My Pet Sitter Gives You Peace Of Mind When You Have To Leave Your Pets!

Kelly and Glen Hatchell, owners of My Pet Sitter and My Dog Trainer, play with new client Tristan.

For pet owners who are going out of town or working long days, it can be nerve-wracking to ensure that your dog, cat or other animal is cared for while you are unable to do so. My Pet Sitter is a local company that helps people ensure their four-legged family members get the attention they need when their people aren’t at home.

Glen Hatchell and his wife Kelly are co-owners of My Pet Sitter, as well as My Dog Trainer.
“We’ve been in the pet-sitting business in New Tampa since 2009,” says Glen. “We used to do pet sitting and dog training as part of a franchise, but now we do the same thing as an independent small business. We changed the name of the company, but —from a client perspective — nothing else has changed.”

The Hatchells made the transition one year ago and will celebrate My Pet Sitter’s first anniversary on July 1.

Glen says the business can be summed up in one succinct phrase: “We do what our pet owners want us to do.”

Whether that’s stopping by every day while a pet’s Mom and Dad are at work, or visiting three or four times a day while the family is on vacation, My Pet Sitter is flexible to meet your needs.

For dogs, a typical visit starts with a walk. “With some dogs, we may be out on a walk for the entire visit,” Glen says. “In other cases, the dog can’t handle a 30-minute walk, so we hang out in the backyard, or they walk for 15 minutes and then we play with their toys (with them).”

While families are on vacation, some dogs get a long walk every day, while others get walked at every visit, multiple times a day. Glen says that depends upon the age and temperament of the dog, and what the owner feels is best for the animal.

Glen says the company does a lot of cat sitting as well, because cats often don’t do well in boarding situations. My Pet Sitter will come in to feed your cat, change the water and scoop the litter.
He says many client cats are very playful, so they play with them. “Other cats hide under the bed,” he says.

Whatever your pet’s needs, My Pet Sitter’s staff of seven employees can accommodate them. Every employee is certified in animal first aid and pet CPR, background checked and fully trained.

Glen explains that many pets they care for have special needs, including needing medications. He says they have had animals who have needed insulin shots and have even administered IV fluids to cats that needed them. He says My Pet Sitter’s staff can handle these and other challenges because of the staff’s extensive experience with the service’s many clients.

“One time we had a dog going into diabetic shock, and Kelly had to rush it to the vet,” Glen says. “The vet said if not for her quick action, the dog might not have made it.”

He says they understand things like this can happen, and they are prepared for it.

“I like to say that it’s not brain surgery, but you have to pay the same attention to detail,” Glen explains. “You’re in someone’s house taking care of one of their most valuable possessions. (Some would say they’re more like members of their family.). It’s a lot of responsibility, and we love taking on that responsibility.”

Happy Pets, Happy Owners
“One thing that’s so cool about being a pet sitter is that there’s nothing more exciting than walking into a house and seeing a dog that’s the happiest thing in the world,” Glen says. “It really is a feeling that’s so amazingly wonderful!”

He says My Pet Sitter sends updates with pictures after each visit, so clients get to see their furry best friends during the day, as they’re working or traveling.

A client named Juliana, who lives in Pebble Creek, has been using Glen and Kelly’s pet-sitting services since 2010, when she had a serious illness in her family that required her to be away from home for several months.

Juliana says that, thanks to My Pet Sitter, she had absolute peace of mind.

“They completely rescued me and my dog at that time,” she says. “I don’t know what I would have done without them. It was such a difficult time, but I would come home to a perfect dog and a perfect house.”
She adds that, no matter what she needs and when she needs it, she doesn’t hesitate to ask. “The answer is always yes with them,” she says. “They always say ‘okay.’”

Sit! Sit! Please?
In addition to My Pet Sitter, Glen and Kelly also own My Dog Training, offering training and behavioral consulting for all breeds of dogs.

Glen says that starting out as a franchise owner provided him with a lot of training, so that he would be properly educated and equipped to help clients as both a pet sitter and a dog trainer.

Although Glen says it is not required, he is certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). He says he also is the only trainer in Hillsborough County to earn the CPDT-KSA (Knowledge & Skills Assessed) certification.
He says he has more than 4,000 hours of training experience and has worked with more than 3,000 dogs.

Glen also is the dog trainer (photo above) for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay on N. Armenia Ave. in south Tampa, and holds obedience classes at the shelter. He started there as a volunteer in 2010. Now, eight years later, he still volunteers, but he also is part of the paid staff, where his main responsibility is running a play group program.

