The Quail House
Las Vegas, Nevada
The Quail House
Las Vegas, Nevada
Nicholas Kittle’s entrepreneurial journey sprouted from his desire to make a difference in the residential assisted living industry. Inspired by the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” Nicholas pursued various entrepreneurial ventures, but it wasn’t until his mentor suggested exploring the residential assisted living space that he found his calling. Witnessing the subpar conditions in Las Vegas’ current facilities, he was moved to create something better. With guidance from the RAL Academy and the pitfalls of trying to acquire a reputable existing business, Nicholas and his partners decided to build from the ground up, transforming a lovely home into a welcoming senior residence.
The road to establishing The Quail House was not without challenges, from dealing with unsupportive banks to the unexpected tribulations of the COVID-19 pandemic shortly after opening. Despite these setbacks, Nicholas’ determination shone through as he and his team rallied resources by creatively raising capital and leveraging their network of mentors. Today, The Quail House stands as a testament to perseverance and dedication, serving as a loving home for its residents where Nicholas continues to be actively involved. Nicholas’ advice to aspiring entrepreneurs underscores the importance of mentorship, smart financial planning, and the possibility of purchasing an existing business for quicker success.
A Place For Us
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
A Place For Us
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
When Bonita Ninneman came to the US twenty years ago as a nurse, she never imagined she’d one day own an 18-bed assisted living facility. After working in nursing homes for over a decade and running her own home care agency, she understood the harsh reality of senior care costs – witnessing clients pay $20,000-25,000 monthly for 24-hour care. During COVID-19’s quiet moments, she discovered RAL Academy through a real estate investment book, and Gene Guarino’s vision for personalized senior living struck a chord. Despite lacking the capital for a traditional purchase, Bonita’s determination and RAL Academy’s guidance led to a creative rent-to-own arrangement that made her dream achievable.
Today, Bonita operates A Place for Us, an 8,600-square-foot facility in Wisconsin that she transformed from a dark, outdated building into a bright, modern home. While the two-year renovation journey tested her resolve with building codes and state requirements, her nursing background became her greatest asset in training staff and accepting complex care cases that others might refuse. With a refreshingly honest motivation – creating an affordable, quality place where she herself would want to live when older – Bonita has simplified her pricing structure and maintains direct relationships with both caregivers and residents. Her message to aspiring operators is clear: you don’t need massive capital, just determination, the willingness to hire experts, and the courage to leverage what you have.
Silverbell Homestead
Fletcher, North Carolina
Silverbell Homestead
Fletcher, North Carolina
After eighteen years witnessing the impersonal care in large senior living facilities through her home care company, Rae Booth knew there had to be a better way. When a real estate friend introduced her to Gene Guarino and RAL Academy in 2019, she discovered the missing piece to her vision – understanding how to blend real estate ownership with her operational expertise. Motivated by the desire to create a loving home for her own aging mother, Rae embarked on a three-year journey to transform a six-acre property with a ranch house into Silverbell Homestead. Though her mother passed away just three days before receiving their certificate of occupancy, that profound loss became the fuel that carried Rae through the challenges of building during the pandemic.
Today, Silverbell Homestead thrives as a 13-bed assisted living and memory care home in North Carolina’s western mountains, where residents who arrived unable to walk, eat, or engage are transformed within days or weeks. By strategically choosing North Carolina’s MAHS certification structure and leveraging her existing home care license, Rae avoided heavy state regulation while maintaining high standards. Despite initial challenges with well water and septic systems, she’s achieved the work-life balance she envisioned – present on-site just three days a week while maintaining both her home care company and the RAL. Her transparent, room-based pricing model and focus on creating an environment where both residents and staff thrive has proven that smaller, personalized communities aren’t just better for elders – they’re sustainable, profitable businesses that honor the dignity of aging.
Northern Living Center
Wasilla, Alaska
Northern Living Center
Wasilla, Alaska
After spending over a decade in real estate investing, Thao Le discovered RAL Academy through Facebook but initially lacked the confidence to pursue assisted living. When Northern Living Center came up for sale in Alaska, she and her partners seized the opportunity, purchasing the existing 12-bed facility in August 2023. The turning point came when they attended RAL Academy’s three-day training class, which transformed their approach from simply acquiring a business to building a purposeful community of care. Through RAL Academy’s comprehensive support system—from securing funding through their banking network to implementing electronic health records—Thao and her team overcame their initial fears about staff retention and resident satisfaction to establish a thriving operation that primarily serves Medicaid residents.
Now confidently expanding beyond their first successful venture, Thao has left her W-2 job to focus entirely on growing their assisted living empire. With a 16-bed facility currently under construction from the ground up in Alaska, and ambitious plans for facilities in Georgia and Ohio, she’s building systematic operations that allow her partnership team to remain largely hands-off while their trusted administrator manages day-to-day operations. RAL Academy didn’t just teach Thao the mechanics of running an assisted living home—it fundamentally shifted her mindset from managing properties to answering a calling. As she puts it, she now leads with confidence, supports caregivers with intention, and connects with residents on a deeper level, creating not just a business, but a true community of care.
Evergreen Gardens
Strongsville, Ohio
Evergreen Gardens
Strongsville, Ohio
When Joshua Early and Eric Schodowski discovered residential assisted living through a podcast featuring Gene Guareno, they recognized an opportunity that aligned with their entrepreneurial aspirations and desire to serve others. Both having witnessed family members struggle with traditional care—Eric’s grandfather battling dementia and his grandmother needing quality assisted living—they attended RALAcademy’s Fast Track program in December 2021. Despite maintaining demanding careers from different states, they secured financing through personal capital, repositioned assets, and investor funding to bring their vision to life.
