You’re In Good Hands With Marino Cecchi Allstate Insurance

Marino Cecchi is more than just one of the “Good Hands People.” In addition to insurance, his Allstate office in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza Tampa Palms also offers investment services.
Marino Cecchi is more than just one of the “Good Hands People.” In addition to insurance, his Allstate office in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza Tampa Palms also offers investment services.

Marino Cecchi’s Allstate agency, located in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms (near Ciccio Cali and Koizi restaurants), offers a full range of personal and commercial insurance products, including homeowner and automobile policies, and additional products, such as life insurance, variable annuities and even money market funds.

The agency has been open since December 2014, and in just a year and a half, it’s grown quite a bit. “Our biggest source of business is referrals,” says Marino. “Our current customers are happy with their service, so they refer their friends, neighbors, and coworkers to us.”

Marino also says that most of his customers find him when they are looking for a quote for their auto or home insurance. Then, after they’ve learned about the agency and established a rapport with Marino, they often begin considering purchasing financial products through the agency, too.

“Recently, we’ve had more people looking for retirement accounts,” he says. “I think it’s a seasonal thing, as people do their taxes, they are looking for ways to reduce their tax burden, and we can help them with IRAs and other financial products. We’ve also recently helped families with college funds, too.”

He invites anyone doing their research about which insurance company or agency to choose to visit his website, which is accessible via the shortcut MarinoFS.com, to read the reviews his customers have written about him. You’ll see that nearly all are overwhelmingly positive reviews, but you’re still able to read the reviews that aren’t as glowing.

“It’s really a credit to Allstate that they don’t allow us to a remove negative review,” he says.

Marino holds a “Series 6” securities license, which means he can sell insurance, mutual funds, and variable annuities, but does not handle stock trades.

Most products are provided by Allstate, but some are brokered, Marino says, such as homeowner insurance and financial products.

“This means that customers can shop from companies that Allstate has already vetted and approved,” he explains, adding that some of these are large, multi-state or even international companies, such as Federated National Insurance, Prudential, Axa, and Voya, while others are based in Florida, such as Security First Insurance.

Experience Counts

Marino is originally from Chicago, and spent most of his life in the Windy City, although he also has lived in Wisconsin and Charleston, SC. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Organization Management from Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, IL (near Chicago) in 1985. While in college, he began a career in banking that lasted more than 30 years. He has served as president of First Colonial Mortgage Corporation and Community Banc Mortgage, and he led the account management team at MortgageBot, a leading national provider of mortgage origination for banks and lenders.

“In the banking world, I worked as a trusted advisor,” he explains. “And, that’s what I want to be for my customers now. I have a ton of experience and knowledge that I’ve gained through my banking career, and I’ve realized that there is a lot of emotion when it comes to finances and making major purchases. It can be confusing and daunting to think about all these coverages, and there is a need for someone who can, with composure, look at your issues and give you sound advice. You need to find someone who is willing to do what’s in your best interest, not necessarily the best interest of the company.”

He says that his 30 years in the banking industry also have shown him that many people don’t really understand what they are buying, so they might not be protecting themselves from potential problems.

“Price is absolutely a factor, and we want to help you get the lowest price,” he says. “But, it’s not the only factor. We take a consultative approach to be sure that you understand how your current insurance products help meet your financial goals, and how your risk and exposure to financial loss might affect those goals.”

Customer Service, New Phone App, Texting & More

In addition to Marino, the staff includes account managers Johnathon Wofford, Donna Jones and Cortney Gonzalez.

“Everyone in Marino’s office is very helpful and friendly,” says Howard Lilienfeld, who lives in Tampa Palms and recently became a client of the agency. “I had a problem and needed insurance for my home, and Marino jumped right on it. I also got auto insurance very quickly, as well as an umbrella policy.”

Howard says he likes that he can call Marino anytime, and that he can stop in to see him because he’s close by.

“I highly recommend him,” Howard says. “He puts a lot of effort into his work and is very knowledgeable. If he treats everyone the way he’s treated me, they’ll be in good shape.”

