After two decades of helping people find comfort away from home, we sat down with our Founder & President, Jennifer Breen, to talk about the journey that brought Suite Home to life—and what’s kept us going strong.
It’s hard to believe that Suite Home is celebrating 20 years. What started as one woman’s vision has grown into a trusted name in corporate housing, serving countless professionals, families, and companies who needed more than just a place to stay—they needed a home.
To kick off our anniversary series, we wanted to go back to the beginning. We sat down with Jennifer Breen to hear the story behind Suite Home, the lessons learned along the way, and what “home” really means after all these years.
Let’s start at the very beginning. What inspired you to start Suite Home 20 years ago?
When I first moved to Chicago, I didn’t set out to build a corporate housing company. Like many early career paths, mine began by simply saying yes to an opportunity. I took a role with a window washing company that also managed housekeeping services, which soon led to an introduction to a property management firm looking for someone to oversee operations for the corporate housing division of their portfolio. It gave me a behind-the-scenes look at an industry I hadn’t known much about — and more importantly, it showed me just how much the details matter when people are living away from home.
In December 1998, I took my first real entrepreneurial leap and founded WorkForce Cleaning with just three housekeepers. We launched in the middle of a Chicago snowstorm, which felt fitting at the time. The business grew quickly. Within a year, we had expanded to 35 employees and were servicing more than 500 corporate apartments. Running WorkForce gave me invaluable, hands-on experience — not just in operations and logistics, but in understanding what clients and guests truly need to feel supported.
After seven years, as the corporate housing landscape began to shift and this major client was sold, I felt ready for a new challenge. I explored acquiring a temporary housing franchise, but it didn’t work out. Ten days later, I made a decision that would change everything — I leased my first furnished apartment at One Superior Place in downtown Chicago and launched Suite Home Chicago.
What began as one apartment has grown into Suite Home Corporate Housing, a national platform with hundreds of furnished apartments across the Midwest, an expanding East Coast presence, and the ability to support clients worldwide. Looking back, none of this feels accidental. Every step — from cleaning apartments to furnishing the first one — shaped how we operate today. At the heart of it all is a simple belief: when housing is done right, it removes stress, creates comfort, and truly makes home happen.
It’s hard to believe I can look back and see 20 years of hard work behind me. What began with a single opportunity and one furnished apartment has grown into something far bigger than I ever imagined. The journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth every step — and I’m proud of what we’ve built and excited for what’s next.
“Making Home Happen” has become so synonymous with Suite Home. How did that phrase become part of your brand identity?
It honestly came from listening — to our guests, our clients, and our own team. People would say things like, ‘You made this feel like home,’ or ‘You handled everything so I didn’t have to worry.’ We kept hearing different versions of the same message.
Then, a few years ago, I was sitting on a panel where the phrase ‘Making Home Happen’ was used, and it immediately clicked. It perfectly captured what we had already been doing every day at Suite Home. It wasn’t something we had to invent — it gave language to our purpose. From that point on, it became part of our identity, because it truly defines how we show up for our guests and client.
Every business journey has its highs and lows. What would you say were some of the major milestones and challenges you faced over the past 20 years?
From a milestone perspective, growth itself was a big one — expanding from a single local apartment to a national platform, earning WBENC certification, and being recognized by CHPA as Company of the Year multiple times were meaningful validations of the work our team has done.
On the challenge side, managing inventory risk has always been one of the toughest parts of corporate housing — knowing when to carry units, how much to carry, and how to stay flexible during demand swings. We’ve also had to navigate major industry shifts, from changing client expectations to technology and regulatory changes. The key has been staying nimble, listening closely to clients, and being willing to evolve before we’re forced to.
“Growth looks exciting from the outside, but it’s built in the unglamorous moments of showing up, solving problems, and earning trust.”
The corporate housing industry has evolved quite a bit since 2005. What are some of the biggest changes you’ve witnessed?
When we started, the industry felt much simpler — fewer options, fewer channels, and far less transparency. Relationships were important, but systems and data weren’t nearly as advanced. Today, everything moves faster. Clients are more informed, guests are more vocal, and expectations are higher across the board.
What hasn’t changed is the importance of trust and service. The providers who succeed today are the ones who can balance technology and scale with a very human, hands-on approach.
“For over 20 years, Suite Home has evolved alongside our clients while staying grounded in service, trust, and long-term partnerships.”
After 20 years, what core values have remained constant at Suite Home?
From the beginning, we’ve believed in care over convenience. That means paying attention to details, being responsive, and showing up when it matters. We’ve also always valued partnership over transactions — many of our client and supplier relationships span years, even decades.
Another core value is adaptability. The industry has changed, and we’ve changed with it, but we’ve never lost sight of why we exist: to make home happen. That value shows up in everything from how we support guests to how we hire and develop our team.
“We focused on people first — the rest followed.”
As a woman entrepreneur who’s built something lasting, what advice would you give to other women just starting out?
Don’t wait to feel ready — that moment doesn’t exist. If it did, I still wouldn’t have started 20 years ago. You figure things out by doing, not by having the perfect plan.
Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you, ask for help before you’re exhausted, and don’t compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s highlight reel. And remember — there’s no single definition of success. Some days, success is growth. Other days, it’s just getting through the day without dropping a ball… or at least not all of them.
Looking Forward
Twenty years is just the beginning. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re reminded that Suite Home isn’t just about providing furnished apartments—it’s about the people we’ve served, the relationships we’ve built, and the countless moments we’ve helped make a little easier during times of transition.
Thank you to everyone who’s been part of our story—our clients, partners, team members, and community. Here’s to the next chapter of making home happen.
Stay tuned for next month’s post, where we’ll dive into how the corporate housing industry has transformed over the past two decades.
