On Deck Sports partners with area insurance leaders

On Deck Sports is proud to be a client of Cavallo & Signorello Insurance in Mansfield, Mass., which was recently featured in the Boston Business Journal.

By Sean McFadden | smcfadden@bizjournals.com
 

The adage “This is not your father’s company” is very much the case for C&S Insurance Agency Inc.

Ben Cavallo and Keith Signoriello — ages 35 and 37, respectively — have built upon the legacy of their fathers, B. Benjamin Cavallo and Frank Signoriello, who founded the regional independent insurance agency, then known as Cavallo & Signoriello Insurance, in Mansfield in 1959. Of late, the second generation has embarked on a major expansion strategy.

“From a business standpoint, we have a whole lot more opportunity than we ever did,” Cavallo said. “Even five years ago, we might have had a 100 great ideas, but we didn’t have the bodies to execute on them. We could’ve had great products, but we didn’t have the manpower to go out and sell them.”

That dynamic has changed considerably: Since the  younger Cavallo and Signoriello took over the business in 2005, the agency has tripled in size. Today, it has 30 employees in four locations  — two in Mansfield, one in Taunton and one in Attleboro. The agency serves roughly 12,000 clients for whom it provides personal and commercial lines services. Revenue for C&S is expected to increase to more than $2 million this year from about $1.2 million in 2011, said the principals.

Cavallo and Signoriello’s strategy has been one of growth through acquisition: In 2009, the agency purchased Corbett Insurance Agency, an Attleboro-based company with four staff members and about 2,500 clients.

That acquisition was followed earlier this year by two more: Colonial Insurance Services of Mansfield, which had five staffers and 3,500 clients, and KR Slattery of Attleboro, which had four staffers and 1,000 clients. (Cavallo’s and Signoriello’s fathers had already opened a second C&S office — in Taunton — prior to them taking over.) While the principals wouldn’t disclose how much they paid for those businesses, they said C&S
funded the acquisitions through internal cash flow.

“It came to a point where we realized we could grow only so much organically,” said Signoriello. “We realized the best way to grow is through acquiring. And fortunately, the market has lent itself to that.”

For other agencies looking to adopt a similar acquisition agency, Cavallo and Signoriello advise having the appropriate funds and a strong support team in place beforehand. They also advised looking for acquisition targets that are profitable businesses and that have a compatible corporate culture.

In addition to increasing their employee base — which, Cavallo said, “allowed us to develop a layer of middle management in our organization” — C&S gained a handful of new insurance carriers from the acquisitions, which has brought their total number of carriers to about 18.

“The way we look at it, as an insurance agent, our job is to have a good mixture of companies,” said Cavallo. “The more carriers you have, the more unique underwriting points of view you can have. And, that’s what gives you better pricing overall.”

 

 

Facility Profile: Extra Innings, Hagerstown, Md.

With more than 35 locations throughout the country, Extra Innings has become one of the nation’s largest networks of indoor baseball and softball facilities. 

One of Extra Innings’ most successful facilities is located in Hagerstown, Md., 75 miles west of Baltimore. Opened in 2007, the 20,000-square-foot complex with 30-foot-high ceilings includes five 70’ x 15’ indoor batting tunnels, a 60’ x 30’ training area, three coin-operated cages, a workout room with exercise equipment, and a fully-stocked pro shop.

With On Deck’s help installing and supplying the facility, Extra Innings Hagerstown was opened in December 2006 by Rick Johnson, a retired area police officer of over 30 years. Johnson had seen a need for a year-round facility in the Tri-State (MD/PA/WV) area; previously, the only batting cages in the area were outdoors, and none of them offered any training or instruction.

The facility’s day-to-day operations are managed by Rick’s son Matt, a four-year starter in the outfield at Division III Bridgewater (Va.) College. Five instructors do the bulk of the year-round baseball and softball instruction, while a handful of other staff members operate the front desk, assist in the pro shop, and help with other daily duties. Clinics in both baseball and softball are offered throughout the year, as are private lessons and tunnel rentals.

The work the Johnsons have put into their business has paid off, as it was named Extra Innings’ “Facility of the Year” in 2008 and 2009. The facility is also active in social media, currently counting over 1,800 Facebook fans and nearly 300 followers on Twitter.

Seeing the success of the Hagerstown location, Johnson opened another Extra Innings franchise in nearby Frederick in 2009, which offers many of the same amenities featured by the Hagerstown location.

Find out more about the Extra Innings Hagerstown location, or view the full facility catalog to see the hundreds of facilities throughout the nation which On Deck has helped to supply.

New facilities in the New Year

On Deck Sports continues to supply artificial turf, netting, equipment and more to indoor sports facilities throughout the country. Over the last few months, On Deck's staff has outfitted several new complexes.

