Send us a text The most dangerous scam isn’t the one you’ve never heard of, it’s the one that feels urgent, secret, and strangely personal. Take It To The Board host Donna DiMaggio Berger sits down with Paul Greenwood, who led San Diego’s elder abuse prosecution unit for 22 years, to unpack how fraudsters weaponize emotion, AI, and routine technology to separate people from their savings. From “Granny, I’m in jail” calls to deepfake audio, from bogus jury-duty warrants to polished roman...

Send us a text In this special year-end episode, host Donna DiMaggio Berger and producer Claude Jennings cut through the noise and reveal the real shifts that changed how community associations operate—from high-stakes legal challenges to the everyday pressures managers and volunteer directors face on the ground. This isn’t just a recap. It’s a reality check. Donna and Claude revisit their most talked-about conversations of the year, including: Building a company worth selling — insights from...

Send us a text A rooftop can be a power plant or a battleground. In this week’s Take It To The Board episode, we tackle a central question: should homeowners be able to use solar power without running into resistance from their own community associations? Host Donna DiMaggio Berger speaks with Ben Delman of Solar United Neighbors to break down where personal energy freedom bumps up against HOA oversight. Donna and Ben explore the real factors behind a switch to solar energy—from hardware cost...

Send us a text What if the secret to calmer board meetings, friendlier hallways, and fewer violation letters is simpler than passing another rule? In this episode of Take It To The Board, host Donna DiMaggio Berger invites nationally recognized etiquette consultant and author Jodi R.R. Smith to unpack how “etiquette is the younger sibling of the law” and why civility is a practical and effective leadership tool for community associations. From trash cans set out too early to pickleball at mid...

Send us a text With Halloween right around the corner, in this episode of Take It To The Board, host Donna DiMaggio Berger and Dee Smith from NatureZone, a family-owned and operated pest control company, peek into the spookier corners of community association life: the creepy crawlies that make residents shiver and board members squirm. Together, they take a peek into what really moves through condos and HOAs: bed bugs that hitchhike on luggage, roof rats that turn trees into launch pads, and...

Send us a text The landscape of community living is shifting as associations grapple with rising energy costs, climate pressures, and ever evolving resident expectations. In this episode of Take It To The Board, host Donna DiMaggio Berger sits down with Nicolas Milo, Senior Director at KW Property Management, to explore how sustainability is more than just an environmental initiative -- it’s also a smart financial strategy. No longer limited to “going green” for responsibility’s sake, today’s...

Send us a text Choosing the right attorney for your community association is about much more than comparing hourly rates. In this episode of Take It To The Board, host Donna DiMaggio Berger sits down with Tana Bucca, Vice Chair of Becker’s Community Association practice in New Jersey, to explore what boards should really look for when hiring legal counsel. Donna and Tana discuss why specialized experience in community association law often saves time and money, how firm size and bandwidth can...

Send us a text What's the point of gates, guards, and security cameras if you're letting hundreds of unscreened workers into your community? On this week’s episode of Take It To The Board podcast, host Donna DiMaggio Berger talks with security expert Mark Hall to reveal the alarming blind spot in most residential communities' protection plans. After spending over two decades in law enforcement, Mark identified a critical vulnerability: communities invest heavily in perimeter secu...

Send us a text Various types of casualty events, including fires, floods, explosions, windstorms, and even the unavoidable burst water pipe, will likely occur at some point in your community's lifespan which means your board will have to submit an insurance claim. That process can make your association feel as if you're going through a second disaster while you're trying to recover from the first one. Host Donna DiMaggio Berger and guest Ken Shriberg, a public insurance adjuster with a track ...

Send us a text "Most people don't read the fine print until it's too late." This warning from Take It To The Board host, Donna DiMaggio-Berger sets the stage for a crucial conversation with guest and Becker shareholder James Robert Caves about common contract mistakes threatening community associations across Florida. Drawing on decades of experience drafting, negotiating, and untangling problematic contracts, Donna and Rob reveal why the distinction between proposals and contracts matters, a...

