A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Kristan Santiago
- By: Claire Kenney
- Last Updated: September 2, 2026
Kristan Santiago is the proud owner of The Cleaning Lady, which she established in 2019. A volunteer at La Porte County Habitat for Humanity, Santiago is set to begin working toward her bachelor’s degree in fall and is a mother of five.
“Just being a mom makes me a busy person in and of itself,” Santiago said. “Of course, I’m continually adding to this core role so I’m extra busy. The Cleaning Lady pretty much runs itself now, but still requires some time.”
In fact, Santiago no longer has a website for The Cleaning Lady and relies solely on word of mouth. She first saw this shift in target market recognition during COVID-19, and figured a website would be a waste of money when it wasn’t necessary for her business.
“I’m not looking to add many new clients, since we are pretty much at capacity with the staff I have, and because I’m starting school soon,” Santiago said. “Anyone who is in need of a cleaning service is welcome to call me at (219) 814-3472.”
At the end of the month, Santiago will be returning to school to finish her bachelor’s degree. She plans to pursue a major in physiology at the age of 36, proving it’s never too late to try something new or pursue your dreams.
“I have always been extremely fascinated with human behavior and emotional literacy. I find people’s emotions completely fascinating, including my own,” she said. “I’m always analyzing myself and other people not just to analyze them, but to understand them. It’s a huge curiosity for me. I’ve always wanted to study physiology.”
Santiago plans to pair her physiology major with a minor in communications. She will officially add the minor with her advisor in the coming weeks as she prepares for the fall.
“While my husband does not really enjoy public speaking, I do,” Santiago said. “This interest in public speaking is one of the reasons I chose to study communications. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Santiago is the resource development chair for the La Porte County Habitat for Humanity. The board meets about once a month and on an as-needed basis.
“While I’ll jump in to help with other areas as needed, my main focus as the resource development chair is pretty much anything structural related to the organization,” Santiago said. “Most of what I do is pretty operational and procedural.”
Santiago has launched a business without a degree, and continues to use that experience to help out in the local community through her work with Habitat for Humanity. Santiago’s entrepreneurial career and business acumen will be an asset to her undergraduate studies.
Her heart for volunteering, her work ethic, and her drive are all inspiring. Santiago’s role as a mother is too, particularly given the fact that she is raising so many children and with such a wide range of ages.