Jeff Perlman is a South Florida leader whose life’s work bridges civic innovation, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and storytelling. A former two-term Mayor of Delray Beach, Florida, Jeff helped guide the city through a celebrated renaissance that earned multiple All-America City Awards and national recognition for its downtown revival. Known for his collaborative, forward-thinking style, he worked to balance growth with a deep respect for community character—strengthening Delray’s identity as a “village by the sea” where civic pride and small-town spirit still matter.
Following his public service, Jeff became Chief Operating Officer of Celsius, the fast-growing health and energy drink company that was embraced by entrepreneur Carl DeSantis. Today, as Executive Director of the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation, he helps steward Mr. DeSantis’ legacy of catalytic giving—investing in health and nutrition, leadership and entrepreneurship, civic innovation, and education. Under Jeff’s leadership, the Foundation has built partnerships with nonprofits and schools across South Florida, reflecting his belief that philanthropy should be entrepreneurial, data-informed, and deeply rooted in place.
Before entering public life, Jeff was an award-winning journalist, founder of The Education Times, editor of the Boca Raton News and founding editor of Atlantic Ave Magazine, where he helped tell the stories of Delray Beach’s people, culture, and transformation. A lifelong writer, he is also the author of “Adventures in Local Politics: How Leadership Brought Back Delray Beach”, a case study in grassroots leadership and civic renewal. His essays and blog, Your Delray Boca, continue that tradition—part memoir, part civic diary, part call to community.
Jeff is also an accomplished playwright, with original works produced by the Arts Garage and other regional theatres. His plays—intimate, lyrical explorations of love, loss, redemption, and resilience—reflect his enduring fascination with the human spirit. Whether on the page, on stage, or in the boardroom, Jeff remains guided by the same core belief: that stories—well told and honestly lived—can inspire people to imagine something better, and to build it together.