Among them:

Ninja Sports Performance (left), a 6,000-square-foot facility in Mount Washington, Ky. Ninja includes eight 82’ x 18’ cages that can be configured in a variety of ways, or even moved to create a 60’ infield. On Deck supplied netting, baseballs, softballs, the 10 x 10 field screen, a Premium Series L-screen, and more.

Athletes' Advantage in Huxley, Iowa. The 6,000-square-foot complex, which On Deck supplied with netting and turf, has six retractable cages.

Longball Alley in Pelham, Ala. On Deck supplied 6,100 square feet of PM34 padded turf, six Clay Pro Batting Mats, 3 Casey 2 combo machines, and netting for its six cages.

SWAT Elite Sports in Howell, Mich., with six cages and over 10,000 square feet of PM34 padded turf, four Premium Series L-screens, and two Casey Pro 3G pitching machines.

Double Play Sports and Fitness (right) in Cherry Valley, Mass. The facility is equipped with over 5,000 square feet of OD Pro turf, netting, a Promounds Professional 2-piece mound with clay turf, and 100 feet of custom wall padding. Double Play also took advantage of On Deck’s new line of rubber flooring, installing more than 700 square feet of 8 mm blue flooring.

Based in Brockton, Mass., On Deck Sports is the leader in designing, installing, and supplying indoor sports facilities throughout North America. For more information, visit the Facility Portfolio page on OnDeckSports.com.

Artificial Turf in Retirement Communities

By Sean Lowry

Artificial turf can be used in a multitude of settings: sports complexes, businesses, home landscaping, golf greens and pet areas. Furthermore, the quality and selection of synthetic grass materials have vastly improved over the past decade, and new uses for artificial turf are frequently found.

One new trend is the use of artificial grass in retirement communities. People using wheelchairs, scooters and walkers find artificial grass to be smoother and easier for navigation (eliminating soft spots and holes which can cause falls). In addition, community management improves the appearance of its property, while also reducing their maintenance costs.

Most residential artificial grass also meets or exceeds the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which all senior living communities in the United States must be compliant with. Synthetic grass makes it easier for retirement communities to create an environment that looks professional, is easy to maintain, and meets government regulations.

Managing hundreds of aging patients is not an easy task. Replacing grass with synthetic turf helps retirement community owners save time. Once the turf is installed, the lawn becomes a hassle-free asset that helps attract new customers and saves owners money in maintenance fees.

Top 10 Benefits of Artificial Turf

By Sean Lowry, On Deck Sports

Homeowners are discovering many of the benefits of installing artificial turf on their lawns. The benefits which accompany installing synthetic grass at home include:

10. Quality of Grass/Options: There are wide varieties of colors, lengths and thickness to meet personal preferences. Synthetic turf is a high-quality, durable solution (often lasting 10+ years) commonly used for sports fields, home lawns, golf greens, pet areas, and retirement community centers.

9. Time Savings: No more cutting the grass. No more shopping for lawn mowers. No more going to get gas to put in the lawn mower. No more changing the oil in the lawn mower. No more weed-whacking. No more weeding.

8. Great Drainage: Mud is no longer a problem. The yard stays much drier than grass yards, making outdoor activities easier for the families.

7. Fresh-Cut Grass: Homeowners always have a “perfect yard” appearance. Many people driving by won’t realize the yard is artificial. No more rushing to mow the lawn before guests arrive.

6. Financial Benefits: Artificial turf increases the value of your home. It will also help you save money. Duke University environmentalist Bill Chameides reports that over $30 billion is spent on lawn care annually in the U.S. Each day, more than 7 billion gallons of water are used for residential irrigation. Turf eliminates the need to spend thousands on watering, lawn care equipment, gasoline and fertilizers.

5. Kid Safe: Kids and pets won’t be playing in toxic chemicals anymore. A detailed study by the Toxics In Action organization shows the danger of using fertilizers to acquire a “perfect” lawn. In addition, artificial lawns are much safer for recreation. The Department of Health and Human Development found that artificial turf results in 74% fewer muscle tears and 42% less ACL trauma.

4. Dogs Love It: Dogs love the comfort of synthetic grass. It’s also easier to clean up after pets, and there is no discoloration from pet waste. Also, pets will no longer be tracking dirt and grass into your home.

3. Pest-Resistant: Moles and insects are no longer multiplying in your backyard. Having dinner outside? Now, it’s less likely insects and bugs will bother your house. They’ll move to the neighbor’s yard, where they can live in a natural grass environment.

2. Environmentally Responsible: No more toxic chemicals, pesticides or lawn mower emissions. In addition, artificial grass uses recycled tires for its rubber filling, and saves water. Recycled synthetic grass is also now an option, giving a second life to discarded turf fields.