Marino says his agency is ideal for people who want to understand and make educated choices about the insurance and financial products they buy. As an Allstate agency, all of his clients have access to a 24-hour call center, and he says they like the flexibility of using the website or even the Allstate mobile app (available for iOS and Android) to make payments and get information. But, Marino says that what really sets Allstate apart from the big companies that don’t have agents is, “Clients can come in and meet our staff and talk with the same person every time they have a question,” he says. “People often like to do their research online, buy their insurance or financial products in person, and then make payments easily through a convenient app on their phone.” Marino’s Allstate agency can accommodate all of those options.

Along those lines, Marino also recently added the option for clients to text his office phone number when they need something from their agent. “It gets used more than I thought it would,” he says. “A lot of times, I get texts from people at the car dealer, saying that they are buying a new car and are giving us the VIN number.” He says that’s an easy way to get information to him, and that he gets those messages on his phone, even when he’s not in the office.

Marino has recently joined the leadership team of a networking group that’s new in New Tampa, called Keep It Local. The group meets every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at A Dash of Salt ‘N Pepper (10353 Cross Creek Blvd.). “I like that it’s a more local business networking group,” says Marino. “There’s a lower membership fee than other groups, and it’s seat-specific, so there’s only one insurance agent. There’s also a volunteer component, so our members give back to the community.” He says the group is already meeting, but will have its official kickoff will be on Wednesday, August 3, 11:30 a.m., at A Dash of Salt ‘N Pepper.

Marino Cecchi’s Allstate agency is located at 17020 Palm Pointe Dr. and is open Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-6 p.m., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Fri., and on Sat. by appointment. Call 513-9001 for more information, visit MarinoFS.com,  or you also can “like” the agency’s Facebook page by searching “Allstate Insurance: Marino Cecchi” in the Facebook search engine.

Need A New Look For The Summer? Try Raquel.Does.Hair!

Raquel Torres of Raquel.Does.Hair has a private room inside the Visionary Hair Company salon in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off S.R. 56
Raquel Torres of Raquel.Does.Hair. has a private room inside the Visionary Hair Company salon in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off S.R. 56

Raquel Torres of Raquel.Does.Hair. is an independent veteran hairstylist who gives her clients an exclusive salon suite experience in her own private room located in the Visionary Hair Company salon in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off of S.R. 56 (just east of I-75).

“You pay for my full attention,” says Raquel. She says she never double-books, so she won’t be attending to someone else’s haircut while you’re sitting under a dryer. “I control my own schedule, which is nice because I can set the appropriate appointment length to give each client the best experience possible.”

Raquel became licensed as a cosmetologist in Florida in 2003. She was dual enrolled in high school, where she thought cosmetology school would help her gain independence and an option for supporting herself while she attended college. Instead, she “fell in love and found I had a knack for hair.”

She did go on to receive her Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree from Pasco Hernando Community (now State) College in Brooksville in 2005. In addition to her cosmetology schooling and general education, she also recently went to barber school and became licensed as a barber last July.

Raquel says men, women and children come to her for, “everything in the color and cut family.” She says that includes hair cuts, razor cuts (which she says offer more texture versus a blunt cut using scissors), pixie cuts and short hair cuts for women, among other styles. She does color and highlights, and especially loves a technique she uses with many of her clients called “balayage highlighting,” where she hand-paints your highlights instead of using foils.

“It makes it so the outgrowth is more natural with no heavy horizontal lines,” Raquel says, “so people can carry their natural color much longer without needing any kind of touch-ups.”

Especially now that Raquel has her barber’s license, she says she offers men much more of an experience than any of those “quick places” men often go to for their haircuts. Her high-quality cuts include shampoo and a scalp massage, which she says men really enjoy.

“When a man comes to me for the first time, they often tell me no one had ever given them a scalp-massage before,” she says. “Now, they won’t let me skip it. They enjoy the relaxation of the experience.”

Raquel2Raquel worked in salons in Brooksville, Gainesville, and Wesley Chapel for many years before she says she “took a leap of faith” and began working independently in 2012. She found the room for rent at Visionary Hair Company and felt that striking out on her own at that time in that location was meant to be. “My faith played a huge part in this,” Raquel says. “I really wanted this decision to come when I was sure it was what I was supposed to do.”

