Category: Business

The Moody Group Is Your One-Stop For Real Estate, Mortgages & More

The team at The Moody Group includes (back row:, l.-r.) Erika Mendieta, Marcelo Mendieta, Leon Moody & Sherlyn Clark. (Front row, l.-r.) Haydee Irribarren, Vanessa Gallucci & Mitzi Hess.

Owning a home in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel can be a source of joy, but it also can be a burden when there’s a change in your employment or lifestyle.

As a one-stop real estate resource, The Moody Group Real Estate Sales & Property Management — located just south of County Line Rd. at Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and Oak Joy Ct. between the Walgreens and The Tire Choice (in the same building as Central Bank) — can manage the property of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents who quickly need to move on to other places. The office also can help newcomers to our area find a place to live.

The Moody Group specializes in home sales, rentals, property management and investment property services in the neighborhoods located in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas.

For Leon Moody, the basic principle guiding the organization that bears his name is one that reassures its customers.

“People are our business, real estate just happens to be our product,” says Moody, who was born in Dade City and, as an outdoorsman, spent a good bit of his early life enjoying the wilderness of what is now Wesley Chapel.

As a real estate professional, Moody has more than 30 years of experiences to draw upon and back up his candid assessments of situations when doing business. “The truth is the truth,” he says. “Just because you built those cabinets doesn’t make your house worth $50,000 more than the market.”

That straightforward approach applies, whether a customer needs to rent out their New Tampa estate for $3,000 a month when a far-away career opportunity arises or a family on a tight budget is starting a new life in the Sunshine State and needs to find a place costing less than $1,000 a month. For those whose credit rating may have taken a heavy hit during the recent recession (making it difficult to buy or rent housing in the neighborhood of their choosing), there may be a second chance at the “Good Life” available by working with The Moody Group.

“We’ll look at the whole person,” says Moody. “We may want to know more about you and get the last month’s rent, but we’ll try to help you.”

Assisting Moody in his work is a team of professionals who contribute their expertise and energy toward the company’s success and the care of its customers.

Buying and selling property is at the core of any real estate business and The Moody Group’s approach is to combine a high level of customer service with educating clients so transactions are successfully completed. Many client relationships involve a homeowner who may be facing a corporate transfer or military deployment and is unsure whether to rent or sell his/her home.

Marcelo Mendieta is a real estate agent with The Moody Group who says making that choice begins with a good look at the numbers, and the people involved.

“We do a market analysis to see if it’s better to rent the house or sell it and guide our client in the right direction,’’ Mendieta says. ”I like to sleep at night, so we treat people with respect.” He adds that extending that respect involves communicating honestly with clients, especially when a deal encounters problems. “We like to give people bad news right up front,” Mendieta says. “We’re straightforward and that’s what keeps people referring us.”

Being on top of problems is one of the positive attributes Google reviewer and condominium owner Lan Rice cited in his five-star testimonial about The Moody Group.

“The Moody Group has been managing a condo I own in Tampa for about a year now,” Rice wrote. “The few problems that have arisen with the condo have been handled quickly and professionally. The Moody Group has been very good about keeping me informed and they process the rent payments quickly and accurately.”

Russ Latimer moved with his family to Tampa from Maryland and expressed his appreciation for the efforts of The Moody Group in ensuring a smooth transition for his family in his online review:

“The pictures on the web showed a very nice house in a gated community with a pool and hot tub.,” Latimer wrote. “Unfortunately, the previous tenants, upon their departure, left the house in need of many repairs. The Moody Group kept us informed about the status of the property and did an outstanding job of correcting the many issues left by the previous tenants.”

Renting private homes in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel requires extensive knowledge of the area’s communities and the covenants and restrictions each of their Home Owners Associations (HOAs) and Community Development Districts (CDDs) have. Making sure a potential tenant is a good fit for a community in terms of comfort with its rules, or lack of them, is a big part of the work routine for Vanessa Gallucci, who is The Moody Group’s property manager.

“I get customers who say, ‘I don’t want to be in an HOA,’ while others like the restrictions,” says Gallucci, who also is the go-to person for many of the issues that arise in the course of conducting business. To her, the tougher the challenge, the greater the motivation to make things right.

“I love having an irate customer because I can put myself in their position and say, ‘Let’s figure out how to make you happy,’” she says. “At the end of the day, we want to earn their trust.”

