Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates Can Help You Breathe Easier

Dr. Richard Lockey, M.D., of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates of Tampa Bay.
Dr. Richard Lockey, M.D., of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates of Tampa Bay.

New Tampa residents who enjoy the botanical beauty and seafood bounty associated with the region may find that allergies and related health problems can also be a part of living our sub-tropical lifestyle.

Fortunately, when allergic reactions become more than an inconvenient nuisance, medical help is available at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates of Tampa Bay, which has an office in the University Community Medical Center on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of E. Fletcher Ave.

Dr. Richard Lockey, M.D., is the founder and president of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates of Tampa Bay. He earned his M.D. degree in 1965 from the Temple University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. After serving as a physician in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, he joined the faculty of the University of South Florida College of Medicine (now Morsani College of Medicine) in 1973 as an assistant professor of medicine and founded Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates of Tampa Bay. Now, he is the director of USF’s allergy and immunology division, chief of the allergy and immunology section at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital and his practice now has four locations — New Tampa, South Tampa, Citrus Park and Brooksville — staffed by five physicians.

Dr. Lockey also has served as a president of the World Allergy Organization and is a past president of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

He says some of the most common allergies come from exposure to substances like pollen or ragweed and foods such as shellfish, eggs, wheat, milk and peanuts. He also cites insect bites, chemicals and medicines as causing allergic reactions and adds that the way doctors treat allergies and related conditions like asthma has changed considerably since he began practicing medicine.

“When I started, we would hospitalize asthmatics all the time on an inpatient basis,” says Dr. Lockey. “What’s changed exponentially are the methods and means by which we can treat and care for patients with allergic diseases, particularly asthma.”

He notes that means asthma patients can continue to live their lives with minimal disruption.

“If appropriate care is available and given, we virtually can keep asthmatics functioning on a normal basis, almost without exception,” he says.

Dr. Lockey credits research that has yielded greater understanding of the disease and new safe, effective medications to treat asthma, for changing a diagnosis of it from potentially life-threatening to manageable for people like Leslie Barton.

Barton has been a patient at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates for 10 years. She suffers from asthma and credits Dr. Lockey and his team for helping her maintain her independence while dealing with the disease’s debilitating effects.

“It really changes your life when you can’t breathe,” she says. “They work very closely with you on a one-on-one basis and have kept me out of the hospital.”

Dr. Lockey says asthma can occur as a result of allergies, nasal polyps, exertion or be related to other respiratory diseases.

Once the doctors at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates of Tampa Bay determine why a patient has asthma, they determine the severity of the illness and conduct a complete physical examination to check for related conditions that can make the condition worse. And, while the physicians are specialists, Dr. Lockey it all gets back to the basic principles of the medical arts.

“You have to be a good internist — or a good practitioner — first, to take care of a patient with asthma,” he says. “If you treat the patient who has chronic sinusitis and you treat their chronic sinusitis, their asthma gets better; if you treat their GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), their asthma can get better; and if you treat their asthma, their GERD gets better. You have to be a physician that knows about the patient as a whole.”

A Team Of Allergy Specialists

Speaking of good practitioners, in addition to Dr. Lockey, there are four other physicians on the staff of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates of Tampa Bay. They are all Board-certified allergy, asthma and immunology specialists and members of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), with each of them contributing a unique perspective derived from their different medical advocacy and research interests.

The range of substances that can cause an allergic reaction is wide, and Dr. Roger Fox, M.D., who earned his medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, in 1975, has written and lectured extensively on the topics of environmental, chemical, food and drug allergies.

Dr. Dennis Ledford, M.D., received his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis in 1976 and has served as president of AAAAI. His research and published writings focus on immunology and autoimmune disorders, and he has been active in promoting education and awareness of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

In addition to being a medical doctor, Dr. Mark Glaum, M.D., is also a Doctor of Philosophy. In 1999, he earned his medical degree at Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA and went on to earn his Ph.D. dgree in immunology from there in 2001. His areas of interest include how the body responds to substances that cause allergic reactions and advancing diagnostic techniques such as rhinoscopies (examining nasal passages with specialized instruments).

The congestion and related problems caused by allergies can require the expertise of an ear, nose and throat specialist (otolaryngologist) and at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates of Tampa Bay, that is Dr. Seong Cho, M.D. He received his medical degree from Kyung Hee University School of Medicine in Seoul, Korea, in 1989, and began his medical career there as an otolaryngologist.

This range of expertise means the doctors and staff at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology of Tampa Bay treat and manage many health conditions besides asthma. These include rhinitis (inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane of the nose, often referred to as hay fever), cough, laryngitis, headaches and immune disorders. Allergic reactions and immune responses resulting in rashes and dermatitis also can be treated there, says Dr. Lockey.

