WPBA Blog 

For more than three decades, Alvin Hagerich has been helping individuals and small business owners make sense of their finances and navigate complicated tax situations. Through his firm, Alvin L. Hagerich CPA, he provides tax preparation and tax resolution services with a steady, practical approach shaped by 36 years in accounting and nearly 30 years as a licensed CPA.

At the heart of Alvin’s work is problem-solving. He takes pride in helping people work through difficult situations with the IRS and other creditors — often during some of the most stressful seasons of their lives. For Alvin, success is simple and meaningful: knowing he helped someone find a solution and move forward with greater peace of mind.

One recent moment that stood out was hearing a bankruptcy judge comment in court that his work was thorough and his fees were reasonable. For Alvin, that kind of professional respect speaks volumes about the care and integrity he brings to every client he serves.

Alvin shares his expertise on WPBA's financial professionals panel discussion

When Alvin joined WPBA, he was looking for opportunities to meet new people and build relationships within the local business community. Through his focus group and WPBA events, he’s developed connections that have opened the door to new referrals and opportunities to serve others. He especially enjoys the camaraderie of his focus group and values being part of a network that combines business growth with service to the community.

Alvin enjoys his Tuesday Morning Trinity focus group

What Alvin appreciates most about WPBA is the people — a group that genuinely works to help community members who need support. Being part of an organization that connects businesses while making a real difference locally is something he finds especially meaningful.

Alvin is the current (2025-2026) president of Hudson Rotary Club, proudly serving in his community

After decades in the profession, Alvin remains focused on what matters most: helping people solve problems, understand their options, and move forward with confidence. Through steady guidance and practical expertise, he continues to be a trusted resource for individuals and small businesses alike.

Connect with Alvin here

Dustin Bernhard knows pest control isn’t just about spraying and treating — it’s about protecting homes and giving families peace of mind. As one of the owners of DNR Pest Control, a local family-owned business serving Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Hernando counties, Dustin helps provide residential and commercial pest control services including general pest control, rodent exclusion, termite prevention and treatment, new construction termite services, and WDO inspections. Every consultation is free, with the goal of helping customers find the right solution at a price that works for them.

Dustin has worked in the pest control industry for more than 15 years and helped launch DNR Pest Control in the summer of 2023. What he’s most proud of is simple — leaving every job with customers satisfied and confident in the service they received. Watching the business grow, through both new customers and a growing team, has been especially meaningful along the way.

Education is a big part of Dustin’s approach. He enjoys helping homeowners understand the pests common to Florida and how early identification can prevent costly damage and unnecessary stress — especially when it comes to termites. His goal is to help customers stay ahead of problems, not just react to them.

When Dustin first joined WPBA, he was working to build a small customer base and establish the business locally. Through focus groups, events, and consistent networking, he built relationships that helped DNR Pest Control grow into what it is today. Referrals, sponsorships, and personal connections have played a major role, and many WPBA partners are now loyal customers — something Dustin sees as a clear sign that the business is making a positive impact.

Dustin in the DNR spirit at WPBA events and working in the community

What Dustin appreciates most about WPBA is the organization’s commitment to helping people in difficult times. Being part of a group that serves the community while supporting local businesses is something he values deeply.

Dustin also hopes more people understand how important preventative pest control is in Florida. Staying ahead of pest issues can save homeowners significant money and stress over time, and regular management is one of the best ways to protect a home.

One recent milestone worth celebrating was a personal one — welcoming the newest member of the Bernhard family, his son Owen.

Dustin and the DNR team having fun and making an impact at WPBA events 

Outside of work, Dustin is a motorcycle enthusiast who feels most at home on two wheels, whether on the road or riding dirt.

Through steady growth, strong relationships, and a commitment to serving customers well, Dustin continues to help build a business focused on protecting homes and supporting the community it serves.

