Our Team
Shelly Sun
CEO
Shelly Sun is a cofounder of BrightStar and serves as its CEO. As the primary driver of BrightStar, Shelly’s mission is to build the most exceptional healthcare staffing company in the industry by providing outstanding and responsive service and building trust in client relationships. She is committed to ensuring that the BrightStar culture continues to value integrity and relationships above all else.
Shelly and her husband JD established BrightStar Healthcare in 2002 after experiencing several obstacles while seeking quality caregivers for JD’s grandmother. In 2005, BrightStar launched its franchising efforts, becoming the first and only franchising company in the country to specialize in both medical and non-medical homecare and healthcare staffing services. In three short years, BrightStar grew from one corporate office to 130 locations nationwide, and is now on track to open 400 locations by the end of 2011.
Shelly is a certified franchise executive (CFE) and participates on the International Franchise Association (IFA) Board of Directors, Membership Committee, Finance, Audit and Budget Committee, and FranPAC Advisory Council. Among numerous awards for her professional and community work, Shelly has been honored as the IFA’s 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year and as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist in 2008 and 2009.
Shelly is dedicated to furthering women in business and helping other entrepreneurs experience their own success. She has been active in a number of other organizations, including ATHENAPowerLink, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce’s Education in Entrepreneurship program, the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC), the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), and Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP).
BrightStar has been featured in a variety of print and broadcast media, including Entrepreneur magazine (one of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Led Companies, 2007-2010), Inc. magazine (Inc. 5000 in 2008, Inc. 500 in 2009), Franchise Times magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and Fox Business News.
Prior to starting BrightStar, Shelly had a busy executive career marked by rapid advancement and achievement. She is a certified public accountant with a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Tennessee.
JD Sun
Executive Vice President of Franchise Development/Cofounder
JD Sun is a cofounder and owner of BrightStar.
The creation of BrightStar stems from JD and Shelly’s journey with their late Grandma.
They were surprised how difficult it was to find quality healthcare professionals to help her. After Grandma passed, they reflected on their experience and realized that there were other families who were facing the same situation. Forever grateful for the help their caregivers provided during their time of need, they made a promise in 2002 that other families would receive the attention, care, and service that they needed and deserved.
Prior to BrightStar, JD was a trader at the CBOE for nearly a decade. He is a graduate of Knox College and received his MBA from Loyola University. They are the proud parents of twin sons!
Chuck Bailey
President
Charles (Chuck) Bailey is BrightStar’s president. He is responsible for operations strategy, franchise operations, field support, franchise M&A, and overall operating efficiencies of the BrightStar franchise system.
Prior to his current role, Chuck was a franchise owner and the first multi-unit area developer for BrightStar Healthcare in the Chicago market, where he developed BrightStar offices serving a population of more than one million people in the northwest and far west suburbs.
Previously, Chuck held a variety of senior executive positions with London-based Novar plc, including vice president quality assurance, vice president manufacturing operations, and general manager for the Clarke American Security Printing Division in San Antonio, Texas. Chuck also led the acquisition integration program and served as a division president for Novar’s Indalex Aluminum Extrusions Group based in Bannockburn, Illinois.
After a 15-year career with Novar, Chuck joined Parker Hannifin Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio, as general manager over all aspects of its $100 million Integrated Hydraulics Division. He also served as president of GreenOaks Consulting, specializing in business and operations strategy, quality systems, and performance management for multinational corporations such as Abbott. Chuck is a partner in Bailey Racing, his family’s thoroughbred horse racing business.
Chuck received his bachelor’s degree in industrial management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and his master’s degree in manufacturing and business from the University of Cambridge in England. Chuck is also a graduate of Harvard Law School’s Executive Program on Negotiation and Northwestern University’s Certified Financial Management Executive Program.
Chuck and his wife Joanna have four children and enjoy youth sports, outdoor activities, and the family horse racing business.
Wendy Lynch
Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications/Chief of Staff
As chief of staff, Wendy Lynch contributes to the success of the entire BrightStar organization through a wide range of responsibilities. Her duties include providing leadership and effective management in areas of administration, communication and infrastructure. Other key responsibilities include strategy development, goal management, project leadership and management of all special projects.
