Martin Miller is a co-founder of the company which originated in 1990. In his early career, Martin entered the work world as a journalist and was city editor for the Valdosta Daily Times in 1971 when he was recruited to join the staff of the Coastal Plains Area Planning and Development Commission, later to become known as the South Georgia Regional Development Center (RDC). While at the newspaper, he won numerous awards for reporting, photography, and feature-writing excellence. While at the RDC, Martin developed several programs that brought funding and expertise to the city and county governments and businesses in the 10-county area. Those efforts resulted in the creation of an economic development revolving loan fund, a Small Business Administration fixed asset financing program, and a credit union that served all government employees throughout the region. He was the assistant executive director when he left the RDC in 1986. 

Eldercare was the forerunner of Coastal Home Care. The company was begun by his wife Laura Lynn in 1978 as a home nurse registry, and by 1986 Martin was at the helm due to the company’s rapid expansion. He restructured the company, changed its name to “Southern Home Care Services” and continued growing it. 

During the period of growth of both the assisted living and home care companies, Martin was instrumental in the creation and leadership of various trade associations for the industry and was deeply involved in industry government relations activities. 

 

Martin is a 1966 graduate of Valdosta State University. He served in the U.S. Air Force before returning to Valdosta where he was a community leader in economic and industrial development efforts, having served on the Valdosta/Lowndes County Industrial Authority for eleven years where he was twice elected chairman. Martin was also deeply involved in the leadership of Temple Israel in Valdosta, having served as its president for two years. 

As CHC/Altrus President, Martin continues to contribute his counsel at the board level and is still the company’s direction-setter on strategic development decisions and legislative matters.