For people who might consider using The Moody Group to buy a home, real estate agent Sherlyn Clark has one essential piece of advice. “First and foremost, buyers must be pre-approved,” says Clark, who adds that one of the ways The Moody Group plans on growing in 2017 is by establishing a working relationship with a mortgage company so the mortgage approval process can be handled in-house, easing that burden for potential buyers. “Customer service is our number one goal,” she adds.

For more info about The Moody Group (20701 BBD), visit LeonMoody.com. The Moody Group Facebook page features listing highlights and articles of interest. You also can call 994-0123 or see the ad on pg. 37 of our latest issue. The office can communicate in English, Spanish and Creole.

Moody Group

Exclusive Clientele Salon Adds Breakthrough Technology To Analyze Hair

Christy Johnson has been using her talent as a hair-styling artist to enhance the appearances and lift the spirits of her clients for more than 30 years. Now, the owner of Exclusive Clientele Salon, located in the Cross Creek Center plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. at Kinnan St. in New Tampa, wants to use state-of-the art technology and knowledge to promote hair and scalp wellness a few miles south of Wesley Chapel.

Exclusive Clientele Salon has gained a reputation in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel communities as an upscale, full-service salon offering a wide range of services, from basic cuts and colors, blow drying to weaves, in a comfortable, clean and friendly environment. Johnson and her staff take the expression, “Look good, feel good,” to a higher level.

“I want all of my clients to feel like they are exclusive,” Johnson says. “We’re all about making people feel good from the inside out, spiritually and beautifully.”

That approach has earned Exclusive Clientele Salon a loyal customer base and plenty of positive online comments, such as Dana Barnes’ Google Review.

“Christy is my stylist at Exclusive Clientele Salon,” Barnes writes. “Her customer service is always great when I am there. I highly recommend (this) salon.”

The ambiance of Exclusive Clientele Salon is more like a relaxing spa than a bustling hair cuttery. Paintings illustrate natural scenes throughout the salon and the subdued lighting in the dryer room complements the “Quiet” sign posted there.

Johnson says her focus has always been on promoting healthy hair, and that has a lot to do with why she’s venturing into the field of trichology — the scientific study of human hair and related disorders, including hair loss and scalp problems.

How Trichology Can Help You

“We know that a lot of people are suffering from hair loss from alopecia, chemotherapy, radiation and medicines, and that there’s also a lot of elements in the environment that affect skin and hair,” Johnson says. She also cites improper maintenance of some hair styles as causing scalp and hair problems.

exclusiveclientele2 — The digital scope in this private room at Exclusive Clientele Salon can help analyze your hair.

Johnson and stylist/hair wellness consultant Kenya Bryant-Long have earned certificates for completing trichology courses taught by Rodney Barnett, a pioneering practitioner and teacher of trichology.

“He’s known all over the world as one of the best trichologists and teachers,” Christy says.

In addition to learning trichology, Christy is outfitting her hair restoration and wellness center with the latest technology (photo, right) to put that knowledge into practice. A client’s introduction to trichology begins with an extensive consultation in a private room. Christy says it’s important to have a space that’s conducive to discussion and analysis of what might be affecting someone’s hair and scalp health.

“Everything we do will be behind closed doors,” explains the 14-year New Tampa resident. “You don’t have to worry about anyone else knowing your business.”

And, Kenya says a lot of the conversation will revolve around the client’s lifestyle and health habits.

“We’ll do an in-depth consultation with them about what they eat and what kinds of medications they’re on,” she says.

Clients will able to get a good look at their hair and scalp with a digital scope that magnifies a view of their head surface and transmits it to a 50-inch monitor. To find out what’s going on inside the body that may be affecting their hair’s health, a biochemical assessment will be conducted using a trichological device known as a compass which, according to Kenya, “reads biomarkers in the body.”

One of the treatments administered at Exclusive Clientele Salon uses what is called an “oxygenator” to hydrate and cleanse the scalp and hair follicles with a nutritional solution.

Trichology is sometimes characterized as a para-medical practice, bridging the fields of dermatology and cosmetology. One way that relationship comes into play is with platelet rich plasma (PRP) hair restoration therapy administered by a dermatologist. PRP therapy works by injecting platelets from a patient’s blood into their own scalp. Human blood contains stem cells and other products that assist in tissue regeneration and healing. The therapy is based on the principle that growth factors in the platelets stimulate hair growth in follicles that are not producing hair but are still viable and capable of doing so. Post-procedure monitoring and maintenance of the scalp and hair is done by a trichologist.

