Caring Senior Service honors top performers at 2026 conference

April 22, 2026 // Franchising.com // SAN ANTONIO – Caring Senior Service celebrated its franchise owners, caregivers and systemwide achievements during its annual conference held April 15-17 in Riviera Maya, Mexico.

The three-day event brought together franchise owners from across the country for education, networking and recognition, all centered around the 2026 theme, “Fundamentals Drive Growth & Profitability.”

“Our annual conference is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible work happening across our system while equipping our owners with the strategies they need to grow in their communities,” said Caring Senior Service founder and CEO Jeff Salter. “By focusing on the fundamentals, we are building stronger businesses that deliver exceptional care to our clients and long-term success for our local owners.”

The conference featured keynote speaker Ed Johnson of Crafted Coach, who delivered insights on leadership and performance. The event was supported by Visionary Sponsor Ascension Business Solutions, along with Paradigm Senior Services, SharpNet Solutions, Vendasta, Dominion Payroll and Solvo.

A highlight of the conference is the awards banquet, where Caring Senior Service recognizes standout individuals and locations for their achievements.

The prestigious Hedgehog Award, given to the franchise owner who best exemplifies the company’s core values and disciplined approach to success, was awarded to Ken Anderson, owner of the Jackson, Mississippi, and Katy, Texas locations. The award takes its name from the fable “The Fox and the Hedgehog,” which illustrates that a focused and highly effective approach can often be the surest path to success.

Anderson began his journey with Caring Senior Service through its Director Apprentice Program, later managing a location in Huntsville, Alabama, before opening his own office in Jackson in 2012. He and his wife, Keishia, expanded their reach by opening the Katy location in early 2025.

“Ken is consistently even-keeled,” Salter said. “He brings a great sense of humor and style to everything he does, and above all, he truly embodies servant leadership with a genuine sense of humility and gratitude.”

Additional award winners recognized at the conference include:

• Pioneer Award: Negar Haghkar won the most distinguished new owner award for his groundbreaking location in Arlington, Virginia.
• Voice of Caring Award: Wayne Mitchell of Northern Virginia won this award for exemplifying what Caring Senior Service stands for.
• Gold Medal Champions Circle: The New Braunfels, Texas, location, owned by Cathy Trlica and Lara Harris, a mother and daughter team, won for providing the most hours of service to its clients. It held the top spot in the Champions Circle for 2025.
• “Shakin’ the Bushes” Award: Houston North, Texas, owned by Rick and Kathy Casey, was honored as the location with the most referrals from referral sources.
• “Sign ’Em Up” John Hancock Award: Lakewood, Colorado, owned by Pat Abernathey, won for signing up the most new clients.

The company also honored Andreanna Smith as Caregiver of the Year. Smith was celebrated during the awards banquet with multiple standing ovations following a special video tribute highlighting her dedication to her clients and their families.

SOURCE Caring Senior Service

###