Chamber Board Member Spotlight: Meet Chair-Elect Bruce Berman
The Chamber is delighted to announce the new Chair-Elect, Bruce Berman, Executive Director of the Golden West College Foundation and Director of Community Relations! Although Bruce has served on the Board for over two years, this is his first elected position on the Executive Board.
As a native of Canada, Bruce Berman obtained a B.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of Manitoba in 1966 and completed his M.Sc. in Microbiology in 1969. He then worked for the University of Toronto, Department of Medicine as a Research Associate. It was in 1972, when Bruce joined Seneca College in Toronto, Canada where he started as a teaching master (professor). He continuously moved up the ranks serving in such positions as teaching master, director of native studies, special assistant to the president, director of alumni affairs and executive director for the Seneca College Foundation.
He went on to other community colleges, exceeding goals and making positive long-term improvements, from developing a donor stewardship program to initiating a highly successful Government Relations program. In October 2013, Bruce became the Executive Director of the Golden West College Foundation in Huntington Beach as well as Director of Community Relations. This is when his involvement with the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce began. His supervisor Wes Bryant, President of Golden West College at the time, served on the HB Chamber Board of Directors and recommended that Bruce join the Robert Mayer Leadership Academy, a program offered through the Chamber. It was a great way to meet other members and become more involved.
Since then, Bruce has been involved as a Chamber member, but it was in 2018 when Bruce was appointed to the Board and has been a Board member since. His involvement includes being a part of the planning committee for the Economic Conference, an annual event hosted by the Chamber as well as serving on other Chamber committees. In September of 2020, the Board nominated and elected Bruce as the incoming Chairman, or Chair-Elect, who will assume the role of Chairman at the beginning of 2021.
Bruce shared his goals as incoming Chairman for the year ahead. These include:
1. Increasing membership and obtaining feedback from members on additional Chamber services that can be offered to enhance the value of being a member
2. Providing training services that are tailored to Chamber members where they need the most assistance for their businesses to thrive and be more profitable
3. Research federal and state grants that may be available for the Chamber to benefit its members
4. Increasing support for Chamber operations
5. Redirecting and restructuring Chamber board priorities and duties
“This year has been a year of growth and positivity, which provides a unique opportunity because of the Covid-19 pandemic. We can relate to our members in a more personal way,” said Mr. Berman. It is also beneficial that the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce office is located on campus at Golden West College, which will provide plenty of potential for partnerships and collaboration. We look forward to having Bruce as the incoming Chairman and thank him for the support and service he has provided to the Chamber over the years!