But Wait, There’s More!

Other technologies used by Exclusive Clientele Salon are cool, low-laser treatments which Kenya says, “will help stimulate hair growth,” a micro mist treatment that she says will, “restore the moisture and help retain it,” and an exfoliating mask that loosens and removes scalp debris.

In cases where hair rejuvenation in bald spots does not occur, Johnson offers a non-surgical hair replacement option with hair prosthetics. A hair (or cranial) prosthesis is a more exact fit than a wig and often incorporates considerations in terms of material allergies and scalp sensitivities such as the sensitivities cancer patients may have.

It’s a family affair at Exclusive Clientele, with Christy’s daughter, Ariel Glover, and Kenya’s daughter, Asia Wilson, both working at the salon. The two daughters have spent their young lives following their mothers’ careers and finding not only inspiration, but also their own professions, from the experience.

Ariel, who does a lot of the hair coloring and extension work, shares her mother’s holistic approach to the business.

“We make people feel good on the inside by making them look good on the outside with an exclusive experience,” Ariel says. “It creates confidence in the client and brings out the best in them when they feel beautiful.”

Like Ariel, Asia decided at an early age to follow her mother’s example of a career in the beauty industry and according to Kenya, “[Asia] can pretty much do anything” in the salon, including hair coloring, highlighting and extensions.

Johnson adds that, “Asia has a warm spirit and makes everyone feel comfortable and relaxed.”

As a family business, Johnson credits her husband Thomas for much of Exclusive Clientele’s success. Thomas is the CEO of Capital Financial Services and, according to Christy, “really motivates me and gives me that push I really need.”

Whatever the motivation, Johnson says Exclusive Clientele Salon’s venture into hair restoration reflects the approach she takes toward personal and professional growth.

“We’re not just stuck behind the chair,” she says “We’re keeping up with technology to help men and women with their hair problems.”

Exclusive Clientele Salon is located at 10026 Cross Creek Blvd. For more information, visit ExclusiveClienteleSalon.com, call 994-2393, or see the ad on page 24.

Exclusive Clientele

The Gift Box Boutique Is Ready For The Holiday Season…Are You?

The Gift Box Boutique isn’t anything like your typical big box “department” or mall store.

It’s quaint and warm, with a variety of items that belies its just-the-right-size corner location in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms, between Ciccio’s Cali and Stonewood Grill & Tavern.

But, what owner Jennifer Colón says really sets her shop apart is the customer service. You won’t want to hustle in and out, and you are invited to stay as long as you need to in order to find the perfect gift items.

“We have spent the last 2-½ years listening to customers every day tell us what they like, what they would like to see more of and what they just can’t live without,” Jennifer says. “We always strive to take our customer service to the next level, know our customers on a first-name basis and provide a pleasurable shopping experience.”

It must be working. Jennifer says she has dozens of regular customers who stop in every few weeks to see what is new, and there’s always something. Colón makes sure the store brings in new items frequently, especially around this time of year, as the holiday season cranks up with Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations, trinkets and clothing for just about everyone.

“These days, it’s every day we get a delivery,’’ Jennifer says. “It’s rapid fire in here right now.”

gift-box2 The store continues to be continually updated — from adding the personal touch of monogramming on everything from Corkcicles, cups, compacts, keychains, notepads and holiday ornaments to embroidery on totes, hats and scarves. You name it, and Jennifer and her crew will monogram or embroider it.

The shop is always adding new items and brands. This year alone, The Gift Box has added Spartina, Simply Southern, Kate Spade, Lokai, Pura Vida, Judith March and endless new options in ladies apparel.

Some of the more well-known and popular brands the store carries are Veronica M., the slim-fit NYDJ (Not Your Daughters Jeans), and Lysse Leggings, to name a few.

“I think we offer the uniqueness of the items that we carry,’’ Jennifer says. “We don’t offer a ton of any one item. That makes it a more special, personalized customer experience. In women’s apparel, we only buy about six of any one item. So, you’re not going to see yourself, your outfit, walking down the street.”

Your Holiday Headquarters

Colón is looking forward to her third holiday season in New Tampa. She says that virtually any gift you are looking for, from home décor items, on-trend women’s apparel and accessories, and gifts for kids, babies and a wide variety of special occasions can be found at The Gift Box.

gift-box4 This time of year, the store can be an especially nice shopping experience if you are afraid of fighting the mall traffic or just want something less stressful.

