7 minute read
Get to Know BLU-PAC's Chair
Maureen Jaeger
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Director, Community Relations and Client Relationship Management Gunster
You have been immersed in the Boca Raton community for some time… What does it mean for you to be involved in this community and to ensure businesses can grow and flourish? I first moved to Boca in my twenties when I relocated from New York City. I had spent several years working at law firms in New York and living in Brooklyn and Queens. Upon arriving in Boca, I thought I landed in paradise. The natural beauty of the ocean, the palm trees and the incredible landscaping and flowers took my breath away, not to mention the welcoming nature of the people that I met. Additionally, everything I needed was there in terms of businesses, restaurants and shops. There was a wonderful balance of all the things that make a city a place where you want to settle. That is important to me. I don’t want to see
the destruction of the natural beauty or lose the sense of community but it is important to have the right growth so the community can thrive economically. Why BLU-PAC? When Troy asked you to be the Chair... what went through your mind? When Troy first approached me about becoming a BLU-PAC member, I knew this was something I could get behind – helping people make decisions to support candidates who share our values. They believe in the importance of the community to thrive economically while retaining the very special place that is Boca. I have very much enjoyed my participation in BLU-PAC. When Troy asked me to be Chair, I think I tried to talk him out of it. First, our former Chairman George Sigalos has done such a great job. One never wants to fill the shoes of someone who has done a great job – that is a bit daunting. My second thought was how to find the time to add another thing to my plate. Troy does what Troy does and convinced me to say yes. Since you took over as Chair of BLU-PAC, they have been consistent in their process and have created positive campaign materials for endorsed candidates. What do you think differentiates BLU-PAC and its activities from other entities? I think what differentiates BLU-PAC from other entities is the strength of the team. For decades while I was involved in government, I had the opportunity to get to know chambers from across the state and regional and national levels. I have always told Troy that the Boca Chamber is the chamber that other Chambers should aspire to. Troy and his team do an outstanding job. As BLU-PAC is a PAC that has the support of the Boca Chamber, it goes without saying that the same excellence would carry over to the PAC. Additionally, the BLU-PAC board is committed to the communities in South Palm Beach County and the PAC’s mission to support state and local candidates who share their views on important issues that impact their business. The board takes seriously its commitment to support candidates who support the PAC’s mission. There is an enormous time commitment required to know the issues and candidates, to vet and interview them, and then develop content support the candidates – and the board delivers. They truly give back to the community. A special shout out must be given to board member Bobra Bush who commits an enormous amount of time to strategy and development of BLU-PAC communications. What is your favorite memory within your career? How have you gotten to where you are today? While I am not a lawyer, I have worked at law firms in various capacities in New York and Florida for many decades. It is very difficult to pick a favorite memory. First, because I have a lot of mileage on me and I just can’t remember everything anymore! Second, there are so many wonderful memories and they are all the right memories for the place I was in at the time that I experienced them. It would be like trying to pick your favorite kid or your favorite recipe! I can say that the Gunster law firm is the most special. It is the last of the law firms that I have worked at and has been my home for about
GET TO KNOW BLU-PAC CHAIR MAUREEN JAEGER
30 years, except for the time when I worked for the Florida Attorney General, Florida Governor and in DC in the office of former US Senator George LeMieux. Gunster truly is a family of people who come together to do great work for their clients every day and believe in the importance of the team. There are plaques all over the Firm offices that say, “the people who we pay are more important than the people who pay us” and firm management does not just give lip service to those words. It is a very special place and, in my humble opinion, has the most qualified and committed lawyers anyone would want to represent them. I think there are two reasons that I have gotten where I am today. One is that I have always believed that you need to make yourself indispensable to those for whom you work. There is always someone else that can be dropped into your role, but if you work harder and know your job and stay true and loyal to the people you work for and the entity you represent, it makes it more difficult to plop someone else in your seat. Also, I would say you have to take chances and be open to opportunities when they present themselves and sometimes that is scary and takes a real leap of faith – but you don’t ever want to regret not taking that chance. What is a memorable quote that has impacted your life and career?
My father, Frank Jackson, who passed away about two years ago and was absolutely the wisest person that I have ever met (and that says a lot because I have had the opportunity to know and work with some incredibly brilliant people) wrote in my yearbook. “Listen when you think you have something to say and speak only when you have to.” I think he said that because I was always getting in trouble for speaking my mind in my family and that was not often a good thing. I come from a very traditional Italian family where children were expected to be seen and not heard. I don’t know if there was someone famous who he was stealing that from but I attribute it to the man, the myth, the legend -- Frank Jackson. Someone a bit more famous than my wonderful father said “Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something” --Plato. That has also been a favorite of mine and my hope has guided me to not just fill the air with words, but to make those words count for something. What is something that people might be surprised to know about you?
While many of us are working remotely, I am working a little bit more remotely then most and fulfilling a lifelong dream of attending the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York right now. It is very cold and snowy and I am missing our beautiful South Florida paradise.
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