Top-Rated Saint Andrew’s Offers Both Day School And Boarding School Options

Saint Andrew’s School is a private, independent school founded in the Episcopal tradition. It opened in Boca Raton in 1962 as an all-boys boarding school with a mission to build a community of learners, provide excellence in education, and nurture each student in mind, body and spirit.

It now serves as a day school and boarding school for both boys and girls enrolled in pre-kindergarten through high school, offering both Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes.

“A great education celebrates each child, embraces the support of family, delivers outstanding programs, and fosters meaningful relationships between students and teachers,” said Dr. Carlos Barroso, director of marketing and communications at the school. “To achieve that ideal, a school begins with a solid and well-articulated mission.”

To make its mission a reality, the school has developed one of the top college preparatory curriculum offerings in South Florida, Barroso said.

“The school’s philosophy is that children need a balanced approach to education, with arts, athletics, extracurricular offerings and experiences that build strong character,” he said. “The school is part of a global network of 180 schools in 40 countries on five continents that recognizes the responsibility of shaping the way the next generation of leaders understand, prepare for and respond to the world.”

Over the past five decades, Saint Andrew’s School has been providing an outstanding education for day school and boarding school students from around the globe. In 2016, it placed fourth on review site Niche’s K-12 list of the best private high schools in Florida due to students’ high SAT/ACT scores, a 100 percent four-year matriculation rate, its 8:1 student-teacher ratio, and reviews given by both students and teachers. The site also considered students’ interest in top colleges, for which Saint Andrew’s received an A+.

Additional accolades came in this year when Newsweek magazine ran a story on International Baccalaureate programs in its Educational Insight section and included Saint Andrew’s School as among the best IB schools in the USA.

“The IB takes a truly holistic approach to education using a professional ecosystem made up of schools, educators and students. The organization co-creates and co-develops curricula with IB educators and other experts around the world,” the magazine explained. “The professional development programs engage fellow teachers, who train other teachers across the world, as part of a highly effective system of constant learning, development and sharing of best practice.”

This gives IB teachers, such as those at Saint Andrew’s School, the tools and flexibility to do more than just teach a course — they ignite passion and curiosity by teaching in a way that is best suited for them and their students.

“Parents and educators recognize that the solutions of yesterday cannot solve the problems of today,” the Newsweek article continued. “The IB champions critical thinking and a flexibility for learning by crossing disciplinary, cultural and national boundaries.”

The IB program is one of several items that make the school stand out.

“Saint Andrew’s School is a very unique day and boarding school,” Barroso explained. “No other traditional boarding schools in Palm Beach County offer a day school choice. And, academically, we offer students both AP and IB coursework where, in most schools, you have to choose one or the other.”

An ongoing goal at Saint Andrew’s School is to continue attracting top students. “We compete locally, regionally, nationally and internationally for the best and brightest students,” Barroso said. “To do this, we run marketing campaigns, send our admissions staff throughout the nation and the world, and advertise locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.”

St. Andrew’s School is located at 3900 Jog Road in Boca Raton. For more information, call (561) 210-2000 or visit

www.saintandrews.net.

The Oxbridge Academy Provides Students
With A Challenging And Dynamic Education

A coeducational private high school, the Oxbridge Academy was founded in 2011 by energy magnate and philanthropist William I. Koch to provide a challenging, dynamic education in and beyond the classroom in order to prepare students for a lifetime of success.

At the Oxbridge Academy, students learn through engagement in academic and community-based projects that speak to their talents and interests, sparking their curiosity and passion.

The Oxbridge Academy offers a college preparatory program that emphasizes depth of understanding and practice in the skills required for successful college performance. The school’s unique approach to learning highlights the discrete skills required for becoming an insightful reader of literature and history; a practitioner of the principles behind meaningful historical analysis, material and scientific processes; and fluency as a speaker of a different language.

The Oxbridge Academy accomplishes these goals through extensive use of experiential learning and diverse opportunities for discovering one’s passions as a student. In addition to a strong academic curriculum, the school is proud of its culture of kindness and acceptance that helps all students feel welcome as a member of the Oxbridge family.

