For David Kapojos, military service was never just about completing a mission. It was about responsibility, teamwork and taking care of the people beside him. Today, as the owner of FirstLight Home Care businesses in Pasadena, San Gabriel, Burbank, Glendale, and Chino Hills, Kapojos is bringing those same principles to a new mission: helping seniors, veterans and families have their best day, every day with the support of compassionate in-home care.
Kapojos enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2000 and began his career as an infantry soldier. He was deployed to Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2012 before transitioning into military police. He also served in a 74 Delta CBRM role and transferred to a reserve unit in 2010. After 20 years of service, he began his next chapter with FirstLight Home Care in 2018.
“I had planned my retirement and initially thought I would continue my career in the military,” Kapojos said. “But I decided I wanted to have my own business.”
The decision to enter home care was deeply personal. Kapojos’ father was a physician who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 60. As his father’s needs increased, the family experienced firsthand how difficult it could be to find a caregiver who could provide the right level of support.
“It was incredibly difficult to find someone who could provide my dad with the care he needed,” Kapojos said. “That experience showed me how many families struggle to find dependable, compassionate support for their loved ones. It inspired me to find a better way to help seniors receive the care and dignity they deserve.”
Although Kapojos had no background in the home care industry, he began researching his options and discovered FirstLight Home Care. He immediately connected with the franchise’s training, systems and service model, which aligned with the kind of business he wanted to build.
“When I initially started looking into FirstLight, I got hooked right away,” he said. “Their mission was aligned with what I was looking for. I served my country for 20 years and now it is time for me to serve my community in honor of my dad.”
Kapojos credits his military experience with helping him navigate the challenges of business ownership. It has shaped how he approaches decisions and manages his team.
“In the military, we do not quit. We keep going,” he said. “Through that experience, I learned discipline, teamwork and leadership skills which are all vital to opening a business and managing people.”
His leadership style is built on trust and accountability. Kapojos says he learned in the Army that experienced professionals have a responsibility to do their jobs without being micromanaged. He applies that same approach to his FirstLight team.
He also views caregiving as a team effort, from caregivers on the front lines serving families to the team answering the call when there is an immediate need. Each staff member has an important role, but the work depends on everyone working together to support the client and family.
One of Kapojos’ priorities as a franchise owner is serving veterans, whom he considers part of his extended family. That commitment became especially meaningful when he met a Vietnam War veteran who had struggled to accept care and bounced from agency to agency.
When Kapojos arrived at the veteran’s home for an assessment, he quickly realized the man needed more than help with daily care. Their shared military background opened the door to a conversation that lasted for hours, as they talked about service, life and the challenges of aging. What began as a care assessment became a meaningful connection built on trust and understanding.
“When I met him, I realized he was not just looking for a caregiver. He was lonely and needed someone who would listen and understand where he was coming from,” Kapojos said. “As a fellow U.S. Army veteran, I understood the military lingo and the connection we shared. That helped me earn his trust, and he has been a loyal client for two years.”
Kapojos hopes his story encourages other veterans to consider franchising. He entered business ownership without knowing how to run a home care company, but he found that a franchise provided the foundation, training and systems to help him build the necessary expertise.
“I started with nothing,” he said. “The only things I knew were strategy, teamwork and combat missions. I knew nothing about opening a business. But a franchise gives you the foundation and systems that allow you to be successful.”
For Kapojos, the military mission has changed, but the purpose remains familiar. Through FirstLight Home Care, he and his team serve seniors across Los Angeles County, including veterans and older adults who want to remain independent at home.
“Many people in our community are lonely and need support,” he said. “We are proud to serve them, especially veterans. It is our honor to provide comfort, help them maintain their independence and support them at home.”