Rooted in Community: Chris Mañé ’13 Brings the Next Generation Back to CDS
For Chris Mañé, Carrollwood Day School has always been more than a school. It has been a constant through every stage of life. Nearly three decades after first walking into the ECC as a student, Chris now watches his daughter Charlotte walk through those same doors, experiencing the same sense of belonging, character, and community that shaped his own journey from CDS student to business leader and father.
Carrollwood Day School was more than the place where Chris Mañé received his education. It was the place where he grew up. Beginning at the Early Childhood Campus in 1997, Chris spent 16 years at CDS, building lifelong friendships, discovering his interests, and developing the values that continue to guide him today. Now, years later, his daughter Charlotte sits in the very same classrooms where his own CDS journey began.
Reflecting on 16 Years at CDS
When reflecting on his experience as a student, Chris remembers the close knit community that defined his time on campus.
“My experience at CDS as a student was very fulfilling. It was a great environment where everyone knew each other and created memories with multiple diverse groups of student and faculty.”
He credits CDS with helping shape the person he would become long after graduation.
“The most positive aspects of my time at CDS were character building helping to form who I am today and the ability to grow with the school throughout the 16 years I was there.”
Some of Chris’s favorite memories are tied to the traditions, teachers, and moments that made CDS feel like home. He fondly remembers Spirit Week, where he enjoyed “dressing goofy and having lighthearted fun with friends,” as well as middle school trips to Ybor with Mrs. Millian to learn about Tampa and Spanish culture. He also recalls time spent in the ECC’s Big Room, which, as he joked, “doesn’t seem as big now.”
Building a Career Rooted in Family and Service
After graduating from CDS in 2013, Chris pursued a career path that reflected his longtime passion for cars. He attended trade school, earned his ASC master certification, and secured a position with Toyota through a connection made by one of his professors. Known for his strong work ethic, Chris quickly distinguished himself at the dealership, logging the most turning hours across the entire team.
In 2014, however, an unexpected opportunity shifted the direction of his career. When his father returned to medical school, he asked Chris to temporarily help oversee the family chiropractic office. What started as a short term role soon evolved into a long term commitment. After his father graduated from medical school, the family closed the chiropractic office and opened MAR Primary Care LLC in 2018.
Today, the practice has expanded to include multiple locations, with Chris serving as Practice Administrator alongside several members of his family. His brother Steven joined the practice in 2020, his mother serves as CFO, and his father practices medicine there. The name MAR itself reflects that family connection, standing for Mañé and Rager, his mother’s maiden name.
Over the years, the practice has built a reputation centered on quality patient care. Chris shared a story about one retiring physician who quietly sent secret shoppers to various practices while deciding who to entrust with his patients. He ultimately selected their family's office because of the level of care and respect shown to every patient.
That same philosophy guides the practice’s mission today. Their slogan, “it’s like having a doctor in the family,” reflects the culture they strive to create for every patient who walks through the door.
For Chris, one of the most meaningful parts of his work is getting to do it alongside family every day. He enjoys the variety his role brings, from interacting with patients and hearing their feedback to working with insurance companies and managing contracts with payers. Most of all, he values the opportunity to build something meaningful together.
Returning to the Place Where It All Began
As Chris began searching for schools for his daughter, Charlotte, CDS immediately felt familiar. After touring the ECC, he recognized the same sense of community and character education that shaped his own childhood.
“The feel of the school was exactly the same as when I went there,” Chris shared. “CDS grew, but foundation was the same.”
In fact, the visit was so meaningful that he never considered touring another school.
“There is no place else Charlotte belongs.”
From student to parent, Chris’s connection to CDS has now come full circle. While much has changed since his days as a Patriot, the values and sense of community that shaped his experience continue to leave a lasting impact on the next generation.
We love sharing our alumni achievements with the CDS community. If you are a CDS Alumni and would like to share your accomplishments, please contact our Alumni Engagement Coordinator, Carli (Gauthier) Mianne '16 at cmianne@cdspatriots.org and let us know what you have been up to since leaving CDS. We look forward to hearing from you!