At Harmon Healthcare Consulting, we believe good health begins with balance, and balance comes from the connections we build with the people and communities around us. Our work is personal, both to us and to our clients, because we know that the decisions we help people make shape their lives and futures.
When we started Harmon Healthcare Consulting, we wanted to create more than just an insurance agency. We wanted a business that reflects who we are and the life we want to live. That means working with intention, building relationships based on trust, and staying connected to the places and people who matter to us.
That is why Check Moon Valley First immediately stood out. When we discovered Ashley Vellon’s platform, we were drawn to her vision of helping neighbors connect with trusted local businesses. In a city as big and spread out as Phoenix, finding reliable services can feel overwhelming. Ashley’s work makes it easier by weaving the community together online and in person through her events and local outreach.
This blog is a conversation between Shelley and Michael Harmon of Harmon Healthcare Consulting and Ashley Vellon of Check Moon Valley First. Together, we talk about keeping business personal, supporting each other as small businesses, and strengthening the connections that make our communities thrive.
Q. What does it mean to keep business personal?
Michael & Shelley – Harmon Healthcare Consulting (HHC)
For us, keeping business personal means remembering that insurance is about people, not policies. Every client has a story, and the decisions we help them make affect their future. We want to be the kind of agents you can call and actually reach, the kind who listen, guide, and show up when you need us. Our work is an extension of who we are and the life we are building, and that makes it deeply personal.
Ashley – Check Moon Valley First (CMVF)Keeping business personal means hiring your neighbors when you can. Hiring your neighbors allows for the customer to really TRUST the other person – I mean, you know where they live! When you hire local, you also help your neighbors financially. The money stays in the neighborhood or community, rather than going to another neighborhood or community. It’s a total win-win for all!
Q. How have you shaped your business to fit your lifestyle?
Michael & Shelley (HHC)
When we launched Harmon Healthcare Consulting, we designed it intentionally around how we want to live now and well into our senior years. We built systems that allow us to stay mobile while remaining deeply connected to our clients.
Right now, we have a residence in the Sunnyslope area of Phoenix but are spending time in Oregon while Michael pursues his passion for teaching golf as a PGA Certified Professional. Even as we move around, Phoenix is still home. We graduated from Shadow Mountain High School, got married at Mountain Shadows, spent Sunday mornings at Moon Valley Café, and have played many rounds at Moon Valley Country Club.
Our business supports this lifestyle of movement and connection, allowing us to grow into a national agency while staying rooted in places that will always be home.
Ashley – CMVF
Check Moon Valley First started because I had two problems –
- I wanted to hire my neighbors but there was no systematic way to find them.
- As a business owner, there was no way for my neighbors to find ME!
Additionally, I saw the value of networks – I bought my house from the Moon Valley Moms Facebook Group and saved realtor fees, plus did not face any competition in purchasing it during the most competitive seller’s market in early 2021. It was such a blessing, as we otherwise would not have been able to buy our home.
Armed with this knowledge, I started Check Moon Valley First not knowing if it would be successful or if other people would want it. Because of the business members like Harmon Healthcare Consulting, it has grown into what it is today – a network that connects the community with its local businesses through the website, local events, and many other ways!
Q. Why are strong community connections so important?
Michael & Shelley – HHC
Strong community ties are at the heart of everything we do. When people know who we are and trust us, everything else falls into place. Partnering with Check Moon Valley First gives us a way to connect with individuals who value relationships as much as we do. It creates a space where neighbors and small businesses can support each other, and that is the environment we want to grow in.
Ashley – CMVF
Strong community ties are so important because who else can you trust if not for your neighbors? Also, when life gets hard (and I’ve learned that it does for all of us at some point for all of us, unfortunately), it is so powerful to be able to turn to your neighbors and friends for support.
Q. How do you keep advertising and client relationships personal?
Michael & Shelley – HHC
Advertising often feels cold and transactional, but it does not have to be. Working with Check Moon Valley First has shown us that connecting directly with people is powerful. We want our name to represent more than just an insurance agency. We want to be personal agents, the kind you can call and actually reach, the kind who call you back.
For us, keeping advertising personal means showing up as who we are and focusing on relationships instead of numbers.
Ashley – CMVF
It’s a privilege for me when I am able to tell the story of the business and the clients who use it. There are so many local businesses that are changing lives every day – including Harmon Healthcare Consulting – that it is my mission to tell the stories of these businesses so others know about them!
