Becker & Poliakoff

Donna DiMaggio Berger Celebrates 50th Episode with Business Attorney and Husband, Michael Berger

Donna DiMaggio Berger Celebrates 50th Episode with Business Attorney and Husband, Michael Berger

For more episodes of Take It To The Board, click here!


This week, Take It To The Board is proud to release its 50th episode! This podcast was started with the goal of giving its listeners a glimpse into the inner workings of a community association including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Now, it is only fitting to give a glimpse of its host, Donna DiMaggio Berger, who is joined by her husband, Michael Berger, a fellow University of Miami Law School graduate.

Michael explains how his work as a business attorney draws upon his experience as a former owner of a manufacturing business with retail, wholesale, catalog, and internet operations. His experience provides a unique perspective on the business and legal needs of small to medium-sized entrepreneurial operations. Michael also discusses his work serving on the Broward County Human Rights Board over the last few years encouraging treatment equality and discrimination prevention.

In this episode, Donna and Michael discuss how they met, their unorthodox introduction to the condominium approval process when they purchased their first home in Aventura, a special assessment they paid as new homeowners for a problem-plagued skylight repair project, and their separate experiences later serving on their Broward County HOA Board.

Conversation highlights include:

  • What kind of community association disputes are heard by the Human Rights Board and the mission of that organization.
  • How to get off on the right foot with new members of a community and whether there is a solution to owners failing to read their governing documents.
  • The types of communication channels that foster transparency and community spirit and how volunteerism can benefit the association.
  • How to make the community association lifestyle a positive – not a negative – experience.

BONUS: Michael reveals two things about our host that most people don’t know – but some may suspect! 🙂

About Take It To The Board

Think you know what community association life is all about? Think again. Residents must obey the rules, directors must follow the law, and managers must keep it all running smoothly. Take It To The Board explores the reality of life in a condominium, cooperative or homeowners’ association, what’s really involved in serving on its board, and how to maintain that ever-so-delicate balance of being legally compliant and community spirited. Leading community association attorney Donna DiMaggio Berger acknowledges the balancing act without losing her sense of humor as she talks with a variety of association leaders, experts, and vendors about the challenges and benefits of the community association lifestyle.

If you’ve got a question, Take It To The Board with Donna DiMaggio Berger – We Speak Condo & HOA!

Episodes are available for subscription on iTunesAmazon Music, Spotify, YouTube, or listen through any podcast streaming app. You can also click here for the full archive.