“We are allergists and immunologists. We are trained to take care of a variety of different dermatologic diseases, including hives, eczema, and others. It’s part of our training,” he says.

Patients are provided a wide range of diagnostic and treatment services such as rhinoscopies (examination of the nasal passages using a speculum or similar instrument), patch tests, hearing tests and, of course, allergy injections.

All of the doctors at Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Associates of Tampa Bay also teach at USF’s Morsani College of Medicine. This academic side has promoted a working relationship with USF Health’s Asthma, Allergy & Immunology Clinical Research Unit, of which Dr. Lockey is the associate director.

According to USF Health’s Michelle Twitmyer, the unit’s clinical research coordinator, the benefits available to study participants are considerable.

“Some clinical trials are using medications that are not yet available on the market for the doctors to prescribe, so there might be people who are interested in seeing if this new medication is available,” Twitmyer says. “During the trial, they have the potential of getting that treatment for a year or even two years before it becomes available on the market.”

Twitmyer also says one of the unit’s current projects is researching a treatment for peanut allergies.

While the doctors and staff at Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates have considerable clinical and research experience, as well as access to the latest in treatments and technology, Dr. Lockey expresses a basic principle that guides his team in its work.

“We practice the most cost-effective and honest medicine,” he says. “We treat patients like they’re our family members. That’s what all medicine should be about.”

You can learn more about Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates of Tampa Bay by visiting AllergyTampa.com or by calling 971-9743. The New Tampa office is located at 13801 BBD Blvd., Suite 502.

Gotta Watch ‘Em All, But Start With Episode 3 Of WCNT-tv!

Pokemon GO is taking over The Shops at Wiregrass mall, new restaurants are nearing completion of S.R. 56, we stop by and talk with PROtential Sports and Gary shares some of his favorite places to get a good meal in the Seminole Heights area.

RaceTrac Coming, Beef’s Gone

imageTampa Palms Getting A RaceTrac

It may be hard to notice, due to the widening of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in the same area, but a new RaceTrac gasoline station and convenience store will soon be going up in Area 3 of Tampa Palms.

Currently wrapping up the permitting process, RaceTrac will soon begin construction of a 5,928-sq.-ft. store with 18 gas pumps at the southeast corner of BBD and Cypress Preserve Dr. It will be directly across Cypress Preserve Dr. from the Chase bank and newly opened LA Fitness.

Note-There will be two entries/exits at the Racetrac off Cypress Preserve Dr., but none directly off BBD.

A 6,000-sq.ft. RaceTrac was opened late last year on S.R. 56, the first one ever built in Wesley Chapel. The one in Tampa Palms will be the 10th RaceTrac in Tampa.

Racetrac has more than 500 stores nationwide, and roughly 4000 in the south alone. It is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.

BeefsWEBBye bye Beef’s

After many years as a local staple for beer-drinking chicken wing lovers who would often fill the place on Saturday and Sunday for NCAA and NFL football, the Beef O’Bradys located in the Cross Creek Commons plaza next to the Publix on the corner of Cross Creek Blvd. and Morris Bridge Rd., is no more.

The store, owned by Boyette Family Enterprises, Inc., has shuttered its doors and the Beef O’Brady’s sign out front has been removed.

Word is they hope to find another restaurant to fill the space.

Central Bank — A Truly Local Banking Option For New Tampa!

Board Vice Chair Nilesh Patel (left) & President/CEO John Thompson of Central Bank, the community bank which has its only location on BBD Blvd. just south of County Line Rd. in New Tampa.
Board Vice Chair Nilesh Patel (left) & President/CEO John Thompson of Central Bank, the community bank which has its only location on BBD Blvd. just south of County Line Rd. in New Tampa.

New Tampa and Wesley Chapel consumers who like to support their neighborhood businesses by shopping locally can also bank locally at Central Bank, located on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just south of County Line Rd.

According to President and Chief Executive Officer John Thompson, there’s a big difference between a community bank and a branch office of one of the national financial institutions.

“The policy of a community bank is set by the management in that community,” Thompson says. “The community banks are much closer to what’s going on in their communities than larger banks.”

When Central Bank’s founders were going through the planning and regulatory process to open their bank 10 years ago, the area’s economy was moving along steadily towards a prosperous future as people moved into new homes, followed by businesses to serve them.

According to Vice Chairman of the Board Nilesh Patel, the Central Bank team of financial entrepreneurs saw a need they could fulfill. The New Tampa location is Central Bank’s only full-service facility, although there is a plan to open a loan processing office in Dade City in August.

“In 2005 and 2006, Florida had tremendous growth,” Patel says. “New Tampa was chosen (as our headquarters) because there were not that many banks.”

But, there was a lot of construction under way and more being planned as the area on both sides of the Hillsborough and Pasco county lines continued to add shopping plazas and housing tracts.

