Today we’d like to introduce you to Marci Walters.
Hi Marci, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m originally from Long Island New York and moved to Houston from Boston about 15 years ago. I went to college at the University of Hartford and did my senior internship at a skilled nursing community in Connecticut. Once graduating with a bachelors degree in psychology I sold seminconducters for about 15 years for Arrow Electronics a Fortune 500 company that ranked #154 in 2025 based on 2024 revenue. After my second daughter was born I wanted to stay home with them and temporarily “retired”….then Houston came calling…..moved to Bellaire raised the kids and then needed more…….
Once I moved to Houston and my kids became older it was time for me to go back to work. I decided I would start part time and go from there. Well, I had a friend whose CFO of a local senior living and he recommended me for a part time sales job on the weekends. Once I get back into the swing of sales it was time to go back full time….then went to another community full time as director of businees development…From there I worked as a director of sales and marketing in other local communities.
After about 10 years I was approached from a “referral” agency to see if I was interested in placing people in communities and are compensated by the community…..so the experience working in communities gives me the knowledge and experience to better assist people in the process of picking a new home. Like a realtor. Except for senior living only. I understand the process and how to make it successful. So instead of one community I can sell all of them. After she shut down about a year later it was time I started my own business with.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s never a smooth road but that’s what makes my own business exciting and challenging. It’s a tough “business” because you’re dealing with people at end of life. Not as “sexy” as beginning of life so to speak. They are trying to get through a healthcare system that is private, complicated, and run by insurance companies. Not like other countries who have socialized medicine. Medicare too….there are so many different policies out there. Most people don’t know they have the wrong policy until it’s too late… Another challenge is growth. We are a free service and have so many relationships that we want to make sure we are helping people during this very vulnerable time in their lives.
I would say the biggest challenge is how unprepared people can be for getting older. They have no plan in place. For this I believe there need to family discussions prior to a crisis….
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in senior living communities as that’s where I have 10 years experience as a dierector of sales and marketing. I assist loved ones in finding a senior community for their loved one free of charge. I also consider myself a concierge service as I can refer everything senior in the Houston community…from movers to hospice
What sets me apart from my competition is I have the experience of working in the community and I am not a franchise so I can share the profits more with employees rather than a company. I didn’t purchase anything…all my relationships and contacts are organic. This is the largest medical center in the world….there’s plenty for everyone…..
Again, I’m a concierge placement finder. I go beyond just the community and have the knowledge, experience, and contacts for everything senior….If I don’t know I’ll find you the person that does.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
How I treat others in the industry…..always with respect…doesn’t matter who it is….do the same right thing for everyone and you don’t have to worry who is who. The caretakers, servers, maintenance, cleaners….NObody is better than anyone else. .They are the most important people in the community…..they do all the work…not the sales person… and it’s hard work too. I always have to remind families that the caretakers are hired for their caretaking abilities not their communitcation skills with families……..and that’s the way it should be….
Always doing the right thing….
There are others that do what I do………..I place people in the right community not the community that compensates me the best. It evens out in the end….
I’ve always been told through my career that I’m tenacouios. Never give up….right is right…period
I have a special skill of working through insurance companies…and unfortunately our healtchare system is run by insurance companies.
I explain things to families….simple….When families get upset it’s because they feel their lives are out of control…There are reasons things are done in communities …..Once I explain why and how it removes that anxiety
Tell the truth upfront. The one hour it takes to do it right upfront saves time and trust in the five hours it takes you to fix it
I’m a big gabber but the sales rule is 80/20…….80% listening 20% talking…..
humor…..if we don’t laugh we will cry
Pricing:
- FREE
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iworkwithmarci.com
- Instagram: marciwalters
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/marciwalters.2025
