First Choice In-Home Care started as a small, family-based organization and soon began to grow rapidly as the company's reputation for providing care you can trust spread throughout the community.

Today, First Choice In-Home Care provides services to over 5,000 clients annually throughout King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap, Clark, Cowlitz and Spokane and provides over 2.0 million annual service hours to our population of adults and children in need.

 
Michael Howard-FCIHC

Michael Howard

Executive Director

I was born and raised in the Chicago area before relocating to Washington State in 1989.  In 1998, I received my bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Washington and then attended law school at DePaul University in Chicago, where I graduated with honors in 2001.   

Prior to joining First Choice In-Home Care in 2018, I worked for over seventeen years as an attorney in Seattle, representing individuals and commercial entities in civil litigation matters, including claims as varied as wrongful death, breach of contract, workplace injuries, employment discrimination/harassment, and insurance bad faith.  As a litigator, I arbitrated dozens of cases and conducted multiple jury trials in state and federal courts with consistently favorable outcomes for my clients.  Most recently, I tried a property damage subrogation claim resulting in a directed verdict for my client and payment of my client’s attorney’s fees and costs through trial.  Most rewarding to me in my legal practice are the approximately 100 cases I have settled, where I worked diligently with opposing counsel to negotiate a compromise satisfactory to all parties. 

Notwithstanding the success I found as an attorney, I always aspired to do something professionally that would allow me to make a real, lasting impact in my community.  That opportunity came when First Choice In-Home Care founder Jim Lord offered me the chance to succeed him in his role as First Choice’s Executive Director.  Although this is a monumental career change, as it turns out, it’s the best decision I have ever made and I have not looked back since. 

I’ve seen firsthand the difference First Choice is making in the lives of our most vulnerable community members, from children with developmental disabilities, to our ever-expanding aging adult population, to our disabled Veterans.  While there will always be challenges, none is too great for our Client Services Team and high quality Caregivers to tackle head-on.  This is not by accident—First Choice’s entire focus is on providing the very best personalized care services possible for our clients, and those who work here are united in that goal.

I arrive to work each day with the drive and purpose that what we do matters, and I could not be prouder to be part of First Choice’s continued evolution as an industry leader. 

See Michael's Bio
TJ Lord-FCIHC

TJ Lord

Chief Operating Officer

My association with First Choice In-Home Care all started in 2007 when our founders, my parents, cemented a methodology for locating quality Caregivers for the Agency’s first Client, my brother Corey. As they moved to assist other in-need members of our community, each family they helped made it possible to made is possible to assistant other families.

My responsibilities started small; accounting reconciliation projects after school, filing paperwork and other administrative tasks. When it came time for me to choose a career path, I knew there was only one direction I could go and when I was offered the opportunity to work as a Case Manager, managing the daily needs of one of our Client Caseloads, I took it and haven’t looked back.

As Chief Operating Officer my responsibilities include:

  • Business strategy: Developing and implementing business strategies and policies, and communicating them to employees.
  • Operations: Overseeing day-to-day business operations to ensure they run smoothly, efficiently, and cost-effectively.
  • Resources: Ensuring teams have the operational and financial resources they need to succeed.
  • People: Overseeing human resource management, including recruitment and hiring.
  • Culture: Introducing new policies to improve company culture.
  • Communication: Reporting to the CEO regularly and advising them on important events.
  • Coordination: Coordinating with other departments.
  • Analysis: Analyzing situations, recognizing problems, and finding solutions to keep the company moving forward.
See TJ's Bio
Brenda Davis-FCIHC

Brenda Davis

Vice President, Finance
From September of 2005 to April of 2023, Brenda was employed by The Polyclinic/Optum.  Brenda was originally hired as an Accountant, promoted to Sr. Financial Analyst, then promoted to the position of Finance Manager and finally, in 2019, Brenda was promoted to the position of Finance Director.

Brenda joined the First Choice In-Home Care Sr. Management Team as the company’s VP of Finance in June of 2023 and brings to First Choice a clear and detailed understanding of Finance including Financial and Operational Analysis, Forecasting/Budgeting, Reporting, Capital Analysis & Planning, Revenue Cycle Analysis & Optimization, ROI and Risk Analysis and Financial Modeling & Auditing.

After graduating from Charleston Southern University in Charleston, South Carolina, Brenda relocated to Washington in 2004. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog, hiking Washington trails, and traveling with friends.