Central Bank opened the doors to its standalone headquarters building on the south side of the county line in February 2007.

“Just in time to experience the economic chaos (of 2008-09),” says Thompson.

While the recession that started in 2008 rocked many banks, Central Bank stayed on its course.

“Our Board oversight has been on maintaining a well-capitalized institution,” says Thompson. “We weathered the storm very well.”

Solid finances at its founding and prudent management during the challenging years that followed allowed Central Bank to go against the tide and position itself as not many other community banks could during the recession. “When the recession set in, it caused a lot of banks to get out of mortgage lending (nationally),” Thompson says. “We got into it.”

When the local economy showed some signs of recovery, the economic engine driving growth in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel kicked into gear again.

The projected growth envisioned for Wesley Chapel that had been on hold is now under way. The Shops at Wiregrass mall found its commercial footing and is now poised for expansion; the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI) is setting the stage for major development in the area around S.R. 56; the Tampa Premium Outlets has opened, and major projects like the Florida Hospital Center Ice complex are nearing completion.

“If you look at the growth all around S.R. 56, residential construction has picked back up,” Thompson says, adding that part of Central Bank’s business model of commitment to the local community and making decisions based on that is giving greater consideration to mortgage applications from people whose personal finances may have taken a bit of a hit during the recession.

“You had a lot of good people affected by circumstances beyond their control,” Thompson says. “They’ve gotten good employment again but have some blemishes. We view those people as acceptable risks.”

Patel notes that factors like the current price of housing and growth in land values help ensure that the numbers add up for the bank and make it possible to be a good neighbor as well.

“The prices are right, the interest rates are right and the values are going up,” Patel says. “We being community members, we try to find a place for them.”

High customer service standards also are part of the deal, Thompson adds. “We try to give a quick turnaround.”

The Bank For Your Business?

Many small, independent businesses occupy a lot of the storefronts in the shopping plazas of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, and Central Bank is available to serve them in the same neighborly way it does individual consumers.

One of the small business owners Central Bank has earned as a customer is Beverly Zichy. Her Wesley Chapel company, Proforma C & B Elite, provides brand management and marketing solutions. She’s been in business for 10 years and has been with Central Bank from the beginning.

“I’ve enjoyed a great relationship there,” Zichy says. “All the employees are friendly and know me by name. I can’t say that about any other bank I’ve used in the past.”

For consumers looking for a place to conduct routine personal banking business, Central Bank – which has current assets totaling $121-million, about  twice what it started with — offers a variety of services, such as savings, checking, IRA and CD accounts (including a new Advantage Plus CD, which affords greater flexibility on deposits and rates of return).

Central Bank uses the Presto network of ATM machines, which means customers can withdraw money from any Publix store ATM without paying a fee.

The bank’s website (CentralBankFL.com) offers a variety of financial tools ranging from a simple calculator to switch kits that facilitate changing from another bank to Central Bank. Loan inquiries also can be initiated from the website. Other online services available to personal and business customers include online bill paying and access to statements, fund transfers and more.

A free Central Bank app also is available for both Apple and Android devices.

According to Thompson, providing online services offers great potential to meet the needs of customers efficiently. “We are in the process of expanding our online account handling,” he says. “We believe technology is the best way to expand.”

Central Bank is a small business itself, dealing with many of the same opportunities and challenges as many of the businesses it serves. The bank has 23 employees who handle everything from handling deposits at a teller window to overseeing cyber security and compliance with industry regulations.

And, like other New Tampa- and Wesley Chapel-area businesses, Central Bank is involved in community activities, with employees participating in projects like Paint your Heart Out Tampa (which has painted over 2,600 homes of low-income, elderly citizens the past 26 years), the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, DARE to Rescue (which rescues and rehabilitates Dachshunds) and Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for the needy.

Financial education is another area of community involvement for Central Bank.

“We have employees who go into the schools and teach (kids) about banking,” says Patel, who is a resident of Live Oak Preserve and is serving as the chair for the sponsorship committee of the 29th Annual India Festival, which will be held in November at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

In fact, because many of the bank’s board of directors and founding members have strong family relationships with India, the bank is called Central Bank – the name of one of the oldest banks in India.

Whether it’s serving the banking needs of consumers and businesses of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, or donating time and energy to worthy causes, Central Bank is staking its future on exemplifying what it means to be a community bank and a good neighbor, according to Thompson, who is active in the Rotary Club of New Tampa, which meets for breakfast every Friday at 7 a.m. at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club.

“We want to be a good community citizen and have a reputation for honesty and integrity to the public,” he says.

You can learn more about Central Bank by checking out their ad on page 27, calling 929-4477, dropping by for a visit at 20701 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd, or by visiting CentralBankFL.com.

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.