“So, why not do your holiday gift shopping at The Gift Box?,” Colón says. “Not only will you find something unique, but we’ll also wrap it so it is ready to give. That’ll be one less thing you have to worry about!”

Colón and her Santa’s helpers have recently stocked the store with a ton of new Christmas goodies, from candles to reindeer with candy cane antlers to display to stylish holiday clothing.

“We have so many options for your Thanksgiving and Christmas needs, and many great hostess gifts for everyone, whether it’s Christmas-related or a general gift,” she says. And, don’t forget about the sweet little ones, she adds, as the shop is currently stocked with adorable little outfits and fun gift items for them as well.

“We also have a lot of serving dishes and platters and outdoor home décor items for your front porch,” Jennifer says, as well as many other whimsical gift ideas. The Gift Box even has tea kettles, Christmas picture frames and high-quality Stonewall Kitchen food and snack items.

Go Team!

The Gift Box also currently carries a “ton” of collegiate items, because after all, the holidays have to share their season with America’s most popular sport. So, whether you’re stopping by for a new outfit or to accessorize your personal look, why not grab something for the sports fan at home, too?

gift-box5 While maybe not football-related, you can find plenty of University of Florida, Florida State and University of Georgia (yes, Jennifer says, the Bulldogs are a big seller in the New Tampa area)-adorned items like ornaments, cosmetic bags, cutting boards and drink coozies. The same goes for other Florida-themed items that are unrelated to the colleges.

Jennifer credits her many regular customers for their loyalty and honesty as the business was getting started a few years ago, and she and her team — a group she calls “amazing” — has used that feedback to improve the boutique every year.

The Gift Box also continues to support local Tampa businesses, such as Toffee to Go, which has been endorsed by the “Media Maven” for selling her favorite toffee; Seventh Avenue Apothecary Candles, with candles that are made with 100-percent soy wax; Tipsy Candle Company, which makes candles in re-purposed wine bottles; and items from the Columbia Restaurant, one of Tampa’s most famous eateries.

The Gift Box is located at 17032 Palm Pointe Dr. For the rest of November, the boutique will be open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and noon-5 p.m. on Sun. And, in December, there will be extended hours — until 8 p.m., Mon.-Sat., and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sun. For more information, visit Facebook.com/The Gift Box Boutique or call 284-5986.

The Gift Box

Avalon Park West Continues To Build On Its ‘Small Town Feel’

Home buyers looking for the convenience and amenities that a mixed-use master-planned community offers may find what they’re looking for at Avalon Park West (APW), located five miles east of I-75 at S.R. 54 and River Glen Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. APW is part of the New River Township Development of Regional Impact (DRI), which is undergoing review for a revision requested by the developer, Avalon Park Group, to distinguish APW from the existing New River community.

If approved by Pasco County, the project’s eventual size of about 1,400 acres and 4,400 single-family homes and multi-family units, means the APW development is large in size, but the streets lined with homes featuring spacious front porches and set-back garages give it a “small town feel.”

The landscaping emphasizes natural features such as ponds and trails, while the amenities center offers a clubhouse, pool and playground. Frequent special events like movie nights provide recreation for residents. For people who just want to relax, yoga classes are available.

With New River Elementary within walking distance, as well as plans for a K-12 charter school, an assisted living facility, and plans for a future downtown area with 680,000 sq. ft. of retail and office space, APW is — according to marketing manager AnaLee Rodriguez — a community where residents, “live, learn, work and play.”

Rodriguez says Avalon Park Group has a clear vision of what the project should be.

“We’re building a small town,” says Rodriguez. “You can grow up in this community, go to school, work, start (and raise) a family here and, with the assisted living facility, you can even have older members of the family live nearby.”

The first phase of APW, known as Cypress Village, consists of 317 single-family homes. Builders for the first phase are Beazer Homes, Avex Homes, and D.R. Horton, which has already completed its involvement in Cypress Village.

Avex and Beazer are still building and selling homes on lots in 45-foot and 55-foot widths. Some floor plans have flexibility in how they can be configured, ranging from a 1,697 square-foot, single-story home with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage (listed at $216,990), to a two-story home priced at $289,990 for 2,974 square feet of living space that includes four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and a two-car garage. Homeowners association (HOA) and community development district (CDD) fees combined start at about $2,000 per year, based upon the home you purchase.

