A Vision of Harmony: Helping People Be the Best They Can Be

Positive Impact Magazine | November 2, 2011 | 1 Comment

By: Jillian Bosserdet

“The happiness of our clients and caregivers is more important than the bottom line.”

Building a business based on people; an interesting concept and one that is not easily accomplished. A business founded on the heart and soul of its clients and employees; it takes a special kind of person to make a vision of that magnitude become a reality. It needs someone who is sympathetic to the basic needs of people and is professionally business savvy as well. Jonathan Bowman had the ability to create this rarity with his passion for community. Harmony Home Health, a senior home companion enterprise, was molded by hands that believe in a “self-actualizing business,” helping people be the best they can be.

“It’s more important to know where you want to go, than how you’re going to get there.”

Jonathan Bowman CEO of Harmony Home Health

At a young age, Jonathan knew the importance of community and family. He drew inspiration from his grandfather and father. His father was active in the medical field and his grandfather active in the community. Jonathan saw strangers turn into family because of the passion both his father and grandfather had for the people they professionally encountered; some even regarded his grandfather as a “surrogate grandfather.”

Medical ties were not only found in his father’s profession, but were also interwoven in his personal family life. In high school, Jonathan’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. The family welcomed a medical companion into their home, unable to devote the time necessary to the mother’s needs. This companion took care of the basics, and also provided another source of community connection. While Jonathan and his sister were at school, and his father at work, his mother was able to continue life fully functioning with the help of her companion, a blessing in disguise. Watching his mother benefit from a relationship with a companion, Jonathan got his first taste for seeing the effects that companionship had on her health and on the family caregivers themselves. He knew he would want to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and father. This situation gave him a new angle into medicine – one that he would later investigate in more depth.

Leaving his hometown of Clearwater, Florida, he traveled to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he furthered his love for medicine and community. After taking all of his pre-med classes and preparing for more studies, he had to decide whether or not he wanted to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor in a hospital. His father put this choice into perspective. “If you love medicine for medicine, by all means be a doctor.” With his family history and love of community, he felt the choice was already made.

His passion was people; making people happy, making people feel connected, making people better.

An opportunity to start a business arose and Jonathan jumped at the chance to fulfill his dream. He knew he could bring together his love of community and connect people to form a fully functioning, mission driven operation – a vision he would call Harmony Home Health.

Harmony Home Health would focus on the care of seniors and their caregivers. “A lot of companies say they’re going to provide really great care for the seniors,” but for Jonathan, that wasn’t enough. He knew that, yes, providing care to the senior is obviously a very important aspect of a quality agency, but what about the caregivers? They are greatly affected by the lives of the seniors and by what they themselves are doing. Caregiving is not only about the senior. And so, Jonathan knew his company needed to be more. Without a corporate business background, he didn’t know “how a business should be, should feel, or should run.” He wanted to “build a place where he wanted to be, to treat people the way he would want to be treated.” With emphasis on personal connections, he founded Harmony Home Health.

Three years after the kickoff of Harmony Home Health, his wife, Melanie, would join the team. She added to the family with her focus on connecting seniors with various services and therapies. Their joint effort on the mission would only further the family feel of the business. Jonathan “never had a doubt that it would work” and “Melanie took a leap of faith.” Together they create a truly special experience.

Jonathan Bowman and wife Melanie

Jonathan doesn’t just stop at helping his community medically. In 2010, Jonathan and his wife created an award-winning project while sitting at the breakfast table. Reading about the environmental devastation around the world, a result of forest fires or other natural or environmental disasters, they knew they had to help. The couple created green bracelets with the inspiring words “Replant, Renew and Revive” inscribed on the band. Together, they participated in community events in search of compassion and funding. They raised over $5,000 and were able to plant 10,000 trees.

Harmony Home Health Team (Jonathan surrounded by his team (from L to R) - Anita Trent, Martha Gale, Carole Ware-McKenzie, Melanie Bowman, Christine Hamacher, Linda Burhans, Azalia Clark, Eric Soloman)

“I want to build a company that stands the test of time and that really gives back to the community.”

No truer words could be spoken of Jonathan Bowman and his company. Although he is modest about his accomplishments, anyone can see he has already achieved his goal and now he is climbing higher than he could have imagined. The sky’s the limit for this go-getter and community man. And I assume, that even once he reaches the sky, he will continue on his climb.