March Madness is spreading through offices everywhere and employment attorney Lonnie Giamela couldn’t be happier.
Giamela, 34, a partner at Fisher & Phillips LLP in downtown Los Angeles, catches the games at the nearest sports bar during lunch hours and participates in office betting pools for the men’s college basketball tournament.
The avid Notre Dame and Georgetown fan hasn’t had much luck in recent years betting on his favorite teams. He’s noticed something odd: “Typically it’s the person who knows least about basketball who wins the pools.”
Every year during the tournament, he fields one or two calls a day from office managers asking if they should call foul on hoops betting. He believes quite the opposite. In fact, some well-managed March Madness mirth can enliven the work environment.
“These pools can be used as a tool to improve morale in the workplace,” he said.
The madness doesn’t stop at the office for him. He’ll soon be off to Las Vegas to catch up with some college and law school friends – and maybe win back some cash.
Weighing In on Exercise
When local insurance executive Mario Guerra took over as mayor of Downey in December, he did something few mayors have ever done: he weighed himself publicly right in the council chambers. Guerra, who has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, did not like what he saw. He tipped the scale at 324 pounds.
That started the 52-year-old on a health and exercise kick, and not just for himself. As part of his Healthy Downey initiative, he leads walks Wednesdays around a track at the center of town, bike rides Saturday mornings and he coordinates Weight Watchers meetings.
“I felt an obligation to my community, my family and myself to address this,” Guerra said. “As mayor, I have the platform and the microphone. It’s not just the exercise. It’s simple steps like convincing people to eat just two slices of that pizza instead of three.”
Guerra also enlisted local corporate sponsors, including Kaiser Permanente, Coca Cola Bottling Co. and the Downey Chamber of Commerce.
The plan seems to be working – at least for Guerra, who recently weighed in at 282 pounds.
“My goal is 250 pounds or less,” he said.
Now Guerra is taking his health initiative to the Woodland Hills insurance brokerage he co-founded, SGB-NIA Insurance. He recently started leading lunch-hour walks; he plans other activities.
“The advantage of this for business is more productive and happier employees. Oh, and you also save on health costs.”
Staff reporters Ryan Faughnder and Howard Fine contributed to this column. Page 3 is compiled by Editor Charles Crumpley. He can be reached at [email protected].