1. Not What It Used To Be: Artificial turf is no longer what is used to be: hard, carpet-like material with cement underneath. You will enjoy the benefits of a comfortable, easy-to-maintain lawn, while also saving money and helping the environment.

http://www.real-estate-info-articles.com/instantly-increase-the-value-of-your-home-with-synthetic-grass/

http://www.refusetousechemlawn.org/uploads/12/Refuse_to_Use_Chemlawn_Be_Truly_Green.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyOEImcsbaE

http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/thegreengrok/lawns

Facility Profile: In the Zone, Fall River, Mass.

Located next to the Nokona bat factory in Fall River, Mass., the In the Zone training center was opened by area baseball coach Ron Westmoreland in October 2009.

The 12,000-square-foot facility includes six batting cages with retractable netting, soft toss stations, and three pitching lanes. On Deck Sports helped to outfit the facility with ATEC Junior pitching machines, screens, netting, batting tees and more.

Individual, group and family memberships are available at the facility throughout the year. In the Zone also operates a travel baseball program for teams from U9 to U17, and travel softball squads from U12 to U17.

A part-owner of the New England Collegiate League’s Newport Gulls, Westmoreland coaches the varsity baseball team at nearby Portsmouth High School. He is the father of Boston Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland (right), who is scheduled to return to action in 2012; he missed the entire 2010 and 2011 season after suffering a brain aneurysm.

A number of area youth coaches are instructors at the facility, as is Craig Albernaz (below), a Fall River native who has spent the last three seasons at the Triple-A and Double-A level in the Tampa Bay Rays’ system. Daniel Nava, who played for the Boston Red Sox in 2010 and the Pawtucket Red Sox, their Triple-A affiliate in 2011, worked out at the facility during the past season.

In the Zone offered a Pro Scout Clinic for talented players during the 2011 off-season, administered by Major League Baseball scouts from the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers. Among the instructors were Matt Antonelli, currently on the Baltimore Orioles’ 40-man roster, and Mickey Wiswall, a Boston College standout who completed his second season in the Seattle Mariners’ organization in 2011.

Based in Brockton, Mass., On Deck Sports is the leader in designing, installing, and supplying indoor sports facilities throughout North America. For more information, visit the Facility Portfolio page on OnDeckSports.com.

On Deck Sports facilities with big-league connections

Once their playing careers are over, many professional baseball players turn to coaching as a way to stay in the game. While some stay at the professional level, others work with college, high school, or youth baseball, either coaching entire teams or giving one-on-one instruction.

On Deck Sports has worked with several former major-leaguers to develop their own indoor training facilities, helping players of all ages throughout the country improve their baseball skills.

New Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine (left), who also piloted the Texas Rangers, New York Mets, and the Japanese major league’s Chiba Lotte Marines, worked with On Deck to develop Bobby Valentine’s Sports Academy in his hometown of Stamford, Conn. Valentine designed many of the drills and training methods used at the facility, which offers year-round baseball and softball instruction, as well as weight training in the facility’s separate gym.

Brian Turang, who played for the Seattle Mariners in 1993 and 1994, is the owner and an instructor at Turnin 2 Training Center in Corona, Calif. Mike Diaz, a first baseman with Pittsburgh, the Chicago Cubs, and the Chicago White Sox from 1983 to 1988, is also an instructor at the facility. On Deck designed and provided the premium nylon netting for the facility’s eight batting cages at the 13,000-square-foot facility.

Darren Bragg, an outfielder for nine different major-league clubs in 11 seasons, is the Head of Player Development at The Hit Club in Thomaston, Conn. Currently the outfield coordinator for the Cincinnati Reds’ minor-league system, Bragg is an instructor at The Hit Club during the off-season. On Deck Sports provided the facility with 1,200 square feet of PM34 turf, as well as premium nylon netting for The Hit Club’s batting cages.

17-year major-league veteran Rudy Seanez (left) owns and operates the Seanez Sports Academy in Imperial, Calif. The 15,000-square-foot facility features full-service, enclosed cages with state-of-the-art automated equipment, as well as cable-mounted retractable netting so that the batting cage area can be opened up into an indoor practice field. On Deck Sports also provided Premium Series L-Screens, ProMounds clay mounds, and the Jennie Finch Pitching Lane Pro.

In Bradenton, Fla., the Big League Experience is owned by two former Pittsburgh Pirates teammates, catcher Mike LaValliere and pitcher Don Robinson. The facility includes three ProMounds, six Iron Mike automated pitching machines, one Jugs machine and seven 67’ x 15’ tunnels on an artificial turf field. The hitting tunnels can be pulled back at any time to allow for team or individual fielding practice.

For the complete facility portfolio, visit OnDeckSports.com.