See Brenda's Bio
David Georgiu - FCIHC

David Georgiu

IT Director

David is an experienced IT infrastructure and operations professional with more than 20 years in the technology field, he has built a career supporting and improving complex IT environments across aerospace, healthcare, higher education, and small business sectors. His work focuses on delivering reliable infrastructure, strengthening operational processes, and ensuring technology systems support mission-critical operations.

Most recently, he served as a Field Support Technician III at Blue Origin, where he supported mission-critical IT infrastructure for New Shepard launch operations. In this role, he deployed mobile development labs, maintained secure endpoint environments across multiple locations, and supported mission control systems during launch activities.

Prior to this role, he spent nearly seven years supporting clinical and academic infrastructure at the University of Washington School of Dentistry, operating within a HIPAA-regulated healthcare environment. His responsibilities included managing secure clinical systems, supporting imaging technologies, coordinating infrastructure deployments, and overseeing technical workflows for support staff and student technicians.

Throughout his career, he has led and supported numerous infrastructure initiatives including endpoint management automation, network planning, systems deployment, and technical operations improvement. His experience also includes operating an independent IT services business, where he designed and implemented network and infrastructure solutions for small and mid-sized organizations.

His technical expertise includes Windows Server environments, Active Directory, virtualization platforms such as VMware and Hyper-V, endpoint management systems, enterprise networking. He has extensive experience working in compliance-focused environments including healthcare and aerospace operations.

David holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in IT Network Administration and Security from Green River College and has completed graduate studies in Cybersecurity and Leadership at the University of Washington. Outside of work, David enjoys spending time outdoors, including camping, off-roading, and traveling to explore new places.

 

See David's Bio
Jolie Baldwin—Senior Direct Care Supervisor

Jolie Baldwin

Home Care Manager

My career in social services began with my first job ever – an in-classroom tutor for a young boy with autism. Since then, I’ve made it my goal to diversify and expand my experience in social services. 

Throughout my college career, I was a home care aide myself, working with high-needs foster children as I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Human Services from Whitworth University. I interned at an after-school care center in a low-income neighborhood focused on providing homework aid, supervision, educational opportunities and positive mentoring to children of immigrant parents. Prior to working at First Choice, I was a services coordinator at the Downtown Emergency Services Center’s Crisis Solutions Center, assisting people in crisis with stabilizing, accessing mental and physical health services and pursuing employment. I began a career with First Choice to better understand the process of coordinating and providing services to a wider array of people, from young children to adults to the elderly, and ensuring that they are receiving the best care possible.

See Jolie's Bio
Sabrina Enders-FCIHCpng

Sabrina Enders

Home Care Manager

I was born in Norfolk, Virginia and spent most of my childhood in Jacksonville, Florida. As the oldest of five children, I have spent much of my life in the service of caring for and mentoring others. In my youth, I attended a magnet school for the performing arts in Florida where I developed a deep love for reading, writing, and editing. In 2013, I earned a Master of Science in Family Studies from Central Washington University, and then remained at CWU as an adjunct lecturer in the same department.

I have also spent time teaching in preschool classrooms, which is where I really came to understand what I have to offer in social services. My first classroom was a small, family-run, Montessori preschool in Ellensburg, WA. I learned so much in that position about patience, compassion, resilience, and the essence of what it means to promote child development holistically and with the entire family system in mind. My first experience as a classroom lead was at a prestigious private school in Falls Church, Virginia. In this position I learned many lessons about teamwork, delegation, and tact. I returned to Washington to serve as the lead teacher in an Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) classroom in Snohomish County, which was disrupted by the pandemic. Having the opportunity to work with these children in a virtual modality was transformative in how I have come to understand social service programs and the people they serve, as I witnessed firsthand a community pulling together to make the best of a very challenging time. 

I am thankful to have found a new opportunity for service through First Choice where I am able to apply skills from my career in education in an exciting new light. Facilitating human connection is one of the most important parts of my work; I cherish connecting clients with vital care that benefits their daily lives. At First Choice, I look forward to seeing my compassionate colleagues each day, and to working with our clients and caregivers to ensure we provide the best possible care.   

See Sabrina's Bio
Kylie Barnhart-FCIHC

Kylie Barnhart

Home Care Manager

I was born and raised in Washington State in the city of Federal Way. Growing up I always knew I wanted to help people and my goal was to find a job where I could give back to those in need.

