15 Years Later, Duo's Passion & Dedication Keep Manhattan Family Chiropractic Thriving

MANHATTAN, IL — It's taken a lot of dedication, man hours and teamwork, but Manhattan Family Chiropractic's Kristy Byers-Hillary said nearly two decades later, it's all been worth it.

Byers-Hillary and husband Dr. Brian D. Hillary this month celebrated 15 years in business—an accomplishment Byers-Hillary attributes to her husband's passion to help others and the support of its small-town home.

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"We're celebrating ourselves," Byers-Hillary said. "I'm proud of it."

With more than a decade in business, they reflect on their beginnings—in business and family—what drew them to Manhattan and what's kept them there. The same business that's taken both of their ardor to build from the ground up also brought them together initially, Byers-Hillary said, as the two met while working in the field.

Byers-Hillary was raised in Channahon-Minooka, Brian in Kankakee.

"Manhattan was kind of in the middle for us, for our families," Byers-Hillary said. "So cute, definitely somewhere we'd want to raise a family."

The duo opened the office in October 2011.

"We kinda jumped all in, in all honesty, not really knowing what we were doing," Byers-Hillary said, laughing. "I took my experience from working at a chiropractor office, and dove all-in."

As the two worked to grow the business, Dr. Hillary's clientele expanded, mostly by word of mouth.

"Brian is amazing at what he does," Byers-Hillary said. "We're been blessed on referrals. Everyone continues to come back, and tell everyone else.

"He's very passionate about what he does, and getting people feeling better," Byers-Hillary continued. "He's definitely laidback. 'You know your body, when you need to come, come.'

"He knows hands-on what he needs to do to get them feeling better."

The place they'd chosen to root their business also became their beloved hometown.

"The old town, I love history," Byers-Hillary said. "I love going into the Manhattan Township Historical Society, because I love the things Manhattan once was. The old part of town was definitely where I wanted to be. We can walk everywhere: the library, the office, Ace Hardware."

They have also sought ways to give back to the community, with time spent on the boards of Manhattan Park District Board and Chamber of Commerce.

"Always trying to find little ways to give back," Byers-Hillary said.

They also work with Kevin Molloy of State Farm Insurance in New Lenox in sponsoring a "Pay per Touchdown" program, which donates money to local high school football programs for touchdowns scored.

A big sports fan, Hillary is motivated to keep athletes feeling healthy, Byers-Hillary said. He also previously coached their sons' travel baseball team, before becoming too busy at the office.

"There is always some sport on in our house," Byers-Hillary said. "So making sure athletes are healthy and feeling their best is super important to him!"

The couple have three children: Azlynn (20), Reggie (14) and Rostin (10). They attended St. Joseph School in Manhattan, with Reggie and Rostin returning to public school this year, Byers-Hillary said. Azlynn graduated from Lincoln-Way West.

Their oldest was just in kindergarten when the business opened, Byers-Hillary said. Then and now, the duo spends most of their time at the office, but somehow they rarely cross paths there, she said. Byers-Hillary handles insurance and billing.

"We're literally there never there at the same time," she said.

Hillary works six days a week and rarely takes time away, his wife said.

"He doesn't like to take time off—thinks he needs to be there all the time," she said. "He's in the office Monday–Saturday."

He also strives to keep services affordable.

"It shouldn't be about the money," she said he believes. "You shouldn't stress about that, if you have things that need to be adjusted."

She said she's proud of her husband, the work he does and the business that has thrived.

"Being still in Manhattan for 15 years, something's going right," Byers-Hillary said.

"Time really flies."

Find out more or request an appointment online at Manhattan Family Chiropractic, or by calling (815) 478-3220.