“Every morning, I go through and get dogs out in the play yard so they can interact,” he says. “I get them excited about being at the shelter. We’ve had feral dogs come in and I’ve worked with them to get them socialized before they get adopted.”

He says the playgroup has had an impact on increased adoptions at the Humane Society. And, Glen’s time at the shelter has given him lots of experience to help his private clients, too, whether they are introducing new animals to each other or need help with basic obedience and behavioral issues.

In fact, he says, sometimes pet sitting can actually be a solution to some behavioral issues. “Sometimes it’s energy-related and the recommendation is that the dog needs more outlets for (his or her) energy,” he says, “so I suggest having a dog walker during the day.”

He also offers training and behavioral consulting for cats with issues in the home, such as litter box problems.

For more information about My Pet Sitter & My Dog Training, call (813) 935-7387, visit MyHomePetSitter.com, or see the ad on page 44 of this issue.

Nondenominational Christian Bible Study Classes Available Now At St. James UMC

On Thursday mornings in New Tampa, dozens of women gather together to laugh, read the Bible and share life with each other.
Some are young women.

Others are moms, who may bring their young children to attend their own classes in a nearby room. Still others are grandmothers and even great-grandmothers.

Whether they’re young or old, married or single, parents or not, and whatever their religious preference, all women are invited to join the Tampa Northeast/New Tampa Community Bible Study (CBS) class, says the group’s teaching director, Karis Tiberia.

“We’re there to study the Bible together,” Karis explains. “One of the things I think is special is that we focus on the essentials of the Christian faith, not on denominational distinctions. Whether they attend church or not, everyone is welcome.”

While the focus is on studying the Bible, that’s not all that’s happening in the group.
“We encourage each other, love each other, challenge and take care of each other through all of the ups and downs of life,” Karis says.

The Tampa Northeast/New Tampa CBS class is part of an international organization called Community Bible Study. The group that meets in New Tampa has just completed its third year, with about 75 women registered, and will begin its fourth year this fall.

It meets most Thursday mornings, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at St. James United Methodist Church, 16202 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. While St. James provides meeting space for the group, it is completely independent and supported by other churches, too, such as Grace Episcopal Church, where the group’s Leaders Council meets each week to prepare.

Moms who have children who are in third grade and younger can bring the kids along. Carmellia Loyd is the children/youth director. She says children will be cared for in a loving, fun and safe environment, and all teachers are trained and background checked.

“It’s not childcare,” Carmellia says. “From the time they’re two and older, they’re in programming, learning Bible stories, songs, simple verses, and how to have a relationship with God.”

The group’s leadership team is made up of 15 women, including Karis and Carmellia. When women join CBS, they’re placed into a smaller discussion group, called a “core group.” New this year, one core group will be meeting in the evening to accommodate more women’s schedules.

The first class will be held Thursday, September 6. An Open House will be held on Thursday, August 30, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., for people to drop by, find out more about CBS, meet the leaders, pick up a study book and/or register. The group will meet most weeks, except for holidays, and will end on May 9, 2019.

The group will be studying the Book of Matthew. Registration is $35 and children’s registration is $10.
Participants complete a 10-15 minute lesson in their CBS study book each day, then gather for the weekly class, where they sing worship songs, break into discussion groups, and then come back together for a large group teaching, led by Karis.

“Some people gain knowledge by answering questions, others by sharing in discussion, and some by hearing the teaching,” Karis says. “CBS covers all of those ways.”

Carmellia says she has been involved in CBS, which has several groups in the Tampa Bay area, for 18 years.

“The thing I like about it is it is straight Bible study,” says Carmellia. “They ask you questions, you look at the answers in the Bible and discuss it in your small group. It doesn’t matter if someone has known Jesus for six weeks or has been a saint for 60 years — everybody has something to contribute.”

Carla Rybolt is the group’s coordinator, handling logistics, including member registration. She has participated in the New Tampa group since its inception.

“Being in God’s word keeps me closer to God at all times,” Carla adds. “I was in the midst of a terrible storm when I started with CBS and the class led me through a gamut of learning how to completely trust God and let go of all of my anxieties. Through everything that I’ve learned, I’ve been surrounded by amazing women who hold me up.”

Karis agrees. “It’s made a difference as I go through life to have women who I know will be there for me. Aside from the Bible study and how we grow in our faith, I am also personally encouraged by my participation both in the class and as a leader.”