Home features vary by builder and model, but examples available include 50-gallon water heaters, high-efficiency HVAC systems, Energy Star-rated appliances, pre-wired security systems, ceramic tile flooring in wet areas and irrigation systems.

For residents like Jefson and Candice Louis, living at APW with their two children means more than having a nice home with a front porch view of the world.

“The community is family oriented with lots of activities,” says Jefson, who cites APW’s annual Fourth of July celebration as one of his favorite events. “It’s great sitting on your porch, watching the fireworks.”

Candice expresses appreciation for the neighborly attitudes of residents. “We meet together, take our children to the playground and eat together on Sunday. We have fun here.”

She’s also looking forward to the forthcoming commercial development that will complement the quiet residential area with convenient shops and services. “That’ll be a great addition,” says Candice.

Sidewalks and nature trails make APW a pedestrian-friendly community, which promotes relationships as well as exercise, according to Elisenda Lopez, whose family has lived there for about a year and a half.

“I like to walk in the neighborhood and run into my neighbors and have conversations with them,” Lopez says.

Cassandra Miranda’s family of five includes three daughters, whom she says benefit from the activities hosted by the community. “They have so many events for the kids to come out and meet each other.,” says Miranda.

‘Avalon Aglow!’

Many events at APW are not just for its residents, but are open to the general public as well, creating relationships with the greater Wesley Chapel community. In addition to summer’s Fourth of July Celebration, APW hosted last month’s third annual Wesley Chapel Jazz Festival (see pg. 3) and the public is invited to attend “Avalon Aglow” on Saturday, December 10, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., featuring food trucks, a snow slide and fireworks.

Inviting the public into the community demonstrates that while APW is designed to be self-contained, that doesn’t mean isolating the community from non-residents, according to APG senior VP Ross Halle.

“We don’t believe in separating people and things by walls,” Halle says. “We see our community as serving a much larger population than just the people who live there.”

To learn more about the homes and lifestyle offered by Avalon Park West, visit AvalonParkWest.com, see the ad on pg 15 of this issue or call 783-1515. The new information center, which should be open in December, will be located at 33613 S.R. 54. To attend a public event, go to the clubhouse area at 5227 Autumn Ridge. Dr.

Avalon Park Avalon Park West

WCCC Earns ‘Certified+’ Designation

The Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP) had confirmed what local businesses already know:

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) does a pretty darned good job.

The FACP gave the WCCC a “Certified Plus” Chamber of Commerce designation at it’s annual conference in Orlando Sept. 28-29.

“It was great news,’’ says WCCC CEO Hope Allen. “It’s something we have definitely been shooting for.”

Being Certified Plus means the WCCC scored better than an 86 on its certification program, which took a year to put together. More than 300 pages long, it includes items like a particular chamber’s strategic planning, procedural information, membership growth and plans for transitioning from operating as a non-profit to a regular, for-profit business.

“The Certified Chamber of Commerce program sets standards within the industry and recognizes chambers that have met those standards while offering guidelines for those to improve their effectiveness,” said Tammy C. Bracewell, the FACP president. “In many ways, it is like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval for a chamber of commerce.”

The WCCC was one of only five chambers to receive the Certified Plus Chamber status this year, joining the Melbourne Regional Chamber, the Charlotte County Chamber, the Bay County Chamber and the Ocala/Marion County Chamber.

The WCCC was the only one in the group that achieved that honored status with their inaugural application.

There are 250 chambers of commerce in Florida, and only 14 currently have Certified Plus Chamber designation, including the Greater Tampa and Brandon chambers.

The WCCC currently has 545 members, and is having its best year to date. Since last year, the WCCC has added 72 new members.

Allen and her two-person staff have helped grow the Chamber while also promoting the Wesley Chapel area. The WCCC gives monthly economic updates to its members via an economic development briefing at Pebble Creek Golf Club and also hosts dozens of free ribbon-cutting and networking events and mixers each year, a monthly business breakfast, a “Lunch & Learn” program, and last week, the Chamber hosted a “Get Down to Business Expo & Lunch” at Saddlebrook Resort off S.R. 54, featuring guest speaker and Business Executive Coach Jayne Jenkins.

For more information about the WCCC, visit WesleyChapelChamber.com, call 994-8534, or see the story on the following page.

wesley chapel chamber of commerce