We recently connected with Jaime Parks and have shared our conversation below.

Jaime, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?

When I launched American Hearing & Audiology in 2014, it was just one clinic and I was the “Chief Officer of Everything.” In those first two years, not only did I see patients, but I was responsible for marketing, sales, finances, and all business operations, including recruiting and hiring staff who shared my passion for helping patients and growing the business beyond one private practice.

I remember one day, a mentor congratulated me on the clinic’s success, and I just stared at him blankly. Success? I felt like I was on a never-ending treadmill! That’s when I knew I needed help, so I hired a business coach to help fill the gaps in my knowledge and help me put the right systems and strategies in place to scale.

As a local business, I prioritized word-of-mouth or referral marketing, leveraging current patients to share their experience, which led to a full appointment book. This opened up new opportunities for us, since we were finally in the black, allowing us to open a second location—this time from scratch. This brought on another level of stress, and we doubled down on our marketing strategy, focusing on our brand reputation. From our patient experience, to the hearing aide products we offer, and getting in front of more people in the community through searchable content and events, our practice became a familiar name in the community.

In 2017, our growth began to skyrocket. I partnered with two of my mentors who had previously left the industry, but believed in my vision and could offer both the financial support and expertise for rapid expansion. We hit the ground running and opened our third and fourth locations in new markets that I knew extremely well and saw the untapped potential. Instead of building from the ground up, we strategically acquired a small existing practice there to get a foothold.

Our focus was on strategic growth, and after opening nine clinics across different cities across Nebraska, a competitor approached us about buying them out. It was a bold move, but we crunched the numbers to make sure geographically it would be a good investment for us, which catapulted us to 14 clinics and we were officially a multi-state operation, with clinics in Kansas and Missouri as well.

This was a pivotal moment. It wasn’t just about adding locations; it was about expanding our reach, our impact, and our ability to serve more patients. But rapid growth brought new challenges, and we had to learn how to navigate them quickly.

Maintaining culture with a scattered team, keeping communication flowing, managing from a distance – those were real struggles. But we continue to improve every year. We recently put leaders on the ground where we needed them, and that was a huge help.

Then, the world shifted. The pandemic hit, and telehealth became a necessity. We didn’t just dip our toes in; we created a new company. We built a separate telehealth business, because we saw potential in adapting to patient needs.

In 2020, I stepped away from patient care to focus on being the CEO and my other partner stepped up as CEO of our telehealth company. Stepping away from patient care left a void, but it allowed me to focus ON the business, instead of working IN the business. In this role, I’m able to be a true leader, empower my staff, and give them the tools, strategies, and support they need to grow in their career, serve our communities, and grow the business.

It’s also led me to expand into business consulting, where I help healthcare and wellness practitioners launch, build, and scale their clinics to an 8-figure business and beyond.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi, I’m Jaime Parks—Audiologist, CEO, Business Consultant, and Podcast Host. My passion lies in helping healthcare practitioners build thriving practices and achieve the kind of success they once dreamed was out of reach.
But believe it or not, my journey to this career wasn’t exactly straightforward. In college, I was the epitome of an indecisive 20-year-old, constantly changing majors (much to my dad’s frustration!). One day, he put his foot down and said, “That’s enough!” I went back to my dorm, had a good hard look at myself, and thought, “Well, I’m just as smart as my roommate, right?” She was studying speech pathology, so I figured, why not give it a shot?
Little did I know, that decision would change my life. When I took my first audiology course, I was completely hooked. The science, the intricacy of the ear, the ability to help people regain a vital part of their lives—it all clicked.
Fast forward to today, and I’ve taken that same curiosity and drive into a career that allows me to empower other audiologists and healthcare practitioners to unlock their full potential. Through services like:
• CEO Coaching: Together, we refine your leadership skills, craft your vision, and create a strategic plan for your practice to grow and thrive.
• Practice Launchpad: A step-by-step program designed to take the guesswork out of launching a successful audiology practice—from choosing the perfect location to marketing your services.
• Millionaire Mindset: We reprogram your mindset for financial abundance and build a personalized plan to achieve your income goals.
• Leadership Academy: Comprehensive training to help you build a high-performing team and foster a culture that drives success and satisfaction.
What makes my approach different? It’s entirely personalized. I get to know your unique goals and vision, and together, we create a roadmap for your success.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the growth I’ve achieved in my own career but the transformations I’ve witnessed in my team, my patients, and my clients. Helping them achieve goals they once thought were impossible is the most rewarding part of what I do.