All three women say they love the diversity of the women who attend the group.

“The number one thing I liked about CBS from the beginning is that it’s biblically-based and everybody is welcome. Whether you’re Atheist or Jewish, no one is ever turned away,” says Carla. “Jesus tells us to love one another, and that’s the way it is at CBS.”

Carmellia adds, “It’s for anybody, whether you want to find out what the Bible is all about or have studied it for years. It’s a great place to feel comfortable and not judged.”

Registration is open now. For more information, visit the group’s website at TampaNortheast.CBSclass.org or email Carla Rybolt at CBS.Tampa.Northeast@gmail.com.

Let Scrub-A-Dub Bin Cleaning Clean Your Stinky Trash & Recycling Bins 

Jennifer Trudel has lived in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area since 1996. While serving the community as a pharmacist in Tampa, she dreamed of one day owning her own business.

When the stress of her job pushed her to consider early retirement, she started researching what to do next. An acquaintance in another part of Florida raved about Jennifer’s sparkling clean trash bins on social media, and Jennifer recognized the opportunity to bring an innovative business that would be totally new to Wesley Chapel — and the perfect fit for her admitted neat-freak personality.

That’s when Jennifer launched Scrub-A-Dub Bin Cleaning, a service that comes to your home as often as you desire — from just four times per year up to once a month — to make sure the trash and recycling bins you drag back into your garage aren’t stinky and nasty, but immaculately clean and smelling fresh.

It all happens with Jennifer’s custom-designed truck, which was delivered to her last December, allowing her to begin serving clients since January of this year.

One of her first customers was Joshua Green, who lives in Seven Oaks.

“I saw an ad and thought it seemed like a really good idea,” he says. “Our trash cans are always in the garage and smelling. It’s gross and no one wants to deal with it.”

He says he figured, “Why not try it? Let’s get them cleaned.”

The results? “They’re nice and clean and look brand new,” Joshua says.

The Process

Scrub-A-Dub’s customers leave their bin out on trash day, after the truck has picked up their trash and/or recycling. That’s when Jennifer comes by, opens the bin and uses a grabber to pull out any trash left behind, then loads the bins into her truck, and the “magic” begins.
The bins are raised above the truck and centered around a head that spins and blasts 190-degree water. “It’s basically a high-pressure power wash that lasts about 30 seconds,” explains Jennifer.

For an initial cleaning, Jennifer then uses a scrub brush and biodegradable degreaser to clean the inside of the bin, then runs it through the truck again.

She pressure sprays the outside of the lid, wipes the handles and the inside and outside of the lid — anywhere your hand might touch. Then, she says the bin no longer smells, but she wants it to smell good, so she adds a deodorizer, then wipes out any excess water.

“It’s overkill, but I do it because I’m a type-A person,” she laughs. “I want the bin to look beautiful, and want every customer to be wowed.”
Jennifer says some people might say, “It’s a garbage can. It’s supposed to be dirty,” and she says she can understand that. But, she counters, “Who wants to deal with a nasty garbage can? There’s a concern about germs, too.”

Environmentally Friendly, Too?

Jennifer explains that Scrub-A-Dub bin cleaning is not only easier on you, it’s also better for the environment.

All of the cleaners that Jennifer uses —including degreaser, disinfectant and deodorizer — are biodegradable.

“Let’s say you use vinegar; that doesn’t kill bacteria,” she explains. “Bleach kills bacteria but it’s super toxic and bad for the lakes and ponds.”
With Scrub-A-Dub, all water for cleaning comes from a 525-gallon tank inside the truck, filled with fresh water. It’s heated to a temperature much higher than you would use in your home.

The dirty water that is rinsed out of the inside of the bins goes into the truck and is disposed of according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines.

Getting Started

To sign up, go online to ScrubADubBins.com. You pay an annual fee up front, based on how often you want your bins cleaned and whether you have one or two bins. Prices start at just $55 for the year. Jennifer generally schedules your initial cleaning within one week of signing up. One-time cleanings also are available.

She emphasizes that there are no contracts and you can stop your service at any time. If you move or change your mind about the service, she will prorate your refund.

“I haven’t had to do that yet,” she says, because so far, she says, her customers have been thrilled with their service. “People pay for all kind of things, like mowing the grass or pulling weeds,” Jennifer’s client Joshua says. “It’s just stuff we honestly don’t want to do, and I think it’s worth it.”

