As a teenager in Flagler Beach, a close-knit town where everyone knew each other, I spent my summers as a lifeguard with the city’s Ocean Rescue. It was the kind of job that felt more like an adventure, giving me a front-row seat to meet fascinating people from all walks of life. But among them, Anthony “Angelo” Cinelli left a mark that still guides me today.

Angelo showed up in our town in the late ‘90s, not as some big-shot developer but as the pier’s security guard. You’d never guess that he quietly owned half the town—the bank, commercial buildings, and even some prime land near the pier. He didn’t brag. Instead, he spent his time watching over the pier and chatting with people like me.

Angelo was easy to talk to, and he always had a story or a lesson to share. Originally from New Jersey, he told me how he started in real estate by buying land, placing manufactured homes, and eventually selling a chunk of property to AT&T for their corporate headquarters. After all those deals, he came to Flagler Beach looking for a slower pace—and being a pier security guard gave him just enough routine to keep him going.

During our conversations, he gave me advice I still hold close. “Find a job where you get paid with your brain, not your body,” he’d say. His words pushed me toward consulting and creative work, but it was his stories about real estate investment that really planted a seed.

That seed grew into Monval, which is more than just a business to me. It’s a way to honor Angelo’s influence and carry on his philosophy—to build, grow, and leave something better behind. Through Monval, I aim to revitalize properties and strengthen communities, just like Angelo quietly did in our town.

Looking back, I realize how lucky I was to cross paths with someone like Angelo. His words shaped the way I think about business, life, and community, and I know he’d be proud of the work we’re doing today.