About New Estuary Home Care
Meet our team of professional caregivers, who strive every day to provide personalized, high-quality in-home care to your loved ones.
Our Team
The entire New Estuary Team, from office staff to
caregivers, are experienced, reliable
professionals, who take pride in what they do.
Jessica Puttbach
OWNER & AGENCY DIRECTOR
(910)541-1160 ext 1
jessica@newestuaryhomecare.com
Jessica founded New Estuary Home Care with a clear and heartfelt mission, to provide seniors with the highest quality care in their final years. For Jessica, this work is deeply personal. It is not just about running a business, but about making a real and lasting impact in her community.
With experience managing a home care agency in another state, Jessica saw the industry’s challenges up close: impersonal systems, overworked staff, and families left without the support they truly needed. She knew there had to be a better way, so she built one. Her unique model blends the best of traditional home care with the thoughtful oversight of geriatric care management, creating a service rooted in compassion, professionalism, and dignity. At the core of her approach is a commitment to hiring and retaining only the most dedicated, skilled caregivers, people who treat every client like family.
Why “New Estuary” people often ask.
An estuary is where a river meets the sea, a place of connection, transformation, and new life. That is exactly what Jessica set out to create, a meeting point where compassion meets expertise, where families find support, and where care truly comes together.
Outside of work, Jessica finds joy in time with her husband and children. She loves cooking, reading, photography, and listening to her son, a talented musician, playguitar, sax, drums, and sings. One of her favorite pastimes is hunting for shark teeth on beautiful Topsail Island. She is also committed to service and has volunteered with local Meals on Wheels programs, organized food drives, started a lending closet for seniors, as well as launched a monthly dementia support group.
Jessica’s journey with New Estuary Home Care is driven by her powerful belief, that seniors deserve not just care, but care that uplifts, respects, and honors them. When we care deeply for others, we all rise together.
Alex Chalman
AGENCY Assistant DIRECTOR, Registered Nurse/ NA I Instructor
Alex has worked in the healthcare industry since 2008. Throughout her career she has held various nursing roles and worked in many different clinical settings. She obtained an associate degree in nursing in 2013 from Mira Costa College and then a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2019 from Winston-Salem State University.
Her care experience has ranged from birth to the elderly and she enjoys taking care of people in every season of life.
Outside of work, Alex is a busy mom of 3. Her family enjoys spending warm days at the beach or pool. In her free time she likes to bake and tend her many plants.
Rachel Hofmann
Registered Nurse/ NA I Instructor
Rachel is thrilled to be serving and sharing her knowledge within the community she and her family call home. As a Registered Nurse for over 15 years, she is a strong advocate for those she cares for and believes everyone should receive quality care while being treated with compassion and kindness.
Rachel graduated nursing school in 2008 and went on to obtain her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida in 2011. She is passionate about providing education as well as emotional support to our clients and their loved ones. Rachel is proud to be a part of our growing team of true professionals who care immensely about their clients. In addition to supervising the care of our clients, she provides continuing education and training to our staff ensuring they are always ready to provide the care we expect.
Outside of work, Rachel is a military spouse and mom to three small children. She enjoys crafting, traveling and being outdoors with her family.
Michelle Tappan
Registered Nurse
(910)541-1160 ext 4
michelle@newestuaryhomecare.com
Michelle began working in the healthcare industry in 2011 and is a dedicated Registered Nurse and Certified Case Manager with a diverse background in patient care across all stages of life. She graduated from the College of Central Florida School of Nursing in 2018 and has since gained experience in labor and delivery, the emergency department, and case management. Throughout her career, she has cared for patients with serious medical conditions, managed complex cases, and coordinated care for injured workers, ranging from minor injuries to life-altering conditions.
Michelle is passionate about home care because it allows seniors to maintain the best possible quality of life while aging with dignity in the comfort of their own homes. She believes that receiving care at home helps elderly individuals stay connected to their communities and continue participating in the moments that matter most.
Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time outdoors, boating, going to the beach, and cheering on her son at his sports games.
Kimberly Quiroz
Talent Acquisition Specialist
(910)541-1160 ext 2
kimberly@newestuaryhomecare.com
Kim’s journey into healthcare began early in life, spending countless hours by her grandmother’s side, shelling peas on the living room floor and jarring vegetables in the kitchen. Her grandmother’s love and encouragement, including sewing her first pair of scrubs in third grade, left a lasting impact. That deep rooted admiration grew into a calling when she later became one of her grandmother’s caregivers.
Originally from Georgia, Kim began her professional caregiving career in an assisted living facility in 2020 and quickly discovered her passion for working with the elderly. After taking a short break to pursue a certification in Cardiovascular Technology, she became a certified cardiovascular technician.
