About Us - CareTaker Transportation

Our Story

How personal experiences led to a passion for transportation services

CareTaker Transportation was founded in 2020 by Kayla Watkins and Danyele Blount, two friends who recognized a critical need in the Peoria community.

Kayla's grandmother struggled to find reliable transportation to her weekly medical appointments after she could no longer drive. At the same time, Danyele was helping coordinate rides for her uncle who needed regular dialysis treatments. Through these personal experiences, they discovered a significant gap in transportation services for seniors and individuals with special needs in their community.

Drawing on Kayla's background in healthcare administration and Danyele's experience in business management, they decided to create a solution. CareTaker Transportation was born from their shared vision to provide compassionate, reliable transportation that helps people maintain their independence and dignity.

Meet Our Founders

The women behind CareTaker Transportation

Kayla Watkins

Co-Founder & CEO

Hi, I'm Kayla, co-founder of CareTaker Transport, a transportation service for seniors and individuals with disabilities in Peoria, Illinois. I began my career working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), where I developed a deep passion for caring for others.

While volunteering on the rehabilitation floor at UnityPoint Hospital, I witnessed the importance of community and independence in people's lives. Later, when my grandmother could no longer drive, I experienced firsthand how difficult it was to find reliable, compassionate transportation for her. That personal experience, combined with my background in healthcare, inspired me to help create CareTaker Transportation—a service built on dignity, reliability, and care.

"When my grandmother had to give up driving, it wasn't just her mobility that was affected—it was her independence and sense of self. At CareTaker, we're not just providing rides; we're preserving dignity and independence for our clients."

Kayla oversees operations and client services, ensuring that every ride meets our high standards for safety, reliability, and compassionate care.

Danyele Blount

Co-Founder & COO

Danyele's background includes six years in business management and extensive community service work. Before co-founding CareTaker, she managed operations for a local non-profit organization that served disadvantaged families in Peoria. Her experience coordinating transportation for her uncle's dialysis treatments opened her eyes to the challenges many families face.

"I remember the stress of making sure my uncle never missed a treatment. Transportation shouldn't be something families have to worry about when they're already dealing with health concerns. We created CareTaker to provide peace of mind."

Danyele manages business development, driver training, and community partnerships, bringing her organizational expertise and commitment to service excellence to every aspect of our operations.

Our Approach

What sets CareTaker Transportation apart

What sets CareTaker Transportation apart is our person-centered approach. We understand that each client has unique needs, preferences, and challenges. Our service is built around:

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Personalized Care

We take the time to know our clients and their specific requirements

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Reliability

We're committed to on-time service that clients and their families can depend on

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Compassion

Our drivers are selected not just for their driving skills but for their empathy and patience

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Safety

Rigorous training and vehicle maintenance ensure the highest safety standards

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Dignity

We provide assistance while respecting our clients' independence and privacy

Our Team

The people who make our service exceptional

Under Kayla and Danyele's leadership, our team has grown to include carefully selected drivers and support staff who share our founders' vision. Many of our drivers come from healthcare or caregiving backgrounds, bringing valuable experience to their work with our clients.

We believe that the quality of our team directly impacts the quality of our service. That's why we're selective in our hiring process and comprehensive in our training program.

All team members undergo:

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Comprehensive background checks

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Defensive driving certification

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First aid and CPR training

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Specialized training in assisting clients with mobility challenges

Our Promise

Our commitment as a woman-owned business

As a woman-owned and operated business, we bring a unique perspective to transportation services. We promise to:

Treat every client with dignity and respect

Provide reliable, on-time service

Communicate clearly and promptly

Adapt to our clients' changing needs

Contribute positively to our community

We're proud to serve Peoria and neighboring counties, making a difference one ride at a time.

"Transportation is about connection—to healthcare, to community, to family. We founded CareTaker because we believe everyone deserves those connections, regardless of their mobility challenges."

— Kayla Watkins & Danyele Blount

About CareTaker Transportation