Shout Out

Colonial Mazda

Shopping for a new car, especially these days, can be very stressful. So many decisions – domestic or foreign? Buy or lease? Gas, hybrid, or electric? In order to best navigate the process, it’s helpful to have a relationship with a dealership you can trust.

Colonial Mazda, 100 Federal Road, Danbury, is committed to creating a customer-centric experience that goes beyond just selling cars. “What sets us apart is our commitment to making every customer feel like they’re part of the Colonial family. We’ve worked hard to create a culture of integrity and trust to build long-lasting relationships with our customers,” says Colonial Mazda Sales Manager, Nelson Mejias.

Keeping inventory stocked to meet customer demands in today’s economy is a challenge for all auto dealerships. “We’ve always focused on staying ahead of these challenges by keeping things as transparent as possible with our customers so that they are kept updated on delivery times,” says Mejias. Colonial Mazda also collaborates with other Mazda dealerships in the area to ensure smooth operations for their customers.

When considering car financing, it’s crucial to understand all the details of the loan or lease agreement. Mejias recommends inquiring about incentives, rebates, and special offers, as well as discovering what protection packages are available. Mazda has been ensuring that financing remains as flexible as possible, especially given the shifting economy. “We help customers find the best solution for their needs,” says Mejias.

Recently, Greg Mursko, 068 Publisher, was in the market for a new car. His long commute to work meant that he needed something that would give him better gas mileage than his current vehicle, so he was considering an SUV hybrid. Mursko’s search led him to Colonial Mazda, where he test-drove and eventually purchased the CX-90 PHEV plug-in. “The entire Colonial Mazda team, from Sales Consultant Edy Jourdain, to Finance Manager Tony Zullo, to Sales Manager Nelson Mejias, was fantastic – head and shoulders above other dealerships in terms of knowledge and service. They made the whole process seamless for me and my wife,” says Mursko. •

The Children's Business Fair

Most people fondly recall running a lemonade stand as a kid to earn some cash. When Ridgefielder Xin Zeck’s teenage son was looking to earn a little bit of his own spending money, she decided to up the ante and give him some real-life lessons about business. Zeck and her husband, both small business owners themselves, launched a Children’s Business Fair, an event where kids could create, promote, and market their own businesses. Zeck spread the word about her idea and soon had nine families whose children wanted to participate. “I wanted to teach the kids and actively show them how to run a business. This fair helped all the kids to gain self-confidence and build their financial literacy knowledge,” says Zeck.

The first Children’s Business Fair was held at the Boys and Girls Club on June 1st. Sixteen young entrepreneurs had booths with wares ranging from upcycled second-use items to homemade crafts to services such as painting. At the close of the fair, awards were given out in categories such as Best Business Idea and Best Decorated Booth. “I was truly impressed by the courage and creativity of these young entrepreneurs,” says Zeck.

The children were given the opportunity to give some of the money they earned to community non-profits, including The Boys and Girls Club of Ridgefield, ROAR, Meals on Wheels, and Timely Treasures Charities. Zeck was impressed that many of them chose to donate a portion of their hard-earned profits.

Zeck plans to offer a Children’s Financial Literacy Workshop to teach real-life money skills. Numerous guests voiced an interest in seeing more events like this, so Xin is planning on making this as a recurring event. For more information email risingridgefinancial@gmail.com •