Today’s #RealLifeWonderWoman uses her superpowers to enhance the lives of seniors and provide much needed respite for caregivers. Julie Schomer is the director and owner of A Home for the Day. I had the pleasure of meeting Julie last week and was intrigued by her career path and the incredible service she and her team are providing for families in Central Minnesota. I’m excited to introduce you to her today.

Read on and get to know real life Wonder Woman, Julie Schomer!

KR: Julie, will you share your backstory? What path did you take to end up here as owner of an adult day care center?

JS: I am a St. Cloud native graduating from Tech HS and the College of St. Benedict. I majored in Psychology and studied abroad in Australia (amazing and want to go back). I started my career at Spee Dee Delivery in Human Resources. From there, I earned a Master’s in HR then moved onto a small marketing agency in Willmar as the HR Manager. In that time I met and married Daryl Schomer. In 2019 after a difficult infertility journey, we had our sweet baby boy Camden, now 4 years old, and what a gift! About the time COVID arrived and shook up everything, my mom was looking to retire. I felt a shift in my own career direction and a desire to take over my mom’s adult day center so I slowly starting working into the business and bought it from her in 2023.

KR: Please tell us about what brings you joy and fulfillment.

JS: Being with my child after thinking I would never have one brings me great joy. I sincerely cherish the moments with him.

I also get immense fulfillment with my work and connecting seniors to opportunities otherwise not available to them at the adult day center. It’s not just me, it also usually requires a caregiver or social worker to connect them with us. Members of our club have access to (critical) socialization, health monitoring, and opportunities to keep physical and cognitive skills sharp. To be able to be a part of the puzzle to keep seniors living at home as long as possible is an incredible honor. It sounds too big but there are many instances that our program gives real purpose to our members.

One of our families made the comment that their person (senior) would not be alive without our program. That’s a wild measure of success for me.

KR: We all have inner superpowers. What are some of yours?

JS: I’m motivated by continuous improvement. I can read or learn concepts and execute on them. I’m inspired by the 1% better theory. If I keep make small 1% improvements in my life and work that’s going to be a pretty good life.

KR: Can you tell us about an influential woman in your life and how she inspired you?

JS: My mom has definitely had the most impact with me. She built a successful business with my dad and it all got blown up with the divorce. She picked up the pieces, got stronger and created a beautiful new life for herself with A LOT of hard work and grit. She didn’t accept working for someone else with a limited salary cap, so she started her own business again and built it up. She continues to impress me. At 74, she made it to the top of a volcano hike in Hawaii with 20-30 year younger family members.

KR: If you could have one super-human power, what would it be?

JS: Breathe underwater and not get cold. I’m fascinated by sea turtles.

KR: What do you do for fun? What are your hobbies?

JS: Yoga, golf, crochet, hike, glamping, biking, I like to be on a boat. Trying to be a gardener.

KR: Knowing what you know at this stage of your life, what words of wisdom would you give to your 20-year-old self?

JS: Be brave. Try something scary.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Julie’s business, A Home for The Day.