Terrell Seabrooks, president of the senior class, entered Oxbridge as a freshman and discovered his special talents through work with the Oxbridge Academy’s nationally competitive debate team. He eventually emerged as the school’s premier competitor in Congressional Debate, winning multiple tournaments and finishing second in the nation. Seabrooks has excelled at lacrosse throughout his time at Oxbridge and, this year, earned the athlete of the year distinction in Palm Beach County. He took advantage of the honors and honors seminar classes available at Oxbridge and was admitted to both Harvard and Princeton. He will matriculate at Princeton University this fall.

The Oxbridge Academy works hard to fill its faculty positions with top educators. The school constantly hires the best and most energetic teachers, pays them appropriately and works to be certain that the curriculum balances essential learning with elements of the new needs and interests of today’s students. The faculty and administration consistently work to provide a rich tapestry of curriculum offerings, as well as a broad array of extracurricular offerings that excite students to take intellectual risks.

The Oxbridge Academy has successfully met these challenges since it was established and its leadership is confident that the school will continue to do so in the future.

“Oxbridge Academy is a school dedicated to offering opportunities: the opportunity to excel academically and earn acceptance to one’s choice of college, the opportunity to experience the values of teamwork and pursuit of excellence on the athletic field, and the opportunity to discover one’s passion through academics and extracurricular activities,” Head of School and Academic Dean John Klemme explained.

The Oxbridge Academy serves grades 9 through 12 on a 56-acre campus that features state-of-the-art classrooms, along with academic and athletic amenities equipped with advanced technologies.

The Oxbridge Academy is located at 3151 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach. For more information, call (561) 972-9600 or visit www.oapb.org.

Glades Day School Provides Students With Strong Academics In A Family Atmosphere

Glades Day School was founded in 1965 with a commitment to provide a safe family environment while inspiring all of its students to be leaders academically, athletically and spiritually.

The school offers Advanced Placement, honors and college preparatory courses, along with computer and technology programs, dual enrollment, Florida Virtual School courses, foreign language and fine arts programs, educational travel programs and an agri-science program.

Extracurricular activities include Academic Games; clubs such as drama, garden, math and robotics; journalism; student council; the yearbook committee; the National Future Farmers of America organization; the Spanish Honor Society, the National Honor Society and the National Junior Honor Society; and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Being a small, independent school located in the heart of the state’s largest agricultural area, Glades Day School strives to provide an affordable college preparatory education to its diverse student body.

“Our students come with many goals and aspirations, ranging from attending an Ivy League institution to earning certification from a trade school to pursuing a career in the agriculture industry,” explained Cindy Lamoureux, spokesperson for the school. “Glades Day School approaches this challenge through its employment of the best and brightest educators, who are dedicated, compassionate and committed to the students of our community.”

Every student is considered a success story at Glades Day School, Lamoureux said.

“Once graduates take their place in the world, they are able to pursue their dreams and goals in whichever career path they choose,” she said. “A great example is Markenson Pierre, a 2004 graduate who went on to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He was a four-year letterman on the football team as a defensive back. He received his bachelor’s degree from West Point in 2009. After graduating, he was commissioned in the U.S. Army as a logistics officer and served as an ammunitions platoon leader in Fort Hood, Texas, for a year and a half before deploying to Iraq. Upon his return from Iraq, he returned to Fort Gordon in Augusta, Ga., and spent two years serving as company commander of an advanced individual training unit. After completing that command, he left the Army and began law school at the University of Alabama School of Law, where he is currently finishing his second of three years. His brother, currently a senior at Glades Day, plans to follow his brother’s lead to West Point.”

The school, often a family tradition, attracts a number of students from the Wellington area.

“As an outsider to the community, I was hesitant about sending my children to Glades Day School, where my wife had graduated 30 years earlier, being unsure about the education they would receive and the opportunities that would be afforded them,” said Matthew Roberts of Wellington.

They considered a number of other private schools before choosing Glades Day School.

“It wasn’t until I stopped by the school during lunch to drop off some books for my daughter that I realized we had made the right decision,” Roberts said. “I witnessed first-hand the family environment that was unlike anything I had experienced. Because of the encouragement and direction my children received at Glades Day, they were all accepted to the university of their choice — the University of Florida. Our two oldest graduated from UF with honors and are currently attending law school at the University of Florida and Emory University. Our youngest is also on track to graduate with honors and continue into grad school at the University of Florida.”

Glades Day School is located at 400 Gator Blvd. in Belle Glade. For more information, call (561) 996-6769 or visit

www.gladesdayschool.com.