In 2020, I graduated from Western Washington University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. I was fortunate enough to land a position with First Choice In-Home Care soon after graduating during the pandemic.

First Choice has provided me the opportunity to help my community on a daily basis. I have been able to directly meet with many wonderful individuals and provide them with quality care. I have seen firsthand how this care has improved the quality of these individual’s health and living environment. Working at First Choice means doing good work every day and knowing you are making a positive impact in people’s lives.

See Kylie's Bio
Hannah Husley-FCIHC

Hannah Hulsey

Home Care Manager

I was born and raised in Western Washington. I have always had a drive to help others and to give back to my community. When I was in community college, I volunteered at my local food bank and discovered I wanted a career centered on doing altruistic work.

While in college at Arizona State University, I worked as a supervisor at a Starbucks in a small town, where I became close with my community and attended local events. I graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After graduating, I became a home care aid with First Choice and assisted with vulnerable adults and provided care for them in their homes. This work made me realize I wanted to make a difference on a bigger scale.

I began a career in-office at First Choice to better understand how to assist our community members in getting the services they need and deserve. Since then, I have helped establish long term in-home care for many of our clients and have continued to grow within the agency. I strive to instill in our Case Managers the goal that our clients receive the best care possible and are able to maintain safe and healthy lives from the comfort of their homes.

See Hannah's Bio
Madelyn Parra-FCIHC

Madelyn Parra

Regional Home Care Manager

I was born in Des Moines, Iowa and raised in Dallas, Texas. I discovered my passion for advocating for others at a young age. My journey to my career in social work has been driven by a steadfast desire for uplifting the marginalized members of my community.

Throughout my career, I've advocated for those in need, forging meaningful connections with clients, colleagues, and organizations to foster a more equitable and compassionate world. My pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Work from Grand Canyon University led me to Hawaii, where I dedicated myself to supporting at-risk children at the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Oahu. My responsibilities encompassed a variety of roles, from meeting basic needs to coordinating with multidisciplinary teams, ensuring every child found safety and support.

In 2021, my career path led me to the Pacific Northwest, where I discovered First Choice In-Home Care. Leading the teams across Clark/Cowlitz and Kitsap Counties, I've embraced the opportunity to contribute to our agency's growth and impact, setting the gold standard for home care services. At First Choice, I've found not just a career, but a calling—a place where meaningful work intersects with unwavering dedication by our Client Services Team. I am immensely proud to be a part of the First Choice family, where every day, we make a difference that truly matters.

See Madelyn's Bio
Lauren Romento-FCIHC-1

Lauren Romento

Home Care Manager

Making a difference in the lives of individuals has always been a passion of mine. I graduated from University of Washington with a degree in Anthropology in 2014.

After graduating, I went to work with vulnerable populations, spanning from working as a caregiver for patients with dementia, to an Activities Coordinator at an Assisted Living Facility, and later as a Case Manager for the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.

I was drawn to First Choice In-Home Care because it offered an opportunity to work with, and have a significant impact on, a diverse population of individuals in need of services in an area that I very much love. I enjoy being an advocate for others and helping them maintain their independence and quality of life.

As a Home Care Manager, I am able to help our staff create and maintain personal connections with our clients and caregivers. I work with a dedicated and compassionate team of people who share my outlook and passion on serving those in need and I am very thankful to continue to intertwine my passion and interests to do work that matters.

See Lauren's Bio
Bobbie Leal - FCIHC

Bobbie Leal

Home Care Manager
My path into behavioral health and community care has been guided by a deep commitment to helping others navigate life’s most challenging moments. Throughout my career, I have been passionate about strengthening families and supporting individuals facing complex behavioral and developmental challenges. I believe that compassionate leadership, strong systems, and collaborative care can create meaningful and lasting change in the lives of those who need it most.

I plan on continuing my education through a Master’s program in Social Services with Magna Cum Laude Undergraduate degree in Psychology at Arizona State University. Throughout my academic journey, I have maintained an outstanding academic record, placing me among the top tier of students in my program. I began my career working closely with children and families in behavioral therapy and special education settings, where I developed a strong foundation in evidence-based interventions and family-centered support. These experiences shaped my approach to leadership, emphasizing collaboration, accountability, and care systems that empower individuals to reach their full potential.

