PBSC Names Fall Commencement Speakers
Boca Raton, FL – Florida State Reps. Joseph Casello and Mike Caruso will be the featured speakers at Palm Beach State College’s fall commencement ceremonies on Dec. 19.
More than 2,700 graduates will receive degrees and certificates, including 1,600 who are receiving the Associate in Arts transfer degree and more than 200 who are earning bachelor’s degrees. Casello will speak at the 9:30 a.m. ceremony for graduates of the Associate in Science, Bachelor of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science degree programs and the certificate programs. Caruso will speak at the 2 p.m. ceremony for the A.A. degree graduates. Both ceremonies will be held at the South Florida Fair Expo Center in West Palm Beach and streamed live at www.palmbeachstate.edu.
Casello was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2018. Having served the people of Boynton Beach as their city commissioner from 2013-2017, his focus continues to be enhancing public safety, supporting our local economy, improving our education system and creating jobs.
The Worcester, Mass. native has a long history of service. In his hometown, he served on many boards and committees managing millions of dollars in assets and raising thousands of dollars for charitable organizations. He served on the Worcester Fire Department Credit Union Board of Trustees, Municipal Retirees Organization, United Way and Habitat for Humanity.
Casello honorably served as a noncommissioned officer in the United States Air Force. Assigned to the 212th ANG Unit, he was responsible for the installation of radio transmission sites throughout the country. In 1974, he was appointed to the Worcester Fire Department and promoted to lieutenant in 1984. Within the Fire Department, he served in many capacities, including arson investigator, working closely with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. (ATF).
As a business owner and licensed electrical contractor for over 23 years, he operated Casello Electrical Services, specializing in residential and commercial electrical design and installation. He is a graduate of the Worcester Industrial Technical Institute and holds an Associate in Science degree from Quinsigamond Community College.
Caruso worked as a certified public accountant in accounting firms such as KPMG and Grant Thornton International, before opening his own CPA firm, Caruso & Caruso, in Palm Beach County. Over the next three decades, he used his skills to benefit the community, serving on the boards of many community organizations and as an expert forensic accounting witness in many local and national court cases.
Since being elected to the Florida House District 89 in 2018, Caruso has been assigned to serve on the following committees: Energy & Utilities Subcommittee; Higher Education & Career Readiness Subcommittee; Insurance & Banking Subcommittee; Joint Legislative Auditing Committee; Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee; and the Ways & Means Committee.
For more information, visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/graduation.
Serving 49,000 students annually, Palm Beach State College is the largest institution of higher education in Palm Beach County, providing bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, professional certificates, career training and lifelong learning. Established in 1933 as Florida’s first public community college, Palm Beach State offers more than 130 programs of study at locations in Lake Worth, Boca Raton, Palm Beach Gardens, Belle Glade and Loxahatchee Groves.
