Ever since moving to Florida, Paul Berliner has made it his mission to make a difference in his community. Paul, who acquired a Bachelor’s degree from Point Park College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a Master's degree from New York University in New York, New York, has always been one to follow his dreams. The first becoming an educator as a secondary school teacher, and then moving up to become the Administrator of Adult, Career & Technical Education for the Mount Vernon School District in Mount Vernon, New York. Paul has always enjoyed helping people.
After moving to Florida in July of 2005, he began working on the buildings and grounds committee at Tuscany Bay in Boynton Beach – but that wasn’t enough. Paul wanted to help his community by participating in broader concerns, and decided to run for a Board position. After being elected, Paul has worked hard to make the Tuscany Bay community the best it can be. “I am thankful that the people determined that my concern and experience qualified me to become a Director, and voted for me,” said Paul.
When he’s not overseeing the Tuscany Bay Board of Directors, Paul enjoys travelling, walking, reading, and riding his bicycle around town. He currently resides in the Tuscany Bay community with his wife, Rose, and they will celebrate their 38th anniversary this coming June.
This past week I spoke with Paul to discuss his experiences working as a Director:
Ashley: What do you love most about being on the board?
Paul: Being on the Board of Directors gives me the opportunity to work with others in the mutual decision making process that is necessary for the betterment of the community. I have always enjoyed working within my community, first as an educator and now by helping to maintain the quality of living for the residents in Tuscany Bay. I care about the overall appearance of our buildings and grounds and I have made it my mission to make sure these areas look impeccable.
Ashley: What has been the most challenging aspect of being on the board?
Paul: Bringing everyone to a consensus is the most challenging work of the Board of Directors. We focus on the principle that each board member and each resident is an equal partner in our community whose concerns deserve to be addressed.
Ashley: What has been your proudest moment in life?
Paul: I have many, many special memories. My retirement party from the Mount Vernon School District after 33 years of service as a teacher and an administrator was a particularly special event.
Ashley: What piece of advice would you share with other board members?
Paul: The rights of individuals in the community and the interests of the community as a whole both merit wholehearted attention. When both of these rights are taken into account, needs can be addressed efficiently. In the end, the community will shine.
Thank you for your service Paul!
“Meet the Director” is an ongoing series where we recognize an outstanding Director from a community association in South Florida.
Serving on the Board of a Community Association is a challenging and often thankless job. There are thousands of dedicated volunteers in South Florida that have stepped up to lead their communities and we hope this series serves as a reminder to us all – to thank those that have invested their time and energy to make their communities a better place to live.