He adds that the service has been easy, and not something he has had to think about. “She comes on trash day when the bins are already out there, so it’s not like I have to do anything extra.”

Jennifer sends a reminder text the day before, giving customers the opportunity to confirm their appointment or to let her know if they need to postpone their service due to going out of town or for any other reason.

Not Just A Job

“This is not a job for me,” says Jennifer, “it’s my life.”

She says that while she always loved serving her community as a pharmacist, being a business owner is different.

“I moved to Cross Creek in 1996 and then to Seven Oaks in 2003. I feel connected to the area and I’ve seen it explode. Now, I feel more a part of the community.”

As a pharmacist, she says she used to sit in a room all day and, at the end of the day, she would leave the same four walls and experience the shock of being outside for the first time each day.

Now, she says she loves driving around Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, meeting people at their homes, and she especially loves driving the truck. “It’s so fun!” she beams.

Jennifer’s husband Jeff now helps her with the business, while also working for a pharmaceutical company. Their grown children are now 26, 21, 19 and 18.

As she works to build her four-month-old business, her online customer reviews are already sky-high. Every one of her Facebook and Google reviews are 5 stars (out of 5), such as Andrea DeNoble-Cormier’s review on Facebook:

“Unique service – one you don’t realize you need until you start using it. Excellent, personalized customer service!”

Jennifer’s goal now is to build her business. “I just want to get the word out,” she says, and has done so by joining the North Tampa Bay Chamber, attending and even taking sponsor/exhibitor booths at community events like the Taste of New Tampa and the Fresh Market at the Shops at Wiregrass, and advertising in the Neighborhood News.

“It’s a personal service,” she says. “It’s not just some company that cleans your bins; it’s Jennifer from Scrub-A-Dub.”

To sign up for Scrub-A-Dub Bin Cleaning or for more information, visit ScrubADubBins.com. You can also call Scrub-A-Dub at its toll-free number, (844) 727-8229, or 844-SCRUBBY.

Education Notebook: Big Surprise For Weightman Middle School Student 

Mayah Jaramillo hadn’t seen her brother, U.S. Air Force Airman E-2 Joel Jaramillo, the entire school year.

The graduating eighth grade student at Weightman Middle School had no idea that her mom and assistant principal Andressa Williams had been secretly planning to change that in a big way.

They’ve been plotting with Joel, stationed in Nevada, to get him home for her middle school promotion ceremony. They were hoping that when her name was called at the ceremony on May 25, Mayah would get the surprise of her life as Joel joined her on stage.

Plans were for Joel to take a red-eye flight to arrive the morning of the ceremony and sneak in the back door of the Wesley Chapel Center for Performing Arts on Wells Rd. to be there for his little sister’s special day.

Joel is a 2015 graduate of Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH), but the last time Mayah saw him was at his graduation from basic training last August.

Because of his commitment to serve his country, Joel wasn’t able to drive her to school for her first day of eighth grade, as he had for her previous three first days of school. (See photo.)

The surprise went off without a hitch, as a shocked Mayah burst out in tears as her brother came up from behind and surprised her.

WRH Ranked Nationally

Wiregrass Ranch High has landed on the U.S. News & World Report list of 2018 Best High Schools.

Less than 30 percent of high schools in the country qualify for the list, and only four other schools in Pasco County appear on it: Land O’Lakes, Mitchell and Sunlake high schools, plus the Pasco e-School.

WRH earned a “Silver” badge, meaning it was in the top 11 percent of U.S. high schools. The U.S. News & World Report analysis ranked the school number 117 in Florida, with a 91 percent graduation rate and 37.4 college readiness ranking, out of 100.

The college readiness ranking is a measure of how many students took and passed at least one Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) test before or during his or her senior year for the last year this data is available, which is 2015-16. (It does not consider students taking dual enrollment classes, which are a popular alternative to AP classes among high-achieving students at WRH).

“I can’t tell you how proud this news makes me,” said Kurt Browning, Pasco County’s superintendent of schools. “This is a testament to our administrators’ deliberate planning, our teachers’ high-impact instruction, and our students’ hard work and focus.”

For more information about Pasco’s schools on the 2018 Best High Schools report, go to USNews.com/education/best-high-schools.

High Schools Celebrate Graduates

Congratulations to the graduating classes of Wesley Chapel (WCH) and Wiregrass Ranch (WRH) high schools.

