2026 Business Leaders of the Year: Phil Melugin

Throughout Phil Melugin’s career, he’s focused on developing leaders, creating opportunities for advancement and building cultures where people can achieve beyond what they thought was possible. That leadership focus has helped fuel the growth of Phoenix Home Care & Hospice into one of the region’s largest home-based healthcare providers.

Melugin founded the company in 2011 and as CEO has witnessed its employee count expand to more than 4,700. They serve over 9,100 clients and patients, and deliver over 78,000 hours of care each week across three states.

“Over the past three years alone, the organization has grown from $161.6 million to $213.9 million in annual revenue while adding nearly 900 jobs and expanding access to care for families who wish to remain in their homes,” he says.

Noting innovation has been a driving force in his career, Melugin says staff at Phoenix recognized early in its history that healthcare was moving beyond traditional clinical settings and increasingly into people’s homes.

“This led us to build a full continuum of home-based services that allows individuals to receive care throughout every stage of life under one organization,” he says, adding Phoenix also heavily invests in leadership development through its company culture and programs.

While pleased with the growth his company has experienced over the past 15 years, Melugin says he’s most proud of the employees – past and present – who have grown alongside him.

“Watching employees advance into leadership roles, entrepreneurs build successful careers and organizations continue thriving beyond any one individual is the achievement that brings me the greatest satisfaction,” he says.

For Melugin, leading by example, making decisions and developing people is his leadership philosophy. Leaders must be willing to give others freedom to learn, grow and occasionally make mistakes.

“Growth happens when people are trusted with responsibility and encouraged to own both their successes and their setbacks,” he says, adding indecision is one of the greatest barriers to progress. “Leaders will not always make perfect decisions, but organizations cannot move forward without direction. I would rather make a thoughtful decision, learn from the outcome and adjust if necessary than allow uncertainty to stall momentum.”

Melugin says businesses have a responsibility to strengthen the places they serve, adding he’s always viewed community involvement as an extension of Phoenix’s mission. The company supports organizations that improve quality of life in southwest Missouri, including Harmony House, Ozarks Food Harvest Inc. and The Child Advocacy Center Inc. Additionally, Phoenix provides free grief support services, hospice volunteer opportunities and community education programs to help families navigate healthcare decisions.