American Heritage School Offers Challenging Courses To Prepare Tomorrow’s Leaders

The Boca/Delray campus of the American Heritage School was established in 1999 with a mission “to graduate students who are prepared in mind, body and spirit to meet the requirements of the colleges of their choice.”

To this end, the private school offers a challenging college preparatory curriculum, integrated technology, exceptional guidance, leadership opportunities, and superior programs in the arts and athletics.

“The students at American Heritage are uniquely prepared to be leaders of the 21st century who embody knowledge, integrity and compassion,” said Melanie Hoffman, public relations director for the school. “The energy felt throughout American Heritage’s college preparatory school is powered by the pursuit of knowledge, beginning in PK3 through grade 12.”

On the campus, every student uses an iPad. In the Lower School, advanced courses are offered in all subjects, including the Stanford University math program for accelerated math students, and 15 electives are integrated into students’ daily schedules, Hoffman said.

In the Upper School, a selection of more than 200 different courses is offered, including 95 honors courses, 22 Advanced Placement courses and 60 fine arts courses. “Students can also explore career opportunities in pre-med and pre-law through a college-level pre-professional program,” Hoffman said. “Classes are taught daily by practicing physicians, surgeons, attorneys and circuit court judges.”

The 40-acre American Heritage School Boca/Delray campus resembles a small college in size and design. Facilities include investigative science labs facilitated by doctoral research scientists, engineering and robotics labs, a mock courtroom, media centers, outdoor environmental classrooms, two black box theatres, a state-of-the-art fine arts building, an Olympic-sized pool, sports fields and quiet courtyard areas.

“We are proud of all our students and their abilities to excel, not only in academics, the arts and athletics, but also as compassionate and respectful leaders in their community,” American Heritage School Vice President Dr. Douglas Laurie said. “Our students feel at home here at American Heritage School, which gives them the confidence to set high goals for themselves and succeed.”

One of the school’s many success stories is Jesse Fox, recalled Lisa LeFevre, high school principal at American Heritage.

“Jesse came to meet with me as a 10th grader shortly after I became high school principal with ideas of what could make the student experience here better,” LeFevre said. “He also let me know his dream was to go to the University of Pennsylvania, and he was already planning his college essay for them. Throughout high school at American Heritage, Jesse took advantage of many opportunities for leadership positions, community involvement, academic competitions and club activities. This, combined with his extremely rigorous course load, helped him achieve his dream, as he was accepted early decision into UPenn. To me, the greatest success is seeing our students achieve their goals.”

Rigorous course loads are common at American Heritage School, Hoffman said. However, the school also encourages students to achieve balance in their lives. “Our students take extremely challenging course loads and are involved in the arts, athletics, clubs and community service activities,” she said. “With so much on their plates, it’s often hard for them to balance it all. We stress the teaching of time management and how to work smarter. We want to be sure, as they move into college, that they are fully prepared to take on any and all challenges, so they can continue to reach their fullest potential. Our alumni always come back and tell us how they were more than prepared for their college courses and college life.”

The American Heritage School is located at 6200 Linton Blvd., just east of Jog Road, in Delray Beach. For more information, call (561) 495-7272 or visit www.ahschool.com.

Dressage Rider Gardy Bloemers Finds The Perfect Fit In Wellington

With both of her horses competing in Small Tour, Gardy Bloemers, a competitive dressage rider and wealth management advisor for Merrill Lynch, recently wrapped up another successful season in Wellington and found the perfect balance between her professional career, riding and volunteer work.

Originally from The Netherlands, Bloemers started her career at a young age, riding ponies and trail riding on her family farm. Throughout college and her early professional career, which involved significant international travel, Bloemers had the opportunity to ride on a diverse range of horses until she settled in the United States and purchased a horse of her own.

That path led her to the sport of dressage, a passion that still holds her in its grasp years later, not only through her personal endeavors, but in her leadership roles in several dressage organizations. “Dressage becomes addictive because you can always improve,” Bloemers explained. “There is so much to achieve, and for people who tend to have Type A personalities, it’s the perfect kind of sport. It’s really fun, and I love the competitive aspects associated with showing.”

Experiencing Wellington’s one-of-a-kind winter equestrian environment for the first time in 2014, Bloemers became enthralled with the area and quickly saw what a great fit it would be for her professional and personal lifestyle. “I realized that Wellington is a perfect environment to enable me to excel in dressage and my business,” Bloemers said. “I found a groove, so I decided to increase my stay each year in Wellington to get the most out of the experience.”

