Dare to Disrupt Episode 22: Putting the ‘Care’ in Home Care with Norm Potter

Norm Potter is the co-founder and co-owner of Allegiance Transportation, as well as the owner and Executive Director of the Winston Salem branch of Griswold Home Care. Allegiance Transportation is a non-emergency medical transportation provider, specializing in wheelchair and ambulatory transport services. Griswold Home Care provides non-medical home care to elderly adults by referring professional caregivers for personal care, homemaking, and companionship services.

In this episode, Norm talks about why he decided to make a career switch from banking to higher education to now running two businesses in the non-medical home care and transportation industries. He also shares his journey battling cancer and how it has changed his outlook on life.

At the end of the episode, biomedical engineering doctoral candidate Josh Reynolds joins the conversation. His startup, Atlas Biotech, is striving to overcome drug resistance and accelerate drug discovery efforts in the fight against cancer. He recently participated in the Penn State NSF I-Corps short course program and the Happy Valley LaunchBox powered by PNC Bank FastTrack Accelerator. 

Episode Chapters

0:00 – 6:36 Moving around as a kid; Penn State experience

6:36 – 12:45 Norm’s banking career built on relationship management

12:45 – 18:00 Transitioning from banking to to development role for medical center

18:00 – 22:17 Launching Griswold Home Care

22:17 – 24:35 Launching Allegiance Transport

24:35 – 25:32 What makes a good franchisable business

25:32 – 33:28 Norm’s battle with cancer

33:28 Josh Reynolds, biomedical engineering grad student, joins conversation

33:29 – 36:45 Biggest opportunities for improvement in standards for care for cancer

36:45 – 39:58 One decision he would have changed with his business

39:58 – 42:12 Norm’s advice to someone taking first step towards entrepreneurship

About Norm Potter

Norm Potter is the co-founder and co-owner of Allegiance Transportation, as well as the owner and Executive Director of the Winston Salem branch of Griswold Home Care. He graduated from Penn State with a degree in finance and economics.  

Download full episode transcript

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Dare to Disrupt is a podcast about Penn State alumni who are innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders, and the stories behind their success. Learn more.