Raquel says that, to date, her business has grown primarily from word of mouth and referrals. She encourages clients to refer their friends to her when they’re looking for something new.

“Every client you refer to me means $10 off your next service, and your friend gets $10 off, too.” says Raquel.

“I hear from people all the time that it’s harder to find a new hairstylist than to find a new doctor,” she adds, “especially because, when you try someone new, you have to walk around ‘wearing’ that until your next experiment.”

So, Raquel wants to make the experience of giving her a try easy and pressure-free. She says she talks with each client for 5-10 minutes before she ever takes out her cutting tools. Because her room is private, she can close the door, so there’s no one else watching. She says she prides herself on being able to communicate with her clients.

“Anyone can say they are a hair stylist, but I really work to understand how my clients see themselves so that we can agree on a vision for their look,” says Raquel. “I take as much time as needed to be sure we find a style that complements them and their lifestyle.”

She also says the private room allows each client to have the experience that really fits their needs at that time. “A lot of moms come in and just want peace and quiet while they drink their coffee,” she says. Then she laughs, “Others want to talk, and I tell them they can talk as much as they want as long as they hold their head still.”

She says she also has clients who want to come in and have a good time, so she’ll put on some good music and maybe even sing and dance while she works. “If you’re looking for entertainment, I can do that, too,” she laughs.

Client Allen Williams says that Raquel’s warm, bubbly personality, and excellent work has kept him coming back to Raquel since the day he went to a salon and the person he wanted to see wasn’t there, so he ended up with her.

Allen says she cut his hair and his response was, “Wow! I like this.” Allen’s been going to her ever since, following her to her new location.

Allen’s wife Julie started going to Raquel a little over a year ago. “She’s always in a happy mood, and I feel super comfortable with her,” Julie says. “She really seems to know what’s going to look good on me.” Julie adds that she wanted to “go blonde” for the summer, but Raquel talked her out of it.

“She’ll do what you want,” Julie says, “but the times I’ve gone against her advice, I’ve regretted it.” Julie says Raquel suggested she tone the blonde way down so it goes with her complexion, and she loves the end result.

Allen and Julie’s son, who is a high school student, began getting his hair cut by Raquel, too. Raquel describes his style as “hipster chic” and says he’s “very particular” about his hair. His parents say people often ask him who cuts his hair, so they refer them to Raquel.

“I love her,” says Julie, “and everyone I’ve recommended her to loves her, too.” Allen concurs, “I refer everybody to her, because you can pretty much guarantee they’re going to be happy.”

That’s Raquel’s goal. “I don’t care how you looked when you came in,” she says, “I’m responsible for how you look and feel when you leave.”

Raquel.Does.Hair. is located at 2405 Creel Ln., Suite. 101, inside the Visionary Hair Company salon. Raquel is available by appointment Tuesdays-Saturdays beginning at 10 a.m. To make an appointment, call Raquel at (352) 442-1082. You can see before and after photos of her work, check her prices, and read client testimonials at StyleSeat.com/raqueldoeshair.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Picks Up Two Important Designations

The staff of the Baby Place at Florida Hospital is proud to have won a 2016 Women’s Choice Award as one of the top obstetrics hospitals in the U.S.
The staff of FHWC’s Hip & Knee Replacement Center is proud to have been designated as the country’s first Center of Excellence by an international health care accreditation organization.

Living in Wesley Chapel, we can consider ourselves fortunate to have Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) close by for our medical needs.

The 200,000-sq. ft., 83-bed facility, which is currently being expanded, continues to be recognized for being outstanding in various ways.

The hospital recently was named the country’s first Center of Excellence for its Hip & Knee Replacement Center.

This designation was awarded by DNV GL Healthcare USA, an international health care accreditation organization.

“This comprehensive, independent evaluation is recognition of the high-quality orthopaedic care provided by our physicians and staff and dedication to the best outcomes for our patients,” says Dr. Stephen Raterman, orthopaedic surgeon and medical director of FHWC’s Hip & Knee Replacement Center.

