Beverly Telemaque sparkles with vitality, enthusiasm and a zest for life’s adventures. It’s clear that she’s a go-getter, who pursues the varying demands of motherhood, business, physical fitness and volunteerism with vigor.

Beverly Telemaque and her daughter, Samantha Jefferis

She and a partner run a public relations firm, named Island Resorts, which markets the beauty of the Caribbean and promotes several properties in Bermuda and her native Trinidad & Tobago.

Telemaque’s main reason for having her own business is that it gives her the scheduling flexibility to have more time to be involved in her daughter Samantha’s overall development.

And involved she is! For two-and-a-half years now, Telemaque has been PTA president at John I. Smith Elementary School in Doral, and during the year before that she served as vice president of the PTA fund raising committee.

She exclaims, “I believe this is one of the best run public schools in Miami Dade County. The PTA is a dynamic group that works hand-in-hand with the school’s leadership.”

Fundraising is one of the main items on the agenda of the PTA, which organizes several major events for students each year, including Field Day, Halloween and Valentine’s Day festivals, and a Christmas bazaar.

Telemaque remarked, “We raise money to give to the different grades. Last year we raised money to complete an accelerated reading program.”

One beautiful afternoon in early November, she was organizing a pizza party for 28 kids in a third grade gifted class. It was their reward for taking first place in the recent PTA membership drive.

“The class won because they exceeded their membership goal by 42%,” she said, smiling.

Telemaque and eight-year old Samantha moved to Miami from Puerto Rico four years ago. “Being a single parent, I was attracted to Doral because of its safety. Also, I’m an exercise fanatic, and I use the gym at the Doral Park Golf and Country Club regularly. It’s a great convenience for me.” She is also a committed long-distance runner, and she competed in the New York City Marathon recently.

Telemaque was born in Trinidad & Tobago, and these days she’s coordinating a three-day cultural program for the Trinidad & Tobago Consulate.

“Real Colors” is the name of the event, which will run from December 12th through the 14th at Bayside Park and the James L. Knight Center. The aim is to showcase the multi-ethnic nature of Trinidad & Tobago’s culture, cuisine and lifestyle. Various performing groups will be featured as well as the works of six visual artists.

Although Beverly grew up in England and studied at Oxford, she praises the small town atmosphere of Doral. “I enjoy the community aspect of the area. It’s like one extended family. We look out for each other,” she said.

In her down time, Beverly enjoys cooking an international meal or visiting friends, and she notes with satisfaction that, “Doral is like living in a mini-United Nations. The varied mix is great here.”