We’re looking forward to introducing you to Marlyse Moran. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Marlyse, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
My day starts early — wake up, get the kids fed and settled, then I dive right into business. I handle new emails, pay bills, and coordinate driving schedules for myself and my drivers. Throughout the day, I’m dispatching trips, whether I’m behind the wheel or not, ensuring everything runs smoothly. I also focus on outreach, calling and sending information to medical centers, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities to bring in new private clients.
In the evenings, I shift gears and manage the 1865 Club, a jazz club in Nashville, where I oversee operations and keep the energy of the space alive.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Gentle Heartz Transportation is a compassionate and dependable non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) service committed to providing safe, timely, and comfortable rides for individuals with special mobility needs. We proudly serve seniors, people with disabilities, and patients who require transportation to medical appointments, therapy sessions, dialysis treatments, and more.
Our Mission
We believe no one should miss essential care due to lack of transportation. With professional drivers, well-maintained vehicles, and a deep respect for dignity, we ensure every ride is a smooth, supportive, and stress-free experience.
Our Goals
Deliver dependable, door-to-door service with safety, punctuality, and comfort as our top priorities.
Build trusted, lasting relationships with healthcare providers, facilities, and families.
Expand access to affordable, reliable transportation across more communities.
Establish Gentle Heartz Transportation as a leading name in NEMT by combining professionalism with heartfelt care.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My grandparents and father have been my greatest inspirations. My grandmother was my best friend (rest her soul, and my grandfather’s as well). Together, they built a steel construction business in New York City from the ground up. Starting at just 7 years old, I worked alongside them and learned the clerical skills that became the foundation of my work ethic and career.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
From 2015 to 2022, I owned and operated The Empanada Sonata, a food truck and restaurant that started in Brooklyn, NY, before I brought it to Murfreesboro, TN. Unfortunately, like many small businesses, we had to close during Covid, which felt like a tremendous personal and family setback.
In 2023, while brainstorming countless comeback ideas to revive my food business, life shifted again when my mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer and sadly passed away later that year. Out of that difficult season, I created Gentle Heartz Transportation — determined not to give up on entrepreneurship and fueled by a mission to help others. I pushed forward, building a business rooted in compassion, care, and service.
And now… I’m excited to share that I’m also relaunching The Empanada Sonata (but we’ll save that story for another day, LOL).
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
God…..
. Lack of Evidence
Some people don’t believe in God because they feel there isn’t enough scientific or observable evidence to support the idea. They may believe in things that can be proven or measured, and see faith as based more on feeling or tradition than fact.
2. Science and Reason
For some, science offers explanations for the universe, life, and human behavior that they find more convincing than religious beliefs. They might see evolution, cosmology, and neuroscience as answering questions once attributed to divine causes.
3. Personal Experience or Suffering
Many people struggle with the idea of a loving, all-powerful God in a world full of suffering, injustice, or tragedy. Personal losses, trauma, or seeing the pain of others can lead some to question or abandon belief.
4. Religious Hypocrisy or Abuse
Some lose faith due to negative experiences with religious institutions or leaders. Scandals, hypocrisy, and exclusion can lead people to separate themselves from religion—and sometimes from belief in God altogether.
I have been through so much in my lifetime to show he is real.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
“When my time on this earth comes to an end, I want to be remembered not for what I had, but for what I gave. For the love I poured into others, the kindness I showed when no one was watching, and the compassion that lived in my heart. Let my memory be a gentle reminder that even the smallest acts of care can leave the deepest marks.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gentleheartz.com
- Instagram: @gentleheartztransportation
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DxHLQRuSo/?mibextid=wwXIfr