During the winter season, Bloemers rises bright and early to drive to Blue Marlin Stables, located in the Little Ranches community, to ride her two horses, Crusedor and Chios KK, before her work schedule begins for the day. This winter, she successfully competed in the national show ring at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival under the watchful eye of her trainer, George Williams, president of the United States Dressage Federation.

“George, together with his team at Williams Dressage, provide a great support infrastructure with high-quality grooms and care, which enables me to balance my riding with my career,” Bloemers said. “After my lessons, I normally go to work either out of my home or out of our Palm Beach office. Of course, I do travel back and forth between Charlottesville, Va., and Wellington regularly during the season, and will flip my riding schedule to accommodate morning meetings and calls. We all need to be flexible to make this work, and I am grateful to everyone who supports me in the pursuit of this passion.”

As a wealth management advisor for Merrill Lynch, Bloemers is part of a growing team that provides wealth management resources to individuals and families in the southeast region of the United States. The close-knit team, consisting of Bloemers, her business partner, Glenn Bannan, a third financial advisor and their assistant, is always looking to grow their business and speak with those interested in their services, welcoming several new clients each year.

“Being in Wellington, especially in the equestrian world, puts you at the epicenter of dressage in the United States,” Bloemers said. “It gives you the ability to see and compete against riders at the highest level. I believe this competitive edge, honed in the dressage ring, has spilled over into my own professional life. With careful planning, I am able to fit this all into my life, including making the time to actively support causes important to me both in Wellington and Virginia.”

Her philanthropic efforts are seen in Wellington through her contributions to the dressage foundation’s events throughout the community and American Equestrians Got Talent, a talent search event held during the winter equestrian season that raises money for high-performance programs in the United States. This year she also co-hosted a get-together for the Virginia Horse Center Foundation’s advisory board and board, of which she is a member of the executive committee. In addition, she was a sponsor of this year’s USDF’s Trainer’s Conference at High Meadow Farm in Loxahatchee.

In March, US Equestrian announced a new national committee to aid in overseeing and supporting the development of the sport of dressage, and Bloemers is proud to be on the committee. It is responsible for the sport’s development, organization, rules, licensing changes and handling any issues that may arise. The new US Equestrian Dressage Sport Committee consists of five US Equestrian and five USDF appointments, many of whom are based in Wellington during the winter, along with athletes Chris Hickey, Katherine Bateson-Chandler and Pierre St. Jacques.

“Even though the season is over, my husband and I cannot wait to return in the fall,” Bloemers said. “Wellington is wonderfully addictive.”

Deeridge Farms Showcases Top Hunters At Inaugural Deeridge Derby Weekend

Following the success of the inaugural Wellington Masters CSI3*-W in 2016 and this year’s Palm Beach Masters CSI3*-W, Deeridge Farms and the organizers of the CP Palm Beach Masters, presented by Sovaro, created an entirely new event for 2017.

While the 2017 Palm Beach Masters featured exciting world-class show jumpers from around the world in one of seven qualifying events for the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Finals, the Deeridge Derby Weekend brought to center stage the outstanding hunter horses and riders that also call Wellington home each winter.

Deeridge Farms is a 300-acre oasis of serenity and beauty in the heart of Wellington owned by Jeremy and Margaret Jacobs, who have been its stewards since 1980. Following the two consecutive World Cup qualifying events, Deeridge Farms proved itself an ideal setting to host prestigious equestrian competitions.

The inaugural Deeridge Derby Weekend, presented by the National Horse Show Association of America, for the benefit of the USHJA Foundation, took place March 1-5 and celebrated the nation’s best hunter horses and riders.

The hunter horses and riders competed head-to-head for big prize money on a beautiful, custom-designed grass competition field against the backdrop of Deeridge Farms — the perfect setting to highlight the grace and beauty of the sport. No detail was overlooked, including the popular VIP experience in the Taylor Harris Club, with a sumptuous array of food and beverages in a double-decker ringside tent.

“We were so happy to have the opportunity to host an international hunter derby as well as a pony derby this year at the inaugural Deeridge Derby Weekend,” Katie Jacobs-Robinson said. “We hope everyone enjoyed the new event and had a great time competing.”