As a proud member of the Navajo Nation, I bring a culturally grounded perspective to my work and value the diverse experiences that have shaped my life. Having lived in New England, Texas, Arizona, and now the Pacific Northwest, I have developed a deep appreciation for the many communities and cultures that make up the United States. Outside of my professional work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter. As a family, we love traveling, exercising, hiking, and renovating dollhouses to give away to others. I remain passionate about advocacy, mentorship, and expanding access to high-quality, person-centered care for the communities I serve.

See Bobbie's Bio
Aurora Mackley - FCIHC

Aurora Mackley

Home Care Manager
I was born and raised in Washington State and have lived throughout the Pacific Northwest. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Oregon. As a naturally social and connection‑driven person, I have always felt called to serve my community, gaining experience in a variety of social service roles across both volunteer and professional settings.

In my role as a Home Care Manager at First Choice, I value the opportunity to support clients who receive Medicaid services. I am committed to identifying the best possible solutions to help individuals remain safely in their homes while ensuring they receive the care and resources they need. I also feel privileged to work with young adults and children through the Developmental Disabilities Administration, advocating for the supports essential to their well‑being and long‑term success.

Outside of work, I enjoy natural wellness, spending time outdoors, and engaging in hobbies that promote brain health, including reading and crocheting.

See Aurora's Bio
Mona Zahniser - FCIHC

Mona Zahniser

IT Program Specialist - Agency Management Systems
With over 25 years in the home care industry, Mona brings a rare depth of perspective to every role she takes on. Her career has taken her from serving as a Regional Manager for a large Home Health Care agency for 12 years, to leading customer experience as Customer Service Director for a Home Health and Home Care software company for 8 years.

That journey has given her a uniquely well-rounded lens on the industry — the operational challenges, the staffing realities, and the technology that ties it all together. That firsthand experience is what allows her to connect with people and find solutions that are both practical and impactful.

In 2021, Mona joined First Choice In-Home Care, where she now channels everything she's learned into supporting the systems and people that make exceptional care possible. For Mona, home care isn't just a career — it's personal. She is a proud mother of three, a devoted grandmother, and a caregiver to both her mom and mother-in-law.

When she's not working, you'll find her at the amusement park chasing the next roller coaster ride!

See Mona's Bio
Jim Lord-FCIHC

Jim Lord

President

In 1999, my wife, Rhona and I founded a small home care agency that got started by providing personalized care to our six incredible clients. We called this company First Choice In-Home Care and created it to serve the needs of our vulnerable communities located throughout King, Pierce and Snohomish counties in Washington State.

A lot has changed since then, and today we provide in-home personal care to over 4,500 clients annually and employ over 1,500 of the finest, best trained and respectful home care aides, nursing assistants and registered nurses in the industry…who do work that matters every single day.

One thing that hasn’t changed is our purpose; which is to provide responsive, respectful and caring services and to ensure that First Choice In-Home Care is a company that in all ways is all about helping people.

As the founder of First Choice In-Home Care, I have the great privilege of developing and implementing concepts, structures and methodologies that allow us to deliver services in a manner that is state-of-art and always mindful that our job is to maintain the health, safety and happiness of each person we serve.

Our Home Care Agency has grown tremendously over the last several years. In 2002, First Choice In-Home was awarded a contract with the Division of Developmental Disabilities (now called the Developmental Disabilities Administration) in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. This contract allows us to provide care to our population of children and adults with very special care needs. Now in 2018, we are the largest provider serving this wonderful population in the State of Washington, a job that is always rewarding.

In 2010, we were awarded home care contracts in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties to provide services to our aging adult population. These contracts with City of Seattle Human Services, Pierce County Community Connections and Snohomish County Human Services require a great deal of State and Federal mandated compliance, which includes three comprehensive audits of our home care agency each year. 

In 2014, we were awarded a Home Health Aide contract through the Veterans Administration and now have the honorable privilege of providing care to our Veterans who served our country so proudly.

At First Choice In-Home Care, we are a group of highly motivated individuals, who have come together to do as a team, the one thing we all do naturally in our daily lives…which is to help people.

Thank you for your interest in First Choice In-Home Care. Whether you’re seeking to learn about home care for a loved one, exploring partnership opportunities or considering employment with us, I’m confident you’ll find the information you need as you explore FCIHC.com. 

See Jim's Bio