Send us a text It’s common knowledge that Florida is one of the hottest markets in the U.S. – whether you’re considering a personal lifestyle upgrade or a new environment for your business. But that influx of people and industry, coupled with the state’s numerous sunny days, is a recipe for an extreme heat event and can spell disaster for an unprepared infrastructure. Host Donna DiMaggio Berger and featured guest Jane Gilbert – the world’s first Chief Heat Officer – explore the dangers posed...

Send us a text In an emergency, timing is everything. What if a resident collapses on the pickleball court, suspicious activity is spotted near your property, or a crisis unfolds when you least expect it? The traditional safety net of gates, guards, and cameras falls short without one critical element: immediate, reliable communication. In this week’s episode of Take It To The Board, host Donna DiMaggio Berger talks with Geno Roefaro, the CEO of SaferWatch, a cutting-edge safety app transform...

Send us a text Have you ever wondered if you recognize that stunning condo or picturesque community you see in a movie or TV? Take It To The Board host Donna DiMaggio Berger and Christina Labuzetta, owner of Location Resources and member of the Location Managers Guild International, pull back the curtain on the fascinating world of location scouting for private residences and communities. For association boards and homeowners contemplating this unique revenue opportunity, Donna and Chr...

Send us a text The ongoing activities throughout the U.S. by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been dominating the news cycle recently and concerns and questions are growing about what to do if you or someone you love has an interaction with ICE at your place of employment, school or inside your community. Association boards face unique challenges in today's immigration environment. Should boards and their management professionals screen residents for immigration status? Wha...

Send us a text The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season is already underway—and it's expected to be an active one, with forecasts calling for 17 to 25 named storms, up to 13 hurricanes, and as many as 7 major hurricanes. For Florida’s community associations, that means flood preparedness is no longer optional—it’s urgent. In this episode of Take It to the Board, host Donna DiMaggio Berger welcomes Maurice Huffman, inventor of StormBag—a revolutionary, sandless sandbag that’s changing the way neighb...

Send us a text Life in community associations can feel like a pressure cooker—board members navigating tough calls, homeowners facing surprise assessments, and industry professionals managing nonstop demands. The common thread? Stress. In this week’s Take It To The Board podcast, host Donna DiMaggio Berger welcomes Dr. Tai Johnson, a specialist in acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, for a fascinating conversation on how holistic practices—and understanding your body’s meridians—can ...

Send us a text In this special 100th episode of Take It To The Board, we’re excited to welcome back our very first guest, James Donnelly. When host Donna DiMaggio Berger first sat down with James in 2021, he was leading Castle Group, one of Florida’s largest community association management firms. Now, they reunite to reflect on the extraordinary journey James has taken since selling the company. Together, they explore the motivations behind his decision, the carefully crafted four-year succe...

Send us a text Have you ever stopped to think about what’s really coming out of your faucets? This week on Take It To The Board, host Donna DiMaggio Berger sits down with Ed Padula of Quality Water Consultants to uncover the hidden truths about the water we drink, cook with, and bathe in every day. You might be surprised by what’s flowing through your community's pipes and what is contributing to the inevitable water leaks in multifamily buildings. Donna and Ed’s conversation reveals how muni...

Send us a text Documenting the condition of your association property has become crucial to comply with new legal requirements as well as to maximize your insurance claims post casualty. Transparency, accessibility, and digital organization also play the critical role of helping to protect resident safety. Digital documentation pioneer Trish Mackie-Smith joins host Donna DiMaggio-Berger for this episode of Take It To The Board to discuss how technological solutions are revolutionizing t...

Send us a text Condominiums and HOAs may dominate Florida's shared ownership landscape, but cooperative associations offer a fascinating alternative with their own distinct legal framework and operational quirks. This week, Board-certified community association attorney and Becker shareholder David Rogel joins Take It To The Board host Donna DiMaggio Berger to unravel the mysteries of this older form of shared ownership that continues to house Floridians in everything from high-rises to singl...