Alexander Penalta

ALEXANDER PENALTA is a shareholder at the Law Offices of Penalta & Stiger, P.A. in Boca Raton, Florida. Mr. Penalta is a Certified Arbitrator and limits his practice to representing and defending Florida entrepreneurs, business owners and Fortune 500 companies in Unemployment Insurance Appeals, EEOC Investigations, Independent Contractor Tax Determinations, Employment Claims, and Civil and Criminal Employment Trials. As a former Appeals Referee for the Florida Department of Labor & Employment Security, Division of Unemployment Compensation, Bureau of Appeals, Alexander Penalta has experience in representing and defending businesses and former management throughout Florida in many forms of employment separation issues. Mr. Penalta is licensed to practice in Florida and Washington, D.C. and is presently an adjunct Associate Professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University of Daytona Beach, Florida, Fort Lauderdale Area Resident Center, Division of Business Administration. He teaches "Seminar in Aviation Labor Relations," "Aviation Law," and "Federal Regulations, Ethics and the Legal System," to pilots, maintenance personnel, and aviation management. From 1995 to 1998, Mr Penalta served as an adjunct Professor at Florida Atlantic University at Boca Raton, College of Education, Dept. of Educational Leadership and taught "Education and the Law" to education graduates regarding legal issues facing public and private sector employees and employers. Mr. Penalta has jointly authored "OSHA Regulations' Potential Impact on the Dive Industry." with Robert F. Millott, Ed.D., Milledge Murphey, Ph.D., Mary Beth Horodoski, Ed.D. in the National Journal of Underwater Education (1995). Mr. Penalta was the legal advisor to the University of Florida, College of Health and Human Performance, Academic Diving Program; National YMCA Scuba Program-Florida Field; U.S. Underwater Federation and the National Association for Cave Diving. Mr. Penalta has spoken at the Broward County Bar Assoc., Labor and Employment Section on "Tactics and Procedures before the Florida Dept. of Labor and Employment Security, Div. of Unemployment Compensation Bureau of Appeals." Alexander Penalta has been a guest on several radio and television interviews including RADIO FIESTA, WLVS-AM1380, Morning Show with Dante Medina & Helman Ruiz, "Sexual Harassment & The Jury System (Spanish)". His past membership activities include the Assoc. of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO); Individual Rights Committee of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Florida Bar; The ABA, Labor and Employment Section, Young Lawyer's Division; The Broward County Bar Assoc., Labor and Employment Section, Young Lawyer's Division; Palm Beach County Bar Assoc.; Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce; South Palm Beach County Bar Assoc.; Hispanic Bar Assoc. of Palm Beach County; Cuban-American Bar Assoc; National Assoc. of Administrative Law Judges; ATLA ; and the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. Mr. Penalta has served as a legislative aid for Republican Rep. Nancy Brown, in the Kansas House of Representatives, Office of the 27th District at the Kansas State Legislature. Alexander Penalta is a former U.S. Naval Reserve Officer, LTjg, Judge Advocate Generals Corps, (JAG) , Honorably Discharged in June 1992 and a recipient of the National Defense Medal, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Mr. Penalta is a graduate of Boca Raton High School (1983), and the University of Florida (B.A. 1987), and of Washburn University of Topeka, School of Law (J.D. 1991). COLLEEN M. STIGER, Esquire is a shareholder in the Law Offices of Penalta & Stiger, P.A. in Boca Raton, Florida. Ms. Stiger limits her practice to representing selected individuals who have been seriously injured and risk management. Since becoming a resident of Florida, she has been actively involved in a number of charitable organizations. She was honored as Soroptimist International Boca Raton/Deerfield's "Women of Distinction" for her professional and charitable accomplishments. She was also honored as "Boca's Best" by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for being one of the most outstanding single professionals in the Boca Raton Community for her outstanding charitable and civic contributions to the South Florida community. She was featured in the Sun Sentinel as an "Attorney Honored for Helping Others". Ms. Stiger and the law firm were spot lighted on NBC in Tonya Rogers' Power Woman Series. She has Co-Chaired two Arthritis Creaky Bones Costume Balls and Co-Chaired two Arthritis Magic of Caring Fashion Shows. She was on the Boca Bacchanal Committee from 2002 to 2003. She served on the Advisory Council of Broward Meals on Wheels from 1993 to 1999, the Executive Board of Directors of Broward Meals on Wheels from 1999 to 2001, Recording Secretary 1999 to 2001, Board of Directors from 2001 to present and has been the Legal Committee Chairperson from 1999 to present. She is on the Cystic Fibrosis Leading Men committee for 2003. From 1997 to 1999, Ms. Stiger served as the President of the Boca Raton Alumnae Chapter of Delta Gamma Fraternity. She was a member of the Theater Guild at the Royal Palm Festival Dinner Theater Center. She has served on the Friends of Debbie-Rand Board of Directors for the Boca Raton Community Hospital from 1999 to present, Corresponding Secretary 2000 to 2001, Membership Chairperson 2001-2002, Chairperson from 2001 to 2002, Treasurer 2002, Dinner with Friends Co-Chairperson 2001-2003, Debbie-Memorial Service League Ways and Means from 2001 to 2002. She has also received her 100 hour pin for service at the Boca Raton Community Hospital. She is a member of the Florida Bar and Pennsylvania Bar. She received Certificates of Appreciation for recognition of dedicated and distinguished service from the South Palm Beach County Bar Association from 1997 to 1999. Ms. Stiger is a member of the Florida Bar Association and has been on the Florida Bar President's Speaker's Bureau since 1997 and has served as Chairperson of the Immigration Section of the South Palm Beach County Bar Association. She served on the Little Palm Family Theatre Annual Gala, "Give My Regards to Broadway " Committee in 2003. She is an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Boca Raton Sunrise since 2003. She has also participated in walk-a-thons for the Arthritis Foundation, Broward County Meals on Wheels, Diabetes Foundation, March of Dimes and MS. She is an active member of GFWC Royale Woman's Club since 2002. She co-chaired the Honor Your Doctor Luncheon Drawing and served as the Master of Ceremonies. Ms. Stiger was an active member of the Boca Raton Chapter of Zonta International since 1996 and has served on the Board of Directors from 1998 to 2001 as Recording Secretary, Director and Nomination Committee in 2002, and Second Vice Present from 2002 to present. Ms. Stiger is a graduate of Vermont Law School (Juris Doctor 1991) and holds a Masters in Environmental Law (LLM, 1992). She attended undergraduate at Washington & Jefferson College with a concentration in English & Business Administration (B.A. 1988).