The people behind our home care
Our purpose
SYNERGY HomeCare of the Lowcountry was started by Mark and Lisa Piegza and Bob and Melissa Risk, with a mission to provide outstanding care to fellow residents of the Lowcountry while creating a collegial and rewarding work environment for their team.
Changing lives
They understand that when family members take on the daily duties of caregiving, it often compromises relationships with loved ones. Daily life can become more of a chore and they lose the ability to enjoy time together. At SYNERGY, we change lives by providing compassionate care to all clients, no matter their age and wherever they call home.
Mark and Lisa’s story
Mark and Lisa developed a passion for providing quality care to families after seeing their own parents struggle with various health issues. Although they provided care for their parents often, they also tried to find quality non-medical in-home care to give them a break, which wasn’t always easy to find.
Mark says it best:
Giving back
After moving to the Lowcountry, Mark and Lisa wanted to find a way to help the community and determined that providing dependable and compassionate home care was exactly the way they could best give back to others. They knew first hand what it’s like to be the sole caregiver for a loved one.
Bob and Melissa’s story
After 25 years in the insurance industry, Bob and Melissa began their “second act.” With transferable skills from their previous adventure, providing exceptional care for others who are aging or limited by illness became their calling.
Their beacons
Bob’s 92-year-old father currently receives 24/7 care, and Melissa’s mother resides with them seven months a year. They either provided care or managed their care for many years. Their parents became Bob and Melissa’s unintentional beacon that guided them into non-medical home care in the Lowcountry.
They realized that helping people age with grace and independence in their own homes is where Bob and Melissa wanted to focus. This business is very personal to each of them and they look forward to helping make SYNERGY HomeCare of the Lowcountry an organization that truly changes lives.
Call Us Today! 843-310-1078
Meet Our Team
Mark Piegza | Owner |
Bob Risk | Owner |
Lisa Piegza | Owner |
Melissa Risk | Owner |
Jill Donnelly | Scheduling and Care Coordinator
I joined The Synergy HomeCare of the Lowcountry team in March 2021 as the Scheduling Coordinator. Prior to working for Synergy, I was the Scheduling Coordinator for another large home care agency in Florida as well as a former EMT and EMS Dispatcher in New York City. I am a graduate of St. Paul’s School of Nursing, where I majored in Nursing. I currently live in Bluffton with my beautiful 3 year old daughter. When I’m not keeping busy with making sure all the caregivers and clients are happy you can find me enjoying the fun in the sun!
Kristie Hanewinckel| Recruiting Manager
I joined the Synergy HomeCare team in early 2022 and it has been one of the most positive and rewarding changes in my life. I have a degree in Human Resource Management but have always wanted to work in healthcare because of my family’s background in the industry. Prior to my career with Synergy, I was a full-time college athlete and worked in the customer service industry. I’m currently increasing my strengths as Scheduling Manager but in my free time I love to relax with my family, enjoy a good movie or find a great mystery book to read.
Alyssa Adams| Employee Care Manager
I joined the Synergy HomeCare of the Lowcountry team in early Spring of 2023. Prior to joining the Synergy team I worked for years in hospitality and restaurant management. I’ve always had a desire to work in healthcare and a passion for helping others- so the transition to Synergy HomeCare made perfect sense for me. I’m eager to learn all aspects of the office and am looking forward to working with both caregivers and clients on a daily basis. I currently live in Bluffton with my young daughter and when I’m not working I enjoy spending time with her and finding new areas to explore.
Synergy Receives Prestigious Award
SYNERGY HomeCare of the Lowcountry has once again been recognized as one of the top 100 home care agencies in the entire country. We have received this prestigious award for the fifth year in a row, each year we have been eligible. This is the highest level of recognition that a home care agency can earn. These credentials are determined by countless customer and employee surveys conducted by a third-party expert, Home Care Pulse, the industry leader in care intelligence. Our entire SYNERGY HomeCare of the Lowcountry team takes tremendous pride in providing the highest quality of care to our community, as well as being recognized as a great place to work. We look forward to serving you. Call us today to experience the SYNERGY HomeCare of the Lowcountry difference.
Our promise to you: care that moves you
Life is in constant motion. From the time we smile our first smile, ride our first bike, find our first home or embrace our first grandchild, it just keeps moving. And a moving life is a full one. But sometimes, life can take a turn that slows us down, or even stops us in our tracks. That’s where SYNERGY HomeCare comes in. To keep the basic needs of your life effortlessly moving forward. So you can focus on what moves you and get the most out of every day.
We guide with purpose
We take a strong lead with a kind hand in what can be a stressful, uncertain time in your life. By charting an assured course and making certain that you and your family members understand what’s happening, we can keep you comfortable every step of the way.
Great care comes from confidence, and confidence is contagious. We know what we’re doing and we’re always striving to do it better. One of the things we do best is relate to people on a personal level. And when you do something well, it breeds confidence. In you, and everyone around you. That’s why our clients, employees and franchise owners are so confident, too.
How we do it:
- We serve beyond the job description.
- We approach the job with a sense of adventure and purpose.
- We take ownership and responsibility over results.
- We quickly spot new opportunities for improvement and act on them.
We know individual people have individual needs
What we do:
We listen and ask questions. That’s the best way to learn how to impact an individual’s life. That’s how we do it. And that’s why we are recognized as an organization that shows an unwavering commitment to understanding people’s needs and providing the care option that best adapts to those needs. This is how we keep you and your life moving forward by being intuitively personal.
How we do it:
- We approach every encounter with compassion, personality and positive energy.
- We inspire others through words.
- We are curious. We ask questions and listen to what’s unspoken.
- We help you set goals. We make you feel as though we are walking with you on your care journey.
Life moves in one direction – forward. No matter your circumstances, SYNERGY HomeCare steps in with effective, comforting, life-affirming care that moves people emotionally and physically forward, from personal assistance and companionship to live-in and even family caregiver respite. We provide full support for fuller lives. Ultimately, we create a feeling of forward momentum, not just in lives but also in the home care industry.
Whether you’re a high-octane octogenarian who just needs a hand, someone confined to bed who needs a little more help, or a person dealing with lifelong disabilities who needs someone to walk beside them on their journey, we’re here to care with whole hearts and open arms.
We know you have questions. And we have answers. When the time is right for you, we would be honored to speak with you. We listen!
Call Us Today! 843-310-1078
If you or a loved one are in our near Charleston, SC, we also have an office there and would be happy to help with all of your needs. You can find us at www.synergycharleston.com.
