Business
Business for November 23, 2006
By
Nov 24, 2006, 08:14

Riverview Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting

Riverview Title and Escrow
Brian Harte
Tuesday, November 28, 8:30 AM
9376 Balm Riverview Road
Riverview, FL, 813-672-3333
bharte@rtae.net

New Member Orientation
Date:   Wednesday, November 29
  8:00 a.m., 10520 Riverview Dr. (Chamber Office)
RSVP (813) 234-5944

Alafia River Boat Parade & Chili Cook Off
Saturday, December 2, 5p.m. – 9 p.m.
Riverview Civic Center
RSVP Chamber Office (813) 234-5944

Patti Bosco Joins Exit Realty Apollo Beach

Growing up in Bay City, MI, Patti Bosco, the newest member of the Exit Realty Apollo Beach sales team only dreamed about the interesting turns her life would take. Gregarious, and possessing a winning smile.

She was well suited for her first adventure which began two years after she enrolled in the University of Alabama; while there, she met and married her husband Joel, a West Point graduate, and they began their married army life, which has now grown to include their four children.

Bosco became licensed in real estate in 1992. This complemented her academic background, consisting of degrees in Business Administration and Psychology. Her skill and training put her on the path to her next adventure, establishing EXIT Realty Paramount in Michigan in 1999, which was one of the first 10 EXIT offices in the United States. Bosco was consistently a top producer in the Bay County, Michigan market until she and her family moved to Bradenton Beach in 2006.

Bosco is a highly motivated, high energy, creative professional who will make your house stand out in a crowded real estate market. Please visit her website HYPERLINK “http://www.exitteam.com” www.exitteam.com

Dozens of Job Openings Offered With
$500 Signing Bonus

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies announced today that it is now seeking to fill 80 new customer contact positions at its Riverview call center. The growth will continue into the new year as the third largest auto insurance group in the country and fourth largest in Florida plans to add a total of 300 people in 2007. The new hires will complete an extensive, fully paid training program that will equip them to help customers who call in to purchase policies or report claims. Additional on-the-job training is offered on a regular basis to keep customer contact reps up to date and to prepare them for challenging and rewarding careers at Progressive.

The customer contact representatives will work at Progressive’s Riverview call center, home to nearly half of Progressive’s more than 4,000 Florida employees.

In addition to offering a competitive wage and benefit package, flexible work schedules, paid time off and a casual work environment and dress code, Progressive people also enjoy these amenities:

On-site fitness centers featuring high-quality equipment and weight machines and a variety of group fitness classes including aerobics, spinning, pilates, yoga and more

On-site medical facilities with a nurse practitioner, a physician and a massotherapist on staff to care for Progressive people and their families, with an emphasis on education and prevention

Tuition assistance for Progressive people seeking college degrees. This is in addition to Progressive’s extensive internal training programs that enable Progressive people to continually upgrade their skills

Childcare subsidies to assist employees with children under age 12
Quiet rooms equipped with recliners, pillows and blankets for midday relaxation and meditation

Ergonomic consultations in which trained specialists ensure that workplaces are set up to reduce stress on the body (by measuring keyboard height, distance and angle of the computer screen, chair height, etc.)

Corporate art collection introduced in the 1970s to inspire employees to risk, learn and grow. It features more than 6,000 pieces displayed in Progressive locations throughout the country

On-site cafeteria that gives employees a variety of convenient and economical food choices

Gainsharing program that includes variable compensation tied to the company’s growth and profitability

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online at jobs.progressive.com. As an additional enticement, Progressive is now offering a $500 signing bonus that will be paid in their first paycheck.

Beanie’s to Hold Customer Appreciation Week

Debbie Tichy and her husband Beanie and own Beanie’s Family Sports Grill.  As a token of their gratitude to the South Shore community for three years, they are holding a Customer Appreciation Week.  Entailed in this event are daily specials, drawings for gift certificates, t-shirt giveaways, and a daily raffle/ 50/50.  To welcome the holiday season the proceeds from the 50/50 will be given to the “Beanie’s Giving Tree Family”.  Starting December 5 they will have a Christmas tree decorated in Beanie’s and everyone is welcome to donate gifts for the “needy family” that they’ve adopted.  In addition to the “Giving Tree” they are also a drop off point for Toys For Tots.  All of this is brought in addition to the gratitude and thanks to the community for embracing them for three years.

The week before our Customer Appreciation Week we will be having a frequent customer appreciation giveaway. Come into Beanie’s Family Sports Grill any day from November 28 - December 1, fill out a customer comment card with your bill, and be entered into a daily drawing during our Customer Appreciation Week, December 5 - 8, for a “25 wings and a Pitcher of Beer” gift certificate.
 
Pre-holiday Credit Tips: Give Yourself the Gift of a Good Credit Rating

By Jerry Cobbe
Branch Manager in Tampa Bay, Market Street Mortgage

 Maybe you’re thinking about refinancing your mortgage. Or maybe the current buyer’s market has given you that extra push to buy a new home in the new year. In either case, your credit rating will be closely scrutinized. Sometimes, homebuyers are surprised when they see their credit rating.

 With the holiday spending season in full swing, the temptations to splurge are many and varied. So what can you do to preserve or even enhance your credit rating during this holiday season to prepare for a new mortgage?

 1. The best tip is one that smart shoppers implement year round – they buy holiday gifts during sales throughout the year, label them and put them away until the holidays. The advantages? They avoid impulsive (and usually expensive) purchases, get the best prices and avoid the impact of huge post-holiday debt by spreading the costs out over time.

 2. If you haven’t done that, start shopping now to avoid the last minute just-get-anything impulse. It’s easy to comparison shop on the Internet – knowing what you want to buy and pay before you shop can help control spending.

 3. Remember that it isn’t the size of the holiday gift that counts, it’s the thought. Buying extravagant gifts that create debt is never a good idea. Smart shoppers have a gift budget and so should you – a realistic spending plan that takes into account how much you can afford to spend on each gift.

 4. This year, tally your expenses as you go to make the numbers more tangible. You may be surprised at how much you are spending and it may be easier than you think to find ways to cut back. Disciplined spending depends on knowing exactly what you’re spending.

 5.  Use cash or a cash/debit card for more control of your spending and to avoid impulse buying. The benefit? No post-holiday bills. If you must use a credit card, use the card with the lowest interest rate. Department store credit cards usually have higher rates, so be sure to understand the rates and terms of the cards you are using. And, don’t be taken in by “buy now, pay later” offers or holiday offers to increase your credit line.

 6. Check your receipts. Mistakes do happen – both inadvertent errors and dishonest mistakes. Avoid being a victim of either kind of error.

 7. If you know you’re going to incur credit card debt, have a plan and timetable to pay it off. Make larger payments towards credit cards with the highest interest rate, while paying at least the minimum on the others. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you can pay back any debt in no more than three months. A plan and timetable help you maintain a healthier credit rating.

 8. But if all that fails, and for some it will, don’t ignore debt. Some consumers dread facing post-holiday debt so much, they don’t even open their bills. Late fees on unpaid balances can add up and do real damage to your credit rating.  Get a handle on this year’s debt and do some planning for 2007 so you don’t end up in the same situation as in previous years.

 A good credit rating is important to your financial future—especially if you are planning to buy a new home or refinance. Thinking ahead, planning and budgeting are the best holiday gifts you can give yourself and your family.