Now living in the coastal Carolinas thanks to her husband’s service in the Marine Corps, Kim has embraced the charm of the area’s small beach towns. When she’s not working, you can find her relaxing at home with her beloved Dalmatian, Meatball.
Alma Birdsong
Scheduling Manager
(910)541-1160 ext 3
alma@newestuaryhomecare.com
As Scheduling Manager at New Estuary, Alma oversees the master schedule for both clients and care team members, ensuring seamless coordination and consistent care. After a year of working overnight triage and weekend scheduling, Alma’s reliability, calm under pressure, and strong communication skills made her a natural fit for this vital leadership role.
Originally from Illinois, Alma has always felt called to help others, which is something that deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic. She became a Certified Nursing Assistant in July 2020 and immediately began working in a hospital’s COVID unit. While the experience was meaningful, the fast-paced hospital environment left her wanting more personal, meaningful connections with those she cared for. She made the difficult decision to leave bedside nursing to find a different path in healthcare.
In 2024, after time spent raising her two sons and exploring other career opportunities, Alma returned to the field as a dedicated caregiver with New Estuary. Her passion for client comfort and genuine connection remains at the heart of everything she does.
Outside of work, Alma enjoys spending time outdoors with her boys or relaxing with them on the couch watching Disney classics.
Martika Mangum
Evening Schuedler
(910)541-1160 ext 3
martika@newestuaryhomecare.com
Martika was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and started her journey in the medical field in 2008. Inspired by the strong, caring women in her family who worked in hospitals, she trained as a medical assistant and quickly discovered how much she loved getting to know patients and hearing their stories.
While working in the field, Martika also became the primary caregiver for her grandfather, caring for him and managing his home until his passing. That experience changed everything for her. She realized that home care was where she truly belonged. It felt more personal, more meaningful, and allowed her to build real relationships with the people she cared for.
She joined New Estuary Home Care in January 2025, and was part of their first Nurse Aide One Program cohort and earned her CNA certification in June, also joining New Estuary’s admin team, as part of our scheduling dream team. Martika continues to provide wonderful one on one care to our clients, providing a calm and reassuring presence. She’s proud to be part of a team that puts people first.
Maddi Lund
Weekend Scheduler
(910)541-1160 ext 3
maddi@newestuaryhomecare.com
Originally from Minnesota, Maddi pursued a bachelors in Art Education at Mankato State University, then switched gears to complete a term with the Montana Forest Service in 2022. After returning home to Minnesota, she began her career in healthcare. Starting as a Nursing Assistant for Ebenezer Assisted Living she continued to grow her love and passion for caregiving, including caring for both of her late grandparents. This was where she learned that her journey in healthcare was her true purpose. After varying positions within the healthcare industry, she found herself back in the extremely fulfilling role of caregiving.
Maddi began her journey with New Estuary Home Care in January of 2025, starting as a caregiver and completing the Nursing Assistant Program, where she has fallen in love with caregiving all over again. She enjoys the deep and everlasting connection she makes with her clients and loved ones, and being a part of all the wonderful experiences that home care can provide. Outside of work you can find her painting, crafting, and hanging outside with her cat, Junebug. She enjoys furthering her education to better care for her clients, and creating an artistic space for them.
Maribel Trujillo
Overnight Triage
(910)541-1160
maribel@newestuaryhomecare.com
Born and raised in Southern California, she found her way into home health care after moving to the area in 2021. What started as a caregiver role quickly turned into a deeper calling, she became a Nurse Aide earlier this year. Her passion for caring for others began long before her professional journey, though. Growing up as the oldest of five in a chaotic home, she stepped into the role of caretaker for her younger siblings. There wasn’t much encouragement to rise above their circumstances, but something in her knew she had to break the cycle.
Those early experiences taught her how to love unconditionally, protect fiercely, and truly see and understand people. That foundation eventually led her to healthcare, where she now channels those same values into every client she cares for.
She often says, “Life didn’t give me lemons, but that’s okay. I grew my own and made lemonade.” That mindset fuels her work today. She’s passionate about being a voice and source of safety for others, which is exactly why she’s proud to be part of the New Estuary team. The collaborative, hands-on approach to client care is what sets this company apart and aligns perfectly with her personal mission to uplift and protect. Outside of work, she’s a go-with-the-flow kind of gal who enjoys playing guitar, drawing, and soaking in all kinds of music, especially rock, funk, and oldies. You’ll often find her at tribute band shows, discovering new coffee shops, or curled up with her pups for a well-earned nap.
