In April 2009, Mayor Michael Nutter appointed Michael DiBerardinis as Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation and Special Advisor to the Mayor on the Free Library. In this position, Mr. DiBerardinis is responsible for the management of the 9,200 acre, sixty-three parks Fairmount Park system. Mr. DiBerardinis also oversees the operation of all City recreation facilities, programs and events. In addition to the oversight of the Parks and Recreation Department, Mr. DiBerardinis serves as special advisor to the Mayor on the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Beginning in March 2003, Mr. DiBerardinis served as the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) under Governor Edward G. Rendell. In this state cabinet level position, Mr. DiBerardinis led and managed over 3,000 employees in 117 state parks, twenty-six forest districts and seven regional community offices.

Prior to being named Secretary of DCNR, Mr. DiBerardinis served as Executive Director of the Campaign for Working Families, a program at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia providing free filing assistance, support and counseling for eligible families to acquire public benefits and access to information and programs on financial literacy.

Before working with the Campaign, Mr. DiBerardinis was the Vice President of Programs for the William Penn Foundation. In this position, he administered the $60 million annual grant-making programs in the Philadelphia region while developing and coordinating the Foundation's strategic planning process and evaluation system.

Mr. DiBerardinis' long history of public administration includes serving as Recreation Commissioner to the city of Philadelphia from 1992 to 2000, where he organized the work of 600 staff persons and 160 facilities, including parks, ball fields, swimming pools and Veterans Stadium. During his tenure as Recreation Commissioner, Mr. DiBerardinis significantly expanded programs and services.

Prior to his service in municipal government, he served as Chief of Staff for Congressman Thomas Foglietta from 1986 to 1991, where he supervised five Philadelphia offices, managed relationships with businesses, unions and constituent groups in the district, and crafted positions and policies on issues including housing, Central America and the conversion of the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

Active in civic and community organizations, Mr. DiBerardinis serves on the Board of Directors of the New Kensington Community Development Corporation and the Wynnefield Overbrook Revitalization Corporation.

Mr. DiBerardinis has a bachelor of arts in political science from St. Joseph's University. He lives in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia with his wife, Joan Reilly, and their children Gabriele, Justin, Maura, and Daniel. He enjoys fly-fishing, bird watching, gardening and learning the Italian language.