In addition, FHWC also has received the 2016 Women’s Choice Award as one of America’s best hospitals for obstetrics.

The Women’s Choice Award is an organization that seeks to give women a collective voice to choose brands, products and services with confidence, knowing that other women have tried and would highly recommend them.

The designation is based on a variety of criteria that consider patient satisfaction, patient recommendation rating, and what women say they want from a hospital.

FHWC’s Baby Place opened in 2012 with 11 private rooms for labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum care.

Each room features overnight space for family, spa-like amenities, such as Jacuzzi tub or walk-in shower, and 42” TV.

Wireless fetal monitoring and a state-of-the-art infant security system are other highlights of The Baby Place.

“Women choosing us as the hospital to welcome their babies into the world is the highest honor we can receive,” says Denyse Bales-Chubb, CEO and president of FHWC. “This award is another reflection of that honor, and we pledge to keep earning it every day.”

For more information about FHWC, visit FHWesleyChapel.org. And, don’t forget, FHWC also is the Studio Sponsor for WCNT-tv.

Your Children Will Love Panda Hugs Child Care Learning Center!

PandaHugs9Panda Hugs Child Care Learning Center — located on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. just south of Tampa Palms — has been family owned and serving the children of New Tampa since 1997, by Sue Anne Allbaugh, who serves as the center’s educational director, and Sue Ann’s daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Tom Driscoll.

Panda Hugs offers full-time childcare for infants (ages six weeks and older) to age five, VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten), plus after-school programs and summer camp for elementary-aged students (registration is now open for camps from June 13-August 9).

At Panda Hugs, the classrooms are large and roomy, and filled with toys for fun and learning. And, there are big windows from the halls looking into the classrooms, so parents can easily watch what’s happening. Panda Hugs has an open-door policy, where parents and caregivers are encouraged to stop in anytime to see what their kids are learning, and the learning center’s owners say they welcome the inevitable comments, questions, and even complaints that arise.

They point to the longevity of many of the school’s teachers as an example of what makes Panda Hugs special. Of the school’s 20 employees, six have worked there for more than 15 years, including the school’s director, Elsa Espinosa.

Before joining Panda Hugs 16 years ago, Elsa was the director of a preschool in Miami that was part of a large corporation — unlike Panda Hugs, which is independent, and not part of a chain.

“Here, it feels more like home,” Elsa says. “There, it was of a lot of paperwork. Here, our focus is more on working with kids, parents and teachers.”

A Unique Learning Environment

At Panda Hugs, kids don’t stay in one classroom all day. In addition to the large, open classrooms, the facility has a “music and movement” room for all kids older than age one. Teachers lead their students through activities such as singing and dancing, walking on the balance beam or playing with hula hoops.

Kids also get to visit “Rainbow World,” a fun, colorful room designed to look like a small town. There are “shops” and a “theatre” where kids play dress up and put on puppet shows. Plus, they can climb up to the “second story” and peek out of windows, then slide down a big slide into a ball pit.

Panda Hugs offers a truly unique learning environment, where the kids love to play. They also spend time each day on the school’s outdoor playground.

“The most important thing we emphasize is that children learn through playing,” says Elsa. “We provide an introduction to language, writing, math, the alphabet, phonics and reading,”

Elsa notes that the young students learn in small groups through centers. “We make it fun,” she says, “because the interaction with what they’re learning is the most important part.”

The school’s curriculum is a “blend” of programs created by Kaplan Early Learning Company and a curriculum created and developed personally by Sue Ann, who oversees how the curriculum is implemented in each classroom.

Sue Anne says that she spent 35 years teaching kindergarten, first and second grade in New Jersey, New York, Texas and Ohio. She holds a Master’s degree in Education from Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY, and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH.

Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten

Panda Hugs also is a provider for Florida’s free voluntary pre-kindergarten program, known as VPK. This year, more than 50 kids are getting ready to celebrate graduating from the school’s VPK and move into kindergarten.

