PROs Networking Group

PROs Networking had another strong meeting this week with...

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a great mix of personal story, practical insight, and timely business advice. We started the day by welcoming our newest member, which is always a great reminder that the group continues to grow with people from different industries and different strengths, all bringing something valuable to the table.
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Welcome New Member

Amy Choudhury
Fitness 360, Palm Harbor
Certified Personal Trainer
(727) 797-5100 | 727-269-1089
https://www.fit360fl.com/

We started the day by welcoming Amy Choudhury with Fitness 360 as our newest member. Amy is a certified personal trainer based in Palm Harbor, and it was great to have her join the group. She holds a NASM certification, has been with the business for three years, and has spent the last year working as a personal trainer. She shared that about 30 to 40 percent of her business comes by referral, that she builds referral business by talking to everyone and anyone, and that she also promotes her business through social media and events. It is always exciting to welcome someone who is ready to thrive, learn, and grow with the group.
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Business EDU Moment

Kert Rhodes
KLeer Title, LLC
Title Company
727-674-0276
[email protected]
kleertitle.com

Our Business EDU speaker was Kert Rhodes with Kleer Title, and his topic was listening. Kert started by asking a simple question that made everyone think: how good are you at listening? From there, he broke down the difference between internal listening and focused listening.

Internal listening is when we are mostly thinking about ourselves and how what someone is saying affects us. Focused listening, on the other hand, is when we are really paying attention to the speaker, their words, and even their body language. His message was a strong reminder that listening is one of the most important skills we have, both in business and in relationships. We often spend a lot of time trying to become better speakers, but Kert reminded us that we actually do more listening than speaking, and we should be intentional about doing it well.

Key takeaways from Kert’s presentation:
• Internal listening keeps the focus on yourself instead of the speaker
• Focused listening means paying attention to words, tone, and body language
• Listening is one of the most important skills we use every day

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Featured Presentation

Jonathan Hernandez
https://www.facebook.com/jonathanhernandez.fl/
Coldwell Banker
Real Estate
7274171122
[email protected]

www.flmanrealty.com

Next, we heard from Jonathan Hernandez with Coldwell Banker. Jonathan started by sharing photos of his family and talking about how proud he is of his two-year-old daughter, which gave everyone a more personal look at who he is. He has always lived in Palm Harbor, and that connection to the area has shaped both his life and his career. As a kid, he loved the water and spent a lot of time fishing. That passion led him into a career working on boats, diving, and running trips, and eventually he became a captain. He shared how demanding that world can be because when clients call, you have to be ready to go at a moment’s notice. Along the way, he found himself surrounded by people who were thriving, and instead of just working around them, he paid attention, took notes, and learned from them.

Over time, Jonathan took his knowledge of the area, his network, and his experience serving people into real estate. Today, he represents clients in a different way, but the foundation is still the same. He understands people, neighborhoods, and especially waterfront properties. What stood out most in his presentation is that he is really in the business of connecting people and properties. Building trust and developing a strong knowledge base is a big part of what he does. He also let the group know that he handles rentals, which makes him a valuable resource for even more people in the community.

Key takeaways from Jonathan’s presentation:
• He has deep roots in Palm Harbor and strong local knowledge
• His background on the water shaped his work ethic and perspective
• He understands waterfront properties, neighborhoods, and rentals

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Featured Presentation

Jake Trimble
Brightway Insurance - Dittman Agency
727-478-2021
[email protected]
brightway.com/agencies/FL/Oldsmar/0183

Our last speaker was Jake Trimble with Brightway Insurance - Dittman Agency. Jake started by talking about hurricane season, which made his presentation especially timely. He shared that he worked at State Farm for a year and really liked the company, but he also realized it was hard to do the best possible job for clients when he could only offer one company’s products. That pushed him to go independent so he could offer more options and better help clients find the right fit. Today, he can help with a variety of policies, and if there is something he does not personally write, he can still connect people with the right professionals.

Jake also gave the group some practical advice that every homeowner should hear before storm season. He reminded everyone to know the difference between their AOP deductible and their hurricane deductible, since hurricane deductibles are often a percentage of the home’s insured value and can be much larger than expected. He talked about flood insurance as well, pointing out that many properties outside flood zones still experienced flooding two years ago. He reminded everyone that flood insurance has a 30-day waiting period, so it is not something you can wait to buy right before a storm. He also explained that roof coverage is changing, with more policies shifting toward cash value instead of full replacement. One of the most helpful things he offered was to review declarations pages for people so they can better understand what their policy actually says.

Key takeaways from Jake’s presentation:
• Going independent allowed him to offer more options to clients
• Homeowners need to understand both AOP and hurricane deductibles
• Flood insurance is separate and has a 30-day waiting period
• Roof coverage is changing on many policies

Another great PROs meeting with strong reminders about listening well, building trust, and helping people make informed decisions.

Learn more:
https://www.pro-networking.org/