Any advice for managing a team?

When it comes to managing a team and achieving high morale, the best advice I can give is to lead with intention, authenticity, and unwavering support. As someone who has built and scaled multiple businesses, I’ve learned that a thriving team starts with a clear vision and a culture where everyone feels valued.
When I first started out, I’ll admit—I didn’t have all the answers. Managing a growing team across multiple locations felt overwhelming, and keeping everyone aligned was a real challenge. What helped me turn things around was recognizing that leadership isn’t about control; it’s about connection. I shifted my focus to empowering my team rather than micromanaging them. That meant putting leaders on the ground, listening to feedback, and creating systems that made everyone feel supported.
It’s essential to communicate your vision clearly. Your team can’t buy into what they don’t understand. Take the time to share your vision and goals—not just once, but often. Make sure they see how their work contributes to the bigger picture. At the same time, fostering a culture of gratitude and recognition goes a long way. People thrive when they feel appreciated. Whether it’s a simple “thank you” or celebrating wins big and small, showing genuine gratitude can make all the difference in morale.
Empowering your team with trust and the right tools is another game-changer. Give them the autonomy to take ownership of their roles while equipping them with the resources and training they need to succeed. When I transitioned to being a full-time CEO, this became my focus—creating an environment where my team had everything they needed to thrive. That also meant not shying away from tough conversations. High morale doesn’t mean avoiding conflict; it means addressing challenges head-on with empathy and solutions. Open, honest communication fosters trust and prevents resentment from building.
Finally, always lead by example. Your team will mirror the energy and attitude you bring to the table. Show up with positivity, resilience, and a commitment to the values you want to see reflected in your practice. Morale isn’t built overnight—it’s nurtured through consistent actions, meaningful conversations, and a deep belief in the people you work with.
For me, seeing my team grow, overcome challenges, and achieve their goals has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. Leadership isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it when you build a team that believes in your vision as much as you do.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Building a reputation within my market wasn’t something that happened overnight—it was the result of consistency, a relentless focus on quality, and building genuine relationships. When I started my first clinic, I knew that being “just another practice” wasn’t an option. I wanted to create something that stood out, not just because of the services we offered, but because of the experience patients had with us.
One of the most impactful things I did was prioritize word-of-mouth and referral marketing. Early on, I focused on delivering exceptional care to every patient, ensuring that they left feeling heard, understood, and genuinely cared for. When people feel valued, they naturally want to share their experiences with others. This approach not only filled my appointment book but also helped build a reputation for being a trusted name in the community.
Another key was focusing on our brand reputation. From the way we treated patients to the hearing aid products we offered, every aspect of the practice was designed to reflect excellence. We also became very intentional about getting in front of people in our community, whether through hosting events, creating educational content, or simply being present where our target audience was. Every touchpoint became an opportunity to reinforce who we were and what we stood for.
As the business grew, I learned the importance of being strategic. Expanding into new markets meant understanding the needs of the community and ensuring we could meet those needs while maintaining the same level of care and connection that had built our reputation. Whether it was opening a new location from scratch or acquiring an existing practice, the goal was always to uphold the values and standards that had made us successful in the first place.
Ultimately, I believe my reputation was built on staying true to my mission: putting patients first, creating a culture of excellence, and showing up consistently, day in and day out. People notice when you’re genuine, and that authenticity is what keeps them coming back—and referring others. It’s not about quick wins; it’s about creating lasting trust and relationships that stand the test of time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jaimeparks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.jaimeparks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553436153546
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjaimeparks/

Image Credits

Reece Haney Photography