Connect with Dustin here

Jennifer Fleming brings nearly two decades of healthcare experience to her work as the owner of Beauty Aesthetics, a Family Nurse Practitioner–owned medical aesthetics and wellness practice in Lutz, FL. Her background spans medical-surgical nursing, wound care, dermatology, and urgent care; which are all experiences that shaped the practice she leads today. At Beauty Aesthetics, safety, education, and thoughtful care come first. Treatments are personalized and conservative, designed to enhance what’s already there; never overdone, always authentic.

What Jennifer is most proud of is the trust she has built within the community. Her patients know she will recommend what is right for them, not simply what is trending, and that integrity guides every consultation. Recently, she’s celebrated a steady increase in referrals from happy clients — something she sees as the highest compliment and a sign that people truly believe in the care they receive.

Jennifer consults happy clients at Beauty Aesthetics

Jennifer hopes her business continues to empower people to feel confident, informed, and supported. She believes that when people feel comfortable in their own skin, it changes how they show up in the world. Through WPBA, she’s been able to extend that impact beyond her practice by participating in local events and charitable initiatives alongside partners who share the same heart for the community.

Jennifer and her incredible team at Beauty Aesthetics

When Jennifer joined WPBA, she was looking for more than visibility. She wanted genuine connections and a place to be involved beyond online searches and marketing. WPBA has helped strengthen existing relationships while opening the door to new ones, creating a support system where partners truly show up for one another. That network has allowed her business to grow in a way that feels aligned instead of overwhelming, while giving her more opportunities to give back locally.

Jennifer and fellow WPBA partners gather at the network's social and charitable events

Jennifer hopes more people understand that medical aesthetics is the practice of medicine. Behind every treatment is a deep understanding of anatomy, long-term skin health, and the aging process. The goal isn’t to change faces - it’s refinement, balance, and helping people look like themselves at their best.

Jennifer consults happy clients at Beauty Aesthetics

Beauty Aesthetics was shaped by Jennifer’s personal experiences as much as her professional training. She built the kind of practice she wished existed; one rooted in honesty, education, and thoughtful care.

And at the heart of it all is a simple mission: helping people feel confident in who they are and supported in the process.

Connect With Jennifer here

For the past 10 years, Venessa Finazzo has built her real estate career around one core principle: trust. As a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway, she considers it a privilege to walk alongside clients during one of the biggest financial and emotional milestones of their lives. The achievement she’s proudest of isn’t just production numbers. It’s the confidence families place in her to guide them with clarity, honesty, and care.

Venessa credits her success to faith, perseverance, and a deep commitment to service. Over the years, she has been recognized repeatedly as a top agent and top producer, with awards that reflect not only strong results but exceptional customer service. For her, real estate is about raising the standard. She aims to be transparent, knowledgeable, and relationship-driven while helping families plant roots, build equity, and create generational wealth that lasts far beyond a single transaction.

Venessa is pictured volunteering and serving her clients

One story that captures her impact perfectly involves a first-time buyer who believed homeownership was financially out of reach. Through partnership with The Mortgage Firm Trinity and a lot of persistence, Venessa helped connect her with resources that secured a $50,000 Pasco County grant for down payment and closing costs. That client didn’t just buy a house. She gained stability, ownership, and a future she didn’t think was possible.

WPBA has strengthened Venessa’s ability to serve her clients even further. She values the trusted network of partners she can confidently recommend, especially for families relocating from out of state who need reliable connections for every aspect of their new lives. Just as important is the shared spirit of generosity. She deeply connects with WPBA’s culture of giving back and finds energy in partnering with others who are equally committed to lifting the community. In her words, the organization blends impact with fun, and that balance matters.

Venessa also hopes more people understand the true scope of her industry. Real estate isn’t just opening doors and filling out paperwork. Behind every closing is strategy, negotiation, legal protection, market expertise, and constant communication. Her role is to safeguard her clients’ interests and guide them through complex decisions with confidence and peace of mind.

And one fun fact that surprises people: she doesn’t drink coffee and doesn’t like chocolate, which might be the boldest confession in WPBA history.

