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‘Tis the season for spending time surrounded by the ones we love the most. This month, Newtown Edgmont Friends & Neighbors is excited to introduce you to The DiCola Family, whose focus on building a life filled with love, laughter, adventures and meaningful memories makes their home so very special.
Pat is a native of Havertown. He grew up there with his blended family that included his late father, Bill, his mother, Louise DiCola Warner, his stepmother, Iona DiCola and his stepbrother, Joe McIntosh, Esq. Pat went to Haverford High School, where he lettered in track and field and football. He was named a state champion in indoor track as well as medaled in the Penn Relays.
After high school graduation, Pat played football for Western Maryland College before finishing his college studies at West Chester University. “I began my career in Direct Mail Advertising,” he explained. “I worked for a company for 20 years before going out on my own.” Pat teamed up with his good friends, Don Miksit and Ryan Fitzpatrick, to start Mshop360, a Digital Marketing Agency. Over the past 15 years, they have been able to grow that business as well as acquire Viamark Advertising, a full-service national advertising agency with ten offices across the country.
The Covid-19 pandemic brought new opportunities to Pat and his partners. In an effort to keep business owners and their customers connected, they launched a Facebook networking group called Free Trade Networking. The group manages two chapters with over 100 members and owns Facebook community pages with over 100,000 subscribers.
Pat said it is very satisfying to help businesses grow and thrive. “We do everything from managing their networks to writing, filming and placing their TV commercials,” he explained. “We even placed a client’s commercial in the 2023 Super Bowl and are gearing up to do the same in 2024.”
Michelle grew up just a short drive up the turnpike in Hatfield with her parents, Jim and Patty Bowen and two younger brothers, Mathew and James. She graduated from North Penn High School in Lansdale, where she competed in track and field. Michelle then studied at Delaware Valley University, where she earned her BA in Business Administration/Computer Information Systems.
“I worked as a Senior Sales and Marketing consultant for 16 years before deciding to stay home to raise my children,” explained Michelle. “I continue to work as the Director of Social Media for Free Trade Networking, but my schedule is much more flexible.” Michelle and Pat also run a small non-profit foundation to help our local restaurants build and grow their social media presence. In the future, Michelle said she would like to get more involved in their family business, but for now, raising her kids is the most important and rewarding job out there.
Pat and Michelle met at work, and their romance blossomed. Their love story began with a wedding surrounded by family and friends on the beaches of Jamaica, followed by quite a memorable honeymoon. “We took a small charter boat out fishing one day,” Pat recalled. “Within 20 minutes, the storm of the century rolled in, and Michelle and I watched as the captains put their cell phones in zip lock bags and started praying. Good times!”
The newlyweds managed to make it safely back to dry land and returned home. They rented a place for a while in Bryn Mawr but wanted to find a home in Newtown Square. “We knew we wanted to raise a family in the Newtown Edgmont community,” Michelle said. “It is absolutely the best-kept secret in the area.” Fortunately, in 2015, the couple found a home in Runnymeade Farms and settled in. “Our neighborhood is very family-oriented and welcoming,” explained Pat. “The neighbors went out of their way to make us feel at home from day one.”
Pat and Michelle have their hands full these days with three kids under the age of five. Pat also has a 22-year-old son, Max, who graduated from Marple Newtown High School in 2019 and Summa Cum Laude from West Chester University in 2023. Pat spent a lot of time coaching Max’s Marple Jr. Tigers Football team and his Newtown Edgmont Little League team back when Max was younger, and these days, he loves spending time and meeting up with Max for lunch during the workday.
Photo by Crissy Everhart Photography
Viviana is Pat and Michelle’s five-year-old daughter, who they described as the mayor. “She makes friends wherever she goes,” laughed Michelle. Viviana loves baseball and dancing in front of the TV and recently started a hugging policy with her friends at school. Pat said that Viviana’s future plans involve ruling the world.
Next up is three-year-old Rocque, who is an active boy interested in baseball and mayhem. “Roc wants to be the next Batman,” Pat said. “He has a contagious laugh, is super witty and remembers everything.” A fun fact is that his favorite song is Party Rock, or as they say, Party Roc!
Last but certainly not least is their youngest daughter, Sofia. She may be just nine months old, but Pat and Michelle are convinced that her future plans involve overthrowing her older sister to rule the world. “Sofia is always happy, smiling and laughing,” said Michelle.
For Pat and Michelle, free time doesn’t come very often, and they’re just fine with that. “Of all the things going on in my life, dates nights with my wife, playing with our nine-month-old, driving my three and four-year-olds to school, and having lunch with my 22-year-old is what my life is about,” Pat said. “Family is everything to me.” Michelle agrees and knows that time is literally flying by, so she values every bit of it. “I want to enjoy every second.”
“Our neighborhood is the best when it comes to family fun,” Michelle commented. “The community pool is a favorite, and we love participating in all the holiday celebrations, especially the Halloween block party.” Both Pat and Michelle said they feel very fortunate to be able to grow their family and their businesses in this incredible town.
When the DiCola’s want to hit the road, they head south to the Delaware beaches. They especially love to vacation on the Indian River Inlet. “Most of the beaches in Delaware are in state parks that allow vehicles to drive right up on the sand,” Pat explained. “We have so much fun pulling right up, unloading our beach chairs and enjoying our time together.” One of Pat’s favorite activities is surf fishing, and he’s looking forward to sharing that hobby with his kids every summer. Other recent trips have been to Great Wolf Lodge and the Baltimore Aquarium.
But no matter how far they travel to explore and enjoy, the Newtown Edgmont area is where they love to call home. Pat and Michelle said, “Family is our fortune, and we consider ourselves very blessed to be raising our family and building our business in such a wonderful community.”
Thank you, Pat and Michelle, for sharing your inspiring story. On behalf of your Newtown Edgmont Friends & Neighbors, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.
Do you know a Newtown Edgmont family, individual or nonprofit group who should become known by our community? Make your nominations for upcoming feature articles by emailing your ideas to Sheila Turner-Hilliard at STurnerHilliard@BestVersionMedia.com.