The Deeridge Derby Weekend kicked off with lower-level young jumper competition on Wednesday and Thursday. Hunter derby competition heated up on Friday, leading up to the weekend’s feature class: the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby, presented by the World Equestrian Center, which consisted of two rounds spanning Saturday and Sunday.

Meagan Murray-Tenuta and Editorial claimed first-place honors in round one of the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby on Saturday. It was stiff competition throughout the duration of the class with 40 horse-and-rider combinations seeking the top spots in the round one standings. Murray-Tenuta, who hails from Zion, Ill., left the ring having earned the highest score between the two judging panels aboard Editorial, owned by Rebecca Price.

The lakeside hunter derby field welcomed back the top 24 horses on Sunday to show off their style and handiness in the second round of competition. While Murray-Tenuta and Editorial led the rankings after the first round, it was Wellington native Kristy Herrera who reigned supreme, crowned the winner of the highly anticipated class aboard Candid, owned by her longtime trainer and mentor, Jennifer Alfano.

While Herrera qualified for the handy phase on both of her entries, Candid and Miss Lucy, it was with Candid that she had the most success. The duo was sitting in second place going into Sunday afternoon’s round, just narrowly missing the first-place spot. “Sheldon,” as he is called back in the barn, has far less experience than Miss Lucy, but that didn’t stop Herrera from riding him to victory.

“Candid was amazing today. This was only his second derby, and he stepped up like a champion. He was so awesome,” Herrera said.

“I want to thank Katie [Jacobs-Robinson] and the Jacobs family, because having hunters go on this beautiful field and having a venue like this to showcase our horses is amazing,” Alfano added.

The Deeridge Farms setting left the riders and spectators with a positive feeling as the show came to a close on Sunday.

“I’m really thankful to have another venue here,” Herrera said. “I show at the Winter Equestrian Festival most of the time when I’m in Wellington, so it’s a nice break to come here. This is a beautiful course they’ve built, and we are lucky to be able to show here.”

Second-place winner Kelli Cruciotti agreed. “It was beautiful,” she said. “The venue — you can’t get anything better. A huge thank you to the Jacobs and Robinson families. I have to say, it is one of the best venues we’ve been at all year.”

Third-place winner Havens Schatt shared similar sentiments. “The venue is incredible, and we are so appreciative as hunter riders to be able to be showcased in a place like this,” she said. “We feel very important, just like these grand prix riders do.”

Jacobs-Robinson thanked all of the horse and rider pairs for making the first Deeridge Derby Weekend a success.

“Thank you so much for coming. It really meant a lot to me to look out and see so many old and new friends,” she said. “You guys really brought a great competition, and it made it really special. We would love to host another Deeridge Derby Weekend in 2018.”

For more information on the Deeridge Derby Weekend, visit www.deeridge.com.

Community Service Is Second Nature For PBSO Chief Deputy Michael Gauger

Chief Deputy Michael Gauger is second-in-command at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s  Office. With more than 45 years of service with the PBSO, Gauger is well-known  in the community, particularly the Wellington area, where he lives with his wife, Phyllis.

Professionally, Gauger is next in the line of responsibility after Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and is responsible for budgets totaling almo Personally, the Gaugers are coming up on their 41st anniversary. They have two children, Michael, 31, and Amanda, 35.

st $750 million and more than 3,500 staff members.

Personally, the Gaugers are coming up on their 41st anniversary. They have two children, Michael, 31, and Amanda, 35.

Gauger was adopted at nine months old into a farming family at a dairy in Illinois. Much to their dismay, he was more interested in sports than working the farm. It wasn’t the idyllic childhood. His late adopted parents became alcoholics, and his adopted mother struggled with mental illness. However, he did learn compassion from his situation.

After spending time in the U.S. Army, Gauger left Illinois for Tennessee and later headed to South Florida with a friend. They both worked odd jobs before he met some people who worked at the PBSO. They became friends, and Gauger was hired part-time. He looked young and was assigned to the narcotics division. He was hired full-time on Jan. 29, 1971.

It was on the job at the PBSO where Gauger met the woman who would become his wife.

Phyllis and her best friend from high school were working at the sheriff’s office. Her friend had her eye on young Gauger and arranged a double date with him and his partner at the time.