WRH students graduated on May 24, at the Sun Dome on the Tampa campus of the University of South Florida (USF). The school’s valedictorian is Sabina Grace Boddupalli, who plans to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville and major in Business Administration.
WCH’s valedictorian is Karissa Sue Olsen. After graduating with the rest of her class at the USF Sun Dome on May 25, Karissa is planning to return to USF for college, where she’ll major in Pre-Physical Therapy.

Cypress Creek Middle High School, which opened this fall, did not have seniors this year. Its first graduates will be the class of 2019 next year.

Quail Hollow Elementary Kid Cooks Fall Short At ‘Challenge’

The team from Quail Hollow Elementary (QHE; bottom photo on next page) that was one of four finalists in the fifth annual Gridiron Cooking Challenge at One Buccaneer Place didn’t bring home the trophy they coveted.

Fifth-graders Gracie Evans, Madison Gulley, Katelyn O’Neil and Lindsey Overland prepared their Alfredo Smothered Roasted Red Pepper & Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Swirls for the event, held on May 19 at the practice facility and HQ of the Tampa Bay Bucs.

But, they were bested by Lake Gibson Middle School in Polk County, which clinched the victory with its Quarterback Quesadillas with Pineapple Salsa recipe.

“It’s been another impressive year by our Tampa and Central Florida schools,” said Teresa Moran-Wiebe, Dairy Council of Florida, Director of Youth Wellness. “Each team demonstrated the versatility and nutritional value of dairy products in a creative way.”

The students’ creations were judged by Florida Dairy Farmer Courtney Campbell, Executive Chef of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Michael Beadles and Publix Aprons Cooking School Chef Alan Landers.

Hosted by the Dairy Council of Florida in partnership with the NFL, the cooking challenge is a fun-filled food competition for elementary and middle school students throughout Florida and is part of the “Fuel Up to Play 60” program.

School & Hospital Partner Up

North Tampa Christian Academy (NTCA), which is under construction on County Line Rd. and set to open for the 2018-19 school year, has announced a partnership with Florida Hospital, naming it the “official health and wellness partner” of the school.

The new private school is currently being built on more than 43 acres of land. It is now accepting applications for students in grades K-12, while its on-campus preschool is accepting applications for kids ages two to pre-K.

The partnership is an obvious fit, as the NTCA is the culmination of plans that started in 2012, when the Florida Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists began working in concert with the Adventist Health System and Florida Hospital West Florida Region to establish the school in this area.

Sandra Doran, Ed. D, NTCA’s Founding Head of School, says, “We are so thrilled to have Florida Hospital joining us, as our official health and wellness partner. Our core values truly align and it’s all about the students, providing them unique healthcare opportunities both in and outside the classroom setting.”

NTCA will is inviting the local community to a ribbon-cutting ceremony, inviting the community to tour the brand-new campus, on Tuesday, July 17, 11 a.m.

For a virtual tour of the school, visit SeeThisSchool.com. An informational session for interested parents will be held on Wednesday, June 20, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m., at Lincoln Memorial University Nursing School at Florida Hospital Health Park (3102 E. 138th Ave., Tampa). Call (813) 591-0309 for more info or to RSVP.

Excel Music Helps New Tampa Students Hone Their Musical Skills

Since 2006, Excel Music in the Cory Lake Isles Professional Center on Cross Creek Blvd. has been teaching students of all ages to sing and play a wide variety of instruments with some of the area’s top teachers. As your kids getting out of school for the summer, it may be the perfect time to bring them to Excel Music to try new musical endeavors.

John and Sheri Thrasher are the husband-and-wife team who own the school.

“We’ve helped thousands of students of all ages reach their musical goals while enjoying the journey,” says John. “We like to say Excel is both the place you start and the place you stay.”

Excel Music has 20 teachers on staff and all are either university trained (many with Master of Music degrees) or they have at least 10 years of study and performing experience. The faculty teaches voice and nearly every traditional musical instrument, including piano, guitar, drums, violin and so many more.

“There’s a lot of excellent science out there that shows the benefit of a broad education that includes arts and music,” John says, adding that Excel provides a variety of opportunities for people of all ages to experience and connect with music.

Beyond Just Lessons
Excel Music offers the New Tampa Choir, a singing group for kids ages 5-12, and no experience is necessary to participate. It’s currently on hiatus for the summer, but will start back in September.

“It’s a learning experience, and it’s fun,” John says. “We want to give students a venue to sing songs they know, and some they don’t. In addition to traditional choir music, we do Broadway songs, Disney songs and more. We are always looking for more opportunities for this group to perform.”

