Palm Beach Life: Breakers' human resources exec happy to make a difference

Denise Bober remembers well a morning more than 30 years ago when she was driving over the Flagler Memorial Bridge and fully realized what a difference she could make in people’s lives.

“Ahead in the distance, there was The Breakers and I had to pinch myself because I thought, `I’m going to a job where my goal is to make people’s lives better,’” Bober recalled to The Daily News.

She’s not talking about pampering The Breakers’ guests, although they’ve received that kind of attention since the hotel’s 1896 founding. What Bober’s 35-years-and-counting role has entailed at The Breakers involves its 2,300 diverse employees, a.k.a. “team members.”

As a human resources veteran, she’s helped shape and implement initiatives aimed at boosting the health and well-being of the sizeable staff. It’s “a job made in heaven,” said Bober, currently senior vice president and chief human-resources officer.

For employees, the hotel has, among other things, an onsite medical clinic; mental health, well-being and parenting programs, and financial seminars. Recently added programs: English-as-a-second-language classes, plus services via mobile dental and dermatological practices that set up on property; employees can use paid work time for appointments. “We focus on the whole person,” Bober said.

As for Bober’s own whole-person fulfillment, family, fun and philanthropy are tops, plus lots of physical activity, especially at what she calls “my go-to playground” in Palm Beach: The Lake Trail, a place to “recharge” and run, walk and bike after work and on weekends.

Bober, a longtime board member and former president of the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, describes Palm Beach’s vibe as “undeniably captivating.”

“From my very first visit to the island, I could feel that its magic was to surprise and delight,” she said, noting how the small “one-of-a-kind” town balances preservation with “building for the future.”

This past summer, Bober took time off for a week with friends and family on Green Turtle Cay in The Bahamas and a long weekend in New York to visit friends in her childhood hometown of Brooklyn, where her love of the N.Y. Mets was born.

The Daily News caught up further with Bober:

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What are three things people should know about you? 

“I am passionate about my work; physical activity is a big part of my daily routine; and I value family and faith above all. Bonus point: I love sushi, especially at (Breakers-affiliated) Echo, my favorite restaurant in town.”

More: Palm Beach named one of the ‘Most Romantic Small Towns in America’

Given your position at The Breakers, you have for years enhanced programs/perks for the hotel’s staff. What new program do you hope to add in the next year or so?

“Building on the foundation that our culture of health and well-being focuses on the whole person, we will continue to add programs that complement our current offerings, ranging from physical health to financial and psychological well-being. We are launching a program that has a further reach into our team-member population, which takes them on a personal wellness journey under the guidance of a medical doctor. We are enhancing our mental-health counseling services and offering a platform and concierge service to assist team members with organizing critical documents and finding reputable resources for their aging parents or family member in need, to name a few.”

Not counting restaurants affiliated with The Breakers, what’s your favorite restaurant in Palm Beach and why?

“Pizza al Fresco. My happy place is inspired by my grandparents’ homeland of Italy, and Pizza Al Fresco takes me to the place of my heritage … I’m transported every time in its intimate outdoor courtyard, dining under the sun or the stars and enjoying delicious yet simple Italian cuisine with family and friends. For me, Pizza al Fresco is much more than a restaurant; its authenticity has the power to touch my heart, my senses and spirit. Its sister restaurant, Renato’s, has the same magic but with an upscale vibe.”

Speaking of dining, if you could have dinner with any famous person, who would it be, where would you dine and what would the two of you eat? 

“Jane Fonda at Christopher’s Kitchen in Palm Beach Gardens. She has long been an activist who champions women’s, civil and indigenous rights, the environment and economic and racial equity. Jane Fonda champions them all and often describes herself as a student and I admire this about her. I understand that she eats very healthy, mostly plant-based, as do I, hence Christopher’s Kitchen, one of my favorite restaurants, and we would order the macro kale salad that is simply delicious. I also think she would be very entertaining to dine with.”

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Where’s a spot you like to relax in Palm Beach?

“The Lake Trail…Literally just steps away from my desk is this neighborhood gem, where I can take a physical and mental break, clear my mind, regroup and organize my thoughts and recharge for the remainder of the day. I walk from the Flagler Museum to the Four Arts Sculpture Garden and back. While taking in the beautiful scenery, I pass bikers, joggers, dog walkers on the most picturesque days along the Intracoastal. There’s nothing better for one’s overall well-being. The Lake Trail also is truly my go-to outdoor playground, where I run, jog, walk and bike after work and on weekends.”

It’s a Sunday afternoon and you have no obligations. What are you going to do? 

“What other than watching football: Go Dolphins!”

You have been involved for nearly a decade with local nonprofit Palm Health Foundation, missioned with fostering solutions for better health through community collaboration. In addition to serving on committees and chairing its board for two years, you also launched its Sutton Kailey Nursing Advancement Fund, which is close to your heart. What does it support and how did it start?

“I established the Sutton Kailey Nursing Advancement Fund a few years ago to support Palm Beach County’s nursing community through scholarships and programs that focus on skills and professional development to ensure quality nursing in Palm Beach County. It started because of my gratitude to the nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Mary’s Medical Center. Their selfless team helped my granddaughter Sutton grow and thrive.

"Sutton and her angel sister Kailey were born when my daughter was only 24 weeks pregnant. They weighed 1.2 pounds and 1.1 pounds, respectively. Kailey shined her presence on this earth for a mere 24 hours before God called her to come to heaven. Sutton remained brave and strong, underwent heart surgery and spent 111 days in the NICU. The love and care given by those incredible nurses are what brought Sutton home to us and today she is a beautiful 9-year-old happy girl.”

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Breakers exec Bober dedicated to resort staff's wellness