“As corny as it sounds, we were there first sitting down. He walks in and sits down, and it was love at first sight,” Phyllis recalled. “We just knew.”

During his extensive career with the PBSO, Gauger has touched the lives of many residents in Palm Beach County. A perpetual people person, he advocated for the first neighborhood park in the county, which was built in suburban Lake Worth. He knew how much it would cost to build a park, but when asked about the park maintenance — which cost $12,500 a year at the time — he came back with a show-stopping response.

Gauger told the Palm Beach County Commission that he could save the county money. If it built the park, he could keep one kid out of jail for the year, saving the county $26,000. Now, there are 25 or so neighborhood parks.

“If kids don’t have something positive to do, they will find something negative to do,” he explained.

Gauger is also proud of the work he did starting the first community policing unit in the county in the late 1980s, and also working on developing and starting programs in public housing communities.

Gauger later earned his master’s degree in social work and is proud of the fact that the PBSO is considered a best-practice agency.

When he officially “retired” on Jan. 29, 2004, Gauger didn’t turn his back on the community he worked a lifetime to improve. He worked at the Palm Beach County Housing Authority to set up fraud programs, cleaning up areas with crime problems and volunteering at the State Attorney’s Office working to solve cold-case homicides.

Gauger supported Bradshaw in his bid to become the 13th sheriff of Palm Beach County. When Bradshaw took office in January 2005, he asked Gauger to come back. “And that was 12 years ago,” Gauger said. “Time goes by fast.”

Gauger returned because he and Bradshaw had a mutual respect for one another, and common goals.

“We were detectives together, chasing bad guys back in the 1970s and 1980s. We knew each other, we respected each other’s work, and he offered me a position. I said yes, because I loved what I did,” Gauger said.

People often credit Gauger with saving their lives, but he is quick to tell them that they made the necessary changes; he just offered suggestions. “I didn’t do the work; you did the work. I can’t change anybody’s behavior. They have to change their own behavior,” he said.

Gauger has enjoyed his career in law enforcement and didn’t hesitate to return when called upon. Now, he works with many of the operational agencies within the county. “I think the success of an agency is based upon the network of relationships that you build in an organization,” he said. “Not only networks with businesses and with governmental agencies, but the network that you build within the community.”

The Gaugers are very involved in the community. He has long been a member of the Rotary Club of Royal Palm Beach. He has received awards, including the first Peace Award from the Rotary Club of Wellington. He has served on several nonprofit boards, such as the Urban League of Palm Beach County, Families First of Palm Beach County and the Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network. He is also a board member at the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington.

Phyllis, meanwhile, serves as first vice president of the Women of the Western Communities and has belonged to the General Federation of Women’s Clubs for the past 35 years. When she isn’t volunteering at her own organizations, she volunteers at PBSO events. They are active in their church, St. Peter’s United Methodist Church in Wellington, as well as Forever Greyhounds, where she is a board member.

Forever Greyhounds has brought them an additional six “children” over the years.

Their current greyhound, Yanni, is 11 years old. Her brother, Harry, passed away from cancer. The two dogs were originally adopted by a woman who spent part of her time in Florida. When she passed away, the pair was going to be split up. At the time, the Gaugers had just lost two greyhounds to cancer when Phyllis heard Yanni and Harry’s story.

“They were just too old to separate. I couldn’t sleep. We had to take them,” she said.

It’s fitting that the couple adopts greyhounds, given that Gauger, one of five siblings, was adopted. He met his biological mother when his own daughter, Amanda, was a toddler. That’s when he discovered that his biological grandfather was a sheriff in Illinois in 1918, and his uncle was the chief of police.

The Gaugers have lived in Wellington for 25 years after residing in Royal Palm Beach for 17 years. During those 42 years, they’ve seen many changes. When they first moved here in the 1970s, Gauger would hunt rattlesnakes in the area.

“As it grew a little bit, they were controlled by the water district. They contracted with the sheriff for some patrols out here, but it was nothing like it has become today,” he said. “It’s a thriving, thriving community now. The equestrian business has just blossomed this community and given it an international name.”

As the community has grown, Gauger made a promise to his growing family. One thing he has made sure to do was attend his children’s activities. His adopted family, his father in particular, did not support or attend his extracurricular activities. “Football game, track meet, or anything I did,” he said. “I decided that if I have children, it’s going to be different.”

And it was. Gauger worked his schedule around to coach and attend games, always being there for his children.