At Panda Hugs, VPK is offered five days a week (9 a.m.–noon), or three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, & Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.). There is no cost to parents for the part-time VPK program, and parents have the option to choose extended care so their children can attend Panda Hugs full-time.

Elsa says in VPK, teachers are focused on preparing kids for kindergarten. Plus, Pand Hugs offers some extras parents might not expect.

“We teach sign language and also implement Spanish into the curriculum,” says Elsa. It’s a natural fit, she explains, since each classroom has one teacher who is Latin American. This diversity is reflected in the school’s students, too. “Our kids are very multicultural,” she says. “We are close to USF and have kids who are Asian, Arabic and Latin.”

When Jada McAlpin was looking for a VPK program for her daughter, a trusted friend who is an elementary school teacher recommended Panda Hugs. “I love that it’s a smaller, cozy facility,” Jada says. “From day one, it’s seemed like a family.”

She also appreciates the safety and security measures in place, like the fact that kids can’t open the front door (you have to be a certain height or the door doesn’t open) and she says she’s never seen a child standing alone in the hall.

“My daughter is doing so great, I can’t believe it,” Jada says, explaining that Shannae hasn’t just memorized her numbers and letters, but truly understands what she’s learning.

She also appreciates the teachers’ confidence to handle whatever comes up.

“There were some days where Shannae was crying and didn’t want to go to school, but the teachers just told me to go on and they would handle it,” Jada says. “As moms, we worry so much, but then I pick her up at the end of the day and she says she’s had the best day! I am in love with Panda Hugs!”

After-School Care

Panda Hugs also offers after-school care for elementary school kids, offering transportation from five local elementary schools: Chiles, Clark, Hunter’s Green, Pride and Tampa Palms.

Kids in kindergarten through fifth grade are picked up at their respective schools at the end of the day and arrive at Panda Hugs around 3 p.m. Their afternoons include homework, arts & crafts, snack, and time outside on the playground.

Summer Camp

For any parent looking for fun, full-time care for their children over the summer – Panda Hugs offers a unique summer camp program.

Kids who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade can participate in fun and engaging programs while on summer break from school. This summer, activities will center around the theme, “ROCK-it!” From learning about rocks to rockets, and even rock music, summer camp will be all about rocks.

The price of summer camp includes all field trips – three or four each week – to favorite places such as MOSI, Gator Fred’s Party Center on Ehrlich Rd, the movies, Hillsborough River State Park, and more. There are also activities that fit the theme offered on the school’s premises, such as a scheduled hip-hop class.

Panda Hugs Child Care Learning Center is located at 15051 BBD Blvd. It is open Mon.–Fri., 6:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. For more information, visit PandaHugs.com or call 977-8195.

 

Pioneers Honored By County

WesleyChapelPioneers

 

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) recognized Bill Smith and his sister, Ruth Smith Adams, two members of a Wesley Chapel pioneer family, for their contribution in preserving the area’s history, at the historic Dade City Courthouse.

Pasco clerk and comptroller Dr. Paula O’Neil read the extensive resolution on June 7 presented by District 2 county commissioner Mike Moore. The resolution spoke of the contributions of the Smith family to east Pasco with the settlement of Wesley Chapel by their great-grandfather, William R. Smith, in 1867.

Bill and Ruth were instrumental in preserving the history of Wesley Chapel. Their family donated the 1894 cracker home of Daniel Smith to the hands-on Cracker Country museum at the Florida State Fairgrounds in 1979. Bill and Ruth’s father was instrumental in the delivery of electricity to Wesley Chapel from the Rural Electric Administration.

The Smiths had been previously honored in 1998 in a re-dedication of the historic Pasco County Courthouse as one of the “Pioneer Founding Families of Pasco County.”

The Smiths, along with many others, played important roles in helping local author Madonna Wise put together her book, Images of America: Wesley Chapel. Wise has spoken glowingly of Bill and Ruth’s contributions to Wesley Chapel’s history at the Pasco-Hernando State College History Fair and at other book signings. The Smiths also lent a number of photos to Wise that appeared in her book.