Excel’s choir is for those who aren’t interested in solo performance, although the choir will offer opportunities for small group instruction.
John explains, “This is not a huge choir where no one even knows each other’s name.” He adds that the choir will provide a way for New Tampa kids to meet new people and get involved in the music school.

The school also will start up its Excel Rock Band again this fall, but students can apply to participate at any time.

“We’ve done a rock band a couple of times over the years, and its success depends upon the right mix of students,” John explains. “We make sure to group students by age, skill level and instrumentation.”

Excel Music offers a preschool music class for ages 18 months to four years, enjoyed by both kids and parents. The class lasts 45 minutes, once a week, for 10-12 weeks.

“It’s a great way to engage with both the parent and the child,” John explains. “The smiles on the faces of the parents are often as big as the ones on their children.”
John adds that the classes help parents learn ways to engage musically with their preschoolers at home. “This is a participatory class in which we teach parents how to bring music into their kids’ lives,” he says, “especially if they’re not musicians.”

The school’s students have the opportunity to take part in recitals twice a year, but John says these performances are always optional and low-pressure. “Recitals are part of what we do,” John says. “But, we aren’t a performance-driven studio.”

Adult Training, Too
While many of Excel Music’s students are kids, the opportunity to learn to sing or play an instrument is certainly not limited.
“A lot of adults come in for lessons, too,” says John. “We get retired people who say they’ve wanted to play their whole lives, and now they’re finally going to do it.” He says one of his favorite stories was about teaching an 86-year-old man how to play the trumpet.

Pete Laches is quite a bit younger than that, but he also is one of the school’s adult students. Pete says he has been taking guitar lessons at Excel since his daughters were in middle school. One is now in college and one just graduated from college.

“They started taking lessons right after we moved here, so they were in third or fourth grade,” he explains. “Rachel played the cello and piano, and Elizabeth played viola and guitar.”

He says that while his daughters no longer play their instruments, the investment he made in their lessons was well worth it.
“It’s a well-run place,” Pete says. “The instructors are good, and it seems to be a pretty stable staff. I like that they can teach every instrument, so your kid never feels stuck if they try something and hate it.”

Pete adds that, as an Arbor Greene resident, the location can’t be beat. It’s “right around the corner” — a huge convenience when his girls were taking lessons, and now for him. “I’m trapped in an office 40 hours a week, so playing guitar is an outlet for me,” Pete says. “It was a bucket list item and it’s a mental challenge, using a part of my brain that I usually don’t.”

About The Owners
John explains that he and Sheri originally opened Excel Music with the dream of providing the opportunity for young people to be trained for the kinds of careers and lives they once experienced themselves.

“We both had long careers in music, and were professional musicians who were able to make a living performing,” John says, adding that he was the drummer for country singer Mickey Gilley for many years, giving him the opportunity to perform on TV, at the White House and for people all over the world.

In the 1990s, John and Sheri had success together with a band of their own in Japan called Tz, where he says they sold tens of thousands of CDs. They also found themselves immersed in a culture that revered teachers, which led them to start thinking about passing on the knowledge and experience they had gained to the next generation.

“We met tremendous people, saw great places, and made a living,” John says. “We started thinking, ‘What if some of the kids who come through our school can experience what we’ve experienced?’”

They landed in New Tampa, where they had relatives, and have been building their school ever since. With nine years now under their belts, some of John and Sheri’s long-term students are now growing up and moving on.

“We’re seeing many students who have come through our school go on to college, and some are majoring in music,” John says. “This dream we had is starting to come true.”

John explains, however, that he and Sheri recognize that the vast majority of their students will not go on to have professional music careers.
“Our teachers are good enough for that type of student, but most of our students will go on to have another career such as a doctor or lawyer or something else,” he explains. “We hope that when they go to a concert or experience music, they will appreciate it on a different level, because they truly understand the challenge of playing music, and the dedication and skill of the performers presenting the music to them.”

For the past four years, Excel Music has been a business partner at Hunter’s Green, Clark, and Pride elementary schools. Students who attend those schools can enroll at Excel Music with no registration fee, which is a value of up to $45.

Excel Music is located at 10353 Cross Creek Blvd., Suite I. It is open Monday- Thursday, 2 p.m.-9 p.m., 2 p.m.-7 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday. It is closed on Sunday. Call (813) 991-1177 for more info or to schedule lessons.