Ryan Kennedy

Managing Member

Optimal Home Care LLC/DBA Comfort Keepers provides over 1,000 hours of care per day to hundreds of clients in the Gulf and SE FL coastal communities.  Our core values include “Respect for Others” and “Pride in Performance”.  We are committed to treating our clients, families and employees with respect and dignity and are proud make a positive impact in the lives of our clients every day. After 20+ successful years as a hospital executive, Ryan Kennedy, pursued his dream of owning a healthcare business when he purchased Optimal Home Care LLC in 2022.  Optimal Home Care LLC has since grown from two offices (Pensacola and Niceville) and 80 employees to ten offices and over 500 employees.  Ryan grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; went to college and graduate school in Minnesota and completed an administrative internship and residency at Mayo Clinic.  He served in various hospital executive positions including Chief Operating Officer for the 12 years leading up to the purchase of Optimal Home Care LLC.  Ryan’s interests include travel, sports – especially his Green Bay Packers, and spending time with his 4 daughters – Keara (20), Gwen (18), Holly (16) and Laura (14).

Jessica McBride

General Manager

Jessica McBride retired from the Air Force in 2022 after a 22-year career.  During that time, she worked as an ophthalmology technician, a human resource advisor, a practical nurse and chief enlisted manager.  During her last four years she was stationed at Keesler Air Force base in Biloxi, MS where she served as the hospital administrator, overseeing a multi-specialty in-patient facility with over 1500 employees.  Jessica grew up in New York and obtained her undergraduate degree in New Hampshire, where she studied anthropology.  In her free time Jessica enjoys getting her hands dirty in the garden, beating her husband at tennis, and spending time with her daughter and grandsons.

Jennifer Adams

Optimal Home Care’s Assistant General Manager

Jennifer Adams is originally from northern Wisconsin, where her family has lived on the same family farm for over 150 years. She moved throughout the country as a military family. Jennifer has worked in human services for over 30 years with a focus on community health, vocational rehabilitation, and geriatric home care. Jennifer enjoys traveling with her husband and embracing the diverse cultures along the way. They have three children who live throughout the states, whom they frequently travel to visit as well. They have a small farm where they spend most of their free time playing with the donkeys, goats, ducks, and other forever-growing farm life.

Shauna Barstow

Operations Manager

Shauna brings more than 15 years of diversified leadership experience spanning from healthcare to financial institutions. She takes pride in building strong, collaborative teams. She combines motivational leadership with process streamlining and technology to ensure the first contact clients have with us is professional, warm, comforting, and most importantly helpful. Shauna’s ultimate goal is to assist others in reaching their full potential.

Denise Kenney

RN, BSN

Denise knew she wanted to become an RN from an early age! As a teenager, Denise spent many hours as a candystriper in her local hospital. She attended the University of South Florida where she received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. During college, she worked with Hospice and continued her volunteering at the Shriners Hospital in Tampa, FL. Upon graduation, she worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa and gained valuable experience in the medical, surgical, urology, gynecology, and psychiatric units.  She then became the charge nurse in the special procedures unit and pain management unit.

In recent years while raising 4 children, Denise has done private duty nursing and has been an active volunteer within the community. As a Florida native, she knows the importance of supporting our growing population of seniors. She currently works part-time for a company that tests certified nursing assistant students before they receive their Florida state licensure.

Therefore, Denise expects the highest quality of care from our caregivers. Upon meeting Denise, you will immediately see that her positive attitude and smile will exemplify how as a Comfort Keeper she will “elevate the human spirit.”