Our Home Care Aid Franchise Leadership

Lia Smith

CEO and Founder

Better Solution Franchise Services and A Better Solution In Home Care, in San Diego. Lia started as a caregiver and has since been a force in senior advocacy for the past 25 years. She has served her community relentlessly, advocating for senior issues at a state legislative level where she addresses critical subjects that affect the industry workforce, seniors, and the medically fragile.

Lia’s broad knowledge base has offered her the needed insight to author four books on aging-related and business management topics. After finding her own success in business, Lia turned her attention to mentoring. Becoming a SCORE mentor has enabled Lia to help dozens of her mentees achieve their dream of business ownership. In addition to her home care endeavors, she is also Principal Partner of A Better Solution Home Health Services.

Kurt Buske, MSW

President & Managing Partner

Kurt Buske, MSW, is one of the managing partners of A Better Solution Franchise Services. Kurt brings over 30 years of experience in the health and aging space with a focus on quality assurance, organization, and structure. Kurt’s work is dedicated to supporting and serving franchisees throughout their business journey. Kurt helps with licensing of all new systems and ensuring the systems remain in compliance once licensure is completed successfully.

Kurt’s long career in the health and aging space, experience leading senior focused organizations, and experience as a medical social worker provide invaluable expertise to ABS franchisees.

Weston Soto

VP of Operations

Weston joined A Better Solution Franchise System in October 2021 as the VP of National Business Development. His role entails leading all functions of the franchise system, that pertain to system growth, both individually and systemwide. His goal is to grow ABS’s reach and serve even more clients and families with the exceptional care A Better Solution is known for.

Weston first saw the power and value of home care when his grandfather’s professional caregiver became a part of the family, supporting him with genuine care at the end of his life. That personal experience led Weston to pursue a career in the home care industry where he has worked since 2015.

Prior to joining ABS, Weston was a Senior Market Development Manager at Honor, a leading nationwide home care operations and technology company. Prior to Honor, he was a Managing Director at 24 Hour Home Care, an innovative in-home care company, providing high-quality, customized, professional caregiving services to seniors and children/adults with developmental disabilities.

Weston uses his passion and deep knowledge of Home Care to elevate the care experience within each community that ABS serves. Weston has volunteered with the Alzheimer’s Association since 2017 and has served as the Educational Chair for the San Diego Regional Home Care Council since 2020.

In his spare time, Weston enjoys investing in real estate, staying active, traveling, and spending time with his family and friends.

Tim Valencia

VP of Franchise Development

Tim Valencia is a nationally recognized franchise development executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning franchising, operations, manufacturing, and national sales. He is widely respected for building scalable franchise growth systems, advising founders and executive teams, and helping brands expand with a strong focus on long-term success.

As Vice President of Franchise Development for a national senior care brand, Tim played a key role in growing the organization from an early-stage franchise system to more than 275 locations nationwide. Throughout his career, he has personally awarded and launched more than 200 franchise territories, guiding entrepreneurs through every stage of the process—from first inquiry to signed agreement and successful launch.

Known for his consultative, relationship-driven approach, Tim specializes in aligning growth strategy with operational readiness, brand integrity, and franchisee success. His background also includes overseeing teams of 300+ employees, leading national sales initiatives, and early career experience in aerospace carbon fiber research and development.

Diana Young

VP of Support

Diana Young has been with the A Better Solution (ABS) Team since 2002 and has played an integral part in the development of the ABS Culture of Care. Diana started with ABS as a caregiver and after two years caught the attention of the CEO, Lia. Diana’s friendly and approachable nature, coupled with her above-and-beyond attitude, are traits that set her apart.

Diana moved into the role of Care Manager, later, Director of Client Services and quickly began to use her community contacts for the good of ABS clients. The ABS Wrap-around model was born due to Diana’s ability to assess client needs and connect them with much-needed services, helping to fill the gaps in the continuum of care. Diana lends her passion to the marketing and case management training each franchisee receives while on-boarding.

Lynn Welch

VP of Growth

Lynn Welch brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience across home care, senior living, and healthcare operations to the A Better Solution (ABS) team. Known for her hands-on leadership style and practical approach to growth, Lynn has a proven track record of building scalable systems and developing high-performing teams. Her expertise in multi-site leadership and executive operations is instrumental in supporting the company’s continued expansion and its commitment to operational excellence.

As Vice President of Growth, Lynn leads the development of a results-focused coaching model designed to empower franchise owners. She focuses on providing structured, performance-driven support that emphasizes accountability and measurable outcomes, helping owners navigate financial and operational challenges. By aligning teams around clear goals, Lynn ensures that franchise partners build stronger, more profitable businesses while continuing to deliver the compassionate, high-quality care that defines the ABS mission.