As we celebrate Waypoint’s 175th anniversary, we’re highlighting a mother-daughter team that plays a vital role in our mission! Dawn Wheeler has been with Waypoint for over 40 years, serving as the Home Care Office Manager, where she ensures everything runs smoothly— handling paperwork, managing state authorizations, and keeping operations on track. Her daughter, Katelyn Soucy, first joined Waypoint in 2010, returned in 2020, and now serves as the Home Care Service Manager. She is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of Home Care and supervises 65 staff across New Hampshire, handling all hiring, training, evaluations, retention, and recruitment. Katelyn also ensures that standards of care are maintained for the Home Care Program and develops relationships with community partners. We sat down with Dawn and Katelyn to discuss their journeys at Waypoint.
What have been your most fulfilling or rewarding experience(s) at Waypoint?
Dawn: My most rewarding experience is working with the clients and helping them maintain independent living. Without Home Care services, many would be in nursing homes or assisted living. Seeing them thrive in their own home with our caregivers’ help is wonderful. Our direct care staff are amazing, and I love working with them and our office staff to make it all possible.
Katelyn: We work with high-need clients referred from Adult Protective Services, and recently we were able to help a client by bringing him a pillow, blanket, food, and personal hygiene products. He has no support system in the State of NH and bringing him these items together was very rewarding. This is just one example of the impact we are able to have.
How do you balance your professional relationship with your personal relationship as mother and daughter?
Katelyn: Having the opportunity to work alongside my mother, who is also my best friend, has been such a rewarding experience. Who can actually say that they work with their mother 40 hours a week and don’t get sick of them? We work so immensely close: tag-teaming program projects, going out together on Big-Chore assessments to vulnerable client homes, and spending weekends together. Working together has so many benefits: a strong sense of trust, a solid support system, and a shared purpose: helping disabled and/or older adults remain independent in their own homes. Working with people who share common goals and have fun doing it makes you look forward to going to work every day. We’ve built so many lasting memories – huge thank you to Waypoint for allowing us to thrive in our careers together.
Dawn: I think Katelyn summed it up.
Dawn, how does Waypoint help support a work-life balance for you and your family?
Dawn: I’ve been with the agency for 40 years, so the main thing that has kept me for work-life balance is the flexibility. If my children had games, or doctor’s appointments, it was always flexible enough that I could make up time. The people here are wonderful and caring. They allow you to take time off and enjoy your family. Half-day Fridays are wonderful. You can leave early and relax at the beach.
Katelyn, what aspects of your mother’s job at Waypoint made you want to follow in her footsteps?
Growing up and seeing her ability to be there for me at my sports events, concerts, and everything else really stood out. She was always able to be right beside me and cheer me on. I heard many inspiring stories throughout the years about helping clients, the wonderful co-workers, and the family-like environment. That definitely drew me here.
We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful mother-daughter team here at Waypoint. Their commitment to helping others is truly inspiring, and we are so grateful for everything that they do!
