Meet our founder
Katie Huston Payne
Owner & CEO
Katie’s path to caregiving began far outside the traditional health-care world. A five-time high school state champion, she earned a full track and academic scholarship to Mississippi State University, where she completed both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in mathematics.
She later began a PhD program in Instructional Systems and Workforce Development, completing all required coursework and passing her comprehensive examinations. With only her dissertation remaining, an experience during a Christmas break changed the direction of her life.
While working in her aunt’s private home during that Christmas break, Katie fell in love with the personal, home-centered approach to supporting older adults. She saw how meaningful it was for each person to be truly known—not treated as part of a one-size-fits-all system. That experience inspired her to step away from her doctoral path and build Caretakers.
“Mathematics taught me how to study a problem, recognize patterns, and build a solution that works. I bring that same thinking to care—learning the individual, understanding what matters to them, and creating a thoughtful plan around their unique needs.”
Today, Katie’s discipline, strong work ethic, and analytical background shape every part of Caretakers. Her approach is never cookie-cutter: every person deserves an individualized system of support designed to help them feel comfortable, respected, and cared for.
Caregiving is also woven into Katie’s family story. As a fourth-generation caretaker, she now sees the path that brought her here as more than a career change—it may have been her calling all along.