A recent one that comes to mind is Desert Valley Chiropractic, owned by local Moon Valley neighbors, who treated a client with severe foot pain. The foot pain was interrupting many parts of his life and after just two treatments with the DVC team, he had a huge improvement in his pain level. They changed this person’s life!
Q. How can small businesses like ours benefit each other?
Michael & Shelley – HHC
Platforms like Check Moon Valley First are invaluable to us. Ashley helps introduce us to people who are looking for services they can trust, and that is exactly what we want. We want to be known as the people you can count on when it comes to something as important as insurance.
Meeting Ashley in person only confirmed that her approach aligns with ours. We have already connected with several businesses in the Moon Valley area through her platform and look forward to deepening those relationships.
Phoenix will always be home to us, and we want to continue investing in this community even as we grow nationally. Our goal is to build trust and be the personal agents you can rely on for health insurance, wealth products, and life coverage.
Ashley – CMVF
Harmon Healthcare Consulting is such a high-quality business run by incredible people. Without high-quality businesses serving our community, there would be no way that Check Moon Valley First could exist.
Shelley and Michael are such kind people, who are committed to serving others – how could I not tell everyone who could use their service about these genuine people?
Q. What does community and purpose mean to you?
Michael & Shelley – HHC
For us, community and purpose go hand in hand. We started Harmon Healthcare Consulting to help people make confident choices about their health, life, and future, but we also wanted a business that fits the way we live and what matters most to us. Our purpose is helping people, and being connected to the community is what makes that purpose meaningful.
Ashley – CMVF
Community gives me purpose. I strive to build up our community to be what I want it to be for my family, my neighbors, and all of our kids.
Stronger Together
This conversation highlights more than just two small businesses. It reflects a shared belief that success comes from connection, trust, and purpose. At Harmon Healthcare Consulting, we built our agency to help people make informed decisions about their health, life, and wealth. Decisions that shape their futures. At Check Moon Valley First, Ashley has created a platform that connects neighbors, supports local businesses, and strengthens the community through both print and digital outreach.
Together, we represent what it means to keep business personal. We both believe that business and community are not separate. They are intertwined. When small businesses support each other, everyone benefits. By working together, we are creating a network where people feel seen, heard, and supported, whether that means helping someone find the right insurance plan or connecting them with trusted local services.
If you are looking for guidance in choosing the right health, life, or wealth products, Harmon Healthcare Consulting is here for you. We are independent agents, which means we work for you, not the insurance companies.
And if you are a local business owner or resident looking to connect with your community, explore Check Moon Valley First. Through both print and digital advertising and community-driven events, Ashley is helping businesses grow and neighbors connect.
We invite you to be part of this movement toward stronger connections. Reach out, start a conversation, and let us show you how personal business can be.
Healthy Hint 🌿
“Connect Over Coffee”
Good health is not just about what you eat or how often you exercise. It is also about who you connect with. Small conversations lead to big connections and that’s good for both your health and your neighborhood.
3 Healthy Things That Happen When You Connect Over Coffee ☕
- Boosts Your Mood
Meaningful social interactions stimulate the release of dopamine and oxytocin. Feel-good chemicals that reduce stress and improve emotional well-being. Even a short, genuine conversation can leave you feeling lighter and happier. - Strengthens Your Community
Sharing a coffee with a friend, neighbor, or fellow business owner builds trust and creates bonds. A stronger sense of belonging has been linked to better overall health and lower rates of depression and anxiety. - Improves Mental Clarity
Coffee’s natural antioxidants and gentle caffeine boost can sharpen focus and improve alertness, but combining that with real human connection gives your brain an even bigger lift. It’s a double shot of energy and clarity.
Invite Connection with Homemade Mexican Coffee 🌿☕
If you want to bring the connection to you, try making a simple, naturally sweetened Mexican coffee. It’s warm, cozy, and a perfect conversation starter.
Ingredients
- 2 cups freshly brewed coffee
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup or honey (optional for sweetness)
- A splash of almond or oat milk (optional)
Instructions
- Brew your coffee as usual.
- In a small saucepan, whisk together cocoa powder, cinnamon, and maple syrup (or honey) with a splash of coffee until smooth.
- Pour in the remaining coffee and stir well.
- Top with a little almond or oat milk if you like it creamy.
- Pour into mugs, invite a friend or neighbor over, and enjoy a meaningful connection.
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