Background
I was born in Boynton Beach, Florida, and Palm Beach County has been home for most of my life. My path has not been a straight line. It has moved through court operations, retail leadership, insurance adjusting, classrooms, family life, and finally into civic technology.
That mix is useful. It taught me how systems work on paper, how they fail in real life, and how much difference one steady person can make when people are overwhelmed.
Education & Training
- Working towards a B.A. in Education
- Coursework in Paralegal Studies
- Florida Resident Insurance Adjuster License, active since 2013
- Xactimate Level I Certified, 2013
What Matters
- Family. Nine children and, as of April 29, 2026, a grandchild, Zayne Favors. That is the center of gravity.
- Faith. Catholic faith shapes how I think about duty, forgiveness, service, and the dignity of ordinary work.
- Education. I believe students deserve calm adults, clear expectations, and tools that help them become capable.
- Service. Public-facing work has taught me that people rarely need perfection. They need clarity, follow-through, and someone who will not disappear.
- Accountability. Show up. Tell the truth. Fix what you can. Keep moving.
At a Glance
| Name | Nicholas Alexander Cerbone |
| Born | December 12, 1975 |
| Home | Palm Beach County, Florida |
| Family | Married to Patricia (Trish) Messer |
| Children | Nine: Nicholas, Sophia, Olivia, Kepha, Anthony, Michael, Giuseppa, Maximilian, and Emily |
| Grandchild | Zayne Favors, born April 29, 2026 at 6:01 a.m. to Sophia Cerbone and Xavier Favors; 7 lb 15 oz, 20.5 inches |
| Work | Educator, operations professional, CivicOS founder |
| Book | The Open Source Student |
Interests
- Civic technology and open-source public infrastructure
- Self-hosted systems, privacy, and practical AI literacy
- Education, family operations, and student confidence
- Writing tools and guides that help nontechnical people feel capable