About FirstLight
in Greater Kansas City
FirstLight is About People
We know your first priority when choosing a home care provider is finding someone you can trust and rely on… someone who will care for your loved one as you would. We invite you to read our many outstanding reviews from Google or Facebook and see why we have been recognized both locally and nationally as a premier home care and senior care provider. Meet our local care team!
Michael Brainerd, Chief Executive Officer and Owner
Prior to opening FirstLight Home Care of Overland Park, Michael had served in a number of marketing and consulting positions, where he designed and developed campaigns and programs to promote a range of products and brands – both in higher education and sports management. Michael was born and raised in St Joseph, Missouri and graduated from Missouri Western State University with a B.A. in Business Administration and Marketing.
Several personal experiences lead Michael to opening FirstLight Home Care. He lost three of his grandparents within a four year period, each to debilitating illness and disease – Cancer, Heart Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. Over that four year period he saw the difference home care can make, not only to the person, but to the entire family. In addition to having some wonderful caregivers take care of his grandparents, he also learned not all care agencies are the same and doing your homework is important. Ten years later, a culmination of life events lead him to finally answering the call to walk away from his career in pursuit of starting FirstLight Home Care. He is proud to lead a caring team, passionate about providing the best home care possible for FirstLight clients.
Both FirstLight Home Care offices were opened in partnership with Michael’s business partner (and brother) Andrew Brainerd. In his limited free time, Michael enjoys cycling, golfing, and supporting several inter-faith charities who help homeless and at-risk homeless attain self-sufficiency through housing, education and employment training programs.
Andrew Brainerd, Chief Financial Officer and Owner
Prior to opening FirstLight Home Care of Overland Park, Andrew spent 10 years managing technology platforms for large corporations in the information technology industry. Andrew grew up in St Joseph Missouri and graduated from The University of Texas San Antonio with a B.A. in Business Administration Management. He also holds an MBA from Northwest University with an emphasis in Information Technology Management.
At a young age, Andrew experienced what it’s like to be a family caregiver. In 2005 his grandmother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The family arranged for a private caregiver, but eventually moved her into an assisted living facility, where her condition declined quickly. Understanding and coping with these changes at a young age was difficult. To this day, his grandmother’s story is what drove him to open FirstLight Home Care. Being able to have a direct impact on the quality of care people receive is what lead him to FirstLight.
Andrew especially enjoys seeing the results of his business systems and processes in action, and how they have created the exceptional care model at FirstLight Home Care. He takes great pride in giving someone the ability to maintain their independence and “age in place” and remain in their home, while bringing peace of mind to their family. When Andrew isn’t working, he enjoys playing the piano, piloting small aircraft and working on anything mechanical.
Karen White, Human Resources Coordinator and Employee Relations Manager
Karen began her career at FirstLight in the summer of 2020. Prior to joining FirstLight spent the majority of her career working in the medical field, where she began her career as a Certified Nurse’s Aide in an Elder Care Facility after school. Over her entire career, she has worked alongside physicians and nurses in various different medical settings, serving both the general population and seniors.
Karen has always been a caregiver at heart, from taking care of her mother after she had a stroke, caring for her sister when she had cancer and providing care for her niece who is blind. All her life, she encountered situations that helped her understand caregiving in both a professional and personal capacity. Karen uses her direct experience in the field, as a guide in helping her identify and recruit top caregiving talent for FirstLight.
Karen is passionate about her family and has a heart for all animals. Karen takes great pride in her work and believes that everyday is an opportunity to help someone. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, husband and four dogs.
Shelby Littrell, Scheduling Coordinator and Client Relations
Shelby began her career with FirstLight Home Care in 2023. She graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a B.A. in Physical Education. Prior to joining FirstLight, Shelby managed before and after school programs for Pre-K and elementary school students for the Independence School District.
Shelby was drawn to working with those in need of home care, from personal experiences with her father. He had a caregiver for many years come into the home. She observed not only the the task-based activities that helped him, but the social and emotional connection and how it benefited his daily outlook. It was also such a relief for her and the rest of her family, knowing that they had extra help.
As a Scheduling Coordinator at FirstLight, she’s like a client-caregiver “matchmaker”. She prides herself in providing thorough communication with her clients, making sure all their needs are met, and finding that caregiver that is just right for them! She also loves doing 5K’s for charity, going to Mexico for Mission Trips to build homes for those in need, and has volunteered at her local animal shelters. In her spare time she enjoys reading, spending time with her fiancé, Dillion, their three dogs, Zooey, Honey and Maya.
Kate Phelps, Human Resources Coordinator and Employee Relations Manager
Kate joined the FirstLight team in 2023. Before working with FirstLight, Kate worked for a Catholic missionary organization helping college students grow in their faith. Kate graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi with a B.A. in Public Health, and is passionate about helping others: mind, body, and soul.
As a Human Resources Coordinator and Employee Relations Manager, Kate recruits caregivers and manages their experience as an employee at FirstLight. Kate believes that people should be excited to go work so she loves helping caregivers find a position where they thrive! It is one of Kate’s greatest joys to follow up with caregivers after their first client visit and hear about how they connected with their client.
Ciara Hernandez, Client Care Coordinator
Ciara has extensive experience in non-medical healthcare, in both the at-home and community living industries for seniors, having performed in several roles ranging from hands-on direct care as a CNA, and leading care teams, where she managed scheduling, recruiting and quality oversight.
As a Client Care Coordinator at FirstLight Home Care she responsible for managing new client acquisitions, or the intake process for new clients starting care at FirstLight, guiding them through our services, and addressing any questions or concerns they may have. She facilitates new client starts by accompanying caregivers to the first visit with new clients, and performs quality assurance visits, to ensure our standards for care are met and that client care plans are always up to date. She plays a vital role in staff training and development, helping to ensure that our caregivers are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver exceptional care.
“As a Client Care Coordinator, I am blessed to be part of a team that is making a meaningful impact in the lives of others every day. I am deeply invested in Dementia education and advocacy. I believe that knowledge is key to improving outcomes for individuals living with dementia, as well as their caregivers. I actively seek opportunities to educate our team members, clients, and the broader community about dementia, its symptoms, and effective strategies for care and support.”
When she’s not busy at FirstLight, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children (soon to be three children!). She has several pets and is an advocate for animal rights and also loves to read in her spare time.
Vision & Mission
At FirstLight Home Care, we envision a world in which all adults may age with comfort, dignity and independence in the place they call home. We exist to help people have their best day, every day. Our mission is to provide compassionate home care so that the families we serve have peace of mind knowing their loved ones are receiving the support they need to enjoy the quality of life they deserve.
Core Values
We live these core values every day, without compromise. It is what we believe in above all else as they guide our home care company and team members to help us achieve our mission.