Wendy’s skills were sharpened over a 20-year career in a variety of industries, including retail, entertainment, hospitality, manufacturing and small business. Wendy established herself as a leader in client service, recruiting, management, operations, infrastructure development and strategic planning with organizations such as The Walt Disney Company, Nordstrom, and Point B Consulting. Prior to joining BrightStar, Wendy was vice president at Vucurevich-Simons Advisory Group, performing work relating to operations, systems, talent acquisition and organizational planning.
Kevin Werner
Vice President of Finance and Controller
Kevin Werner is the vice president of finance and controller for BrightStar. In this role, Kevin oversees financial reporting, accounting operations, budgeting and forecasting. Additionally, he is responsible for human resources, risk management, capital financing and treasury management.
Kevin has over 20 years of management experience directing complex operations, managing finances and developing strategic plans, most recently as vice president, controller for AIG Consumer Finance Group in New York. In addition, he has served as vice president accounting and reporting for Bank of Montreal, an integrated financial services organization; executive director of finance and controller for Essential Group, a leading pharmaceutical services company; treasurer for Cancer Treatment Centers of America, a privately held group of healthcare entities; and senior audit associate for Coopers & Lybrand, a big-six public accounting firm.
Kevin graduated cum laude with bachelor’s degrees in accounting, finance and marketing from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. He earned an MBA with highest honors from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and an international business certification from the University of Cambridge in England. He is an accredited certified public accountant from the University of Illinois.
Outside his professional career, Kevin enjoys officiating youth athletics and volunteering his time to various civic organizations. He is a member of Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa. Kevin and his wife Margaret have two children.
Dean Ulizio
Vice President of Technology
Dean Ulizio serves as the vice president of technology for BrightStar. He oversees and directs BrightStar’s technology platforms, IT department, and the development of new capabilities to help owners and their staff operate more effectively and efficiently.
Dean joined BrightStar in September of 2006 as a franchise owner and area developer for the Denver metro area of Colorado. Dean was the first BrightStar franchisee west of the Mississippi, opening offices in Boulder in 2006 and downtown Denver in 2008.
As a franchisee, Dean was an active contributor to BrightStar’s technology strategy and a staunch advocate for the BrightStar brand. His passion for improving BrightStar’s operational processes and technology platforms led to his current role, where he has the opportunity to leverage his experience in software development and his frontline knowledge of the BrightStar system to contribute to the success of all of BrightStar’s locations.
Prior to joining BrightStar as a franchisee, Dean had 15 years of experience in building process and technology infrastructure to drive operations, product development and revenue growth at both startups and Fortune 500 companies, including Level 3 Communications and Andersen Consulting (Accenture) Communications Industry Group. He has comprehensive experience in all aspects of general management, project management, and software development.
Jayson Pearl, CSA
Senior Vice President of Marketing
Jayson Pearl brings over 25 years of franchising experience to his current position as senior vice president of marketing and franchisee onboarding for BrightStar. In this role, Jayson oversees cross-functional teams responsible for brand development, clinical and quality excellence, new owner pre-opening, training, and initial launches for all of BrightStar’s franchise locations.
Prior to joining BrightStar, Jayson served the global franchise food-service industry, more recently as senior director of marketing for San Jamar/Chef Revival, where he was responsible for marketing and new product development for these global brands. Jayson also spent 15 years leading marketing and field operations for several large Burger King franchise groups and the regional pizza franchisor, Rocky Rococo Restaurants.
Jayson earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He is also a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA).
Lucy Grove
Assistant Vice President of Human Resources
Lucy Grove is BrightStar’s assistant vice president of human resources. Her role is to ensure that the corporate office has the best practices in place to help support franchise owners.
Lucy was first attracted to BrightStar by the caliber, energy and enthusiasm of the leadership team, but it was BrightStar’s dedication to its services that made her want to be part of the family.
Lucy is a certified senior professional of human resources (SPHR) with extensive generalist and leadership experience. Her professional affiliations include the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (ASHHRA), and the Illinois Employer Council. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and human resource management from Roosevelt University in Schaumburg, Illinois.
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