“I love my family,” he said. “I always wanted them to have the things that I couldn’t have.”

“You’ve done a good job with that,” Phyllis interjected.

He has focused on substance abuse in his professional career because of the things he saw as a child. His own hardships helped Gauger become more compassionate, as did others who provided support along the way.

“I had people who helped me,” he said. “There were a lot of people who were very good to me. I’ve never forgotten that, and that’s why I’ve always tried to help others, because not everyone’s as fortunate. I truly believe in a hand up, instead of a hand out.”

Business Matters, Personal Injury Law The Focus At Pike & Lustig

Michael Pike and Daniel Lustig of Pike & Lustig LLP are partners in a law firm focused on business litigation and personal injury litigation. They have a longtime friendship as well as business partnership, which they both say is more like a brotherly bond.

“We devote our firm to two areas of law, and we have our departments in our firm, staffed with attorneys, paralegals and legal assistants that assist with litigation involving personal injury and business [matters],” Pike said.

Those areas of law take in a wide array of issues.

“The unique dynamic of our firm is that we have the abilities and the staff and the attorneys to handle business disputes, shareholder disputes, breach of contract, real estate litigation, equine litigation, and also personal injury involving trucking accidents, auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, plane crashes and the like,” Pike said.

While that is the firm’s focus, Pike and Lustig are not confined to only those areas of the law.

“We have represented several physician practices in Palm Beach County over the course of 10 years,” Pike said. “We do everything from partnership agreements to shareholder agreements to operating agreements for any type of business, including commercial businesses, physician practices, public-related companies and closely held corporations.”

Pike is an experienced trial attorney, which he views as a key strength.

“Our departments are staffed with a lot of horsepower, which enables us to handle cases that are medium-size all the way to very large, intensive federal court cases and state court cases,” Pike explained.

The firm is able to manage cases at the state and federal levels.

“We do have a very strong client base in the western communities, but given the fact that we practice in both state and federal courts, and the fact that we actually try cases in front of judges and juries, we have a pretty strong base throughout the State of Florida,” Pike said.

Pike was born and raised in Miami. He received his law degree from the University of Florida. He had a personal motivation for devoting a portion of the practice to personal injury.

“When I was six or seven years old, I witnessed my father get shot in South Miami. He was shot in the leg. He lived. Subsequent to the shooting, there was a large case brought in Miami state court,” Pike recalled. “I had to testify as a young boy, and I sat through the trial and watched the entire proceeding, and it was there, I believe, that started the desire to want to have a career as an attorney.”

Lustig is originally from Costa Rica, moving to Florida when he was 15 years old. He received his law degree from the University of New Hampshire, and he also holds several other advanced degrees.

Pike and Lustig originally met while working at another practice. It was there that they became friends and decided to become law partners. Lustig said Pike started out as a great mentor for him when they began working together.

“I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Lustig said. “I’m very proud for having learned under him because the great thing for clients is that when they get a work product coming from our firm, it’s always going to look similar because we think alike, and we write in a very similar way.”

It was under the mentorship of Pike that Lustig became a well-practiced lawyer.

“I trained under Mike for several years. I would say I am still training under Mike because he has taught me everything I know as a lawyer,” Lustig said. “He’s taught me to be a lawyer who thinks outside the box and not just a lawyer who just will follow what the plain reading of the law is. In that regard, we established a very, very good friendship.”

Lustig is very happy with the practice and what he does for a living. “It’s always good to love what you do because that’s the reason you always want to be practicing law,” he said. “When you love what you’re doing, you want to do it more.”

Lustig also had a personal motivation to want to focus on personal injury law.

“My brother-in-law died in a tragic car accident, and I thought it was necessary for me to be involved in an area of the law that was quite personal to people when they are going through a difficult time, because my family had its share of tragedy in that regard,” Lustig said.

Both Pike and Lustig are Wellington residents. Pike lives in the community with his wife, Pamela, and daughters Aliyah and Ari. Lustig also lives here, with his wife, Dara, and sons Jacob and Benjamin.

“At every opportunity that we have on a local Wellington basis, we support other businesses in Wellington by and through our sponsorship of events and our memberships in the Wellington Chamber of Commerce,” Pike said.

To contact Pike and Lustig LLP, call (561) 291-8298 or visit www.turnpikelaw.com.