
“I had passion and ideas but lacked the structured knowledge necessary to bring my visions to life,” she said. “My mentors helped me refine my business plans, identify potential challenges, and develop practical solutions. Their insights into market research, financial planning and customer engagement strategies gave me the confidence and tools to move forward.”
As an entrepreneur, Holmes moved forward in a big way.
She runs four businesses: All Embracing Home Care, El Way Child Care and Learning Center, Kidwell Signature Cleaning and CAFF Property Group, and the nonprofit All Embracing Home Care Foundation. Her husband, Stephen Holmes, operates three businesses.
“We’re serial entrepreneurs,” she said.
The SCORE mentors’ “commitment to my success went beyond just advice,” Holmes said. “They became true partners in my growth, celebrating my achievements and helping me pivot during challenges. … (They) instilled in me a strong business acumen and a problem-solving mindset that continues to drive my success.”
The nonprofit All Embracing Home Care Foundation is a means of partnering with businesses to support – through gift-in-need arrangements, for example – the needs of her clients.
Steve Moser, a SCORE mentor, described Holmes as “innovative” and “a go-getter.”
When Holmes started developing her business, Moser said his colleagues advised her to engage a banker, accountant, insurance agent and lawyer.
“She listens to us and does what we advise her to do,” he said. “We have some clients that just latch onto (our recommendations)” and Holmes is one of those clients.
Alan Haut, SBA North Dakota District director, said, “I am excited to recognize Dee Decimus Holmes’ entrepreneurial success fueled by her compassion to serve others. Dee’s commitment to providing high quality services to clients has led to significant increases in her customer base, allowing her to hire additional staff and expand to multiple communities across North Dakota.”
Holmes will be recognized, along with six other awardees, during the third annual Grand Awards event, set for Tuesday, April 8, at the Opal Event Center in The Olive Ann Hotel in downtown Grand Forks.