Through faith, service, and an unwavering focus on relationships, Venessa continues helping families build foundations for the future and strengthening the community one home at a time.

Connect with Venessa here...

Kelly McCarthy has spent her life in motion. With 36 years of teaching and nearly 30 years as a studio owner, she’s built Ignite Dance Company into a full dance training facility serving ages 2 through adult, plus a thriving summer camp program. And she’s not slowing down. Her second location opens this February, expanding her vision into a space that will offer dance classes for children and adults while also serving as a community hub for birthday parties, glow dance events, and corporate and private celebrations.

Her studio has recently received the ADCC Studio of Excellence Award twice, a national recognition that reflects the standard she holds herself and her dancers to every day. For Kelly, excellence isn’t about trophies. It’s about confidence, discipline, and helping young people grow into strong future leaders.

Kelly McCarthy with Ignite dancers

Before joining WPBA, Kelly says networking often felt isolating. She had been active in the community for years, but lacked the kind of referral support and collaboration that helps a small business truly thrive. That changed when she found WPBA. Today she describes it as a real support system. She sees other WPBA partners referring her business and showing up strong to support her events. WPBA partners take classes, donate to her fundraisers, and volunteer their time. They don’t just network with her. They stand behind her mission.

That support has created a ripple effect. Through the relationships she’s built, Kelly has been able to expand scholarships for underprivileged children and donate her own time to support other partners and their causes. Her goal moving forward is to collaborate with more children’s organizations so dance can reach kids who might never otherwise have the opportunity.

Kelly McCarthy is always cheerful at Ignite and WPBA events

She’s also passionate about changing perceptions of her industry. Dance can sometimes be provocative and carry misconceptions, but Kelly is firm about her standards. Every class is age appropriate and designed to protect children while building confidence and leadership skills. Safety and empowerment come first. Always.

What surprises people most about Kelly is that outside of the studio, she is a Halloween and roller coaster fanatic. High energy clearly isn’t just part of the job. It’s part of who she is.

When asked what she values most from WPBA, her answer is simple: the connections. Not just business referrals, but genuine friendships she deeply cherishes. And judging by the way her community rallies around her studio, those connections are helping Kelly do what she does best: lift others higher, one dancer at a time.

Connect with Kelly here...

After 10 years in the bookkeeping industry and one year running her own business, Nicole Atwood is most proud of something that doesn’t show up on a spreadsheet: the relationships she creates with her clients.  Nicole Atwood didn’t build Beachy Keen Bookkeeping around numbers → she built it around trust. She understands that handing over financial information can feel vulnerable, especially for growing businesses. That’s why she leads with education, clear communication, and small steps that help business owners feel confident instead of overwhelmed.

Recently, a client told her, “Even though we met not that long ago, I feel like I know you and trust you.”

That moment captured exactly why Nicole does what she does.

When she first joined WPBA, Nicole was looking for the right network of people who shared her values and were invested in the same community she calls home. What she found was more than simply networking. Through WPBA, she connected with accountants, fellow business owners, and referral partners who understood the importance of collaboration. Those relationships opened doors and created opportunities to help businesses transition smoothly and stay financially organized year-round.

Nicole believes bookkeeping isn’t just something you scramble to finish at tax time. It’s a tool for clarity, planning, and smart growth. When small businesses understand their numbers, they make stronger decisions, create jobs, and strengthen the local economy. Her long-term goal is to build a business that not only supports her clients but gives her the ability to give back freely with time, resources, and care for the community she lives in.

Nicole volunteering and speaking at WPBA events

What she loves most about WPBA is how personal that impact feels. It's not distant charity. It is neighbors helping neighbors, families supporting families, and a network that remembers the individual stories behind the need.

Nicole’s work helps business owners breathe easier. And when local businesses feel steady and confident, the entire community grows stronger.

That ripple effect is exactly what WPBA is built for.

Connect with Nicole here