Through persistence and RALAcademy’s guidance, they overcame initial city resistance and built Evergreen Gardens—an 8,000-square-foot home featuring sixteen private rooms with all-inclusive pricing. By assembling a trusted team led by Eric’s aunt Michelle, who brought 20 years of expertise, they’ve created a thriving business while maintaining other careers. Their journey from that first inspiring podcast to welcoming Eric’s grandmother as their first resident demonstrates how the right support system can transform both personal dreams and the lives of seniors who deserve better than institutional care.
Providence Assisted Living Solutions
Fulshear, Texas
Providence Assisted Living Solutions
Fulshear, Texas
When Jude and Emelda Tomdio first explored opening an assisted living facility specializing in HIV care, they hit a devastating funding roadblock that left their dreams stalled for three years. Their personal connection to senior care—Jude growing up helping his surgical nurse father with daily living needs, and Emelda caring for grandparents with dementia and Alzheimer’s—fueled their determination to find another path. After discovering RALAcademy in 2023, they finally found the guidance and lender connections that transformed their vision into reality, despite facing multiple property setbacks, losing earnest money, and enduring an eight-month construction delay.
Through unwavering patience and dedication while maintaining their regular careers, Jude and Emelda successfully opened Providence Assisted Living Solutions in January 2025—a 4,900 square foot home serving the Houston metro area with an average rate of $6,600. Their journey from initial roadblock to grand opening took two years and five months, proving that with the right support system and determination, even the most challenging obstacles can be overcome. Now operating with experienced management and serving multiple surrounding communities, they’ve created the supportive environment they envisioned while building a sustainable business model that honors their deep personal commitment to senior care.
Angel’s Haven Care
Rancho Mirage, California
Angel’s Haven Care
Rancho Mirage, California
When Johnny Mazariegos and Ricardo Garcia witnessed their own family members struggling with care needs – Johnny’s father-in-law facing early dementia and Ricardo caring for his aging parents in his home – they knew they had to create something better. Their shared understanding of caregiving challenges inspired them to partner together and transform their experience into a mission-driven business. Through guidance from RALAcademy, they established Angel’s Haven Care, now operating four successful residential assisted living homes across Southern California.
Driven by their commitment to creating genuine home environments, Johnny and Ricardo have revolutionized their properties with thoughtful design elements – from relocated kitchens that encourage staff-resident interaction to preserved features like pianos and golf course views that maintain familiar comforts. Now successfully operating four fully-occupied locations with their newest facility already housing residents weeks after opening, they’re rapidly expanding while maintaining their personal, family-centered approach. Their proven systems demonstrate that it’s possible to build a thriving business rooted in genuine care, helping other families find the homelike environment they wished had been available during their own caregiving journeys.
A Home Away From Home
Virginia Beach, Virginia
A Home Away From Home
Virginia Beach, Virginia
After witnessing his uncles receive inadequate care in traditional facilities, Dr. Victor Archie decided to transform senior living through RAL Academy’s guidance. Despite encountering significant regulatory hurdles in Virginia, his persistence led to creating a unique 12-bedroom facility in Virginia Beach that accommodates up to 24 residents, including couples who wish to remain together—addressing a critical gap in senior care options.
Dr. Archie’s vision goes beyond traditional care by incorporating Montessori principles, emphasizing human connection, and creating an environment that combats isolation. By removing in-room televisions to encourage community interaction and focusing on nutrition, physical activity, and cognitive stimulation, his “Home Away from Home” aims to disrupt industry norms. With plans to expand throughout Virginia’s seven cities, Dr. Archie’s model demonstrates how healthcare professionals can transition from being “part of the problem” to creating dignified living solutions for the growing senior population.
Pivotal Assisted Living
Springfield, Virginia
Pivotal Assisted Living
Springfield, Virginia
With seventeen years as a registered nurse and a family legacy of caregiving, Shauna Toussaint recognized that seniors often dreaded institutional settings. Inspired by RAL Academy’s philosophy to “do good and do well,” she joined their training during the pandemic, determined to create a home-like alternative where seniors could receive personalized care.
Despite working full-time, Shauna navigated Virginia’s strict regulations and transformed a property into a seven-bedroom residential care home. Using RAL Academy’s resources, she implemented effective systems and processes that distinguished her facility from traditional options, eventually allowing her to transition from nursing to full-time ownership.
Now operating at capacity with her first facility, Shauna has established a sustainable business model with rates between $8,000-9,000 monthly. With plans for expansion, her advice to aspiring RAL owners remains clear: “If it’s been put on your heart to start something like this, do not wait.”
A Paradise for Parents
Surprise, Arizona
A Paradise for Parents
Surprise, Arizona
When Hal Cranmer discovered residential assisted living through a real estate investment podcast, he transformed from a Minnesota house flipper into an innovative senior care provider in Arizona. Through guidance from RALAcademy, he established A Paradise for Parents in 2015, growing from one home to a thriving network of four facilities, each designed to revolutionize traditional senior care approaches.
Driven by his belief that senior living should focus on rehabilitation rather than mere maintenance, Hal developed a unique healthcare-focused niche combining physical fitness, nutrition, and cutting-edge therapies. His innovative approach has produced remarkable transformations – from wheelchair-bound residents learning to walk again to dramatic improvements in dementia symptoms – attracting residents from across the country and creating a model that proves how combining compassionate care with innovative health protocols can transform the senior living experience.