Krista Hayes
Overnight Triage
(910)541-1160
Krista is dedicated caregiver with over 20 years of experience and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) with a passion for providing one-on-one care that truly makes a difference. Since joining New Estuary in January, I’ve brought kindness, compassion, and a whole lot of heart to every home I enter. After moving to North Carolina in December, I’ve loved getting to know the community, especially the beach!
What I value most about home care is the chance to focus fully on one person at a time. It allows me to build real connections and provide the kind of attentive, meaningful care that everyone deserves. I believe that small acts of kindness- whether it’s a home cooked meal, a shared laugh, or just being present- can have a big impact.
When I’m not caring for others, I’m usually tending to my plants, experimenting in the kitchen, or exploring new restaurants with my friends. I also love reading and gardening- two quiet passions that keep me grounded and growing.
Vanessa Jordan
Lead Caregiver
Vanessa Jordan is a dedicated caregiver on New Estuary’s clinical team. After completing high school, in Las Vegas, she joined the Marine Corps, showcasing her commitment to serving others. With a passion for healthcare, Vanessa has been actively involved in the field since 2016, gaining valuable experience along the way. Currently, she is pursuing her aspirations of becoming a respiratory therapist by attending UNCW.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Vanessa is a loving mother to an eight-year-old daughter who brings joy to her life. Their household is further enriched by the presence of three cats and a brand new dog, who recently became a cherished member of their family. Vanessa loves the beach, indulging in a good book, enjoys taking her daughter to the park, and the thrill of shopping.
With her exceptional caregiving skills, Vanessa brings both value and joy to our clients.
Katy Scott
Culinary Specialist
As a New Estuary’s Home Care Culinary Specialist, Katy Scott ensures clients receive nutritious, personalized meals. Her responsibilities include menu planning, grocery shopping, meal preparation, and training aides. Katy works closely with clients, caregivers, and NEHC RNs to create effective meal plans for those needing this service.
Katy Scott is a dedicated team member with a passion for food and nutrition. She believes meals should be both delicious and nourishing. With over 20 years of professional food service experience, she now seeks to share her passion with our clients. In the caregiving field since 2021, Katy truly loves working with people and showing compassion and respect.
Born in California, Katy has traveled and lived all over the United States before settling in North Carolina with her husband, two children, three dogs, one cat, fish, and a snake.
When not working, Katy enjoys reading and gardening. She recently completed New Estuary’s CNA program.
What Sets Us Apart
We Offer Continuing Education Classes to our Caregivers.
The state of North Carolina requires all non-medical in-home caregivers complete two in-service units a year on Bloodborne Pathogens and Standard Precautions in the Workplace. At New Estuary Home Care, we are committed to offering additional education courses to our caregivers in an effort to improve their professional skills, in order to provide the best possible care for your loved ones. These education modules are supervised by our Registered Nurse.
Sophisticated Screening Process to Identify the Best Possible Caregivers.
We are extremely selective in our hiring process. All caregivers go through a series of interviews where they are asked a combination of clinical questions to assess their skills, as well as hypothetical scenarios. We carefully consider their responses, as well as their personalities, before moving to the next stages of our hiring process. Our hiring process then includes an extensive reference check, national background check, consent to a 4-panel drug screening, a Department of Motor Vehicle Records Check, and checking the North Carolina Department of Health Care Registry to ensure they are in good standing.
We are Licensed and Insured.
We are a state-licensed home care agency that maintains employer taxes, workers compensation insurance and unemployment insurance. Additionally our employees are W2 employees, not independent contractors. This takes the burden of employment off of clients and their families, and provides peace of mind that a professional caregiver has been chosen for them.
We Treat our Caregivers Like Family.
We believe that by caring for and supporting our care team, our care team will care for and support our clients. Our care team is a handpicked group of experienced, compassionate, reliable, professionals that give us a competitive edge. We appreciate the work they do and regularly acknowledge their passion.
We Offer Competitive Wages and Advancement
We attract and retain the best of the best in the industry by providing them with a positive management team, competitive wages, and the respect they deserve. Additionally, we try our very best to make them feel like an integral part of our team, by keeping them updated on the company’s growth.
For our caregivers, we offer a Personal Care Aide certification for free, instructed by our Registered Nurse.
Caregiver Spotlight
Each month, we recognize one of our awesome caregivers for their outstanding work.
How Can We Help?
We help with the difficult decisions. If you have a loved one who needs in-home care in the Cape Fear Region, take the first step towards peace of mind and contact New Estuary Home Care today. We provide professional, reliable services from experienced, compassionate caregivers.
