Board Member Spotlight: Michael Pape
Meet Michael Pape
A native Texan but a Floridian since age 3, Michael found his ultimate career path through both service and education at the US Naval Academy and the University of Florida. During his 42 years in Central Florida, Michael Pape and his professional firm, Michael Pape and Associates PA, has served countless clients with land planning and landscape architectural services, most notably via his primary role in planning, designing, and creating The Villages since 1986. Throughout his career as a landscape architect, land planner, and arboriculturist, Michael has focused on the spirit and creativity that goes into designing places that are an essential part of the community . . . places for people to come together to live, work and play, and to enjoy each other and their lifestyle. It was in this professional capacity that Michael first became involved with Habitat of Lake-Sumter, assisting in the planning, design, and permitting of the Umatilla Veterans Village, the Cottages at Heritage Grove in Tavares, and other potential projects. Having become semi-retired this year, Michael was pleased by the opportunity to volunteer his expertise directly as a member of the Habitat Lake-Sumter Board, while also enjoying other activities for which he now finds time with his wife, Trish, including travel, hiking, biking, boating, and their first grandchild, born in February.
Why join the Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter Board?
During his time working as a professional consultant and design team member with Habitat, Michael cites the inspiration he gained from working with Kent Adcock and Danielle Stroud on the creative approach reflected in projects like Veterans Village and the Cottages at Heritage Grove, seeing the unique way they served the organization’s mission while creating places with a true sense of community and personal belonging for their residents. Joining the Board felt like the perfect way for Michael to contribute to this mission as he gained more time to volunteer his talents during this stage of life.
What you are looking forward to achieving over your Habitat term?
Michael hopes to combine his experience and skills with those of the Staff and the other Board members, to envision and implement the kind of cutting edge community projects by which Habitat has forged a new and exciting path in the mission to achieve community housing opportunities. Likewise, he looks forward to adding to the Board’s network of professional friends and colleagues to expand Habitat’s base of support in the community.
“I am honored and privileged to join this impressive group of folks that currently serve on the Board. These are caring and involved people, dedicated to serving and enhancing Lake and Sumter Counties, and I foresee a better opportunity than ever for us to increase awareness of Habitat’s mission and engender greater enthusiasm, participation, and support for this exceptional organization.” – Michael Pape